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63 split windows are the exception to the rule. Convertibles bring more. Watch any auction or do a blue book check and see for yourself.
Yep. That would be an exception. Nice one! I remember seeing something about the early c2 hardtops being more than the convertibles brand new from the dealers. It wasn't until the later c2's or c3's came that the convertibles cost more. I could be wrong, though.
I completely agree with you that they always cost more new. And I agree as well, you are one of the few highly modified vert owners compared to the majority of coupes/FRCs. Absolutely nothing wrong with that
Probably just delusional. I'm not mad at you for owning a convertible, we're all friends here!
Yep. That would be an exception. Nice one! I remember seeing something about the early c2 hardtops being more than the convertibles brand new from the dealers. It wasn't until the later c2's or c3's came that the convertibles cost more. I could be wrong, though.
It appears that all the C2 coupes were more expensive than the convertibles.....News to me!!! LOL
Although new to this forum, but not to cars, the general consensus has usually been "if the top drops the price goes up". And I think as a general rule it's true. I believe two identical cars either Stock or mod, that the Convertible will "Usually" command a higher price. I also agree that the Corvette is a slightly different animal. lol
I've owned Corvettes for 50yrs and with a few exceptions, that's almost always been true. Love my Z06 but if GM had built it in a convertible, that would be my first preference.
oh okay yea i thought so lol just wanted to see what some had to say, ohhhh i see so its not torch red so it has to be magnetic red then...i just saw a website that had the same color car and called it that so i went with it lol
Yours is Magnetic Red Metallic II. The Carmine Red was a similar color offered in '97 and '98. The color was changed slightly for '99 as Magnetic Red Metallic. It was changed slightly again for 2000 (or 2001?) to Magnetic Red Metallic II.
All other things being equal, a convertible will usually sell for a bit more than a coupe, but it really is a matter of the randomness of the potential buyers. I think the universe of coupe buyers is probably a bit greater than the universe of convertible buyers, but I think convertible buyers are willing to pay more of a premium.
As you can see from my avatar, I am from the universe of convertible people.
Most tracks won’t let a convertible run. Z06 best on a track.
True. Most tracks require convertibles to have roll cages and pass the broomstick test (a broomstick laid across the top of the windshield and the top of the roll cage must clear the driver's helmet). However, there are occasionally events that allow unmodified convertibles. The NCM Motorsports Park runs an intro to HPDE event once or twice a year that allows unmodified convertibles but speeds are kept to 100 mph or less (even on the straights). I jumped at the chance to participate a few years ago as these opportunities are few and far between.
The blue Z06 is the instructor, I'm in my '99 convertible, and the black C6 was another student participant.
Last edited by K9Leader; Jan 28, 2021 at 09:16 PM.
I would check your local FB marketplace to see what other similar cars are going for. There seems to be a pretty big range when it comes to C5's in different areas of the country. I paid 17k for my coupe w/ 56k on the odometer. Interior 7/10, exterior 8/10. Bone stock. That being said, the same dealership was selling two others with about a $4k spread. The convertible had 43k miles on it and was going for about $19k if I remember properly. Also, black & red go for a bit more. Manuals > $ > autos.
"Convertible" is not a word typically synonymous with "sports car" if you're really looking for a sports car. Sure there are exceptions, but generally speaking here.
Umm, actually, the "sports cars" that American service members brought back from Europe in the years after WWII were convertibles/roadsters - MGs, Austin-Healys, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, etc. At that time "convertible" was synonymous with "sports car." This was why European transplanted engineer and racer Zora Arkus-Duntov saw in the 1953 Corvette convertible the "American Sports Car." And the rest is history.
Coupe style "sports cars" started becoming common in the late '50s/early '60s - C2 Corvette coupe, Porsche 911 coupe, Jaguar XKE coupe. Perhaps it is dependent upon the age of the individual or on their historical awareness, but when I hear "sports car" the first image that pops into my mind is a convertible - two-seats, low-slung, top down. Sports car is a broad term though - my beloved 1975 Datsun 280Z was most assuredly a sports car.
You also confuse selling price with what they are "worth" when you say you are in the camp that thinks convertibles don't fetch higher prices. It is indisputable that convertibles (all other things being equal) fetch higher prices but to you (and others) they aren't worth more, as in what you would be willing to pay.
Last edited by K9Leader; Jan 28, 2021 at 09:53 PM.
I'm facing the targa-vs-vert question, from a buyer's perspective....
I'm looking hard at two prospective 'Fiberglass Mistress' candidates. One is a 2004 targa coupe with 62K miles, the other a 2001 'vert' with 35K miles. The vert has a higher asking price, but OTOH it's closer to home ... the coupe is nearly 200 miles away, and it's going to be an all-day trek to check it out and get a pre-purchase inspection.
Price isn't all that much of an issue. I'm looking for a road-tripper that won't look out-of-place at a Cars & Coffee meet. I don't see myself tracking the car, although I MIGHT take a performance-driving course to learn what it can do. But I'm planning on a cross-country trek in April, and I'd like to "get my kicks on Route 66" in Corvette style!
I guess the best question, for the Targa Coupe drivers, is -- how often do you take that targa-top down and drive with the wind in your hair? (Or, like me, with the wind blowing across your bare scalp? )
I'm facing the targa-vs-vert question, from a buyer's perspective....
I'm looking hard at two prospective 'Fiberglass Mistress' candidates. One is a 2004 targa coupe with 62K miles, the other a 2001 'vert' with 35K miles. The vert has a higher asking price, but OTOH it's closer to home ... the coupe is nearly 200 miles away, and it's going to be an all-day trek to check it out and get a pre-purchase inspection.
Price isn't all that much of an issue. I'm looking for a road-tripper that won't look out-of-place at a Cars & Coffee meet. I don't see myself tracking the car, although I MIGHT take a performance-driving course to learn what it can do. But I'm planning on a cross-country trek in April, and I'd like to "get my kicks on Route 66" in Corvette style!
I guess the best question, for the Targa Coupe drivers, is -- how often do you take that targa-top down and drive with the wind in your hair? (Or, like me, with the wind blowing across your bare scalp? )
I have owned 2 c5 coupes and 2 c5 convertibles. I always had the tops off the coupes whenever the weather cooperated. I just like the looks of a c5 convertible over the coupe, plus it's it a lot easier to fold the top down than wrestle with the targa top. I think there is nothing better than a corvette convertible with the top down and a going through the gears on a 6 speed manual.
Umm, actually, the "sports cars" that American service members brought back from Europe in the years after WWII were convertibles/roadsters - MGs, Austin-Healys, Triumphs, Jaguars, Porsches, etc. At that time "convertible" was synonymous with "sports car." This was why European transplanted engineer and racer Zora Arkus-Duntov saw in the 1953 Corvette convertible the "American Sports Car." And the rest is history.
Coupe style "sports cars" started becoming common in the late '50s/early '60s - C2 Corvette coupe, Porsche 911 coupe, Jaguar XKE coupe. Perhaps it is dependent upon the age of the individual or on their historical awareness, but when I hear "sports car" the first image that pops into my mind is a convertible - two-seats, low-slung, top down. Sports car is a broad term though - my beloved 1975 Datsun 280Z was most assuredly a sports car.
You also confuse selling price with what they are "worth" when you say you are in the camp that thinks convertibles don't fetch higher prices. It is indisputable that convertibles (all other things being equal) fetch higher prices but to you (and others) they aren't worth more, as in what you would be willing to pay.
I knew someone was going to call that out after I published it lol. What I should have said was "performance car" rather than "sports car". I agree with you on convertibles being a common theme among "sports cars".
I'm not following you on that last part though...anything is only worth what a willing and able buyer will pay for it. I still see a LOT of C5 owners trying to sell their car for what it's "worth"...but without a buyer willing to pay that amount...that's clearly not what it's worth.
I'm facing the targa-vs-vert question, from a buyer's perspective....
I'm looking hard at two prospective 'Fiberglass Mistress' candidates. One is a 2004 targa coupe with 62K miles, the other a 2001 'vert' with 35K miles. The vert has a higher asking price, but OTOH it's closer to home ... the coupe is nearly 200 miles away, and it's going to be an all-day trek to check it out and get a pre-purchase inspection.
Price isn't all that much of an issue. I'm looking for a road-tripper that won't look out-of-place at a Cars & Coffee meet. I don't see myself tracking the car, although I MIGHT take a performance-driving course to learn what it can do. But I'm planning on a cross-country trek in April, and I'd like to "get my kicks on Route 66" in Corvette style!
I guess the best question, for the Targa Coupe drivers, is -- how often do you take that targa-top down and drive with the wind in your hair? (Or, like me, with the wind blowing across your bare scalp? )
My '99 convertible is the only convertible of any make/model I've ever owned and it is fantastic! I've never owned a targa-top (Corvette or any other) but I did own three cars in the '80s with pop-out sunroofs and taking off/stowing in trunk/putting back on was always a pain in the . . . neck. For road-tripping, you might be tempted to think the coupe has more luggage storage but you lose a lot if you want to pop off the top and store it. My wife and I have gotten good at packing the convertible trunk with just what we really need and leaving room to drop the top on the road trip. We did have a very long road-trip planned last summer and I was considering a hitch-mounted storage box (I have the hitch for a bike rack, not for towing) but Covid-19 put the kibosh on the trip so never pulled the trigger on the box.
The great thing about a convertible? You can put the top down and go cruising in the open air and sunshine or the cool of a summer night. Every time I go for a ride with the top dropped, I just have to look up and my face breaks into instant grin! I can't imagine cruising Route 66 in anything other than a convertible.
Last edited by K9Leader; Jan 28, 2021 at 10:38 PM.
I'm not following you on that last part though...anything is only worth what a willing and able buyer will pay for it. I still see a LOT of C5 owners trying to sell their car for what it's "worth"...but without a buyer willing to pay that amount...that's clearly not what it's worth.
Well, you said, "I'm in the camp that convertible C5s do not fetch a higher price." My point was that convertibles do "fetch" a higher price. I think what you really meant is that you are in the camp that will not pay the higher price because you do not believe they are worth more than the coupe, because, to you, they are not worth more. In line with your point on what a car is worth, convertibles are worth more because there are many people who will pay more. It's just not worth that to you.
Last edited by K9Leader; Jan 28, 2021 at 11:08 PM.
Well, you said, "I'm in the camp that convertible C5s do not fetch a higher price." My point was that convertibles do "fetch" a higher price. I think what you really meant is that you are in the camp that will not pay the higher price because you do not believe they are worth more than the coupe, because, to you, they are not worth more. In line with your point on what a car is worth, convertibles are worth more because there are many people who will pay more. It's just not worth that to you.
Which takes us full circle to my original point...without hard data to show me otherwise, I'm of the opinion/camp that convertible C5s do not fetch higher prices because the majority of buyers in the market for a C5 today are not interested in a convertible...less buyers = less demand = ...you know that old thing
Does anybody have access to hard data that proves C5 convertibles are consistently sold for more than their targa/FRC counterparts today? Or are we all just discussing our opinions/beliefs? haha
I'm not opposed to changing my mind and I'm certainly not trying to be a jerk, but without actual data to prove either "side" is correct, we're just split into 2 camps of opinion as I fairly stated up front
Which takes us full circle to my original point...without hard data to show me otherwise, I'm of the opinion/camp that convertible C5s do not fetch higher prices because the majority of buyers in the market for a C5 today are not interested in a convertible...less buyers = less demand = ...you know that old thing
Does anybody have access to hard data that proves C5 convertibles are consistently sold for more than their targa/FRC counterparts today? Or are we all just discussing our opinions/beliefs? haha
I'm not opposed to changing my mind and I'm certainly not trying to be a jerk, but without actual data to prove either "side" is correct, we're just split into 2 camps of opinion as I fairly stated up front
Go to Kelly's Blue book and see for yourself. It's very simple and then nobody has to do the work for you. 😊
Go to Kelly's Blue book and see for yourself. It's very simple and then nobody has to do the work for you. 😊
Lol fair enough, I'll thrown in the towel here. I was hoping someone that was actively in the business would have some actual data/ first hand experience. KBB isn't the holy grail it used to be and it would also be the equivalent of me telling someone to check Zillow's Zestimate when they ask me what their home is worth.
Which takes us full circle to my original point...without hard data to show me otherwise, I'm of the opinion/camp that convertible C5s do not fetch higher prices because the majority of buyers in the market for a C5 today are not interested in a convertible...less buyers = less demand = ...you know that old thing
Does anybody have access to hard data that proves C5 convertibles are consistently sold for more than their targa/FRC counterparts today? Or are we all just discussing our opinions/beliefs? haha
I'm not opposed to changing my mind and I'm certainly not trying to be a jerk, but without actual data to prove either "side" is correct, we're just split into 2 camps of opinion as I fairly stated up front
Targa coupes were base models while verts and Z's were higher cost. I see really cheap coupes for sale, all the time, but rarely see cheap verts. They also made a ton of coupes.
Honest question, Jon, how old are you? Guys in their 20's tend to gravitate to the Targa coupes or Z06's, not convertibles.Younger folks of today don't have the same feelings for convertibles, as the older generations do. I was born in 1953 and growing up, seeing any convertible was kinda special. Most of my C1's were two-top cars, best of both worlds.
Regardless of what you like, it's all good. Most of us love them, all.
Targa coupes were base models while verts and Z's were higher cost. I see really cheap coupes for sale, all the time, but rarely see cheap verts. They also made a ton of coupes.
Honest question, Jon, how old are you? Guys in their 20's tend to gravitate to the Targa coupes or Z06's, not convertibles.Younger folks of today don't have the same feelings for convertibles, as the older generations do. I was born in 1953 and growing up, seeing any convertible was kinda special. Most of my C1's were two-top cars, best of both worlds.
Regardless of what you like, it's all good. Most of us love them, all.
I hear you, Clint. I see cheap coupes all the time as well. I also see cheap and overpriced listings of the whole variety. I'm in Southern California, land of year round sunshine, and I rarely see convertible C5 listings and very rarely see them on the road. I do see coupes and FRCs occasionally.
That's a fair question and touches on one of the points in my earlier posts haha. I'm 38. Most of the car enthusiasts in my generation and the younger generations aren't really into convertible "performance/sports cars" (with a few exceptions) and I believe "we" are most of the buyer pool for C5s now. That's exactly why I mentioned earlier that, with all respect, most of the C5 convertible owners are mostly of the older generation(s).
We're all friends here, I'm not mad at anybody haha, and we do all love C5s or we wouldn't be here As much as we have fun or throw out some jokes from time to time, I personally truly appreciate the history and longtime active members of this forum. This is one of the most valuable forums I have ever been part of. There is a smorgasbord of information available here from the past 2 decades. It really is impressive.
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