Top down all day?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,293
Likes: 0
From: Big Bear City CA
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
Screw the dirt, dust, pollen and bird crap. The absolute worse enemy is the UV from the sun. The other issue can be cleaned, but that UV will literally beat the hell out of your interior!
Pro
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Fountain hills AZ
Originally Posted by dunbindun(tov)
Any vert owners leaving their top down all day? I have a great job with safe secure parking and no concerns of any one bothering the open car.
The only threats I see are an errant bird or popup thunderstorm.
DBD
The only threats I see are an errant bird or popup thunderstorm.
DBD
I libve in AZ, and the sun is deadly so I try to protect the car with the covers and use leather conditioner once a month. The car is 5 years old and the interior is like new.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 500
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield Illinois
Wussies!!!
I live outside of Chicago... We havn't had rain (except for today thank God...) in 7 weeks!
My shop has a garage where I park my 00 Vert and my wifs's 04 CTS... We put in Garage door openers at home and at work. The vette hasn't had the top UP in at least 7 weeks!!!
The best revenge is living well.............
Zooom
I live outside of Chicago... We havn't had rain (except for today thank God...) in 7 weeks!
My shop has a garage where I park my 00 Vert and my wifs's 04 CTS... We put in Garage door openers at home and at work. The vette hasn't had the top UP in at least 7 weeks!!!
The best revenge is living well.............
Zooom
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,061
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by BickyDhadwal
gee that makes me feel really good 
..it wasn't meant to make you feel bad...you can still mend your ways and save your vette by not leaving it down for days at a time ...its not too late...
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 0
From: St Marys GA
Thanks for all the good inputs. My triple black is not a dd but it goes to work 1-2 days a week depending on where I left it at home (my garage is tandem parking 2-deep so I have to shift them around).
One of my concerns was the heat in the closed up car. With all the hot weather we've had, the release handles for the top are almost too hot to touch at the end of the day. This must also affect the interior.
It looks like the right answer is to leave windows cracked an inch or so with the top up and watch for rain. Can't wait 'til October for some vert weather ...
DBD
One of my concerns was the heat in the closed up car. With all the hot weather we've had, the release handles for the top are almost too hot to touch at the end of the day. This must also affect the interior.
It looks like the right answer is to leave windows cracked an inch or so with the top up and watch for rain. Can't wait 'til October for some vert weather ...
DBD
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 13,760
Likes: 75
From: Haymarket VA
Originally Posted by waupachino
Over time the Sun will dry out your leather and fade all of your interior parts. Not too mention all of the other foriegn objects that can enter your interior if your top is down. I only leave mine down when I am driving it and enjoying it. I don't want any excessive wear and tear then that.
Even in the garage it collects dust. Put it up...it only takes 15 seconds. I only latch the driver's side if I know that I'll be putting the top down when I leave. The Window Valet makes it even easier and is a definite "must have" for vert owners. Top up...one latch....Window Valet..DONE!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,072
Likes: 1
From: San Antonio Texas
I don't think my top has been on in a couple weeks. It's off when autocrossing, it's off overnight at work, iot's off during the day in the garage, and when I'm out and about. If it ain't raining, snowing, or too freaking cold for the heater to keep up, the top is off. Oh, and for the annual trip to the local drag strip it's up.
No discernable damage from the sun, and dust is dust. I noticed the inside gets dusty even in the cold wet winter. This time of year she gets cleaned every week anyway so I don't worry about that either.
No discernable damage from the sun, and dust is dust. I noticed the inside gets dusty even in the cold wet winter. This time of year she gets cleaned every week anyway so I don't worry about that either.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 16,524
Likes: 2,409
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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2021 C6 of the Year Winner - Modified
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I can see my car all day where I park. I don't leave the top down for the following reasons:
1. I'm in FL and t-storms pop up with little or no notice and I'm on the 3rd floor with stairs or a slow freight elevator.
2. I park near an aircraft parking area and jet fuel residue would get inside the car. It doesn't hurt the outside because I wash it several times a week.
3. When it's not raining the sun is out. UV and black leather/vinyl don't mix well.
1. I'm in FL and t-storms pop up with little or no notice and I'm on the 3rd floor with stairs or a slow freight elevator.
2. I park near an aircraft parking area and jet fuel residue would get inside the car. It doesn't hurt the outside because I wash it several times a week.
3. When it's not raining the sun is out. UV and black leather/vinyl don't mix well.
