To T-Bar or not to T-Bar

[tonigmr2]

It's definitely a long hair problem, if you've a short mop you'll have no issues

T

[Vindezal]

Many have to say the MR2 Tin top finishes off the shiny paint nicely. No lines/rubber on the roof and its easy to polish

(I couldnt afford T-bar)

[matt*79]

Got a tin top tubby and i love it

Test drove a T-bar it was okay, but i personally rather steer away from the convertable styleeeee.

[G-LimitedGav]

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[jim]

akin to sitting in a greenhouse which i didn't like much.

True, I don't like driving around in the summer with the blinds out, not so much for the temperature (that's what climate control is for!) but because you always end up with the sun in your eyes unless you wear a hat.

I had a slight leak in mine when I got it, but new rubber all round sorted that out for around £200 buying from the states. Even if you never take the tops off, T-bars are more sought after when you come to sell up.

[Don Cool]

Just thought I'd chuck my thoughts in too. Have had my T-Bar for 6 months and over Summer I think I must have had the panels off 4 times (i.e. not very much). Here's a few negatives..

YOU WHAT?! If you have the panels off, motorway driving plus conversation is impossible. The buffetting is way too loud. And if your passenger has long hair that isn't tied down, they won't thank you for it. In fact, even with the panels in, it's the noisiest car I've ever had and I normally have to drive with the radio right up when I'm hitting mach 3. (Mind you, if you care about noise over character and handling then buy a second-hand Vauxhall instead.)

I'M WET! Leakage. Only very occassional in my case - a few drips when I reverse-fling it off the drive after it's rained. Nothing to worry about as far as I'm concerned but every car is different and you could end up with one that needs sorting out.

PULL OVER, QUICK! British weather. One minute the sun is shining, the next minute it's chucking it down. You only take those panels off when you can be sure..

I'M BLIND! Sunglasses. Get yourself some good ones. When your roof is glass, the Sun shines through even when it is high in the sky. And if you're a follicly-challenged (like me) get yourself a hat otherwise you'll burn. Peaked caps are the best if you have a T-Bar.. and I say that with confidence knowing that I have never seen an mr2 driver wearing Burberry.

And here's the major positive (which made me glad I got the T-Bar)..

WOW! Driving in a car with a glass roof really does make for a different experience. It's not just a novelty as far as I'm concerned. It's like sitting in a superfast glass house on wheels! You're banging along and you're getting the full 360 degree thing. I can't explain it. It's different and it's fantastic! And if someone is driving you home at night when you're drunk all you have to do is look up and marvel at the glorious infinity of the cosmos! Ah.. the stars.. the stars.. those glass panels do it for me every time!

At the end of the day, I guess you either really want a T-Bar or you don't. Nothing warms the cockles of my heart more than walking out of the house on a cold dank morning and seeing my car, newly polished after it's just rained, with big globules of water sitting on the glass roof. For me, the T-Bar is the icing on the cake.

You need to sit down and think about what you really want from your '2. When I started looking for an mr2 I knew I couldn't afford to run a tubby with the miles I'm currently doing so I went for the leather/T-Bar combo on the best black NA I could find.

Luckily I found one locally and since then I've never looked back. If you have to spend a few extra quid for a T-Bar then do it. If you find an otherwise perfect car for the right money then don't. It's a finely balanced decision that only you can make..

[Poohbear]

Sunroof was pretty much a waste of time IMO, never rises very much, never lets in much air, and would be a pain in the ar$e to stow away under the front bonnet.

I really don't find removing the T-bars an effort at all, it only takes about 15 seconds per side max, and always gives me a big smile even before I start driving

Hmmmm takes about 30 secs to remove sunroof and stow in the frunk. And having had a few cars with sunroofs it is a big fekker, when it's out there aint a lot of metal roof left..so in my mind nearly as good as a T top and no leaks.




Bob