Convertible Pros & Cons
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 19
From: Tuscumbia AL
Convertible Pros & Cons
We're looking at a 1999 'vert and want to know the pros and cons of having a drop-top 'vette. We have a Mazda Miata 'vert, but I'm sure the 'vette feels very different inside.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 5
From: Newtown Square Pa.
We're looking at a 1999 'vert and want to know the pros and cons of having a drop-top 'vette. We have a Mazda Miata 'vert, but I'm sure the 'vette feels very different inside.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 312
Likes: 2
From: Elizabeth City North Carolina
Love mine. A little problem with height. I am 6'3" wife is 5'10". top is not the problem. Problem is being able to see under the sun visors. But with the seat all the way down and back I can see. Only con I have is not enough ttime to drive it.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
That is about it. They aren't loud on the inside. The climate control system has no problem keeping the car warm in the winter. The top seals well so you stay dry.
Hell, I have driven through very light rain at highway speed with the top down and barely felt a drop.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
We're looking at a 1999 'vert and want to know the pros and cons of having a drop-top 'vette. We have a Mazda Miata 'vert, but I'm sure the 'vette feels very different inside.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
Are they loud inside? Do you have to worry much about leaks? Is the head room the same (we're both tall)? What about the safety factor if the car happened to roll? Anything else I'm not thinking of?
Also, I can't find the post where one of the members here can do a VIN check for us. If someone can point me in his direction, I'd appreciate it. The Carfax is squeaky clean (2 owners) and it's been a Florida car all of its life.
Thanks in advance for your opinions and help.
As the weather striping ages yes. If you blast the windows with a stream most will leak.
It will be close, you should try it out.
There is no safety factor in a vert during a roll over, unless you have a true roll bar installed.
Many vert owners report having the glass window fall out. Expensive to repair.
Annual maintenance with Ragg Top is necessary.
It is less secure than a coupe because anyone can cut the top and the rear end is just sitting there on the rear deck pressed down by the mechanism.
Other than that they are fine.
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Reading PA
Convertible Opinion
I'm 6'3 and have no problems with top up. Heat in winter and AC in summer with top up really work very good. Never had a leak. I have a stock exhaust system and with top up no discomfort at all. I actually like the sound with the top down, a little throaty. You just can't beat cruising with top down. My wife and I go our for breakfast on Saturday mornings and you can bet the top will be down. She loves it.
Nothing like a C-5 Vert, get it!
Bucky Barbour
Reading, PA
Nothing like a C-5 Vert, get it!
Bucky Barbour
Reading, PA
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,156
Likes: 88
From: Ohio (Go Bucks)
I have a 98 Vert that I have owned for 3 years and really love the car. As far as convertibles go I would consider the C5 to be very tight and I have never had any problems with leaks at all. The noise level with top up is a little higher than the coupe. With the top down the wind noise is not excessive and the amount of wind in the car is not uncomfortable. Living in Ohio is my biggest draw back. The top down season is fairly short. You definitely have an advantage where you live. Good luck with your decision.
Florida turtle advocate
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,280
Likes: 6
From: Gulfcoast Salvage Englewood, Fla
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
It's a little harder to see out the back when the top is up(my top is almost NEVER up)... I got two black pillows that matched my interior and put them in the area that goes to the trunk and eliminated most of the road noise from the trunk.. I have also had a Miata...cute little cars but the C5 feels like a Cadillac compared to it..
Racer
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 354
Likes: 0
From: West Townsend MA
Topless And Loving It
Always thought that top down driving was a crtical part of the sports car experience. Of coarse there were those Z06's running around boasting more horse power. Solved the issue by sending it to Lingenfelter and making it faster than a Z06. Now I have the best of both worlds.
The top is very tight and no wind noise or leaks when it's up. The convertibles just look "kick ***" with the top down. And when the weather is right, they're flat out fun to drive
Remo
The top is very tight and no wind noise or leaks when it's up. The convertibles just look "kick ***" with the top down. And when the weather is right, they're flat out fun to drive
Remo
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 65,010
Likes: 133
From: Title town, Champs live here.
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19
If you don't like your hair blown around (my wife for example) it could be an issue. Safety in rollover= do not roll over 
I cannot complain at all about the noise, hell I don't even hear the run-flats, this feature was an aftermarket add on.
I would guess over time the seals will age and may leak, but you can maintain them with dielectric grease to keep them supple. I use Ragg-top a couple of times a year for maintenance no biggie takes 30-45 minutes and beads water like the paint. I went from a 99 coupe to an 04 vert and have not once wished to have the coupe back. As far as security goes all of these cars can be broken into quite easily unforunately. If you get a vert a window valet is a must.
I cannot complain at all about the noise, hell I don't even hear the run-flats, this feature was an aftermarket add on. I would guess over time the seals will age and may leak, but you can maintain them with dielectric grease to keep them supple. I use Ragg-top a couple of times a year for maintenance no biggie takes 30-45 minutes and beads water like the paint. I went from a 99 coupe to an 04 vert and have not once wished to have the coupe back. As far as security goes all of these cars can be broken into quite easily unforunately. If you get a vert a window valet is a must.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 778
Likes: 1
From: Chantilly VA
I was going to buy a miata and almost did. Then I came to my senses and got what i really wanted. C5 vert. I'm not downing miatas. Topless is the only way to go. No leaks, no problems so far. Have not stopped smiling yet!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 922
Likes: 1
From: North New Jersey
I had a coupe first, now I have a Vert. Love it! Only time it leaks is when I got lazy and ran it through a carwash. Noise doesn't really bother me. I don't know if it's loud or not, it's my first. Love the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,263
Likes: 86
From: O'Fallon Missouri
Always thought that top down driving was a crtical part of the sports car experience. Of coarse there were those Z06's running around boasting more horse power. Solved the issue by sending it to Lingenfelter and making it faster than a Z06. Now I have the best of both worlds.
I have a set of Lingenfelter twins under my hood.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
