Needing a new top for C8
Team Owner
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
But that being said, I had my C7 for 6 years and had the top off a dozen times and never had a flying roof. I can see this being a problem with the C8 if you have a 2 or 3LT because on the C7 if you happen to look in the rear view mirror you can see the back latch down so that gave you a little warning but with the rear view camera on the 2 and 3's you don't get that. Be extra careful I guess.
Race Director
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From: For the strength of the pack is the wolf . . . . . . and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
Put the top on after a great sunset ride with the wife. Had other priorities -------- read here--------- and well the rest is history.
BTW i drive this car like it was meant to be driven. always accelerate aggressively, probably a 0 - 60 in 4.5 sec kind of acceleration. The top came off violently at about 50 MPH. There was traffic behind me and thankful I did accelerate or it would have hit another car. That being said its not GM's fault for me forgetting. If GM was responsible for everything we could potentially forget then they would make an azz wiping machine to go with it.
BTW i drive this car like it was meant to be driven. always accelerate aggressively, probably a 0 - 60 in 4.5 sec kind of acceleration. The top came off violently at about 50 MPH. There was traffic behind me and thankful I did accelerate or it would have hit another car. That being said its not GM's fault for me forgetting. If GM was responsible for everything we could potentially forget then they would make an azz wiping machine to go with it.
The good thing is that no one was hurt, and nothing else was damaged.
Things can always be replaced.
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From: For the strength of the pack is the wolf . . . . . . and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
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From: DFW Area TX
exactly, the C7 had it tied in with the security system so how hard would it be to add a warning light or message on the instrument cluster?
But that being said, I had my C7 for 6 years and had the top off a dozen times and never had a flying roof. I can see this being a problem with the C8 if you have a 2 or 3LT because on the C7 if you happen to look in the rear view mirror you can see the back latch down so that gave you a little warning but with the rear view camera on the 2 and 3's you don't get that. Be extra careful I guess.
But that being said, I had my C7 for 6 years and had the top off a dozen times and never had a flying roof. I can see this being a problem with the C8 if you have a 2 or 3LT because on the C7 if you happen to look in the rear view mirror you can see the back latch down so that gave you a little warning but with the rear view camera on the 2 and 3's you don't get that. Be extra careful I guess.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 575
Likes: 268
From: Syracuse
Well hate to admit after owning 6 different C7s and now with 2 C8s I made the cardinal mistake. Had a late drive and put the top on and went to bed. Drove the car the very next morning and bam top flew off about 15 feet in the air. Needless to say it's not salvageable. In search of someone who has 2 and would be willing to sell one don't care the color or type. Just needs to be a complete top.
dont really know when one will be available from the factory. it is what it is. Thanks for any help in advance👊🏽
dont really know when one will be available from the factory. it is what it is. Thanks for any help in advance👊🏽
Last edited by Yammyhaha; May 4, 2020 at 06:49 PM.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
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From: Calgary, AB. There's a reason why white was the only color offered on every year Corvette. Proud Canadian German Jamaican!
St. Jude Donor '09, '12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Safety Car
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I could completely see how it could happen... these stories just make me so paranoid, I find myself triple checking every time now
Last edited by gthal; May 4, 2020 at 06:53 PM.
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From: Feverish All Over
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From: DFW Area TX
Would probably have to be 3 sensors - 1 for each latch. I guess they don't see the cost/benefit being worthwhile. I've been daily driving Corvette Coupes since 1998 and I have never failed to secure the latches.(Probably just jinxed myself - LOL)
Racer
Joined: Sep 2018
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I'm sorry to hear about the mishap however I'm confused....when the front two latches are closed (horizontal position to the driver) vs vertical, the top is locked down right? So, in the OP's case these latches were vertical or unlocked? Just peculiar how one wouldn't notice. Perhaps the sun visor in the upright position hid the vertical position latches?
Last edited by midengine; May 4, 2020 at 07:33 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2001
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From: CA
You've never made any mistakes in your life that resulted in some sort of property damage?
There's an old saying, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
To the OP, I hope you find a top soon. The good news is, unlike an auto accident, the top is a bolt on repair.
There's an old saying, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
To the OP, I hope you find a top soon. The good news is, unlike an auto accident, the top is a bolt on repair.
Last edited by Michael A; May 4, 2020 at 11:49 PM.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2020
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You've never made any mistakes in your life that resulted in some sort of property damage?
There's an old saying, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
To the OP, I hope you find a top soon. The good news is, unlike an auto accident, the top is a bolt on repair.
There's an old saying, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."
To the OP, I hope you find a top soon. The good news is, unlike an auto accident, the top is a bolt on repair.
Asking a serious question, is there a reason why you would ever place targa roof on the top without latching it in place? I mean do people place the targa on top without latching in place on a regular basis or is this something you just forget what you're doing halfway through the process?
I never had a Targa top, so maybe it's a stupid question.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2019
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From: Central Illinois
I think the question is why this happens so often that there is a Flying Roof Club thread?
Asking a serious question, is there a reason why you would ever place targa roof on the top without latching it in place? I mean do people place the targa on top without latching in place on a regular basis or is this something you just forget what you're doing halfway through the process?
I never had a Targa top, so maybe it's a stupid question.
Asking a serious question, is there a reason why you would ever place targa roof on the top without latching it in place? I mean do people place the targa on top without latching in place on a regular basis or is this something you just forget what you're doing halfway through the process?
I never had a Targa top, so maybe it's a stupid question.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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With how dangerous an airborne top could be on the road, and how many times this has happened over the years I can't believe they haven't been forced to make it impossible to drive away without it being secure.
My wife's 8 year old Volt won't shift out of Park with the charger cord connected, the same sorta sensor wouldn't be but a few bucks.
My wife's 8 year old Volt won't shift out of Park with the charger cord connected, the same sorta sensor wouldn't be but a few bucks.
Last edited by Foosh; May 5, 2020 at 12:51 PM.
Race Director
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From: For the strength of the pack is the wolf . . . . . . and the strength of the wolf is the pack.
Was the FRC also a “thing” with the C4? The C4 roof had bolts that had to be ratcheted down.