C5 targa coupe or vert?
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Cruising
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: ILLINOIS
C5 targa coupe or vert?
Just sold my 94 C4 vert, found a 99 coupe with 2 tops 31k miles in beautiful condition red/black. Opinions please on handling etc appreciate input thanks in advance guys
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Both models will handle very well. The coupe will have more storage space if that matters to you. It comes down to which model do you think looks the best and how much open air driving you plan to do.
Burning Brakes
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From: Largo FL
Instructor
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Personally, I absolutely hate convertibles. I've never seen what that I thought looked good with the top up. My targa only really comes off when I drive at night in the summer. Here in Albuquerque, it's just too damn hot during the day in the summer to have a top down. The sun just melts you here. lol. Be that as it may, a convertible, to me, only looks good when the top is down, and it's just another thing to break or go bad.
Racer
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If handling matters to you, I think '13 or '14 is when Ford switched from hydraulic to electric power steering on the Mustang. Electric steering is probably improved somewhat now, but early on most electric systems were very numb.
Burning Brakes
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Like my Targa. Roof off is open enough but allows for less road noise when on. The trunk space in the coupe is really unbelievable and convenient if you travel or use it for Costco runs like I do. Best of both worlds IMO. I also drive until the first snowfall here in CT so if cold weather is a concern, score another one for the coupe. Either way you go, it’s a Vette!
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Targa is the only way to go, in my opinion. Convertibles look like a bad toupee with the top up, and (no offense) they just make me think of old guys.
And as someone else already said - the storage in the coupe is AWESOME.
And as someone else already said - the storage in the coupe is AWESOME.
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I would also go with the Vert (I'm a bit biased). I love convertibles. It's a totally different experience with the top down. I have an A&A kit on mine making 500HP at the wheels and it handles great, So, if you're worried about how a convertible will handle, you won't have any problems. The difference in handling between the vert and the coupe is MUCH smaller in the C5 than it was on the C4. Especially since you already had a C4 vert, you'll miss having the top down if you get a coupe.
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The C5 was designed from the ground up to be a convertible. So there's not much difference in handling, if any that is perceptible, to 99.99999999% of drivers.
Melting Slicks
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The only downside to the coupe really is the wind buffeting you get when the top is off. Doesn't seem to matter if the windows are up or down, orwhere the sun visors are positioned. Very unpleasant driving at any real speed, IMO. End result, is I really don''t drive mine with the roof out unless it is a local (non highway) journey.
Last edited by jackthelad; Jul 8, 2020 at 04:29 PM.
Le Mans Master
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Just an FYI to the OP, the C5 is longer and less of a go kart feel that the C4. However, you can directly swap out the stock shocks and sway bars for C6 Z06 shocks, and C6 Z51 sway bars. This makes the C5 feel like it's on rails.
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I'm more for the targa design rather than the convertible. The targa looks sharper and sportier, in my opinion, whether the roof is on or off. Again, it all depends on how frequently you'll tend to drive with the top down. Whichever way you go, you can't go wrong with the C5.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
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Seams as you are a bit lost.. or confused!.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2015
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This is an offensive post to both convertible and senior Corvette owners /drivers you teenie-bopper.