Decisions, Decisions.....
Popular Reply
May 26, 2023, 11:10 AM
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 3,485
From: Granada Hills CA
If you have a coupe and go on road trips with luggage in the trunk, don't think about removing the top since there will be nowhere to store it. It goes in the trunk, but if that space is taken up by luggage it is a no-go. Get an HTC and enjoy top-down driving regardless of what is in the trunk.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,408
Likes: 3,485
From: Granada Hills CA
If you have a coupe and go on road trips with luggage in the trunk, don't think about removing the top since there will be nowhere to store it. It goes in the trunk, but if that space is taken up by luggage it is a no-go. Get an HTC and enjoy top-down driving regardless of what is in the trunk.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,562
Likes: 1,579
HTC's also have failures, add weight, you can't see the engine with OEM setup (if you care about that).
More importantly for me though, is this one big issue.
With the HTC, when the top is down, you LOSE the TV mirror. The C8 has a pretty substantial blind spot. Might be able to alleviate that issue some with a change to passenger side mirror which is what I did on my coupe regardless.
HTC also adds significant cost. For me, I decided to spend that money on performance adders, Z51, MSRC, PTM, PDR, FE4 chassis, etc. and I also like the transparent dual roof package.
More importantly for me though, is this one big issue.
With the HTC, when the top is down, you LOSE the TV mirror. The C8 has a pretty substantial blind spot. Might be able to alleviate that issue some with a change to passenger side mirror which is what I did on my coupe regardless.
HTC also adds significant cost. For me, I decided to spend that money on performance adders, Z51, MSRC, PTM, PDR, FE4 chassis, etc. and I also like the transparent dual roof package.
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From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
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Good luck with whatever decision you make.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 5,812
Likes: 8,303
From: Dove Mountain, AZ
2023 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
It was a simple decision for me....Ask yourself if you're a coupe or vert guy?
I live in sunny, warm, and dry SoAZ and have a C8 coupe and after 6 months of ownership haven't removed the top and probably never will...I owned both a Mercedes SLK32 AMG and Mazda MX5-RF hardtop convertibles years ago and I rarely lowered the tops...I realized that I'm simply not a person that enjoys the convertible experience.
I live in sunny, warm, and dry SoAZ and have a C8 coupe and after 6 months of ownership haven't removed the top and probably never will...I owned both a Mercedes SLK32 AMG and Mazda MX5-RF hardtop convertibles years ago and I rarely lowered the tops...I realized that I'm simply not a person that enjoys the convertible experience.
Last edited by tadda; May 26, 2023 at 12:22 PM.
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Racer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 457
Likes: 149
From: Katy, TX
You just have to think of the pros and cons and how you value them.
Coupe
See the engine
have to clean the engine
a little less headroom
manually remove the top
with the top down, very little storage
HTC
lose the camera/some visibility with the top down
better feel when the top is down
cant See the engine
dont have to clean the engine
top down doesn’t affect storage
I went HTC. While the engine is cool, I didn’t want to keep it clean. I love having the top down on summer nights, even here in FL
Coupe
See the engine
have to clean the engine
a little less headroom
manually remove the top
with the top down, very little storage
HTC
lose the camera/some visibility with the top down
better feel when the top is down
cant See the engine
dont have to clean the engine
top down doesn’t affect storage
I went HTC. While the engine is cool, I didn’t want to keep it clean. I love having the top down on summer nights, even here in FL
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 45
Likes: 47
Yup, these are the things I will have to figure out, there are aspects I love about each, does not come down to money for sure, but aesthetics, comfort, etc...One of the bigger things is seeing the engine, but as I've read already, kinda a headache to keep clean. I'll figure it out one way or another.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,562
Likes: 1,579
FalconF7 has a mod to allow viewing the HTC engine. Also I thought I saw GM showing off an OEM solution to this now?
https://falconf7.com/
https://falconf7.com/
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 1,323
From: Melbourne Florida’s Barrier Islands
Every convertible will sooner or later fail at the worst time. Let me rephrase that, given enough time or some bad luck, every convertible will fail at the worst time.
Removing the coupe’s top is a little annoying but not bad.
I think it’s a toss-up, I have the coupe, but almost got the HTC. I’m not unhappy with the coupe, but I miss a powered roof.
I think there is some visibility issue with the HTC, no issues in a 2LT coupe.
as far as seeing the engine, it’s not a pretty engine, but it is kinda fun to look at it, not sure why.
Removing the coupe’s top is a little annoying but not bad.
I think it’s a toss-up, I have the coupe, but almost got the HTC. I’m not unhappy with the coupe, but I miss a powered roof.
I think there is some visibility issue with the HTC, no issues in a 2LT coupe.
as far as seeing the engine, it’s not a pretty engine, but it is kinda fun to look at it, not sure why.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,497
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From: Omaha
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C4 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Depends on the person, to me it's absolutely worth it, and I'm not traditionally a convertible guy. I've found that the HTC to me gets used almost every time I drive the car, either putting the top down, or putting down the rear window. Significantly less buffeting at speed than a coupe with the roof off and super easy to put top up/down, so that you use it way more. Let's be real, how many people with a coupe take the top off if they are out running around stopping several places, as they'll have to put it back on each time they stop somewhere (or leave their baby exposed to the public). No loss of storage space, no loss of rigidity or safety (HTC can run track days just like a coupe now), and better head room than the coupe with the top up. The only downside is the cost.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 10,179
Likes: 2,306
From: Wesley Chapel, FL Las Vegas, NV
I’m not a convertible guy at all. no problem for me taking the removable top off my C7 ZO6. I was looking for a Coupe.
The HTC deal I came across was too good to pass up. In my thought process I believed seeing the engine was a must have, but after thinking long and hard I came to the conclusion it was a novelty that would soon wear off whereas the HTC had real world benefits.
I do like the HTC but would have been just as happy with a Coupe. The top is very easy to R&R and the loss of trunk space when stored is really a non issue to me.
if I was worried about storage I would have bought an SUV. Lol
The HTC deal I came across was too good to pass up. In my thought process I believed seeing the engine was a must have, but after thinking long and hard I came to the conclusion it was a novelty that would soon wear off whereas the HTC had real world benefits.
I do like the HTC but would have been just as happy with a Coupe. The top is very easy to R&R and the loss of trunk space when stored is really a non issue to me.
if I was worried about storage I would have bought an SUV. Lol
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 45
Likes: 47
I've never been a convertible guy either, but the c8 just looks so good with the top down. I'm sure I won't be disappointed either way, it's just a tough choice, and never the less I'm glad to be between a rock and a hard place.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,067
Likes: 2,173
From: Schaller Iowa
I love my HTC because it's the best of both worlds. The fun of having a convertible and with the top up it's very well sealed and secure. Seeing the engine doesn't matter at all to me. I rarely use the rear view mirror camera.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,357
Likes: 2,409