Going topless
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 361
From: Smyrna/Vinings, Georgia
One of the nice things about living in Japan is that there is absolutely no risk to personal belongings. I could leave the top off for days and nothing would happen (except it would get wet in the frequent rain). I have never tried it, but I am convinced that I could leave a $100 bill on the seat with the roof off the car in a crowded parking lot, and it would still be there hours later.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 34
From: St. Louis Missouri
If I trust the area and it's not known for a lot of mischief, I'll leave the top down. It's a hard call either way though, because I've found out the hard way a few times that if someone wants into your car or to mess with it they'll do it either way. Most of the time when someone tries to break in, it causes more damage to the vehicle then if you had just left it open or with the top down. It really sucks you can't own anything nice without someone trying to mess with it and I've found that for one reason or another the Corvette seems to a main target.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 988
Likes: 81
From: Danville California
Too bad you didn't catch the douchebag in the act. If I would have caught him, I'd likely be on the 6 o'clock news with the headline "Corvette owner beats man to death with bare hands in self defense"
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
Likes: 2,432
From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
One of the nice things about living in Japan is that there is absolutely no risk to personal belongings. I could leave the top off for days and nothing would happen (except it would get wet in the frequent rain). I have never tried it, but I am convinced that I could leave a $100 bill on the seat with the roof off the car in a crowded parking lot, and it would still be there hours later.
Taking someone else's property is a sure way to lose face. And face is everything...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,269
Likes: 25
From: Simi Valley Ca
This is my solution. I use it more to keep the heat out and protect the interior from the sun but it also helps keep eyes and hands out. It's made of UV protectant material that does a great job of keeping the inside of the car cool on really hot days too. It's cheap ($79) and it takes a minute or two to put on. It's made my California Pop Top.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,746
Likes: 1,300
From: Fort McMurray Alberta
2018 C7 of Year Finalist
Canadian here. Had my top off for the first time yesterday. I'm not worried about people messing with the car, but I do try and park where I can keep an eye on it if I'll be longer than 15 minutes. Went out to eat with it last night and it was fine.
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 11,139
Likes: 1,912
From: Missouri City, TX
Not the first time I have heard of bad things happening to a vette vert left with the top off. It attracts douches that want to show you they can do it. Vette left with the top off says to everyone that I am enjoying my car and that will set some people off.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 21
From: Arlington VA
I leave my top off all the time. I do generally roll the windows up. Meaning someone needs to climb up on the car to get inside. Lets be real. If somebody is going to f**k with your car, then somebody is going to f**k with your car. The roof doesnt need to be on for them to vandalise it or attempt to steal something. So at the end of the day, you can either drive it and enjoy it. Or park it and always be scared something is going to happen.
Of course it should go without needing to be said, that you should be aware of your environments when leaving the roof off (or top down on a convertible). Common sense goes a long ways towards living an enjoyable, trouble-free life. Some places are full of shady individuals & activities.. so dont leave it parked there with the top off. Other places are either more private, secure or just nicer to park in. Your gut feeling should tell you what seems safe and what does not.
Since I generally park my car in downtown DC.. I dont worry about anything climbing into my roof. There are way too many witnesses. Not saying that someone is not that stupid, but again.. I cant live everyday in fear. I bought the car to enjoy, not to loathe over.
Of course it should go without needing to be said, that you should be aware of your environments when leaving the roof off (or top down on a convertible). Common sense goes a long ways towards living an enjoyable, trouble-free life. Some places are full of shady individuals & activities.. so dont leave it parked there with the top off. Other places are either more private, secure or just nicer to park in. Your gut feeling should tell you what seems safe and what does not.
Since I generally park my car in downtown DC.. I dont worry about anything climbing into my roof. There are way too many witnesses. Not saying that someone is not that stupid, but again.. I cant live everyday in fear. I bought the car to enjoy, not to loathe over.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,205
Likes: 21
From: Arlington VA
This is my solution. I use it more to keep the heat out and protect the interior from the sun but it also helps keep eyes and hands out. It's made of UV protectant material that does a great job of keeping the inside of the car cool on really hot days too. It's cheap ($79) and it takes a minute or two to put on. It's made my California Pop Top.
I may pick that up.. as I do hate the heat that enters the car doing the hot summer days when I would generally have the top off. Thanks for the pics + link!
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 3,269
Likes: 25
From: Simi Valley Ca
Glad to help! When I had my transparent top, it did a great job of keeping it cool on hot days as well. One thing I've found is that when the top is on and it's really hot out, getting the roof off without burning your hands is impossible without gloves. This eliminates that issue as well as they top remains nice and cool with this thing on.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 1,193
From: La Center WA
Any time, any place I leave my car unattended it's with the roof panel on and the windows up. It doesn't matter if it's a public place or my own 3-car garage. (Who knows what kinds of critters could be lurking?) I just don't like taking needless risks with my car.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 485
Likes: 7
From: MN
I generally put the top up if I am going to be out of sight of the car for more than 10 or 15 minutes more due to fear of an unexpected thunderstorm than vandalism.
My previous convertible was vandalized a number of times - about equally with top up or down. Once somebody popped the window out of the track trying to break in (there was nothing of value in the car. Another time, with top down, there were footprints on the trunk deck and pry marks around the radio due to some punk who knew nothing about how to even remove the radio. Another time the passenger window was simply smashed despite the driver door being unlocked and they stole my phone charger cord which I found thrown in the bushes next to my house several months later.
I never leave anything more valuable than my sunglasses in the passenger compartment, top up or down. Top down, it is TOO easy for it to walk off. Top up, I fear some idiot will think that slicing the top open is a good way to break into the car if they see something inside.
My previous convertible was vandalized a number of times - about equally with top up or down. Once somebody popped the window out of the track trying to break in (there was nothing of value in the car. Another time, with top down, there were footprints on the trunk deck and pry marks around the radio due to some punk who knew nothing about how to even remove the radio. Another time the passenger window was simply smashed despite the driver door being unlocked and they stole my phone charger cord which I found thrown in the bushes next to my house several months later.
I never leave anything more valuable than my sunglasses in the passenger compartment, top up or down. Top down, it is TOO easy for it to walk off. Top up, I fear some idiot will think that slicing the top open is a good way to break into the car if they see something inside.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 271
Likes: 5
Interesting you mention this....
My wife and I went to Houlihan's about a month and a half ago (when the weather first broke). We were excited to take the top off! I parked in the corner, away from everyone.
We actually sat outside, but so many people came to do the same thing, I lost sight of the Stingray. When we got back to the car to leave, my wife noticed that there were footprints on the passenger seat of the car and the inside of the passenger door.
We won't do THAT again.
My wife and I went to Houlihan's about a month and a half ago (when the weather first broke). We were excited to take the top off! I parked in the corner, away from everyone.
We actually sat outside, but so many people came to do the same thing, I lost sight of the Stingray. When we got back to the car to leave, my wife noticed that there were footprints on the passenger seat of the car and the inside of the passenger door.
We won't do THAT again.
Unbelievable. Some people are just asshats.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 16,854
Likes: 535
I'd be more worried someone was going to steal my $79 Pop Top than someone climbing into my car with the top off.