Coupe Flex With Top Off?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
Coupe Flex With Top Off?
Starting to shop to replace my C4 coupe with a C5. I have taken the top off the C4 a few times but the car rattles around like a Cracker Jacks box with the top off. 
So most of the time I leave it on. Plus, it's so F'ing hot here in Vegas that the a/c is on and the painted top is in place. But at night or in the winter it's pretty nice so the idea of taking the top off is appealling.
How is the C5 coupe with the top off? Does it flex significantly? I have driven C5 coupes with the top on and drove a FRC the other day and they are a vast improvement over my C4. Also, of course, like the ZO6's but don't know if I want to go the extra $ and will also use the car primarily for long trips so interior room is a concern.
Thanks
So most of the time I leave it on. Plus, it's so F'ing hot here in Vegas that the a/c is on and the painted top is in place. But at night or in the winter it's pretty nice so the idea of taking the top off is appealling.How is the C5 coupe with the top off? Does it flex significantly? I have driven C5 coupes with the top on and drove a FRC the other day and they are a vast improvement over my C4. Also, of course, like the ZO6's but don't know if I want to go the extra $ and will also use the car primarily for long trips so interior room is a concern.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 271
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis MO
Corvette Flex
When the top is off my C4 coupe, the flex is noticable, but mine gives me a solid ride with no rattle.
But my C5 is much more stable. The C5 convertable is not a coupe with the top off and a few minor adjustments............but the C5 convertable is designed from the ground up as a convertable. There is some flex, but it is really unnoticable.
You will love the C5.........why not keep the C4 also, it is still a fun car, its just not quite as refined as the C5.
Last edited by Robertelarkin; Sep 3, 2007 at 12:07 PM.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
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From: Rural North West NV
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
All my other cars have a specific purpose: 3/4 ton Avalanche (8.1, 4X4, 6" lift, 4.10 gear) to pull my boat/car trailer; Jeep ZJ (5.5" lift on 33's, locked front & rear) for off roading, '34 Ford hot rod for, well hot rodding
, Nissan pathfinder for DD. The Corvette is my long distance travel / play around car. I think once I get a C5 I just wouldn't ever drive the C4 again (I don't drive it a lot now) and it would be like having two cars that serve the same purpose, one better then the other. Plus, I could use the extra money to buy mods (or a ZO6 vs reg C5). Does anyone that has a C5 (or even C6) and a C4 too drive their C4's much? If so, why would you drive your C4 over the newer one? Thanks for the replies about the C5 chassis stiffness. I guess the coupe will be a good choice (unless I go for a ZO6).
Last edited by ChiliPepperGarage; Sep 3, 2007 at 02:28 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: SoCal
I have a C4 and a C5. Big difference in rigidity. Top off on the C5 no rattles or flex that I can notice. Can hear it on the C4. The C5 is my DD now. My truck used to be. But the C5 feels great (especially for a tall person like me) for daily driving. Since I bought the C5, the C4 has not been out much. Still fun to hop in the C4 and go for a drive, but not daily. Nice to have both though.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,652
Likes: 629
From: Rural North West NV
I have a C4 and a C5. Big difference in rigidity. Top off on the C5 no rattles or flex that I can notice. Can hear it on the C4. The C5 is my DD now. My truck used to be. But the C5 feels great (especially for a tall person like me) for daily driving. Since I bought the C5, the C4 has not been out much. Still fun to hop in the C4 and go for a drive, but not daily. Nice to have both though.
What do you like better about the C4 over the C5?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 393
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From: Palm Springs CA
I have both a 95 C4A4 Cpe and a 01 C5 6Sp Cpe, I took the top off the C4 once, it flexed alot, and like Vegas its just too hot. I have yet to take the top off the C5, but the car feels closer to my 00 Seville STS than it does the C4. I am keeping the C4 as it is fun to drive and the wife can't ( refuses to learn ) to drive the 6Sp. The 6Sp is a ton of fun to drive.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Does anyone that has a C5 (or even C6) and a C4 too drive their C4's much? If so, why would you drive your C4 over the newer one?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Bonita Springs, Florida
We've had 3 C4's and and although I enjoyed them very much at the time, there is no comparison in structural rigidity between the two. The C4's always creaked and rattled alot. The C5 and C6 Corvette’s structure (hydroformed chasis) is a far more rigid structure than the that of the C4 which translates to a much stronger and much more durable car. There is no flex in any body style C5 whereas the C4 has a lot of flex, especially in a coupe when you take the targa top out. That was my biggest gripe about the C4, I could actually see the car flex as I drove it with the targa panel out. My C5's, including the convertibles never flexed or rattled one bit. You can lift a C5 and the structure will not flex at all anywhere.
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I know how you feel with a C4 - all of mine had quite a bit of flex in the body with the top removed. My two C5s have been rock solid though - the C5 was designed to be much stiffer than the C4.