[Mk2] [Generic] T-Bar vs tin top

[tommy-c]

Hey there all, just joined the forum, neway, im after a rev 3 turbo and was just wondering what peoples views are on the t-bar vs tin top, ie, performance. Have heard that the t-bar is less rigid for obvious reasons , but how different are they to drive?

Thanks!

Have done a search already

[L0rdMike]

T bars are great if you like wet shoulders.

[iblis]

From what I can gather (not driven both), there is a difference, but it's not something you're really going to feel on the road. Maybe if you do a lot of track days. Seen some high powered T-bars around, so I don't think it's a critical factor for the average driver.

[Olly P]

Firstly welcome to the club.


But I must say your search ability must be pretty poor cos this is covered every other day on here.

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... light=tbar

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... light=tbar

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... light=tbar

And regarding the supposed lower rigidity of the t-bar models, read this...

http://www.imoc.co.uk/forums/viewtopic. ... light=tbar

[KrisMoyse]

If you are 'tracking' the car (ie: putting it on the track for nothing by racing) I'd recommend the tin-top.

But if you are using the car on the road then I'd go T-Bars.

1. You may get more for it when you sell it as it is pretty much a convertable

&

2. YOU get the luxury of on a hot summers day, getting the roof off and enjoying the breeze. I only had mine off (the T-Bars lol) for about a months worth of summer weather in August this year but it was worth it. It gives you something to look forward to and an extra feature on the car like air con or a CD player.Not only that it makes you slightly more happy when you see chavs cooking likfe rotisery chickens in their tin-top saxos with no air con lol

Yes it may leak when it rains but that's easily fixed.

Get a T-Bar mate, you're buying a sports car, why not go the whole hog and have a convertable sports car?

(of course you could just combine the 2 and get a Mk2 with a sunroof lol)

[BenF]

FWIW I did a lot of trackdays in my Mk2 Turbo T-Bar without problems - but I didn't do a back to back comparison with a Tin Top car.

Difference would probably be that the car would feel a little more 'rigid' and may give you a little more feedback and be more settled over rough surfaces - that's the difference I notice with the Roadster between having the soft top vs the hard top on for the winter.

[shibby!]

Iv done back to back driving on them.

I did it when i was test driving to buy one.



I bought the tintop,

You prob wont notice much unless your really trying!

Nick

[Greddy-Matt]

Owned both now and can't say I noticed any more flex in the T-bar model if its going to be a road car just buy the one you prefer the look of Oh and not all T-bars leak!

[ci_newman]

T bars are great if you like wet shoulders.

Shaddup you My shoulders don't get wet... My legs do when I sit down!

[dawolf]

This question has been asked so many times. Do a search.

[HighwayStar]

Agreed... do a search. Have to say though that t-bar leaks are v v v easily cured. A £7 tube of unipart roof and gutter sealant fixed mine.
Buy what you want... just remember it might be sunny again one day.

R

[Kam]

Get a tintop and your a hairdresser

Get a t-bar and your a poncey woncey hairdresser

Nuff said

[Martin F]

if your going for the car then you have to go for the t-bar

it goes part `n parcel with the whole mr2 experience, great experience flying along on a hot summers day struggling to breathe ...it`s quite surreal and then you've still got a car that should wipe the a$$ of most things on the road...all good

[alan mc]

BE A MAN........ and get a T-Bar............nuf said.......

[mattcambs]

Most the higher spec GT models are T-bars.

If you're not that bothered why not just buy the best car you find regardless of whether it's T-bar on not.

Me personally? T-bar off is far too buffety for motorway speeds and just a bloody hassle. Most leak if the amount of threads on here are anything to go by.

Marmite.

[Munnsy]

I dont think a 2 is a 2 unless its without a roof on, great drive, better with no roof though.
I wouldnt buy one without a t-bar, just not the same.
T-BAR ALL THE WAY,

[L0rdMike]

Another thing to remember is if it leaks and you have a cold night good luck getting ice off the outside and inside.

[Munnsy]

but at the same time, as soon as you get your t-bar, check for leaks and make it myour priority to fix, avergave cost of about 7 ppounds, then your away
just buy a t-bar you wont regret i promise

[Leon.]

I sold my old 24k miles N/A to get a t-bar, and I don't regret it one bit!! Admittedly I wanted a turbo too but would have got a conversion if the old one had t-bars (a sunroof just isn't nearly the same).

I have mine off all summer (and the t-bars), I can't get enough of it tbh, it just doubles the experience Agreed its not ideal having the roofs off when motorway driving... so don't do it

As for leakage, there are a few fixes to try depending how bad it is. The key is to regularly lubricate the rubber to keep it nice and pert and not dry out. Worth noting that I sorted a drip with just some silicon lubricant left on all the rubber overnight, and now I don't even have one drip

[Lauren]

Get a T-Bar mate, you're buying a sports car, why not go the whole hog and have a convertable sports car?

(of course you could just combine the 2 and get a Mk2 with a sunroof lol)

The thing is though the t-bar does a poor job of being a 'convertible'.

Way too much buffetting means its not much use once you venture out of an urban area.

Also they leak which really is a royal PITA. The rigidity is not an issue though obviously a t-bar will not be as rigid as a coupe.

Other thing is its like driving in a greenhouse when its sunny and you have the panels in.

I've owned both. Would say sunroof or tintop everytime. I think a t-bar is over-rated. I ended up never taking the panels out in mine in the end. The novelty of it was cool to begin with, but i soon tired of arriving places looking like i had been dragged through a hedge backwards. If you have no hair it isn't such an issue i guess.