 All model years of the Honda S2000 come equipped with a vinyl convertible top. The top is a vinyl weave which gives a very convincing appearance of fabric. However, the top is definitely made of vinyl. The first few model years of the S2000 convertible tops featured a plastic rear window.
Later model year convertible tops are equipped with a glass rear window and a rear defroster.
Proper maintenance of your S2000’s convertible top will not only make the car look good, but will help to premature top failure. Putting the top up and down puts a good deal of stress on the vinyl material. Uncared for vinyl tops crack, split, or tear much easier than a well cared for top. Replacing the top can cost thousands of dollars whereas a bottle of vinyl protectant which will last an entire year costs $5-$20. Normal maintenance of the top can be performed by simply washing it with car wash soap along with the rest of the car. However, 1-2 times per year you will want to deep clean the top using this procedure. You may also spot clean stains from the top using these techniques.
What you’ll need . . .
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Water – you’ll need a water source with a hose and a spray nozzle attached. -
Convertible top cleaner – any cleaner made specifically for cleaning vinyl will work well. The most popular vinyl cleaners include Ragg Topp Convertible Top Cleaner and 303 Convertible Top Cleaner. -
Brushes – an upholstery brush or a boar’s hair wash brush will work well to clean your top. Tougher stains may require additional elbow grease and the use of an old toothbrush or detailing brush. -
Microfiber waffle weave towel – while any type of microfiber towel will work for drying, waffle weave towels are the most absorbent type of microfiber towel. There are many great waffle weave towels available such as the Cobra Ultimate Guzzler and Big Blue II. -
Convertible top dressing – any vinyl dressing with UV protection will do a good job protecting and restoring your convertible top. The most popular vinyl dressings include Ragg Topp for Vinyl, 303 Aerospace Protectant, and Vinylex. -
Dressing applicator – foam applicators, folded microfiber towels, and sponges all work well to apply vinyl dressing. -
Microfiber towels – cheap microfiber towels from a wholesale club like Costco are a great tool for convertible top detailing. They’re cheap enough so that you won’t mind getting them really dirty, but they are absorbent and soft like more expensive microfiber towels. Make sure they are clean and that all tags have been removed before use.
How to get it done . . .
1. Soak the convertible top with water from your hose. It is important that the top remain wet at all times during cleaning. 2. Spray generous amounts of your convertible top cleaner on the entire top. Try to avoid spraying the paint with any convertible top cleaner. Allow the cleaner to dwell for a minute before proceeding. 
3. Scrub the entire top lightly with your upholstery or boar’s hair brush. Scrub any tough stains with your toothbrush. 
4. Rinse the top thoroughly making sure all cleaner has been rinsed from the top. 
5. When drying the rest of your car use the waffle weave microfiber towel to dry the convertible top as well. 6. Apply the vinyl dressing to the top. Never spray the dressing directly on the top. First spray the dressing on your applicator  and then use the applicator to apply the dressing to your top. Allow the dressing to set for about 20 minutes. 
7. Thoroughly buff the top with a microfiber towel to remove any excess dressing. Buffing the top well will prevent any run off of dressing onto the paint when the car next gets wet. 
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