Need Advice from Vert Owners
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 179
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From: Ponte Vedra Beach FL
Need Advice from Vert Owners
I am getting the itch for a convertible. I have driven a C5 vert, but never a C4 vert. I know there is no trunk in the C4 like the C5, so I am wondering:
How much storage space is left in the vette after the top is down. I know it will be less than I am used to in my coupe, but I am wondering how light I need to pack on road trips.
I would like an LT4. How much is it going to cost me to scratch this itch?
Rick
How much storage space is left in the vette after the top is down. I know it will be less than I am used to in my coupe, but I am wondering how light I need to pack on road trips.
I would like an LT4. How much is it going to cost me to scratch this itch?
Rick
Spending his inheritance
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From: If the RV's arock'n, don't come aknock'n FL
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
When I travel, the top is always up...there is very little room. If you pack light in slim suitcases, you'll be ok.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Phx/but its a dry blast furnace kinda heat AZ
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
How light to pack? Guess that depends how long a trip and if you like to wear nothing but speedo's :D
With the top down you can fit two small-med soft side duffle type bags. You get roughly a space with the dimensions of 10"-12"hx36"wx16"d, maybe a little more (i.e. NOT MUCH). I think the key is that the "container" is flexible to fit in the little space you get. Me and my gal went for a weekend trip without much trouble. Just make sure whoever tags along isn't a clothes horse and bring only what you need!
You're alternative is a rear deck luggage rack or a small trailer.
The pain is more than worth the experience! IMHO
With the top down you can fit two small-med soft side duffle type bags. You get roughly a space with the dimensions of 10"-12"hx36"wx16"d, maybe a little more (i.e. NOT MUCH). I think the key is that the "container" is flexible to fit in the little space you get. Me and my gal went for a weekend trip without much trouble. Just make sure whoever tags along isn't a clothes horse and bring only what you need!
You're alternative is a rear deck luggage rack or a small trailer.
The pain is more than worth the experience! IMHO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,512
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From: ZR1 Gathering '04, '05 Northlake Texas
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
I went from a coupe to a convertable this year. You lose about 1/2 your luggage space. It is not as deep, and it is only as high as the rear deck. With the top down you only lose maybe 5 inch in hight space. You do have to pack lighter. I added the luggage rack to mine for more carring space. But over all I like the vert way better than the coupe. It is a lot nicer with the top down opposed the the roof panel off. You don't get all the turbulance in the vert.
I have driven the C5 vert and it is even nicer then the C4 vert, but I just like the lines on the C4 better. Anyway just my humble opinion.
I have driven the C5 vert and it is even nicer then the C4 vert, but I just like the lines on the C4 better. Anyway just my humble opinion.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Miami bound
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Mikez40)
I use a hanging style suitcase, which lays down in the back easily even with the top down. A few more odds and ends can be shoved back there, and everything else rides in the passenger seat. You just learn to pack light.
Advanced
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 74
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From: Kennesaw GA
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
I originally had a '95 yellow coupe. The body twisted and flexed so much with the top panel off, I couldn't stand driving with it off. So, now I have a '92 Polo Green vert, and what a difference. With the top down or up, the body seems stiffer and better built. No twisting and flexing in the 'vert. What a pleasure to drive, top up/top down. I'd go for it, room for luggage or not.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Sarasota, FL
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (92_Polo_Pilot)
There is of course limited room, but I have always been able to pack more then I thought I could. I use soft luggage, and if I am really gonna use all the space I use more than one bag, two or three small ones, that way I can work around the curves. I recently drove my Corvette to Utah for a week long rafting trip. I packed sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, sleeping pad, life jacket, dog food, and dog bowls all behind the seats with the top down. My dog sat in the passenger seat with another person. if you are a bit creative you can get a lot back there, just not much hard stuff.
Bob
Bob
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Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Maryland
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
It's about the same footprint size as my C3 with the top down - but about half the height. :eek: Not too much room. A lot of folks from my club end up UPS-ing dirty clothes home from road tours and using the trunk room for the trinkets and stuff they buy along the way. :D If you're creative with the packing you can fit 4 grocery bags back there. :yesnod:
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Fernandina Beach Florida
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Juliet)
Soft luggage is the ticket. The real secret to packing a C4 Vert is to get about a 2' wooden stick. Pop the rear of the top and open the hatch. You can then prop the top up and get luggage in and out easily. I bought the 'Cargo Carrier' for my 90 that goes on the luggage rack. It carried a bunch of stuff, but I couldn't see ANYTHING out of the rearview mirror. I also had to unbuckle it to get gas in. However, my wife loved being able to pack as much as she wanted for trips!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2001
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
I have both a C4 and a C5 Convertable. Have taken the C4 for 2 weeks by my self on a western trip.... used all soft sided luggage and clothes containers. Only problem was stuffin the extra hard soled shoes. We can take a 2 day weekend trip in the C4 anything else requires the C5. This past weekend we took a mountain trip.... 3 days.... boy did we need the C5. Not so much going but comming home.... :D :D
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From: Kennesaw, GA www.96LT4.com
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
I can fit 2 bags in the back with the top down. They are small, 2-3 days worth of stuff. How much for an LT4 vert??? Depends on how nice of one you want. :D
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Miami bound
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (96LT4)
I can fit 2 bags in the back with the top down. They are small, 2-3 days worth of stuff. How much for an LT4 vert??? Depends on how nice of one you want. :D
:jester
Racer
Joined: Aug 2001
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Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Snowblind)
Back in 97' myself and a friend took my 87' vert on a trip to Bloomington Gold and then to the NCM and then a long route back home to MN. We were on the road for a total of ten days. This trip was not only a Corvette trip but also a golf trip (At leat one round per day). You may find this really hard to believe but with no luggage rack or trailer we managed to pack clothes for five days for each of us, about 100 cd's two sets of golf clubs and we still had room to put the top down! You gotta get real creative but it can be done. As far as Coupe vs Vert.....The day I bought my vert a wise man told me "Coupes R4 Chickens" Just my opinion don't want to offend anyone out there but Iv'e had an 84 coupe and my current vert and the only way I'd go back to a coupe is if it was a ZR-1.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: The Dark Side of the Moon
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (rbvette1)
There is more room in there than you think. The key is soft bags. Use gym bags and you'll not have a problem stuffing them in or getting them out. We have packed more than 12 grocery bags in there plus soft drink boxes and laughed that it all fit in there! Folks in the parking lot just looked at us in amazement. The floor is flat and is usable. I had less usable space in my 84 Firebird. You'll be fine.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Southern California
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Shawn93PoloConv)
My car hasn't left me stranded for room. Nothing has the lines of a C4 Vert. Take one for a test drive and let us know how you like it.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Pro
Joined: Feb 2001
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From: FL
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Need Advice from Vert Owners (Raysur)
I have a 92 vert and love it. I had a 74 t-top and I think I have more room in my vert. I too would not trade it for a hard top. I love the openess and the ride. Besides the looks you get when ya shifting the gears and letting it do what it does best is a blast. I have the 6spd and when I sold my C3 I said I wanted a 6spd rag top and thats what I got.
My brother and I took it from SC to KY for the rally this spring. We both packed soft bags and even a cooler and stuffed food etc in the locking bin. I have a 12 changer that takes up some room but it all fit. I even got to bring back goodies and had the top down too...
Go for it...
CJ :flag :chevy
My brother and I took it from SC to KY for the rally this spring. We both packed soft bags and even a cooler and stuffed food etc in the locking bin. I have a 12 changer that takes up some room but it all fit. I even got to bring back goodies and had the top down too...
Go for it...
CJ :flag :chevy
