Taylor Mesh Top - LotusTalk

local600 · 10-04-2009, 10:06 AM

The Taylor Mesh Top we've been talking about at the link below is now officially available for sale.

Finally finished the mod I've been dreaming about.

I am taking pre-orders with no cash down. The first two will ship rather quickly and the rest are in a state of assembly. I will contact you when your top is ready.

The price is $350 plus $25 S&H and includes a nylon rip-stop storage bag.

How to order: Send me an email titled: "Taylor Mesh Top" to JetsetPress@sbcglobal.net. I will send you confirmation of your pre-order and an invoice when it's ready.

Other things to know / FAQ:

How much does the Taylor Mesh Top weigh? I knew you'd ask, so I made it light by design. It weighs exactly 4 pounds.

What is it made of? The main support beams are aluminum. The cables are plastic coated stainless and the mesh is a woven vinyl-coated fiberglass which absorbs and dissipates up to 70% of the sun's heat and glare.

How big is it when it's in the bag? Approx. 30" long and 13" around.

So I use the same ribs from my soft top? YES. This top is designed to use the ribs that came with your car. They provide the needed tension to the mesh as well as the original shape we have all come to know and love.

Doesn't it flap in the wind? Not really, it moves a bit, but of course it will because air is moving through it which is part of the point. It is, however, under a fair amount of tension which keeps it quite tight. You will probably only notice this movement in the center of the top at the rear if at all.

What if I want a different color mesh, perhaps to match my paint? Right now, the standard color is black. For an extra fee, there is a silver grey and brown or "bronze" color available. That being said, if you find a mesh that you would prefer, I can make a top for you out of it. Contact me for the amount required and to make sure it's suitable for outdoor use.

What are the specs of the mesh you use?
Thickness: .019 in (0.48mm)
Openness Factor: Approx. 25%
UV Blockage: Approx. 75%
Light Blockage: Approx. 75% (2 stops for you photographer types)
Stretch: 1.0%

Where are these made? The Taylor Mesh Top is made by me, by hand in California. Please don't suggest I make them in communist China. It ain't going to happen.

What if it rains? You're probably getting wet.

Doesn't it meet up with the windows when I roll them up? Nah. The attitude with this top is the topless experience and, hence, is meant to be used with the windows down. They roll up, but there will be a gap of a few inches. Making it match up with the windows would make each one overly complicated to make, besides, why not have a few more inches of headroom for getting in and out? To the untrained observer, this looks like you opted to leave the windows down a few inches. The extra structure would look quite bulky and the top is not meant for security. See next question.

Will this top keep people from stealing my stuff from inside the car? That depends on the thief. The gap between the window is too small for an average adult to do much of anything. It's also too small to remove the top, even if you knew how. All that being said, if someone wanted to take a sharp object to the top, they would open it up quite easily. The same could be said of the standard soft top, but would the mesh inspire a vandal more or be more inviting? Who's to say? Maybe, maybe not. I also don't know if this top would deter someone from spitting on the car more or less than with the top off, but it should stop at least 60% of the spit from getting inside. The upside with this top is that if it does get slashed, all is not lost. I can replace the mesh for you.

How can this help when I'm being followed by helicopters like in Good Fellas? The mesh top will allow you to see them more easily.

Here is a video of how it works and performs. Please excuse the quality as I made this real quick with a digi cam on mpeg mode.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUPS5FY5uVg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUPS5FY5uVg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Disclaimer:
The Taylor Mesh Top is meant only to provide shade. No claims or guarantees are made to protect vehicle occupants from any road hazards or debris. Each top is quality tested and fitted, however, manufacturer accepts no liability by the use or misuse of this product.

kaz · 10-04-2009, 11:01 AM

can you sell this with the soft top rods as well? I sold my soft top a while back and I don't have them anymore - also, I gotta say it's pretty cool you just decided to make this, make a video, and it's for sale like in 2 days

local600 · 10-04-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaz

can you sell this with the soft top rods as well? I sold my soft top a while back and I don't have them anymore - also, I gotta say it's pretty cool you just decided to make this, make a video, and it's for sale like in 2 days

I wanted to be further along and have more of them made, but based on the feedback, I decided to pull the trigger now. It's not like I made it last week, I've been making and testing mine for quite a while. Glad you like it.

You can get the rails at Lotusgarage.com for about $25 each.
Lotus Garage - Soft Top Roof, Cant Rails, Roof Bows

Demonized · 10-04-2009, 11:37 AM

That's seriously badass. I never take my hardtop off though.

local600 · 10-04-2009, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demonized

That's seriously badass. I never take my hardtop off though.

You should try it sometime, it's a whole different car. Thanks for the

toedrag · 10-08-2009, 06:09 PM

Just finished my inaugural drive with my new Taylor Top!!!

I'll update with pics and/or video when we have some good sunny days. Got some rain in the forecast.

So far, I love this top!

Pro's:
-Lightweight
-Visibility is terrific. Removes the cave-like feeling that a stock top introduces. No more stopping 10 feet before a traffic signal or awkwardly leaning forward to see traffic signals
-Shape of the top looks stock when installed. Maintains contours nicely
-A/C still works well with windows up.
-Cable seating in the channel is good. Tension is good - it's not going to come up.
-Rails are well seated. No noise or vibration from the rails
-Windows Up passed the wife hair test at highway speeds

Non-Pro's (not necessarily cons)
-As documented in the instructions, the cables do need to be slightly guided into the channel right where the cable terminates at each rail.
-With windows up, airflow is mostly behind the top of your head. There is little to no airflow in front of the driver/passenger areas.
-Rear mesh flaps a little above 40mph. Flapping is not audible, and it doesn't seem to contact any of the painted fiberglass on the rollbar cover, even at highway speeds.

I do have one question for you, local600: Do you see any problem with leaving the top installed long-term...will the mesh material stretch out and lose tension? I hope I can leave it for a while. I only drive in fair weather, and this may replace my soft top completely. But, if I need to remove it when I'm not driving, that's fine too.

mhouston23 · 10-08-2009, 07:28 PM

That is seriously cool.

knucklehead · 10-08-2009, 10:25 PM

Great mod! Bravo

kaz · 10-09-2009, 01:11 PM

got mine in the mail today...very cool top

I'll post some pics later next week

darkSol · 10-09-2009, 02:03 PM

I know there's a gap but I still would like to see pictures of it installed with the windows up.

local600 · 10-09-2009, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toedrag

Just finished my inaugural drive with my new Taylor Top!!!

I'll update with pics and/or video when we have some good sunny days. Got some rain in the forecast.

So far, I love this top! .....

I do have one question for you, local600: Do you see any problem with leaving the top installed long-term...will the mesh material stretch out and lose tension? I hope I can leave it for a while. I only drive in fair weather, and this may replace my soft top completely. But, if I need to remove it when I'm not driving, that's fine too.

Thank you so much for the honest review! Yeah, the top moves a little bit because by nature, air is flowing through it. It should only occur at the rear in the middle. You get a choice of either "pass the wife hair test" or "have airflow in front of the driver/passenger areas," but not both. haha. You should also find that after you use it for a while, the cables will not need as much guiding in the future.

There should be no problem leaving the mesh top on long-term as this is what I do when I'm not fitting a new one that I'm making. It's designed for outdoor use and harsh sun. The specs say that it won't stretch more than 1.0%.

I'm glad you guys like it as much as I do! Permission to post this review on the forum page? People have been asking for feedback.

Cheers,
Chris Taylor

local600 · 10-09-2009, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkSol

I know there's a gap but I still would like to see pictures of it installed with the windows up.

I'll post one soon.

toedrag · 10-09-2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by local600

Permission to post this review on the forum page? People have been asking for feedback.

Absolutely!

toedrag · 10-09-2009, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkSol

I know there's a gap but I still would like to see pictures of it installed with the windows up.

Here ya go!

local600 · 10-10-2009, 10:20 PM

toedrag, thanks for posting those pictures. It looks really good with your blue.

Seb · 10-11-2009, 01:52 PM

Wow thats a big gap

jlj3394 · 10-11-2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seb

Wow thats a big gap

The gap size really shouldn't matter - it is not a soft top, it is a screen designed to allow the air in, but keep the sun out.

I had one of these for my Wranglers and it was great on those really hot sunny days when you still wanted the open top/no doors feel.

local600 · 10-11-2009, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jlj3394

The gap size really shouldn't matter - it is not a soft top, it is a screen designed to allow the air in, but keep the sun out.

I had one of these for my Wranglers and it was great on those really hot sunny days when you still wanted the open top/no doors feel.

Yeah, the attitude with this top is the topless experience with some shade and is really meant to be used with the windows down. Making it match up with the windows would make each one overly complicated to make (more expensive too) and the extra structure would look quite bulky. To the untrained observer, this looks like you opted to leave the windows down a few inches. The bonus is that you have a few more inches of headroom for getting in and out. If I go in a store or something, it just looks like I opted to leave the windows down a few inches.

kaz · 10-23-2009, 10:07 PM

I know this is a sales thread with limited discussion...but I just wanted to say this top is awesome. I got it a while back, it's pretty cool. Will post pics this weekend -

10-04-2009, 10:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
local600 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Altadena, ca Posts: 206	Taylor Mesh Top The Taylor Mesh Top we've been talking about at the link below is now officially available for sale. Finally finished the mod I've been dreaming about. I am taking pre-orders with no cash down. The first two will ship rather quickly and the rest are in a state of assembly. I will contact you when your top is ready. The price is $350 plus $25 S&H and includes a nylon rip-stop storage bag. How to order: Send me an email titled: "Taylor Mesh Top" to JetsetPress@sbcglobal.net. I will send you confirmation of your pre-order and an invoice when it's ready. Other things to know / FAQ: How much does the Taylor Mesh Top weigh? I knew you'd ask, so I made it light by design. It weighs exactly 4 pounds. What is it made of? The main support beams are aluminum. The cables are plastic coated stainless and the mesh is a woven vinyl-coated fiberglass which absorbs and dissipates up to 70% of the sun's heat and glare. How big is it when it's in the bag? Approx. 30" long and 13" around. So I use the same ribs from my soft top? YES. This top is designed to use the ribs that came with your car. They provide the needed tension to the mesh as well as the original shape we have all come to know and love. Doesn't it flap in the wind? Not really, it moves a bit, but of course it will because air is moving through it which is part of the point. It is, however, under a fair amount of tension which keeps it quite tight. You will probably only notice this movement in the center of the top at the rear if at all. What if I want a different color mesh, perhaps to match my paint? Right now, the standard color is black. For an extra fee, there is a silver grey and brown or "bronze" color available. That being said, if you find a mesh that you would prefer, I can make a top for you out of it. Contact me for the amount required and to make sure it's suitable for outdoor use. What are the specs of the mesh you use? Thickness: .019 in (0.48mm) Openness Factor: Approx. 25% UV Blockage: Approx. 75% Light Blockage: Approx. 75% (2 stops for you photographer types) Stretch: 1.0% Where are these made? The Taylor Mesh Top is made by me, by hand in California. Please don't suggest I make them in communist China. It ain't going to happen. What if it rains? You're probably getting wet. Doesn't it meet up with the windows when I roll them up? Nah. The attitude with this top is the topless experience and, hence, is meant to be used with the windows down. They roll up, but there will be a gap of a few inches. Making it match up with the windows would make each one overly complicated to make, besides, why not have a few more inches of headroom for getting in and out? To the untrained observer, this looks like you opted to leave the windows down a few inches. The extra structure would look quite bulky and the top is not meant for security. See next question. Will this top keep people from stealing my stuff from inside the car? That depends on the thief. The gap between the window is too small for an average adult to do much of anything. It's also too small to remove the top, even if you knew how. All that being said, if someone wanted to take a sharp object to the top, they would open it up quite easily. The same could be said of the standard soft top, but would the mesh inspire a vandal more or be more inviting? Who's to say? Maybe, maybe not. I also don't know if this top would deter someone from spitting on the car more or less than with the top off, but it should stop at least 60% of the spit from getting inside. The upside with this top is that if it does get slashed, all is not lost. I can replace the mesh for you. How can this help when I'm being followed by helicopters like in Good Fellas? The mesh top will allow you to see them more easily. Here is a video of how it works and performs. Please excuse the quality as I made this real quick with a digi cam on mpeg mode. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUPS5FY5uVg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KUPS5FY5uVg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Disclaimer: The Taylor Mesh Top is meant only to provide shade. No claims or guarantees are made to protect vehicle occupants from any road hazards or debris. Each top is quality tested and fitted, however, manufacturer accepts no liability by the use or misuse of this product. __________________ It's not where you are going that matters, it's how you get there.

10-04-2009, 11:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
kaz JabStrongFierce Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Downtown LA + SF Posts: 2,420	can you sell this with the soft top rods as well? I sold my soft top a while back and I don't have them anymore - also, I gotta say it's pretty cool you just decided to make this, make a video, and it's for sale like in 2 days __________________ 2006 Elise : JFG \| Nitrons \| 2bular 8" Single \| Reverie diffuser and misc. carbon bits \| Tripoint Engineering W/A Intercooler \| Ronin supercharger \| DRS EFI and tuning

10-04-2009, 11:37 AM	#4 (permalink)
Demonized NOT ßANNED! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,546	That's seriously badass. I never take my hardtop off though. __________________ 2005 Saffron Yellow Elise, Katana Supercharger, LSS Wheels, 2Bular exhaust & cat, rear panel delete, Cup Airbox, Volt / Oil temp gauge, Ohlins double adjustable coilovers, Dual Oil Coolers, S111 RTD Brace, Moroso Oil Pan, MicroMirror, S111 "V-Force" Harness bar, Manly Engine Mounts, Odyssey PC680 & RLS Bracket, Saikou Michi OCC, CF Scoops, CF Bootlid, CF Front Lip.

10-08-2009, 06:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
toedrag Crunchy Smurf Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 254 Images: 25	Just finished my inaugural drive with my new Taylor Top!!! I'll update with pics and/or video when we have some good sunny days. Got some rain in the forecast. So far, I love this top! Pro's: -Lightweight -Visibility is terrific. Removes the cave-like feeling that a stock top introduces. No more stopping 10 feet before a traffic signal or awkwardly leaning forward to see traffic signals -Shape of the top looks stock when installed. Maintains contours nicely -A/C still works well with windows up. -Cable seating in the channel is good. Tension is good - it's not going to come up. -Rails are well seated. No noise or vibration from the rails -Windows Up passed the wife hair test at highway speeds Non-Pro's (not necessarily cons) -As documented in the instructions, the cables do need to be slightly guided into the channel right where the cable terminates at each rail. -With windows up, airflow is mostly behind the top of your head. There is little to no airflow in front of the driver/passenger areas. -Rear mesh flaps a little above 40mph. Flapping is not audible, and it doesn't seem to contact any of the painted fiberglass on the rollbar cover, even at highway speeds. I do have one question for you, local600: Do you see any problem with leaving the top installed long-term...will the mesh material stretch out and lose tension? I hope I can leave it for a while. I only drive in fair weather, and this may replace my soft top completely. But, if I need to remove it when I'm not driving, that's fine too. __________________ 2006 Laser Blue Elise -aka, Blue Lightning 2.0, The Little Blue Car, my automobile soul mate

10-08-2009, 07:28 PM	#7 (permalink)
mhouston23 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 166 Images: 3	That is seriously cool. __________________ 2008 Persian Blue Elise SC - HT, Sport, Touring 2008 Honda Fit Sport (Daily Driver) 2003 Honda S2000 (Sold) 1999 Honda Prelude SH (Traded)

10-08-2009, 10:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
knucklehead TWRD & Blip advertising Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Marina del Rey, CA Posts: 3,835	Great mod! Bravo __________________ Jacob Join Lotuscar.ning.com for LA Lotus social events 05 Exise, 2bular 6 inch exhaust. BWR double adjustable Penske shocks, Hypercoil springs, HIDs, BWR front sway bar, Light weight PC680 battery w/BWR brace, BWR Black badges and wheel centers, Custom SCC paint job, SCC OEM Exige mesh kit and Exige rear clam details, LSD, Lotus sport clutch and light weight fly wheel. Sector front splitter. Stebel horn. Multivex Mirrors. Volk CE28 wheels

10-09-2009, 01:11 PM	#9 (permalink)
kaz JabStrongFierce Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Downtown LA + SF Posts: 2,420	got mine in the mail today...very cool top I'll post some pics later next week __________________ 2006 Elise : JFG \| Nitrons \| 2bular 8" Single \| Reverie diffuser and misc. carbon bits \| Tripoint Engineering W/A Intercooler \| Ronin supercharger \| DRS EFI and tuning

10-09-2009, 02:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
darkSol Meow!! Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Leawood, KS Posts: 2,576	I know there's a gap but I still would like to see pictures of it installed with the windows up. __________________ d.a..v...i....d David Thomas Stewart - davidtstewart@gmail.com TVS Supercharged 2005 Graphite Grey Lotus Elise: 286whp, 1781lbs. Lotus cars aren't made, they're hand built from dreams. If you must choose between two evils, pick the one you've never tried before.

10-10-2009, 10:20 PM	#15 (permalink)
local600 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Altadena, ca Posts: 206	toedrag, thanks for posting those pictures. It looks really good with your blue. __________________ It's not where you are going that matters, it's how you get there.

10-11-2009, 01:52 PM	#16 (permalink)
Seb <3 QR25DE Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 753	Wow thats a big gap

10-23-2009, 10:07 PM	#19 (permalink)
kaz JabStrongFierce Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Downtown LA + SF Posts: 2,420	I know this is a sales thread with limited discussion...but I just wanted to say this top is awesome. I got it a while back, it's pretty cool. Will post pics this weekend - __________________ 2006 Elise : JFG \| Nitrons \| 2bular 8" Single \| Reverie diffuser and misc. carbon bits \| Tripoint Engineering W/A Intercooler \| Ronin supercharger \| DRS EFI and tuning

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