Convertible Protocol Question
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Crowley Texas
Convertible Protocol Question
Quick question for the convertible owners. If you make a quick run, say to the grocery store, with your top down, do you put the top up and lock your car when you get to the store, or do you leave it wide open? Same question, except you go to the movies, and you’ll be inside for a few hours. One more. You drive to work, and you’ll be in your office for the next 8 hours.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,114
From: Crossville TN
Bottom line: If you don't want your car vandalized, you will not leave the top down while you are not around your vehicle. In fact, just leaving it alone for any amount of time is risky. There are a lot of jealous folks, freaks, pill-poppers, and weirdos out there who just LOVE to cause trouble for other folks. Your Corvette...especially if the top is down...is like a bright neon sign flashing "come and get me". That's just the way it is, when you have something that others want...but can't have. 
[Well, they could have one, but that would require work, effort, money and time from them. Ain't gonna happen....it's much easier to just trash yours.]
[Well, they could have one, but that would require work, effort, money and time from them. Ain't gonna happen....it's much easier to just trash yours.]
Last edited by 7T1vette; Feb 8, 2013 at 02:32 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
There is no protocol, other than not calling the car a "vert." What you do with the top is up to you.
Use your head. If you've left the top down while you're in the movie, how do you know it hasn't started to sprinkle?
Use your head. If you've left the top down while you're in the movie, how do you know it hasn't started to sprinkle?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 482
Likes: 23
If I go out with the top down it usually stays down. Have not left it alone (like for several hours in a movie) for that long so really never put the top up for security. I live in a pretty low crime area and always figured that I would rather not have them cut through my top if they want to steal something.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
I never lock the doors on a convertible. If they want in, they will get in. The only difference is whether you will have to get a new top in addition to replace the stolen items.
The only time I would put the top up is if I got caught in a rare downpour. I don't ususally take the Corvette when there is a chance of rain. I have a toneau top that I use everywhere, except when it is in plain view. Then I might leave it open. I've never had a problem, even at work all day. I also don't leave anything of value in the car either so if somebody took a peek, there wouldn't be anything to see. Also, I leave they Corvette at home if I am going places that are not a destination place, meaning people are going there with a purpose, and the destination is not something that attracts riff-raff.
Toneau top:
The only time I would put the top up is if I got caught in a rare downpour. I don't ususally take the Corvette when there is a chance of rain. I have a toneau top that I use everywhere, except when it is in plain view. Then I might leave it open. I've never had a problem, even at work all day. I also don't leave anything of value in the car either so if somebody took a peek, there wouldn't be anything to see. Also, I leave they Corvette at home if I am going places that are not a destination place, meaning people are going there with a purpose, and the destination is not something that attracts riff-raff.
Toneau top:
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
Fairly lo crime area, and so never leave anything in the car, and if it looks like rain, I just flop the top in place, react as necessary when I get back, in fact I have NO door lock on the car any more.....
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,416
Likes: 8
From: Charlotte (Area) North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14
NCM Sinkhole Donor
If I go out with the top down it usually stays down. Have not left it alone (like for several hours in a movie) for that long so really never put the top up for security. I live in a pretty low crime area and always figured that I would rather not have them cut through my top if they want to steal something.
Sometimes the wife will get chilly on the way home from a cruise in so the top goes up. Once the hardtop is on it stays on for a while! It is a pain to go on and off too often!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 61
From: Southern NH
if I take my '81 to a store I'm not going to be in there for more then 10 minutes. the t tops stay off and the doors unlocked. I do lock the glove box so no one steals my sunglasses or 8 track tapes. 
Racer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 415
Likes: 10
From: Richmond Va
On a similar note: Do you guys have aftermarket alarms? And if so, what price range and options do you have. My car is in the paint shop and it is a vert. I will not be leaving it alone for any lenght of time(trip inside Advance or NAPA is about it) but looking for a nice alarm system w/ pager alert etc. Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,495
Likes: 134
From: Blanco County, TX
No snaps, 2 twist lock hooks in the holes on the deck, 2 nylon hooks in the vents in front of the windshield (suction cups might work better), and 2 in corner of the wheel wells. I think the last two are supposed to go in the side pipes or under the rocker panel but the straps are stretched and it hangs too loose.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,124
Likes: 140
From: Western New York
I never have a problem with the top, whether up or down, because if my '72 is out of the garage, I'm in it. If I want to run to the store or take in a movie, I take my DD. I had a '67 Camaro RS/SS stolen while my wife and I were at the movies back in '71. Don't ever want to go through that experience again. Once in a lifetime is more than enough.
Duane
Duane
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,456
Likes: 10
From: Somerdale NJ
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-‘17-‘18
On quick runs = top down on ride. Never leave car for too long, but put top up and lock it up with alarm on.
Don't drive to work, store or movies with it - use other cars.
Don't drive to work, store or movies with it - use other cars.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,760
Likes: 820
From: SUFFIELD CT USA 2023 C8 CORVETTE UN-MODIFIED FINALIST
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
On a similar note: Do you guys have aftermarket alarms? And if so, what price range and options do you have. My car is in the paint shop and it is a vert. I will not be leaving it alone for any lenght of time(trip inside Advance or NAPA is about it) but looking for a nice alarm system w/ pager alert etc. Thanks