C5 Convertible Top, Tedious

[Oldgeezer]

I happened to glance at the latest issue of Consumer Reports. It talks about the new cars for 2003. They say its tedious to raise and lower the convertible top on the 2003 Corvette. What idiots. This has been a chicken bone in their throat for a long time. I have seen it in their evaluation of the Corvette in past years. If its too much for someone to raise and lower the top, that person has no business driving not just a Corvette but a bicycle too. Save lives, stay off the highways. Consumer Reports magazine owned by some European company?

 

[yankees1]

I agree! My 03 top is easy to take down and put back up! Its called reading the directions!

 

[IH2LOSE]

The one way they could make it easer would be to have an electronic latching and unlatching mecanism(maybee the old screw type on the ford retractables) I do find it to be a nusance to have to sit in the car to latch or unlatch and then to have to get out to raise or lower.

One day our babysiter had the car out and han NO problem figuring out how to use the top

 

[MsSchroder]

consumer reports

I stopped reading that many years ago. I got tired of their constant environmentalism soapbox. I began to feel like their decisions were affected by their politics. Also, thanks to them, I bought 2 of the worst vacuum cleaners on the planet (why I didn't learn the first time I have no idea!).

 

[Tripleblack51]

The top is very easy to take down...a little exercise never hurt anyone.

Regards,

Pedro

 

[Doneboy]

It's too easy.

 

[pudljmpr]

POwer tops

I had a friend who owned the last series of Mercedes Benz SL 500.
He went to put his top down and one of the micro-switches failed and the top did $15,000.00 damage to itself and the car and it was just out of warrranty.
I think I can handle the non power corvette top.
If you want a power top and an LS1 get a camaro or wait for the cadillac.:cool

 

[Dragonslayer]

You actually do not have to be in the car to unlatch or latch the two front connections. With the windows down, i just reach in and turn the latch. It takes me 30 to 45 seconds to put it down or put it up. Actually, it's a lot easier then the T-top removal from my old 98. I do not want the extra weight, nor do i want anything electrical that can go wrong. If you think it's too tedious to use the convertible manual top, then get a fixed roof. Problem solved-nooverhead work-still driving a CORVETTE

 

[MorganC5Vette]

Man, those guys at Consumer Reports are good for some things. However, when it comes to the Vert, they should not be "hatin!":nono

I am impressed with the Vert and I like the openness when the top is down. Just took a test drive and I was able to put the top down and pull it up with ease.

Plus, the trunk space is great for a convertible....even with the top down. In agreement with Dragonslayer, "I do not want the extra weight, or do i want anything electrical that can go wrong."


Morgan

 

[IH2LOSE]

WOW what a defensive crowd, I have bad knees,back,and hip so the extra steps to some are no problem to me its an effort.I have said it before I absolutely love this car.Its the only car I have every owned that I can do over a 3 hr ride with out having cramps.

 

[MorganC5Vette]

C5 Verts are the best! :dance


Morgan

 

[Oldgeezer]

I guess I got people's dander up. I am glad. Its good to see everyone is awake. 3 more weeks till DRIVING THE VETTE AGAIN!! YAHOO!!!!!

 

[pweter98vert]

Power top on a Vette? Just one more thing to squeek, rattle or break. I don't mind putting the top down myself and I'm an old guy.

 

[singledad_9]

One day our babysiter had the car out and han NO problem figuring out how to use the top

Boy, you have guts and enjoy the tedious work it takes to bring the top down.

 

[JBsC5]

Re: POwer tops

I had a friend who owned the last series of Mercedes Benz SL 500.
He went to put his top down and one of the micro-switches failed and the top did $15,000.00 damage to itself and the car and it was just out of warrranty.
I think I can handle the non power corvette top.
If you want a power top and an LS1 get a camaro or wait for the cadillac.:cool

I'm a firm believer in KISS...keep it simple stup!D...

I would much prefer the technology for making the corvette such a great performance car and leave convertible top lowering to the fine manual meathod that it is..

What a technological marvel the C5 convertible top is..

And its lightweight compared to all these wiz bang power tops that are coming from luxury brands like the Caddy XLR and MB is what a sports car is all about..JMO

IN a sports tourer its great..in a true all out killer performance car like the corvette..its not wanted...

 

[RHill]

Re: Re: POwer tops

I'm a firm believer in KISS...keep it simple stup!D...

I would much prefer the technology for making the corvette such a great performance car and leave convertible top lowering to the fine manual meathod that it is..

What a technological marvel the C5 convertible top is..

And its lightweight compared to all these wiz bang power tops that are coming from luxury brands like the Caddy XLR and MB is what a sports car is all about..JMO

IN a sports tourer its great..in a true all out killer performance car like the corvette..its not wanted...

==============================================

Ditto on the less FOO FOO BELLS and WHISLES on the Corvette …. I would buy a C5-R if they made one with two seats and was street legal .

The Corvette is a sports car, it’s not a sissy girl car like a Bimmer, Lexus or Benz … OK wait a minute I own a Benz…. Scratch the Benz it’s a man’s car.

 

[corvettecrazy]

I agree manual top is not that hard and the extra weight would not be worth it.

the only thing I think would be nice is an electronic sensor that tells you if it is latched on both sides.

sometimes we put the top up at night to keep the dust out but dont latch it intending to drive it down the next day...but when you leave it up the next day forgetting that it is unlatched and the wind catches it is not a good thing

 

[Remo]

Topless & Loving It.

Over the years I've owned several Corvette convertibles (65, 67, 01). All of the tops were easy to put up and down. One of the nicest feature is not having to snap up a tonneau cover. As in all Corvette convertibles, when the top is stored, the car has a very clean look. The C5 top is the best one yet and the car looks "killer" - top up or down.

Remo
:cool

 

[CFour]

Well what I think they are "really" saying is for $57,000,00 it should be somewhat automatic. I agree! They should have put in electric front latches at least like my former Allante' had. All you did was place the top front on the windshield header and push a button and both sides were automatically latched open or closed, no dancing around fussing with the latches. YES I think for this price point the top should be easier to operate then a 30K Camaro. Automatic lowering side windows (Like TBird) would also be a nice feature that a 60K car should have.

 

[SebringBill]

Anybody recall that from 56 thru 62 you could get a power top in a Vette? It still was a PITA to put up. The C5 top is a snap compared to the C1. Consumer Reoprts, keep complainin'