I've had 3 corvettes, 86, 03, & 13 GS all convertibles. I am about to buy another one and just wondering how much quieter the coupes are inside. My convertibles have all had a lot of wind/road noise on highway going 65 but they are sweet for cruising around town. I never took my convertibles on very many road trips but will take my next corvette on quite a few, so wondering about the coupes.

 

I had an '00 and '03, you won't notice the difference. The tires make more noise than the wind. Turn your stereo up to normal listening and you won't hear either. I could've gone with a 'vert in '14 but decided against it because I was sick of the water creeping in every time I washed it (do it yourself washes) and when it down poured. I love 'verts, absolutely love them but targa top off driving to me is identical without the leaks.

 

I've owned one C5, two C6s and two C7s, all converts. No water leaks, no wind whistle, no rattles.

I've ridden in coupes owned by friends, and in my opinion wind, with the targa top off, is more intrusive than in a convert.

With the targa top on, the tire noise from the rear compartment is much louder than in my convert with the top up, since the area behind the seats is closed off from the trunk.

With the top down on a convert all you hear is the exhaust note. To me that's a pleasing sound.

I'm married so on a long trip, (3-4 hours,) if I'm alone it's top down, If she's with me it's top up. It's a Hair thing with her, and I'm sure it would be the same with a Targa.

The open air experience in a targa car can not compare with a convertible. You're either a convertible person, or not. Coupe people don't understand the attraction to those of us that love them.

Buy what you like.

Ed

 

Trunk room vs. no trunk room.

 

C7 converts are quieter than c7 coupes. Noticibly. The hatch area of the coupe resonates the wheel wells.

 

What!

I go to Carlisle each year with a pop up canopy, 2 folding chairs, and luggage for three days for myself, and spouse. I do have to leave the top up while driving there, but once I get my canopy up it's top down for three days.

I agree the coupe has more trunk room with the targa in place, but when you store it in back I'll get more in my trunk, without scratching the top, than you will in a coupe.

Ed

 

My '07 coupe hardly ever had the targa off. It's not like it was terribly difficult to remove and store, but unless the only thing I was doing was going out for a sunny day ride, it was more of a pain to take off when I left the house, put back on when I got to the grocery/store/post office. Otherwise, you've got to worry about bird crap, jealous idiots, overly curious admirers, etc. A buddy of mine left his off for five minutes in a strip shopping center parking lot and came back to a half milk shake in the drivers seat. It was just easier to leave it on. Also, with the targa stowed in the back, it affects the space you have available back there. The vert has pretty good easy access top-up or top-down.

My '13 GS Vert was so easy to push the button and drop/raise the top that I used it all the time. I also had virtually no leak issues with mine (also hand washing of course). I've only got 900 miles on my '17 GS vert but have washed it three times already and no leaks at all. When I went to Bowling Green for Museum delivery, the Corvette Plant tour guide talked specifically about the water leak testing they put the new verts through and insisted they are very reliably dry.

My '68 vert....leaks like a sieve, but c'mon!

I say go 'Vert all the way.

 

I've had several convertibles and one coupe. (C-3,4, (2 C-5's and C-6, c7) The C-7 is probably the quietest of all. The only thing is the rear tire noise sometimes gets a little loud depending on the type road surface. My C-6 Grand Sport was the same way. My C-7 is a Z-51. My next one will also be a convertible. Good Luck

 

vents vs no vents
race tracks vs no race tracks

 

Also kinda depends where you live.

 

With the targa top off you get a really nice open air experience in the coupe. I also think the coupe has the edge in the looks department, but of course that's just me.

 

My wife's 2016 is our our 5th Corvette but 1st convertible, we did a 4000 mile road trip in early July, absolutely zero road noise , this car is great in more ways than one.

My 2 cents,Mike

 

I've got to admit, I've seen some sexy coupes. Been admiring a torch red GS on my dealers lot.

Another good point...can't really track a vert

But, I don't track mine and as sexy as that red coupe is, my LBR GS vert is outrageous! They're all sweet and you can't go wrong with any of them. Get what suits YOUR wants and needs.

 

Verts are quieter than coupes with the tops in place. I bought a GS coupe simply becuase I love the look of the roofline. Both great cars...can't go wrong either way.

 

My coupe is quiet on road trips, surprisingly quiet.

When my wife is not along, the roof is off. It is wonderful.

I have trouble believing a convertible roof up is quieter on road trips than my coupe. Kindly explain to me how this is possible.

I am very interested to own a Vert but I mostly drive the Vette on road trips.

 

I have had both Coupe and Convertible C7's. I can't say one is better than the other. I will say, if you love the complete open air experience....the convertible is the way to go!

 

Bunk, I know it sounds counter-intuitive, but there is a good reason that the convertible is quieter than the coupe.

The convertible has a solid rear and insulated bulkhead separating the passenger cabin from the rear wheels. The coupe has only a relatively thin floor between occupants and the rear tires, and, of course, that rear area is part of the cabin. That's why many coupe owners put sound-deadening materials back there.

Having driven both, there is dramatically less road noise in a convertible, and the rag-top is also very well insulated.

 

What he said. My C6 GS convertible was much quieter than the '17 GS coupe. When I first drove a new GS coupe, I thought the rear hatch was not completely closed....but it was. Certainly not a deal breaker, but there is a significant difference.

 

Everyone's opinion is subjective, people say "I had this and I had that...blah, blah, blah....." I ask you, do you have a decibel meter in your back pocket? I can say that my coupe is more quiet so who are you going to believe? OP, take both for a test drive on the same road and figure it out for yourself, don't listen to the people in here when it comes to subjective views......All you people, post up hard facts if you think it's quieter.

I roll my eyes sometimes at some of the replies in here. <-------see.

 

As do I, see ------->

I believe the structural differences between the coupe and convertible accounting for the sound difference are well documented.