Yes, I do know there has been previous posts and I have also done a fair amount of searching to find various information. To clarify my subject I am in the market for a hard top. I would normally only go OEM for such pieces, however I dont really care that much for the Honda hard top, to me it just doesnt match the body lines and kinda looks like an unthought ad on, I will admit it doesnt look bad though when I have seen them in person. However I would like something slightly more natural looking. I found an authentic Mugen one for $3k, and was considering purchasing, however it sold unfortunately. I have come to really enjoy the, I believe "mooncraft" by Spoon, and all of the replicas to follow it. I would like to keep the purchase some what budgeted, but do not want to skimp on quality. I have read various issues from various post on various cites over several years. but I want actual imput on issues with these tops. Im also leery of the plexi glass windows(scratching?) and on the Spoon, does it scratch the paint on top of the trunk over time? Overall I want a hardtop that reflects the quality of the car. I know there are also many companies that replicate the different styles of hardtop, any better than others? I am located in Oregon, and the local supply is some what vague. To summarize, I am interested in Spoon and Mugen hardtops, for some what reasonable price, Im looking for good quality, windows, liner?, fitment, and noise. thanks.

 

OEM is best when it comes to quality and fitment.

You said you want something that reflects the quality of the car? Well, that's the OEM or mugen one. The spoon looks ridiculous unless the car is extremely aggressive. It makes the car look completely different, in a bad way, IMO.

Steer away from the replicas. They are usually of shitty quality, and are very noisy with not so good fitment. But for around 1000 bucks, what do you expect...you get what you pay for.

 

I'd wait patiently for an authentic Mugen hard top to become available in the used market, or I would just purchase one new from King Motorsports. Your location is the main issue as you said, but there are alot of people in Canada with Mugen tops, so maybe you should broaden your search if you have not done so already.

 

im in the same boat as u man. looking for a hard top but no good ones are avalible. and a refuse to get a replica, bc as stated above . the quality is ok at best and the fitment is **** to say the least. try craigs list

 

while the spoon top is harder to pull off i agree, it does not have to be an extremely aggressive car. i have tried to make mine as clean as possible and i think it pulls it off quite nicely





fitment is great on it. i took the liberty of putting an adhesive foam insulation around the the rear mounting areas so it sealed better on the body and rubber stripping. it does leak slightly on the driver side top windshield corner when raining, which is annoying. i dont see how the oem or mugen would reflect any more of the "quality of the car" than the spoon top lol.

 

OEM FTW - ebay, s2ki, c-list nationwide search engine - hit it every day and you will find one. I found my OEM for 2k

 

Shine Replica?

 

Thanks for all the input. I had found a Mugen replica on craigslist recently a couple hour drive away, and was considering getting it and upgrading the rear glass and adding a headliner, but I believe I will steer clear of it now, and keep looking for an authentic Mugen. And those pictures of that Spoon top are nice, very simple and cleanly put together car. I have deffinetely been drawn to the Spoon top, but I had noticed that most of the cars it looked good on had widened fenders and other modifications, and I feared on a stock car it would make the back end above the wheels look kinda tall, but it doesn't appear so in your pictures. Hard to tell not seeing it in person though. I have been searching craigslist in northern California and Washington, but may spread out a little further. I have also looked on ebay from time to time, but usually only find over priced replicas.

 

My opinion?

Stay away from replicas. It really is a "get what you pay for" thing, I paid $2000 for my OEM hardtop (with stand and cover!) and it has been awesome. There are some users paying $1200-1400 for replica Mugen ones and complain about misfitting parts or bad seals. Some of them (cheaper than that) were utterly unusable (ChaserAero).

I would, like you have said, stick to a used Mugen FRP or OEM.

 

no, its authentic spoon, modified by bulletproof. shipped directly to them from spoon. they will only touch authentic ones.

 

That looks clean! But I have been wondering, can you still open the trunk with the hardtop on?

 

that is seriously my least favorite hardtop...it makes the car look ridiculous, but to each their own

 

you have to take the back half off. it has two quick release pins on the inside. its a pain in the *** lol

 

I saw this in another thread... best I've seen this top look.

 

Yeah, I've seen the Bulletproof mods for the side windows - I've also seen it from Shine (which is why I asked)

Nice wasn't trying to insult you by asking that btw.

 

IMO, it looks like it was tacked on. It only really seems to flow well when there's a wing on the rear. Side profile looks a bit silly and exposed rivets/screws for the rear window don't help with the polished look. The side window, although a nice addition, always looks like an afterthought... although the top angle of the window flows with the door window, the bottom angle curves up flows with nothing, nor does the B pillar angle...

in other words, as others have said.. it only really works with an aggressive approach. it's a top made for racing... and when it's missing those "racing" components, it falls short.

this is generally the rule, but depends on the Replica. Challenger has a nice OEM replica that is suppose to be a perfect fitment. Seibon tops are hit and miss... but most are just as good as Mugen's fitment. The cheaper replicas ($1000 ones) are generally crap though...

 

you're shitting me, right?

 

Nope lol

 

nice pic, makes it look like an exotic, well not really exotic more like a porsche slayer

 

nice car hatrickstu. looks super clean

 

I really like Mugen's. Keeps a nice OEM look while still being functional.

 

i have a shine spoon replica and comparing it to a true spoon top(my buddys) i honestly prefer mine because of the fact there's no annoying blind spot...but everyone's view is different on that

 

^ really u actually use those lil windows to see out of? how by turning ur head back? ur supposed to use ur mirrors. i dont see the spoon top/ur top increases or decreases a blindspot in ur mirrors.

 

I would not trade my OEM top for ANYTHING other, everything about the OEM top is right

 

except the weight... which is why the Challenger OEM replica is amazing

but, definitely agree with ya otherwise. It would have been my choice had it not weighed so much compared to CF variants. now that the Challenger one is out... soooo hard to resist.