How often do you remove the removable top?
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 3,543
Likes: 854
How often do you remove the removable top?
I see many photos of C7's with the removable top on the car.
A few questions.........
1) How often are you removing the top?
2) Under what conditions?
3) Would you still buy a C7 if it did not have a removable top feature?
A few questions.........
1) How often are you removing the top?
2) Under what conditions?
3) Would you still buy a C7 if it did not have a removable top feature?
Last edited by nmvettec7; Aug 30, 2015 at 11:04 AM.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 602
Likes: 58
From: Detroit area and Nashville area What day is it? Between MI & TN
I only put it on when its going to rain, too cold, I have to put more then a couple small things in the trunk.
I would have bought the convertible if the coupe didn't have a removable top. The fact that the top is removable got me to buy the coupe instead of the convertible; I was on the fence. I like the extra space and looks of the coupe. Top-up convertible is not very appealing to me nor is the lack of trunk space but, between a fixed roof coupe and convertible - no brainer. I'd go convertible.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 683
From: Austin Texas
St. Jude Donor '15
Back when I had my C6 the top was off a lot, the C7 top has never been off. Wife has to many things that she is allergic to.
If they had a fixed roof coupe I would have bought that. But honestly I love them all, vert, coupe, C5 and C6 fixed roofs.
Now that summer is almost at an end we may take it off, pollen is not going to be so much of an issue and the cooler temps will be nice.
One thing about the top never being off is that I have no noise from the top, still factory tight.
If they had a fixed roof coupe I would have bought that. But honestly I love them all, vert, coupe, C5 and C6 fixed roofs.
Now that summer is almost at an end we may take it off, pollen is not going to be so much of an issue and the cooler temps will be nice.
One thing about the top never being off is that I have no noise from the top, still factory tight.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,472
Likes: 75
From: Cleveland, OH
Had it off yesterday for the second time when my wife and I drove to a farm, near Cuyahoga Valley Nat'l Park south of Cleveland, that has great corn and fruits and veggies and entertainment, food, benches, rockers and gliders. It was in the 70s, sunny and I answered many questions from admirers at the farm, including a young man in a wheelchair with his older parents. The young man who may have had CP loved the car and asked if I had many tix. I said no, of course.
The problem was the parking lots were all dirt and tiny loose gravel which, of course found it's way inside the Vette.
The plus side is I cleaned the interior when we got home, washed the car and installed 2 of the little "O" rubber rings on the two posts when I reattached the roof. Adding a little dielectric grease silenced the "snap, crackle and pop" at least for yesterday.
It was a glorious day and we enjoyed the open air.
But yes, I would have bought the Vette even without the removable roof. I traded in an '09 Z06 so I never missed the top-off in 5 years.
I must say I'm impressed with the torsional rigidity of the car without the roof. My '08 coupe wasn't as solid and my '94 TT Supra twisted like Chubby Checker when it drove over RR tracks.
The problem was the parking lots were all dirt and tiny loose gravel which, of course found it's way inside the Vette.
The plus side is I cleaned the interior when we got home, washed the car and installed 2 of the little "O" rubber rings on the two posts when I reattached the roof. Adding a little dielectric grease silenced the "snap, crackle and pop" at least for yesterday.
It was a glorious day and we enjoyed the open air.
But yes, I would have bought the Vette even without the removable roof. I traded in an '09 Z06 so I never missed the top-off in 5 years.
I must say I'm impressed with the torsional rigidity of the car without the roof. My '08 coupe wasn't as solid and my '94 TT Supra twisted like Chubby Checker when it drove over RR tracks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 5,353
Likes: 100
From: And then it was said... "let there be blue Corvettes and yellow Camaros" Ft Worth Texas
Cruise-In IV Veteran
St. Jude Donor '09
We don't remove ours that often. Our club does a lot of local lunch type cruises and for those in the spring or fall we sometimes take it off. Summers are just too hot unless we are in something like a July 4th parade.
Most of our many past Corvettes have had the removable top (my wife had two Z06's); we've never had an inclination to have a vert.
Most of our many past Corvettes have had the removable top (my wife had two Z06's); we've never had an inclination to have a vert.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 109
Likes: 6
I will go weeks at a time with the top off.
I only put it on when its going to rain, too cold, I have to put more then a couple small things in the trunk.
I would have bought the convertible if the coupe didn't have a removable top. The fact that the top is removable got me to buy the coupe instead of the convertible; I was on the fence. I like the extra space and looks of the coupe. Top-up convertible is not very appealing to me nor is the lack of trunk space but, between a fixed roof coupe and convertible - no brainer. I'd go convertible.
I only put it on when its going to rain, too cold, I have to put more then a couple small things in the trunk.
I would have bought the convertible if the coupe didn't have a removable top. The fact that the top is removable got me to buy the coupe instead of the convertible; I was on the fence. I like the extra space and looks of the coupe. Top-up convertible is not very appealing to me nor is the lack of trunk space but, between a fixed roof coupe and convertible - no brainer. I'd go convertible.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 3,104
Likes: 626
From: Baton Rouge LA
Every six months to apply dielectric grease to the rubber. Other than maintenance my C6 top was off once just to try it. I had no driving need to do it again.
In the garage, any weather.
Yes. I'm not into the open-air experience except riding my Harley, which has no other option.
2) Under what conditions?
3) Would you still buy a C7 if it did not have a removable top feature?
Last edited by iclick; Aug 30, 2015 at 01:04 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 67
Likes: 24
From: Delray Beach Florida
My C5 and my two C6's all had two tops. The solid color for the summer and the translucent for the rest of the year. I have a C7 on order with two tops for the same reason. Even though we enjoy the removable top, we would still buy a Corvette if it didn't have a removable top. 
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,940
Likes: 43
From: shavertown Pa.
Took it off once, repaired the squeak put it back, that is where it will stay.
It will come off again when the noise returns and not until then.
I do wish GM would give me the option not to have a removable roof like my 02 Z06.
It will come off again when the noise returns and not until then.
I do wish GM would give me the option not to have a removable roof like my 02 Z06.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 51
Likes: 0
From: Ohio
1) How often are you removing the top?
I take the top off probably 1/3 to 1/2 the time I take the car out.
2) Under what conditions?
Obviously not raining. If the sun is very bright, I probably will leave the top on since I am very prone to sunburns. If I am going anyplace I'm concerned about dust, debris, or people potentially disturbing the car, I may leave the top on. Sometimes we'll put the top on while it's parked in a parking lot. I find it very quick & easy to take on & off. Only downside is that it's impossible not to get fingerprints on it unless you're wearing gloves.
I would say the car gets a little more attention when the top is off... probably because people see that you're out & about having a good time. Or because you can hear them when they yell or honk. It is definitely more fun with the top off
3) Would you still buy a C7 if it did not have a removable top feature?
I would have bought a convertible. We started looking at convertibles but when we saw how open it was without the targa top, we decided it was good enough and saved the $2k the vert would have cost. I'm fine with the manual effort to take it on/off versus the potential problems of the convertible mechanisms. Not sure if that's really a high probability though. I do not have any of the squeaking/noise issues others have referenced (mine is a 2015 if that matters).
I take the top off probably 1/3 to 1/2 the time I take the car out.
2) Under what conditions?
Obviously not raining. If the sun is very bright, I probably will leave the top on since I am very prone to sunburns. If I am going anyplace I'm concerned about dust, debris, or people potentially disturbing the car, I may leave the top on. Sometimes we'll put the top on while it's parked in a parking lot. I find it very quick & easy to take on & off. Only downside is that it's impossible not to get fingerprints on it unless you're wearing gloves.
I would say the car gets a little more attention when the top is off... probably because people see that you're out & about having a good time. Or because you can hear them when they yell or honk. It is definitely more fun with the top off
3) Would you still buy a C7 if it did not have a removable top feature?
I would have bought a convertible. We started looking at convertibles but when we saw how open it was without the targa top, we decided it was good enough and saved the $2k the vert would have cost. I'm fine with the manual effort to take it on/off versus the potential problems of the convertible mechanisms. Not sure if that's really a high probability though. I do not have any of the squeaking/noise issues others have referenced (mine is a 2015 if that matters).
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,721
Likes: 116
From: Cape Coral Fl
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21
Not that often, since living in Florida, for the past 18 yrs! Average about 6 times a year. 
Love having the ability to take it off whenever! Mostly when the sun is not around! Had the C7 roof painted this year, so drove around without, for a few days. Torture to me. 
Couldn't wait to get the roof back. First to see how awesome it was painted, and to get out of the sun! I see people all the time with tops down, baking in the sun, stuck in traffic! Painful! 
When I lived in Boston, my roofs were off, or down, every chance! Even with the heater on, full blast, in the winter.
Love having the ability to take it off whenever! Mostly when the sun is not around! Had the C7 roof painted this year, so drove around without, for a few days. Torture to me. Couldn't wait to get the roof back. First to see how awesome it was painted, and to get out of the sun! I see people all the time with tops down, baking in the sun, stuck in traffic! Painful! When I lived in Boston, my roofs were off, or down, every chance! Even with the heater on, full blast, in the winter.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,339
Likes: 2,613
From: Covington LA
I only remove it to fix the damn creaks. The C8 should have a proper fixed roof, lighter, stronger, and no creaks or rattles. If I want open air, I will buy a convertible. The single biggest complaint about these cars is the noise from the roof.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 295
Likes: 109
From: Crockett Tx
off about 1/2 the time, if its over 95 it goes back on so a lot of times we pop it off in the morning and then put it on later in the day, if the roof didn't come off the coupe I would have gotten a vert
Racer
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 465
Likes: 29
From: Las Vegas NV
It comes off whenever I can. Sometimes it's too hot or windy but if it's below 95 degrees, (in LV, 95 feels like 80 everywhere else), I'll take it off and wear a cap (prone to sunburn). Love the combination of open top and decent storage space. It's a sports car! The top should come off whenever possible. 
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 46
Likes: 7
From: Wilmington North Carolina
I like to take it of after checking the forecast very carefully. If it is too hot or any chance of rain it stays on. I think the car looks great with the top off and it has a quieter wind rush than a convertible.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 3,913
Likes: 395
From: Cary NC
1). I remove the top about 50-60 times a year. Dead easy to take it and then put it back on at the destination. Rarely leave it off when parked.
2). When the weather is nice and the drive is mostly 35-55 mph rather than interstate.
3). Absolutely. I might be more tempted to buy a convertible , though, if there was no removable top. I'm less tempted by convertibles knowing that I can take the top off at will.