I am looking for a C5 when I started looking I was hell bent on a vert only. But I have opened the door to the coupe as of late. How did you come to your Decision to buy a coup/vert. My thoughts are half roof semi convertible, More storage area, Stiffer body, More of a selection in coupe's. Your thoughts please

 

I hove owned 8 Corvettes and half were verts. In my case it depended on where I was living at the time. Up in New England a coupe made sense. Now in Florida a vert is more practical for me. Some of the coupe tops, especially the C4 were a pain to remove.

 

The reason I'm choosing a couple is because I think it's a better looking car...

 

I'm not sure the "stiffer body" argument holds up with Corvettes. They're pretty much the same.
I got a vert, because it's awesome to be ABLE to drop the top when I feel like it. Never had one in my life before and always wanted one. The coupe looks great with the top off as well, but with the top on and the huge back wraparound window, it looks like an 80's Fbody to me.

 

The coupe is soooo much better looking......I hate the looks of my vert...

 

HAHAHA I like it also great looking

 

 

I have a vert but didn't intend to buy one. Unlike a lot of others here, I like the looks of the vert but really wanted a ZO6 or FRC. I guess it goes back to my 70's routes when a lot of C3 road racers ran verts with hard tops on them although I don't know why.

Anyway, while looking for a ZO6 or FRC I ran across a local guy that wanted to trade his vert for a Jeep I had. It was a good deal for both of us so that's how I ended up with a vert. Now that I have it I am happy with it. It does get pretty hot here in the summer so I'll leave the top up and run the a/c but we also get some remarkably nice weather and there is nothing like putting the top down and driving on beautiful mountain roads in the Sierras.
Having had a C5 coupe previously, I can say that there is a difference between running a coupe with the roof panel removed and the convertible with the top down. You definitely get a more open air feel in the vert than in the coupe. On the other hand, the coupe is more versatile and practical. You have more storage space, security and less noise with the top on.
My recommendation is to drive the vert with the top down (hopefully weather permits) and see how you like it.

At some point I may look for a removable hardtop for my car. Like I said, I really like that look and it would be nice for mid summer when it gets really hot or even winter when it's too cold for top down driving. They are hard to find though and kind of pricey so may not ever do that.

 

I've owned 14 Corvettes - 3 of them convertibles. I prefer the feeling of security with an enclosed vehicle and enjoy the lift off top.

I also had 4 MB SL's over the years and although they were nice for low speed cruising with the top off/down- I left the hard top on more often than not because I preferred the coupe feeling.

Some of it might be the summer heat here in AZ as well - - the hard top/coupe cools much better than the soft top.

With the C5, there's a boatload more luggage room in the coupe but the convertible has more security inside the trunk.

Clearly, personal preference- but I tend toward the coupe.

 

I've owned many Vette verts in the past. Really liked my two-top C1's and C2's. Not a fan of the Targa top concept so when it came time for me to choose a C5, it was either a Z06 or a Vert.
I'm happy with the solid roof, on my Z06. Still wouldn't mind owning a C5 or C6 vert, though.

 

My wife and I have both had skin cancer on our face so it had to be a coupe for us. Also a 6 Spd!!

 

I prefer a convertible but my car is a weekend play toy or nice day for a drive. Never sees rain, snow or cold weather.

 

I bought a convertible because I wanted one. Why? Probably the lines of the car. Also, I was in 2 convertibles for a few hours 20years ago and I promised myself to have a convertible one day. maybe the 2 tones color also....I am not sure, but I enjoy it. even in Sweden where the temp is hardly ever over 25*C.
TCFS


From the brochure, but very similar to mine.

 

I've owned five C5s and all have been coupes. The convertible just never tripped my trigger. Besides, the coupe's targa top comes off and when it doesn't you can see out the roof (transparent top)

 

There are a lot of nice verts out there, depends on what you are looking for which will be easier to find. I love my coupe and I didn't want to have to worry about maintaining the top on a vert.

 

I bought my '01 a couple of years ago in spite of the fact it was a convertible! I already owned (and still own) a low miles E46 BMW convertible and didn't want another one. I test drove both coupe and convertible C5s and it just so happened that the convertible was the best car. So I come into this convertible with a unique perspective. I knew the top would need replacing sooner or later and sure enough I did that within months of owing it after the rear window popped out. That's a likely future expense if the top hasn't already been replaced.

Best advice so far is to drive several examples of coupes and convertibles and decide what you like. The top is manual, no one button push or reach back with one hand; and some gymnastics are involved. In terms of the driving experience, you may prefer no open air (buy the coupe then) or the open air experience offered by one over the other. The convertible with the top down, has limited (but for my wife and me plenty) trunk space. Driving at low speeds around town, the car actually seems quieter top down than with the top up (less rear tire noise); and the sound of the exhaust (assuming you like the sound of the exhaust) is beautifully enhanced. Top down on the highway, with side windows up, we can easily carry on a conversation and the car even does well in a light rain so long as you are moving (the rain blows right over the passengers). Top up, like all convertibles rear visibility is not great, top down...well of course it is fantastic.

The car is plenty rigid, that is not a factor, such that I would be surprised you'll notice a difference between a coupe and a convertible (I couldn't). It is measurable if you have the instrumentation (there are facts and figures on this), but I think so minor most drivers can't see or feel a difference.

This may seem a bit strange, but I really like the sound of rain on a soft top (think tent or umbrella).

I am very happy with my convertible, which isn't to say I wouldn't be happy with a coupe; but overall I am glad I bought the convertible- it is a bit like having two cars in one.

 

I like the looks of the convertible with the top up but with the top down it's a beautiful car.

 

All the above stories are good.
I bought my 03 vert because it's a toy for my wife and me. We like to ride around with the top down but we can certainly ride around in the cold wet weather too with our vert.
As far as looks, I think the C5 is a beautiful vehicle any way it comes!
Buy what you want not what other people want you to have!
Good luck!

 

can’t beat a vert on a nice warm night. Sometimes too much sun in the daytime
But a two door sports cars should be verts IMO

 

I've always bought targas because I grew up in a plave where a vert top was just asking to be slashed. Once I grew out of that fear, I was just kinda used to the targas.

I would buy a vert if it was a clean car, but I would also buy a targa. I think the targa looks better, the real issue with verts being they look odd with the top up, and there are lots of weird colored tops.

Verts to tend to cost a bit more to buy and maintain. But the best advice I can give is if you were dead set on a vert, get the vert! Even if it means going up in price, compromising on something etc... Get the car you really want. This is a toy, not an appliance. You had best get your dream or you won't be happy, and you'll just buy your dream later.