I have very recently bought myself a nice 1997 Vitara JX, but i can't for the life of me figure out how to get the convertible roof down. It is a standard vitara soft top i think, where the sunroof part and rear part are all attached like one big flap. I've been able to undo all the buttons, unfasten the velcro, and then it seems the rear arms that hold it up at the back need to bend somehow... 

Also, how can you just have the sunroof back, without taking the whole thing off - where does the sunroof flap secure to?

I was wondering if anyone had like a step-by-step guide (with photos, would be nice) on how to take the roof down?

Thanks 

He there.
The trick is to reach into the botom of the rear window, just behind the seats
The soft top at this point is curved, Give it a firm hit with your closed fist OUTWARD.
This releases the U shaped clip and the rear window will fold up.

My Tracker is in storage right now, so I'm doing this from memory.  I think the '97 Vitara uses the same top.  Chime in guys if I forget anything...

To open the sunroof, you just squeeze the red buttons on the front clips at the top of the windshield frame, release the clips and fold the header frame back.  The header frame with the sunroof attached to it just rests on the targa bar, and there is a strap to snap the frame to the bar, but I rarely use it. 

To put the top all the way down, after you fold the sunroof back, unzip the rear window and unzip and remove the side windows.  Unsnap the five snaps across the inside of the header bar frame, fold the header frame forward, clip it into its usual position on top of the windshield frame, and fold the sunroof flap back over the rest of the top.  Unfasten the two snaps on the inside of the targa bar, and the two snaps on the straps on either side of the roof opening above the doors.  This releases the top frame and allows it to fold down to the rear behind the back seat.  Release the back corners of the top from the channels at the corners of the rear of the body.  Fold the top and stuff it behind the back seat. 

Putting it back up is just the reverse process.  Clip in the rear corners, raise the frame, snap the snaps to the targa bar, fasten the straps over the doors, refasten the five snaps to the header, reinstall the side windows and rear window.