If you've been putting off replacing that torn or faded fabric, getting a robbins soft top s2000 is probably the best favor you can do for your car. Any S2000 owner knows the heartbreak of seeing that first tiny tear appear right above the latch or near the main pillar. It starts as a little pinhole, and before you know it, you're looking at a gash that lets the rain in and makes your beautiful roadster look like a project car that's seen better days.
Let's be real, the Honda S2000 is a masterpiece of engineering, but the factory vinyl tops were never meant to last twenty years. Whether you're rocking an early AP1 with the plastic rear window or a later AP2 that's just starting to show its age, the top is the one thing that can truly date the car. When it comes to replacements, Robbins has basically become the gold standard in the community, and for good reason. It's not just about stopping leaks; it's about making the car look and feel fresh again.
Why Everyone Points Toward Robbins
If you spend five minutes on any S2000 forum, you're going to see the name Robbins pop up almost immediately. It's reached that level of reputation where people don't even call it a "replacement top" anymore; they just call it "the Robbins." But why?
The main reason is fitment. There are cheaper tops out there—we've all seen them on auction sites for a few hundred bucks—but those often end up fitting like a loose trash bag or being so tight you can't actually latch the roof without fearing for the life of your motors. A robbins soft top s2000 is designed to mimic the factory geometry perfectly. They've been doing this for decades, and they've dialed in the patterns to account for the way the S2000 frame moves.
Another huge factor is the material choice. While Honda stuck with vinyl for a long time, Robbins offers the "Stayfast" cloth. If you've never felt it, it's a night-and-day difference. It's a three-layer laminate with an acrylic square weave outer layer. It looks deeper, stays blacker longer, and just feels more premium. It's the kind of material you find on a high-end Porsche or BMW. Switching from the shiny, plasticky OEM vinyl to a Stayfast cloth top instantly makes the S2000 look like a more expensive machine.
The Choice Between Cloth and Vinyl
This is the big debate when you're finally ready to pull the trigger. Do you go with the original style vinyl or upgrade to the canvas/cloth?
If you're a purist and want the car to look exactly as it did on the showroom floor in 2004, the heavy-duty vinyl is a solid choice. It's easy to clean, it's durable, and it's a bit cheaper. It has that classic textured look that we all recognize. However, vinyl is more prone to cracking in cold weather. If you live somewhere where the temperature drops, that vinyl gets stiff, and that's usually when the tearing happens—right during that first cold morning when you decide to put the top down.
The Stayfast cloth, on the other hand, is much more forgiving. It stays flexible even when it's chilly out, and it handles the folding action of the S2000 frame much better. It also does a slightly better job of dampening road noise. Let's face it, the S2000 isn't exactly a library inside, but every little bit of sound deadening helps when you're cruising on the highway at 4,000 RPM. The only downside to cloth is that it requires a different kind of cleaning. You can't just wipe it down with a damp rag; you'll want a good fabric cleaner and a protectant like 303 Fabric Guard to keep the water beading off.
Dealing with the AP1 Plastic Window Problem
If you own a 1999–2001 S2000, you know the struggle of the plastic rear window. It yellows, it scratches, and eventually, it gets so cloudy you're basically guessing where the cars behind you are. One of the best things about the robbins soft top s2000 lineup is the conversion top.
Robbins makes a version specifically for the early AP1 cars that replaces the plastic window with a heated glass window. It's a total game-changer. You don't have to worry about the "S2000 tuck" anymore (that awkward move where you have to get out of the car to make sure the plastic window folds correctly).
Now, there is a catch: you have to install some tension straps (usually included) to help the frame pull the glass into the right spot. Since the early frames weren't designed for the weight and shape of glass, these straps are crucial. But once it's in, the car looks five years newer. Plus, having a defroster back there is a luxury most early S2000 owners only dream of.
What to Expect During Installation
I'm going to be honest with you: installing a robbins soft top s2000 is not a quick Sunday afternoon job. If you're doing it yourself for the first time, clear your schedule. You're looking at anywhere from 8 to 12 hours of labor. It involves removing the seats, the rear interior plastics, the roll bar covers, and a whole lot of finicky clips.
The "rain rail" is the part that usually gives people the most grief. It's the piece that channels water away from the cabin and into the drains. When you buy your Robbins top, you can choose to have a new rain rail pre-installed. Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money for that. Trying to swap your old, brittle, 20-year-old plastic rain rail onto a brand-new top is a recipe for frustration and leaks.
If you aren't a seasoned DIYer, this might be the one time you want to pay a professional. A specialized upholstery shop that has done S2000s before can get it done in a fraction of the time, and they'll ensure the tension is perfect. A poorly installed top can lead to wind whistles or, worse, premature wear because the fabric is rubbing against the frame in ways it shouldn't.
Tips for Making Your New Top Last
Once you've got that fresh robbins soft top s2000 installed, you'll want to keep it looking new for as long as possible. The number one killer of these tops isn't actually the sun—it's the frame itself. Over time, the elastic straps that help the frame fold (often called "modifry straps" in the community) lose their stretch. When they get lazy, the frame doesn't pull back correctly, and the metal hinges start to pinch the fabric.
Check your straps! If they look like limp bacon, replace them. It's a ten-minute fix that can save your thousand-dollar top from getting those classic "ears" or holes on the sides.
Also, be mindful of where you park. While the Stayfast material is UV resistant, constant baking in the sun will eventually fade anything. If you can't garage the car, use a half-cover or a good protectant spray every few months. And please, for the love of your S2000, stay away from automatic car washes with those heavy spinning brushes. They'll beat the fibers of a cloth top to death and can even misalign the frame. Hand wash only is the rule of thumb here.
Final Thoughts on the Upgrade
It's easy to get used to a car that looks a little "lived in." You stop noticing the faded seams or the way the rear window is slightly hazy. But the moment you see a robbins soft top s2000 freshly installed, you realize how much the old top was dragging down the whole aesthetic of the car.
It's one of those rare upgrades that provides both a functional and a visual benefit. You get a dry cabin, a quieter ride, and a car that looks like it just rolled off the lot in Tochigi. Yes, it's an investment, and yes, the installation is a bit of a marathon, but the first time you drop the top on a sunny day—or better yet, the first time you see the rain beading perfectly off that fresh canvas—you'll know it was worth every cent. The S2000 is a legendary car; it deserves a top that lives up to the rest of the package.