Smart Top: Am I missing something or are they worth it?

167 Views 13 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Meneer MX5, 14 h ago

GDCobra

Discussion Starter · 15 d ago

Don't know if this is the best section to post this but seems as appropriate as any.

I installed a Smart Top on my previous car, a Mercedes Benz SLK, and, although a bit pricey, I could reconcile the cost as it did allow quite a bit of functionality.
I could remotely open/close the roof.
I could remotely open/close the windows.
I could do both of the above simultaneously and at the same time.
I could open/close the roof while in motion.
I could operate the rear windows independently.
All without holding buttons while the funciton completes
Several other functions related to other parts of the car, most of which I never got to the bottom of.

I was going to put one of these into the '5' but it quickly became obvious that some of this functionality could not happen due to the manual nature of the roof latch and later realised that even the windows are not automatically controlled but even with the reduced functionality the unit cost is simllar.

Just wondering if I'm missing some of the functionality of the Smart Top in the Mazda and/or how people who have plumped for one feel about it?

My car is an RC by the way not a soft-top!

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Mark

· #2 · 15 d ago

I don't have one on my 25AE which is a weekend fair weather car, but if you are out and about on a dry weather day, top down of course, and you hit a storm, without the smart top then you have no option but to slow to a stop, take the car out of gear, and operate the top, whereas with a smart top you slow to 20 mph, push the button and the job's a good'un, in all likelihood staying somewhat drier. The other alternative is to keep driving, sometimes you can drive through the storm and stay relatively dry, other times you get absolutely soaked!

I prefer to drive my MX5 top down whenever possible, and so if my 25AE was a daily driver, then I would invest in a smart top.

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #3 · 15 d ago

Mark said:
I don't have one on my 25AE which is a weekend fair weather car, but if you are out and about on a dry weather day, top down of course, and you hit a storm, without the smart top then you have no option but to slow to a stop, take the car out of gear, and operate the top, whereas with a smart top you slow to 20 mph, push the button and the job's a good'un, in all likelihood staying somewhat drier. The other alternative is to keep driving, sometimes you can drive through the storm and stay relatively dry, other times you get absolutely soaked!

I prefer to drive my MX5 top down whenever possible, and so if my 25AE was a daily driver, then I would invest in a smart top.

Hi Mark, so with the Smart Top on the '5' you press (not hold) the button (below 20MPH) and the top goes down/up, obviously you have to also operate the latch, there's no getting around that as it's a physical mechanism. What about the windows? Do you still have to raise these after the top's finished it's business? Does the ST offer any other function such as being able to lower/raise the windows remotely (I suspect not due to the 'simplicity' of the Mazda electronics)?

I seem to remember reading something about the ST being able to trigger roof lowering when you open the latch, hence no button press needed. Do you know anything about that?

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Steveti

· #4 · 14 d ago

Definitely worth it if you can pick up a second hand unit as I did, full price is hard to justify.
Unfortunately the window function seems hardwired into the 5 and the smart top module can't touch their function but yes, worth it for me as a sub £200 mod at the time. As prices have changed I'd make that back easily if I were to sell on, silly money new but they do occasionally come up for sale second hand

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #5 · 14 d ago

Steveti said:
Definitely worth it if you can pick up a second hand unit as I did, full price is hard to justify.
Unfortunately the window function seems hardwired into the 5 and the smart top module can't touch their function but yes, worth it for me as a sub £200 mod at the time. As prices have changed I'd make that back easily if I were to sell on, silly money new but they do occasionally come up for sale second hand

Cheers Steve
Agree with that, guess I'll keep a lookout for a SH unit, I'm sure these were much cheaper when I bought the one for the Merc', may be kidding myself though. I should have taken the time to remove that one and sold it, could have gone some way to funding one for the 5.

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Mark

· #6 · 14 d ago

GDCobra said:
Hi Mark, so with the Smart Top on the '5' you press (not hold) the button (below 20MPH) and the top goes down/up, obviously you have to also operate the latch, there's no getting around that as it's a physical mechanism. What about the windows? Do you still have to raise these after the top's finished it's business? Does the ST offer any other function such as being able to lower/raise the windows remotely (I suspect not due to the 'simplicity' of the Mazda electronics)?

I seem to remember reading something about the ST being able to trigger roof lowering when you open the latch, hence no button press needed. Do you know anything about that?

I must confess that my knowledge of the smart top is relatively limited, not having one myself, although I do know friends who have got them. As you say, you still have to put the windows back up yourself, and I am not sure the maximum speed you can operate the smart top, it may well be more than 20 mph, but if you are driving on a typical potholed UK road, then there would be a certain amount of flexing of the top, and so I suggest you would want to exercise caution in operating the top at higher speed, if it is even possible.

For me, the cost benefit analysis of a smart top for my 25AE is such that I don't have one, if I used the car more, in all weathers, then the benefits of a smart top may be greater, and the cost more justifiable.

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Steveti

· #7 · 14 d ago

Yes Mark, mines is set at 30mph max but common sense - a rare commodity these days, lets me judge. Won't operate on potholed road, certainly not much above 15-20 mph when the roof present max surface area forward etc. As said it's been a great mod to the 5.

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #8 · 14 d ago

Mark said:
I must confess that my knowledge of the smart top is relatively limited, not having one myself, although I do know friends who have got them. As you say, you still have to put the windows back up yourself, and I am not sure the maximum speed you can operate the smart top, it may well be more than 20 mph, but if you are driving on a typical potholed UK road, then there would be a certain amount of flexing of the top, and so I suggest you would want to exercise caution in operating the top at higher speed, if it is even possible.

For me, the cost benefit analysis of a smart top for my 25AE is such that I don't have one, if I used the car more, in all weathers, then the benefits of a smart top may be greater, and the cost more justifiable.

I think that is a good point, if you're only using the car in good weather then you probably only put it down at the start of a journey and up at the end so not really a benefit. I don't have unlimited funds and can think of better areas to spend £300+ at the moment so think I'll just keep my eyes open for a second hand one.

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #9 · 14 d ago

Steveti said:
Yes Mark, mines is set at 30mph max but common sense - a rare commodity these days, lets me judge. Won't operate on potholed road, certainly not much above 15-20 mph when the roof present max surface area forward etc. As said it's been a great mod to the 5.

Yeah, I had the Merc' set at 30 but always carful to only operate when straight and level, also I suspect the roof on that car was heavier, more easily broken and (way) more expensive to repair.

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Garffey

· #10 · 13 d ago

GDCobra said:
I don't have unlimited funds and can think of better areas to spend £300+ at the moment so think I'll just keep my eyes open for a second hand one.

GD In all my time owning my Graphite I can only think of one time I got 'caught out' and that up by Ribblehead viaduct....so no places to shelter while I put the hood up, and while I did think about the 'smart-top' I never actually bought one... 😁

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Meneer MX5

· #11 · 2 d ago

£170 here for a box of tricks almost identical to a SmartTop

Roof Controller for Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT

Plug-n-play device enabling one-touch operation with the roof. Features programmable speed limit and roof operation in Reverse. Configuration software for Windows RFC_NC_config Configuration software for Mac RFC_NC_config_MacOS "Auto" feature - automatic lowering top when roof latch is unlocked...

mx5things.com

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #12 · 1 d ago

Meneer MX5 said:
£170 here for a box of tricks almost identical to a SmartTop

Roof Controller for Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT

Plug-n-play device enabling one-touch operation with the roof. Features programmable speed limit and roof operation in Reverse. Configuration software for Windows RFC_NC_config Configuration software for Mac RFC_NC_config_MacOS "Auto" feature - automatic lowering top when roof latch is unlocked...

mx5things.com

Ha! Just saw this on the intro thread, thanks again though.

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GDCobra

Discussion Starter · #13 · 16 h ago

Meneer MX5 said:
£170 here for a box of tricks almost identical to a SmartTop

Roof Controller for Mazda MX-5 NC PRHT

Plug-n-play device enabling one-touch operation with the roof. Features programmable speed limit and roof operation in Reverse. Configuration software for Windows RFC_NC_config Configuration software for Mac RFC_NC_config_MacOS "Auto" feature - automatic lowering top when roof latch is unlocked...

mx5things.com

@Meneer MX5 - Out of interest have you ordered one of these yourself? If so were there any issues with importing, tax and so on?

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Meneer MX5

· #14 · 14 h ago

i might do. not sure yet.
has the wonderful SmartTop on my old mk3 . . . .

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