Cabrio Top Worn Hole

[W/B Smartie]

Just found a hole worn in the Cabrio Top today while washing the car.
Appears to have formed from running the top up & down.
The hole is on the drivers side next to the rear window where the seam is sewn around the window.
Weather has been great down here this winter so the top has been down alot. Car is only five months old, man what a bummer!
Called the Smart Center in San Antonio, (250 miles away) and of course they have to see it to start any warranty work.
Hate to drive there for them to say: Yup, thats a hole allright and then drive back to get the top replaced.
Have decided to haul the car up there and see if we can get it fixed within a week hopefully.
I post this to see if anyone else is experiencing premature top wear.
Pictures here: Cabrio Top Tear pictures by dragonryder99 - Photobucket

Later
Rich

[smartHHO]

Originally Posted by W/B Smartie

Just found a hole worn in the Cabrio Top today while washing the car.
Appears to have formed from running the top up & down.
The hole is on the drivers side next to the rear window where the seam is sewn around the window.
Weather has been great down here this winter so the top has been down alot. Car is only five months old, man what a bummer!
Called the Smart Center in San Antonio, (250 miles away) and of course they have to see it to start any warranty work.
Hate to drive there for them to say: Yup, thats a hole allright and then drive back to get the top replaced.
Have decided to haul the car up there and see if we can get it fixed within a week hopefully.
I post this to see if anyone else is experiencing premature top wear.
Pictures here: Cabrio Top Tear pictures by dragonryder99 - Photobucket

Later
Rich

Keep us informed. I have been having my top down a lot too. Texas weather and it was friggin 95 today. Hehe. Top going to be down a lot I see.

That is an odd hole to say the least. I was thinking from going up and down, but that really looks weird. Almost like someone used a blade to cut it out some. Good luck.

[Thompsolonian]

It doesn't look like a torn hole, it does look intentional. It is way too clean to be a worn down type of hole, looks kinda like an xacto blade or something...

[John_H]

Fatigue hits more than just metal. Thanks for the photos that show it at the point of the bend. I'll stay on the lookout for mine.

[JusNameMe]

*going back to look at the photos again*


Nope, doesn't look cut to me. It looks ragged and worn.


*going to look at my car top*

[PeteInLongBeach]

Perhaps there is something wrong with the way this particular top is folding(?) Can other cabrio owners confirm similar folding on their cars?

I was going to sell my Pure to get a Cabrio, but this has me concerned....

[W/B Smartie]

Just name me has it correct, it's not a clean slice from something
sharp. Other side in same fold shows some wear also.
If I had it to do all over again I'd still get the Cabrio! Way too much fun!!
Will keep the thread abreast on what happens.
Later
Rich

[Woody14619]

I checked mine out this weekend, and while I don't have a rip there, I can see that the segment of cloth on both sides looks a little more worn than the rest of the area around it. I'm wondering if there's some kind of cloth treatment or conditioner one could use to help prevent this wear?

[NCC1701]

Just checked mine after seeing this thread. I don't see any problem with wear at that point. I've opened/closed it a LOT over the past five months while it was cool enough to do it. (just about too hot now)

[mdfortwoguy]

Originally Posted by Woody14619

I checked mine out this weekend, and while I don't have a rip there, I can see that the segment of cloth on both sides looks a little more worn than the rest of the area around it. I'm wondering if there's some kind of cloth treatment or conditioner one could use to help prevent this wear?

Hmm - I wonder if it is something where a convertible top shop could go in behind it and reinforce it from the back?