vert vs. removable top driving experience difference
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 299
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From: Santa Monica Ca
vert vs. removable top driving experience difference
I've driven a few convertibles/roadsters and really enjoyed the open air driving experience. I've never driven a car with just an open top like in the C6/C7 vette. Does the open top just feel like a large sunroof opening or is it closer to a convertible feel?
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From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
It is close, but not the same and never will be. If you want to track your car and have open air, it is the best you can do. If you don't track your car, there is nothing like a drop top.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Loudon/Lake Mary Tennessee/Florida
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Saint Albans, WV
My first was a roadster. But I prefer the lines of the coupe and the targa is fine for me but I seldom have it off. Seems every time I see a vert they have the windows rolled up so I guess I don't understand the concept.
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Night Race Blue 427
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: San Francisco CA
It greatly reduces buffeting, while still providing the open feel. It's a good option sometimes on the freeway. Of course, it is still just a matter of preference, but I hope you can at least understand why some people do it.
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I agree, top down and windows up is out, at least for me. Nothing but convertibles over the last 40 years and 7 'Vettes, and no intention to change now. I'll keep my C6 for another year or two, then trade for a C7. I've driven a lot of coupes over the years, and it is NOT the same, by a long shot. Not bad, just different.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2007
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The coupe with the top off is somewhere between a sunroof and a convertible. I think the experience is a bit closer to a convertible. While I enjoy the full open air of a convertible, driving with the top up sucks, it doesn't look as good, and the vert has a lot less storage space.
The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?
The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,274
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From: Perdido Key,Fl. Fl.
[Q
UOTE=SlayerRX8;1585577705]The coupe with the top off is somewhere between a sunroof and a convertible. I think the experience is a bit closer to a convertible. While I enjoy the full open air of a convertible, driving with the top up sucks, it doesn't look as good, and the vert has a lot less storage space.
The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?[/QUOTE]
UOTE=SlayerRX8;1585577705]The coupe with the top off is somewhere between a sunroof and a convertible. I think the experience is a bit closer to a convertible. While I enjoy the full open air of a convertible, driving with the top up sucks, it doesn't look as good, and the vert has a lot less storage space. The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?[/QUOTE]
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 97
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From: Dix Hills NY
[QUOTE=SlayerRX8;1585577705]The coupe with the top off is somewhere between a sunroof and a convertible. I think the experience is a bit closer to a convertible. While I enjoy the full open air of a convertible, driving with the top up sucks, it doesn't look as good, and the vert has a lot less storage space.
The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?
UOTE=SlayerRX8;1585577705]The coupe with the top off is somewhere between a sunroof and a convertible. I think the experience is a bit closer to a convertible. While I enjoy the full open air of a convertible, driving with the top up sucks, it doesn't look as good, and the vert has a lot less storage space. The coupe with the targa top is the best of all worlds.
Edit: I laugh every time I see top off and windows up. What's the point?
[/QUOTE]
Pro
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 615
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From: San Francisco CA
Since you use the word "off" instead of "down," I assume you are referring to a coupe's top, rather than a convertible's top. However, I would also assume that the point is similar in both cases: the driver wants the feel of open-air driving, but it may be too cold or windy for the driver and/or passenger with the top off/down.
Just the other day I was driving my son to a baseball tournament, and he complained that he was cold (it was before dawn). I was on the freeway and didn't want to pull over, so I just raised his window, and he immediately felt comfortably warm (with the heater and seat warmer on).
I drive with the top and windows down almost all of the time, but if someone wants to raise their windows to block some of the wind, that doesn't strike me as especially funny.
Just the other day I was driving my son to a baseball tournament, and he complained that he was cold (it was before dawn). I was on the freeway and didn't want to pull over, so I just raised his window, and he immediately felt comfortably warm (with the heater and seat warmer on).
I drive with the top and windows down almost all of the time, but if someone wants to raise their windows to block some of the wind, that doesn't strike me as especially funny.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,513
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From: Rocheport Missouri
From a practical standpoint, the coupe is the better choice. It has a larger storage area and is tougher to break into. A vert, while it does have storage room, it is limited. I would also be concerned about someone slashing the top especially when traveling and having to leave it outside. I also believe taking the targa top off is sort of a pain when compared to an electric vert top.
As far as experience goes, the vert wins hands down. Besides the buffeting some describe, just the feeling of being completely wide open you get in a vert is awesome. I will strongly consider a vert for my next Vette.
As far as experience goes, the vert wins hands down. Besides the buffeting some describe, just the feeling of being completely wide open you get in a vert is awesome. I will strongly consider a vert for my next Vette.
Last edited by unixcorn; Dec 2, 2013 at 08:19 PM. Reason: wrong word
Team Owner
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From: resting comfortably in my mind
St. Jude Donor '14
top down windows up I simple. There are a few reasons to do it. Around here there I a LOT of traffic on the highway. top down lets you have, well, top down. windows up reduces the noise of all the traffic on the highway next to you. There is also that phone thing. Some of us actually use the phone while driving during working hours. windows up lets you have top down feeling with way less noise while on the phone.
Then there I the wind thing. windows up reduces buffeting and keeps your hair in place, or more importantly your girls hair.
Then when you are driving side roads in leiu of highway, windows back down.
Then there I the wind thing. windows up reduces buffeting and keeps your hair in place, or more importantly your girls hair.
Then when you are driving side roads in leiu of highway, windows back down.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Saint Albans, WV
My opinion is it's not horrible and I love the top off and driving at interstate speeds. Now everyone is even.