Top down all day?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 0
From: St Marys GA
Top down all day?
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.
Am I missing anything? UV?
Thanks,
DBD
The only threats I see are an errant bird or popup thunderstorm.
Am I missing anything? UV?
Thanks,
DBD
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,509
Likes: 239
From: Coconut Creek FL
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.
Am I missing anything? UV?
Thanks,
DBD
The only threats I see are an errant bird or popup thunderstorm.
Am I missing anything? UV?
Thanks,
DBD
so since I can't see my car from my office...I would not tempt it...My old Corvette was a Vert (94) and it started to show signs of interior fading (mainly the seats) after the previous owner left it topless most of the time...it too was a Florida car...so the sun can be pretty tough on those soft parts...It takes longer for me to put my roof on the it does you in your vert...I would just put it up and down when I come and go...
Uber Waxer
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 8,651
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From: Hanover MD
Cruise-In 8-9-10-11 Veteran
CI 9, 10 & 11 Car Show Winner
St. Jude Donor '08-'10
not only the heat and sun doing its thing, but i wouldnt want the dust and everything to get into everything if it was down all day.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 866
Likes: 5
From: Jensen Beach FL
Don’t forget about airborne contaminants. I have a coupe and I very rarely even leave my windows down when parked. On the rare occasions when I have left the windows down after just a few hours I found that the interior would get very dirty. Dust, pollen, bugs, leaves, etc always seem to find their way into my car if I leave it parked with the windows down, and the problem is worse if the top is off.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 543
Likes: 0
From: Ostrander OH
I've left mine down all day at work and would have to agree - the dust is the biggest thing for the short term. I park in a parking garage so it's shaded and I don't worry about the sun. I leave it down some days, put it up some days - if there is ANY chance of rain, it's up. It takes, what, 13 seconds to put it up? I feel a lot better when it is up - especially if it's going to be parked all day. But sometimes walking out to it, it sure looks nice with the top down!!! 
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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The dust and potential bird droppings would be my biggest concerns.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Oklahoma City OK
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I used to be able to leave mine open all day when I officed in a one story building with a door right next to my office but now I'am on the fifth floor of a twenty story building so not anymore! 
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,338
Likes: 0
From: Houston Texas
I will leave mine off all day if I know I will be constantly around it( running alot of around town errands). The biggest thing that I worry about is the cleaning. Also the seats tend to get really hot if it sits in the sun all day.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,044
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Originally Posted by BickyDhadwal
i've left mine topless for several days straight....i detail mine every week 
but now im worried about the sun causing damage 
but now im worried about the sun causing damage 
..any damage done already is permanent...sun is a killer of all leather and plastic even in a short period of time...you may not notice it right away but the damage has been done...also when the top is down too long it leaves those crappy little creases that you can never totally get rid of...I take my top down when I am using it...although it looks cool with the top down for long periods of time...it is not good for the top or the interior...(You have essentially ruined your interior and need a new Corvette
) 
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 207
Likes: 0
From: Waldorf Maryland
I park outside at home with the top up because of birds (I've had prior experience with birds) and in a garage at work, my baby is a DD and when weather permits I drive in with the top down and leave it down all day in the garage and sometimes like probably today when it hits 100% with 90% humidity I'll put it up for the drive home and crank up the air.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 34
From: St. Louis Missouri
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.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 414
Likes: 56
From: Los Angeles CA / Sherman Oaks
I live in LA and so I'm able to have the top down most of the time. Also, I go from garage at home to garage at work. However, I put the top up when I'm home and most of the time while I'm at work. Mainly to keep the creases in the top as minimal as possible. I rarely, if ever, keep it down when I park it outside at parking lots, etc.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 420
Likes: 23
From: Newton, Wisconsin
Mine is a daily driver for the 6 months that I can use here in Colorado. If its not raining (or snowing) the tops down. I clean the car as often as it needs it. As items fade or wear out I'll replace them. The car was meant to be driven!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,002
Likes: 0
From: Surrey BC
Originally Posted by Yello95
Too late...several topless days in a row with the top down 24/7 is enough to totally fork up the interior from the harsh UVB's ..any damage done already is permanent...sun is a killer of all leather and plastic even in a short period of time...you may not notice it right away but the damage has been done...also when the top is down too long it leaves those crappy little creases that you can never totally get rid of...I take my top down when I am using it...although it looks cool with the top down for long periods of time...it is not good for the top or the interior...
(You have essentially ruined your interior and need a new Corvette )
..any damage done already is permanent...sun is a killer of all leather and plastic even in a short period of time...you may not notice it right away but the damage has been done...also when the top is down too long it leaves those crappy little creases that you can never totally get rid of...I take my top down when I am using it...although it looks cool with the top down for long periods of time...it is not good for the top or the interior...(You have essentially ruined your interior and need a new Corvette
) 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
I leave mine down 24/7 this time of year except when I wash her. At work I'm in a private stall visable from my desk although I still put the cover on to keep her clean. At home she's in the garage. No reason to have it up until Holloween. 