Dinner - Topless
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Joined: May 2010
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Dinner - Topless
I know some of you guys (and gals) don't like to leave your top off when you go into a store or a restaurant. Actually, I'm pretty leary of doing it too, but tonight was such a nice night and I said "what the heck". I was able to creep on it through the window of the restaurant but everything was fine. In fact, a guy stood by it and admired it a while during a text or call before he got into his truck parked beside it. I'm still super paranoid of others due to the idiots in our society and the sheer number of uninsured drivers out there! I'm getting more used to the car and less ****. It is meant to be driven, dangit! I must confess though that I still don't drive it in the rain if I can avoid it, to hard to keep sparkling clean
Would you guys go topless to a restaurant if it was in a nice area and you were pretty close by?
Would you guys go topless to a restaurant if it was in a nice area and you were pretty close by?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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From: La Center WA
I wouldn't even consider it. Not only do I not want to tempt some a**hole into doing something stupid, I also don't want to risk getting my interior torpedoed by a bird or something even worse by a stray cat.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: NCM Lifetime Member
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-‘19-'20
Bad risk-reward:
Even if I can see it from inside a restaurant, it would take about no time for someone to do serious damage.
Even if I watch intensely, thereby disrupting my meal, it will take more time for me to bolt up and out to then confront a guy who I confirm is acting with intent to inflict damage.
It takes little time to raise the top and have [some] peace of mind doing what I went to do... enjoy a meal.
If someone is looking to do damage, why provide an open & easy target?
Even if I can see it from inside a restaurant, it would take about no time for someone to do serious damage.
Even if I watch intensely, thereby disrupting my meal, it will take more time for me to bolt up and out to then confront a guy who I confirm is acting with intent to inflict damage.
It takes little time to raise the top and have [some] peace of mind doing what I went to do... enjoy a meal.
If someone is looking to do damage, why provide an open & easy target?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Murfreesboro, TN
CI 2-4-5-6-7-8-10-11-12 Vet
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '08-'11-'13-'14-'15
Yes and No -
I've done it over a lunch with a bunch of other Vette guys when we've had 2-+ Vettes all lined up - but I still keep my eye on it!
Another time with my C5, I was dropping off a package to ship from UPS - parked right in front of the store. Couldn't have been in the store for more than 10-12 minutes max - came out to find that (no doubt) some punk, probably riding on a bike, tossed what had to be a full Coke drink all over my interior. I'm actually thankful I didn't see it happen or found the guy, because I think I'd probably be in jail right now. The best think that came from it is that I probably detailed the car the best its ever had. Go figure....
Bottom line - ONLY when you're either with a bunch of other Vettes and you can keep your eye on it, but 99% of the time, I'd say NO.
I've done it over a lunch with a bunch of other Vette guys when we've had 2-+ Vettes all lined up - but I still keep my eye on it!
Another time with my C5, I was dropping off a package to ship from UPS - parked right in front of the store. Couldn't have been in the store for more than 10-12 minutes max - came out to find that (no doubt) some punk, probably riding on a bike, tossed what had to be a full Coke drink all over my interior. I'm actually thankful I didn't see it happen or found the guy, because I think I'd probably be in jail right now. The best think that came from it is that I probably detailed the car the best its ever had. Go figure....
Bottom line - ONLY when you're either with a bunch of other Vettes and you can keep your eye on it, but 99% of the time, I'd say NO.
Racer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: San Diego California
I don't have a vert, but if I have the targa off I'll usually put the windows up if I'm going to be in a store for a little. If it's a smaller store, sometime I just leave the windows down. I lock my glove compartment and center console. I don't see what someone could do casually to ruin the interior. My biggest concern was someone hops in for a picture or something. If they throw some trash or wrapped in, I'll just take it out. I hadn't thought about a cigarette butt, but that's truely sinister and thought out. If I'm in an area where I think that might happen, then I might reconsider.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,314
Likes: 4
From: Cape May, NJ; Guntersville, AL; Orange Beach, AL
I leave the top at home 50% of the time when I got to AC for the night. It's just a Corvette. Sorry but I don't worry too much about it. Our SL550 got crapped in by a sea gull last weekend when we were walking at the beach. The fiance and I actually had a good laugh about it. Atleast it didn't hit the nav screen. 
Last edited by gunterwalker; Apr 23, 2011 at 10:11 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 631
Likes: 0
Wow I must be enjoying the hell out of my vette!! I go topless when ever I can..
At work I park in the management parking lot, usually find an end spot and leave it topless all day! If I know its not going to rain.. Other than that when I go to the store, walmart, to get beer, gas, or anywhere else I leave it off..
I drive it in the rain also.. The other morning it was cloudy outside with 70% chance of rain.. I started her up, removed her top and drove to work.. 5 blocks before getting to the office it started raining light drops on my windshield so i pulled in to a gas station, put the top on and got back on the road..
I guess I look at it like a car. Yes I love my Vette but the way I see it is, life is to short and its fully insured. I mean you only live once and how many times you hear about people dieying the day after they retired? Or about how someone never drove their car and when they died their kids sold it, traded it in or abused it..
Get out there and drive it. These are 2005-11 models, they are not going to be collectible anytime soon...
Sorry, its just me. Having a special needs 8 year old daughter has taught me a couple things and one is to not take the simple things for granted!
At work I park in the management parking lot, usually find an end spot and leave it topless all day! If I know its not going to rain.. Other than that when I go to the store, walmart, to get beer, gas, or anywhere else I leave it off..
I drive it in the rain also.. The other morning it was cloudy outside with 70% chance of rain.. I started her up, removed her top and drove to work.. 5 blocks before getting to the office it started raining light drops on my windshield so i pulled in to a gas station, put the top on and got back on the road..
I guess I look at it like a car. Yes I love my Vette but the way I see it is, life is to short and its fully insured. I mean you only live once and how many times you hear about people dieying the day after they retired? Or about how someone never drove their car and when they died their kids sold it, traded it in or abused it..
Get out there and drive it. These are 2005-11 models, they are not going to be collectible anytime soon...
Sorry, its just me. Having a special needs 8 year old daughter has taught me a couple things and one is to not take the simple things for granted!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 17
From: Lee's Summit MO
A friend of mine ended up with a milkshake dumped in his seat. Not worth the risk IMO. It only takes one A**H*** to do some extreme damage. It's the "I'll show him!" mentality.
Top up and locked up.
Top up and locked up.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 4
From: Columbia Maryland
I leave mine topless only if there is no threat of rain or if I have the dogs in the car (and the net is not up, don't want any possibility that they might get out), and I do put the windows up. I do put the top up when I park at one particular parking lot when I go to the park, because there have been some car break-ins there but it's more habit than concern. I've been walking around the lake when a T-storm has rolled in and I don't want any chance of getting the interior getting soaked. Me and the dogs getting soaked is OK, but not the vette!
I don't understand what damage someone could do to the car with the top down. What could be worse than slashing the top?
I don't understand what damage someone could do to the car with the top down. What could be worse than slashing the top?
Last edited by Thrill6; Apr 23, 2011 at 10:25 PM.