I have always favored the convertable, because I love the top down ride but so many more buy the coup I have wondered what the appeal is. So, if I buy a new corvette, which is better and why?
Having had both, there's no way we'd go back to a coupe!! Why? I don't really know, except we like the option of going topless or not!! Get a convertible...you wont' regret it for a minute!!
'13 427 60th vert - '25 Eray Hysteria Purple - CTS V Wagon(4-door Vette)
Depends!
I'm lucky and own one of each.
We've have 4 coupes in the garage and one vert. I'm glad we bought the vert. It's the best 'fun' car to own. The wife and I just can't pass up a nice weekend drive with the top down. Parades, cruises, shows - the vert is the best.
We'll keep a coupe also. We like to drive the open road races and I don't want to put a roll bar in the vert. The coupe is a better daily driver also. Less worries.
The only way I would ever get a coupe is if I had two vette's. People dont understand why I love it so much, since you get a little more interior noise then the coupes, but they are like two entirely different cars with the top up and down. I am staying topless.
the convert c4 has really limited trunk space, a small bag and a car cover fills it. The coupe has alot more space, so for traveling the coupe really is allot better, for fun the rag top is the best, I think it looks better too, also you can get a "hard top" for the convert it takes about two hours from what I understand to change it. my vote is to but a couple of used vettes, one rag top, one coupe.
If you want a daily driver, the coupe is more practical because it has more cargo area, also it's better on long drives or picking up people from the airport. The lift-off roof makes the car almost feel like a convertible. The freedom of the convertible is incomparable, waking up on a Saturday morning, giving it a wash, and going for a drive with the top down is absolutely exhilirating, and you'll have people whistling at you left and right. They are both fun cars, but I believe that everyone should own a corvette at least once in their lives, either coupe or convertible.
Hazcat is right about the convertible hardtop, it is a really nice option that isn't available on the C5 or C6. It makes the car feel rock solid and is great for winter driving, but it significantly reduces your cargo area. But it never took me two hours to install, I could do it in ten minutes.
My first bieng a vert I am partial. I would like a coupe though. However if I was limited to just one it would be a vert. It is so nice to have the top down. And if you want a coupe put the top up, well not really but almost. Heres the thing the vert does have some cargo room. I am an avid bowler and I can fit my three ball bowling bag in the back with room left over. That is with the top up offcourse. With the top down the space is much smaller. Who buys a corvette for cargo room anyways. I just love the feeling of the vert. It feels like the sky is the limit when I drive it.
I agree with most everyone - if you can only have one and its a daily driver - get the coupe. Space and safety to lock stuff up is paramount. HOWEVER, I love convertibles and have many myself. There is no comparison. So if this is a toy then go convertible - no doubt. If you can have two then definitely get one of each!
I definitely like the 'vert more... but for performance, the coupe is better... it is also better for a daily driver (more secure, more room for stuff). The last reason why the coupe sells better is price... they are far cheaper than convertibles
Don't know the difference folks... I have had only one Vette which is a coupe and love it. Taking the T-top is easy but we have never done it yet. We like it the way it is.
I have a 95 coupe. I looked at a vert, but the VERY limited storage space was the deciding factor for me. The vert has none and we like to take long trips in our car and the vert just does give enough storage space. I do take the top off my coupe a lot and it is great. It is all a matter of choice. both are great fun cars. Enjoy!!!
Keep on cruising!
Goose
Coupes are cheaper, stiffer, less likely to be stolen, lighter , more aerodynamic , quieter inside , are safer, have more storage space - better for performance and daily driving.
Verts are more rare , look cool , and a real blast in nice weather....
I am a function first guy though.....it can look good but it better go good first , so I am definitely a coupe guy.
Now for C5's the difference is less noticeable. C5 Verts dont weigh much more and they are pretty stiff platforms. But with "targa" tops the coupes have you can almost get the same vert benefits when you want them while retaining the advantages of the vert.......
I am looking for my first vette, I love verts and found that two tops are/were avaliable does the hard top have to have been ordered for the C4 at the time or is it something that can be found today If I buy a C4 vert?
This is a great thread. I have a coupe, and I love it. However, if I had a choice I think I would opt for the vert, simply because I only drive the vette in fair weather/summer and I hardly ever put the top on (much to my wife's chagrin). Verts look really good, and if one wants to enjoy being topless, why go only partway?
I guess I'm getting old because I have not had the top off of my coupe in three years. Burning up in the hot sun and all that wind blowing on me is not my idea of fun. You people go ahead and look cool I will turn on the AC and be cool.
I agree with most of what has been said here. I like my coupe because I take it on trips often and need the luggage space.
One thing that hasn't been mentioned so far is that if you have a coupe, take the top off, and get one of those hatch vents to raise the rear hatch, you get lots of air flow and it's "almost" as good as a vert.
I've had both and the VERT is the winner. Nothing like dropping the top and having all of nature's glory rush by you. Some have said that the coupe gives your more storage. If you need storage then get a mini-van. We're talking about a sports car-right? You can't go wrong with either one. After all it's a Corvette.
We opted for a coupe for the storage space. On a 16 day road trip, we had two large duffels, some other smaller bags and still had room to stow the top.
If you're not going to be doing much travelling, get the vert. Either way, you'll have fun!
I am looking for my first vette, I love verts and found that two tops are/were avaliable does the hard top have to have been ordered for the C4 at the time or is it something that can be found today If I buy a C4 vert?
Love this thread, as do many others, but I think we're all forgetting what your original question was...whether a hard top could be purchased now.
I don't know for sure, but I would guess that some could still be found, especially through some of the Corvette catalogs. Does anyone know if that's so?
I'll add my 2 cents worth, also! I've had both C4 coupes and convertibles and would only have a convertible now!! We've made 4-day trips in an '88 and the '96 Grand Sport convertible I have now, and we do it with relative ease...even with the top down!
When I bought my 90 I really wasn't looking for a vert but different things came into play, the six speed was a must, the color was right, the condition was good, and the price was right. I have now had the convertible for two yrs and I am happy we got it.In my opinion nothing looks as cool as a C4 with the top down. On a 4 day trip two very small duffle bags will fit with the top down. A 16x14x30 in. suitcase will fit with the top up in a C4.
Noise is a factor, if you can't live with a little wind noise don't get a vert. Although I hear the C5s are better. I find with the top down windows up the vert captures less of the road noise and almost seems quieter than with the top up. For the most part I love the vert,but in the future I plan on finding a coupe to go with it,maybe in a yr with the LT engine.One other thing, with a vert any exhaust noise comes right over the back inside,no way of getting away from it. At this point I think you might have to pry my cold dead fingers from the steering wheel to get it away from me.
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Get a convertible...you wont' regret it for a minute!!
