I currently own a '98 coupe, but I am thinking of getting a Vert. Is there anything that I should be aware of or should be concerned about.
What are the advantages (Besides going topless) vs the disadvantages. I don't drive it in the winter (live in MA). Maintainence, etc. Are any years better than others? Every Vette has its problems, but never owned a Vert.
What is the average price difference that I should look to pay for the VERT? Years being equal as well as conditions

 

I have a 99 Vert myself, and Im very happy with it, minus the glass removing issue that im having

 

I have had two coupes(C-4's) and three convertibles(C-4 and 2 C-5's).

The advantage that I experienced in the coupes were that they were quieter because of the solid roof. The '96 Collectors convertible was a nice car but it had what I call cowl shake the car did not feel solid. The 2000 convetible I had was a completly different feel a solid driving car and I sold it last fall.

I thought that I could go without a summer driver (we live in Michigan)- no deal just bought a '03 6,000 mile 50th anniversary and both my wife and I truly enjoy it. I cannot explain the feeling but in my opinion a convertible really puts a grin on your face and my wifes too.

Best of Luck,
MikeN

 

Hi,

I've owned many convertibles over the years; like five maybe. Right now I own two, a '93 Allante and an '04 Corvette and my third car has a sunroof! I've also ridden m/c's my entire life as well. The point? I LOVE fresh air! I don't care about the weather as much as I enjoy being in the wind. I don't like A/C, even when its outrageously hot. I don't like to be closed in/, windows up etc.

I can't tell ya' much about a Vert from the top up perspective 'cuz I live in Sandy Eggo and rarely drive with the top up.

Soooooooo, from a top down perspective I can say the negatives are: the wind noise on long freeway drives, harder to hear audio system, harder to communicate with passenger, passenger may want more heat when top is down on a cold day, bald heads gets sunburned easier, hehee, seats get hot when left in sun (I have a cockpit cover for the Allante. On the Vette I just flip the top up when leaving in direct sunlight. Always at risk someone will slit your top or throw a lit cigarette on the seat/floor.

Positives besides being in the wind; your car definitely draws attention and admiration, its versatile; you can go top up or down at your whim.

I'm sure there are many more plus's and minus's but those are the first that come to my mind.

You gotta' own at least one in your lifetime so go for it!

Good luck!
..rickko..

 

I sold my 98 Vert for my current Z06, I love the power and sound of the Z, but really miss the topless feeling.
Only thing really to look at is the weatherstripping on the older models, I believe they made a small change on the srtipping in 99 or 00, to help whisk away water around the trunk and window areas.

 

Coupe has a lot more storage space.

 

I agree with rickko. I owned a 68 vert for almost 22 years - loved the top-off (I had a removable hardtop option) feeling but hated the top-on darkness. You really do go from super-bright to dark and gloomy. Driving in traffic was not much fun with the top off, either, as the noise drowns out the stereo quite easily.

So, in summation, the vert is unbeatable with the top down, but the coupe with translucent top trounces a vert with top-up. Now if only the vert came with a translucent fabric............

 

I would stick with the coupe. With the targa off, you get the feel of the 'vert but with the safety and style of the hard top. Also, the targa top is just plain cool. You can get a 'vert in anything...even a Geo Metro, but the targa is very unique and screams Corvette. Hell, with the coupe, even with the top on, you still have that wide open feel because of the glass top....but this is just IMO.

 

I'm on my third vette, first one had T-tops that was really nice, then my C-4 had the glass Targa top and that was great for around town but really bad wind on the freeway, then my wife decide we should have a red vert so we bought our first C-5 vert 99 mag red with blk int, I still had my doubts about being so open the wind factor we live in a very nice region but nice enough foe a vert, and now after having a week to enjoy my car with the top down we actually had weather in the high sixty's its been great I love it ne regrets at all everyone should own a vert once in there life, the wind is ok I can still here the stereo just fine we have dual climate controls passenger comfort no problem,I like the sleek look of the vert, once you get one and expierence the top down feeling you will love it I do .

 

I have owned 5 Vettes all verts. I love having the top down, priceless. If you get a C5 vert, get a 2000 or newer because the vert top was improved.

 

I loved my coupe, until I drove a VERT From now on its only VERTs 4 ME

 

The age old question...

...coupe or vert...
...mn6 or a4...
..."show" or "go"...

So we got both...

 

Other than the obvious I really enjoy the roof down on a warm summer night and the ability to look around without obstructions. Nothing like it for it is a great experience without any downsides except when they kick me off the track for going too fast...

 

There are few things better in this world that cruising in a nice Corvette Vert. Most of the open fun feeling of a Motorcycle without the extreme danger lurking around every corner. From a pure driving experience - The Vert is WAY above the coupe IMHO.

To me thios car is not loud, does not have a lot of wind buffeting (but then I also drove my 23 T bucket back from Miami in a hurricane

With the top up it fine like any other Vette, but it has a blind spot so you have to really look before cutting through traffic. This becomes a small price to pay for the awesome top down feeling that a targa top (although good) can not possibly match.

If you want a Vert Get one - you will be always wishing you had if you don't. Worse comes to worse and you just hate it, you can always sell it next spring and buy a coupe.

 

I can never resist getting sucked into these threads.

There are people that are vert people. They'll never have anything but. I'm one. Had a coupe for a while, but it just didn't do it for me, although as several have mentioned, the glass top is really cool. So is the extra storage, though the vert isn't all that bad. I get so much enjoyment from driving with the top down that the negatives kinda fade away.

Don't think anyone has mentioned competition or driver's education classes. If you plan to track the car or compete in anything but AutoX, you may want to look at the coupe. While some DE classes will let you track a vert, my experience has been it will only be in the slower run groups unless you go with a roll bar. Competition is a small part of what I do with my car so it had to be a vert.

Nice thing is... the worst day I ever had driving the coupe was still wonderful. You win no matter which choice you make.

Good luck with your choice.

 

There are NO NEGATIVES to a vert.

 

Agree *almost* 100%. However, if you'd have asked me the night I left the top down on my TR6 and came back to find it full of water up to the doors sills after a sudden thunderstorm... I mean the gages even had water in them!!

But that was "Convertible Lesson 1" learned about two days after getting the car.

 

Personally, I like the profile of a 'vert (or FRC, for that matter) far, far better than the coupe. I seldom have had the top down on any of my 'vette 'verts (3), though, because it messes up my hair.

 

I've had 3 verts.. none of them vettes and when I was buying my vette I labored over the decision too and ended up with a coupe. Verts are great most of the time but driving in traffic with the top down on a hot summer day isn't one of them. Summers here in the DC area are pretty hot and I used the vert less than I would have liked. Add the fact that I have no garage and I opted for the Coupe. Now.. "the best of all possible worlds" would be to have the Hard top Vert!

 

Traded my 2004 coupe (7K miles) for a 2002 Vert (13K) miles. Almost an even trade.

Absolutely love the Vert. I love topless!