Automated Drop Top
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Racer
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Grace Valley: A small, peaceful & beautiful valley in the Volunteer State
Automated Drop Top
After reading the article about Coach Builders conversion work as covered in the September issue of Corvette Enthusiast, I gave the company a call about price. I had guessed it would be $5k, but it came in at $10,500 
But having test driven a XLR, the automated top was about the only thing I liked. I think the auto soft top on the C6 will be the same equipment as on the XLR, but I love my C5 too much to go that route. So finally to my question; has anyone seen the Coach Builders Mod? Is anyone else thinking about it? I'm concerned about repairs after end of warranty. Yah its a lot of money but I've got a soft top now and this would give the look of a Z06 and still be a convertible. Sounds damn good to me. 
But having test driven a XLR, the automated top was about the only thing I liked. I think the auto soft top on the C6 will be the same equipment as on the XLR, but I love my C5 too much to go that route. So finally to my question; has anyone seen the Coach Builders Mod? Is anyone else thinking about it? I'm concerned about repairs after end of warranty. Yah its a lot of money but I've got a soft top now and this would give the look of a Z06 and still be a convertible. Sounds damn good to me.
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Saw this up close and personal at the Cruise in and also at Bloomington. Nice conversion, but the operating mechanisms are exposed in the back of the trunk area. If there was something that could cover up all the items there, it would be pretty neat. Still, a pretty cool conversion even though the price is up there. Im sure a lot of work is involved to get the system installed.
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From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
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I keep getting grief from one of my employees who owns an SLK about the manual top on the Vette. I tell him if I'd have wanted a luxury car I'd have bought the Lexus but I wanted a real sports car! 
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I think the automatic power tops are neat no doubt.
I got a media tour when the XLR was displayed in Tampa and
saw that top which now will share tech for the C6. The only
thing that concerned me is that there is an awful lot of parts
on these power tops. I could only imagine the cost to fix
when past warranty.
I got a media tour when the XLR was displayed in Tampa and
saw that top which now will share tech for the C6. The only
thing that concerned me is that there is an awful lot of parts
on these power tops. I could only imagine the cost to fix
when past warranty.
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I too saw that car at Texas and I think its about the coolest thing I've ever seen, but I would only do it if I had a 04 C5 and was planning on keeping it forever cause You could never come out on it!
Le Mans Master
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From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by wireless
So the C6 isn't a real sports car in your opinion?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Richmond VA
Originally Posted by eddie44
Is the C6 a real sports car. Yes! Has the Corvette reputation been compromised by the addition of a power top. Yes! Is your trunk non existent with a power top. Yes! Would I spend additional $$ to have a power top option. No! Can I put mine down quicker than the guy with the SLK can even think about doing his. Yes! Can I do it with one finger. NO! I have no problem with the manual top. If I wanted a power top I would buy an XLR, Lexus or SLK.
Le Mans Master
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From: Hells Sister City Phoenix AZ
St. Jude Donor '03
Originally Posted by Slash
Good Lord, after all of those rapid fire questions and answers I thought I was watching 'Dragnet'
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From: Ice Scoob
Photochop Terrorist
With all the creature comforts, even the C5 shouldn't be categorized as a sports car anymore either. The early RT/10 Vipers with no power windows, AC and whatever else was skipped for weight savings would be one of the few recent sportscars.
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From: Ice Scoob
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Just following his reasoning, that a power top on the C6 takes away from the sports car image. Some people reason that a sports car should be a stick shift. Even years ago, some die-hard Viper drivers didn't want ABS braking when the then upcoming GTS was being rumored to have it.
I was not saying the C5 wasn't a sports car.
I was not saying the C5 wasn't a sports car.
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Originally Posted by vernrose
After reading the article about Coach Builders conversion work as covered in the September issue of Corvette Enthusiast, I gave the company a call about price. I had guessed it would be $5k, but it came in at $10,500 But having test driven a XLR, the automated top was about the only thing I liked. I think the auto soft top on the C6 will be the same equipment as on the XLR, but I love my C5 too much to go that route. So finally to my question; has anyone seen the Coach Builders Mod? Is anyone else thinking about it? I'm concerned about repairs after end of warranty. Yah its a lot of money but I've got a soft top now and this would give the look of a Z06 and still be a convertible. Sounds damn good to me.
But having test driven a XLR, the automated top was about the only thing I liked. I think the auto soft top on the C6 will be the same equipment as on the XLR, but I love my C5 too much to go that route. So finally to my question; has anyone seen the Coach Builders Mod? Is anyone else thinking about it? I'm concerned about repairs after end of warranty. Yah its a lot of money but I've got a soft top now and this would give the look of a Z06 and still be a convertible. Sounds damn good to me. 