Have you ever flipped your coupe top ? ?

[jdanehy1]

I was visiting with a friend who also has a C5 coupe. He asked me if I have ever forgotten to fasten down the top when I put it back down. I said no. He said once when washing the car he put the top on but just laid it in without locking it in place. He forgot about that and later when he drove it the top (no glass) came off at speed. It damaged the top but did not hit anything but the street. He then went on to say that a local dealer had the same thing happen. A customer went for a demo ride and the glass top came off taking out someone's windshield. QUESTION : it would be desirable to have a DIC message come on informing you that you need to lock the top. Have you ever had an experience like those described ?

 

[Bob_K]

Never had that happen when I had my 86 and haven't yet (knock on wood) done it to the T-tops of my '79. I think a light would be a good thing to put into the car though. A little back up never hurts.

 

[justafamilyman]

Hi jdanehy1,
The closest I've been to than was when I found the the back clamp was not secure the next day. That's scary enough for me. Even now, I check the clamps (all 3) before I put the Vette into drive.
It looks like driving takes a lot more care than a Buick.
Blue Borg Brian 1 of 58

 

[Dave1998]

I spoke with a Chevy saleman here in town that took a customer for a test ride in a Camaro a few years ago with T tops and 1 flew off. He remembers as the dealer made him pay for a new 1.

 

[Rain]

never done it myself., Like the idea of a warning light or door ajar chime though!

Did stop to look at an early C4 that had tape all over the bronze top... his FOR SALE sign explained that he had driven off with the top not secured.

So, it does happen.

 

[Joe Vette]

I drove to Manhattan from home, about 40 minutes with the top un-latched, but the Gods were with me that morning, it didn't fly off. I know what your thinking, I must have been stuck in the dreaded morning traffic and never exceeded 5 mph but that wasn't the case. Just a bit of luck. I'll never do that again. I was surprised to see that the car didn't come with a warning light.

 

[Lil' Red]

It happen to me I left the top off one afternoon and my wife kept baggering me about putting the top on but I thought we were going to be leaving again so I just set the top on to shut her up. We ended up not leaving and I just pulled the car into the garage for the night forgetting to latch it down. The next morning when I left for work I got to 30 mph and off came the top, luckily no one was behind me. It landed top side down and by the time I pulled over it was sliding down the street towards me. Dented the corner so now it has a slight leak when it rains and scratched it up pretty bad but now it's being replaced. Double check is the motto forevermore!

 

[Blade]

When I set the top back in place I always reach inside the car and pull the front locks closed. Then close the rear latch when I get in the car. I started doing this when I drove off onetime and heard the air leak and closed the locks before the top blew off. Lucky!

 

[corvettecrazy]

my dad put the cloth up one night jsut to keep the dust out (left it unlatched) the next morning he was driving it and luckily he had his hand on the top because it started to fly back. He caught it and pulled over to fix it. He was luckey.

 

[ejf]

I did this last weekend Sat 4/19/08. What an Idiot I am. I still can't believe I did something so stuip. I cleaned and detailed the car and took the top out and went for a ride. Upon my return home I got out of the car and placed the top back on, I got distracted by something only the Lords knows and forget to latch the top down. About 2 hours later we (Wife and I) were heading to a dinner invite. I didn't get very far and the top flew out at about 35 mph. Thank God there was no other traffic. I am now contemplating weather to have the top painted Yellow (2003) as the rest of the car and pay for it or claim it on my insurance. New $1,276.80 which I was told will be held against me as a accident. This getting old sure has it's draw backs. This was the second blunder of 3 for the day. 1st moving the cycle around the shop I bang/smash the tail light. 2nd was the top. 3rd to end the day I get a speeding ticket for $378.00. Sunday I stayed home and got drunk.
Respectfully
Down and out, Can't remember crap and discussed
ejf

 

[LittleRedFlatBack]

Loose top

This happened to me when I had my last C4. I was lucky in that I noticed the top wasn't fastened down before I started driving. It was a similar situation as previously discussed temporarily sitting the top on the car during a wash job. After that, I'd push up on the top everytime I got in to drive.hnoes

I haven't worried about it so much in the C5 because the latches are more obvious when not latched.:cool

Dennis

 

[caseyk]

I myself have not done this ,but I have a friend that has a black 05 vette.We were all out on the river one day boat riding and enjoying several cans of loudmouth soup,before we left the boat landing ,my friend just laid his top back on the car without latching it.Upon our return,he takes off and the top took flight at about 45 mph,no one was behind him luckily,but the top took a good beating.It had cracks in it and was scatched and gouged beyond belief and repair.So, my freind finds another top from a guy in Texas,he had a black 05 that was wrecked and sold him the top for 900 bucks.Now,about two weeks or so later he calls me and told me he forgot to latch his top AGAIN,it took flight at about 30-35 mph.The damage wasn't as bad as the first,no cars behind him and the top went off into the grass so it saved it ,somewhat, from total destruction.He has yet to get that one painted/touched up.
I have put my top on and for some reason(probably because I set it on there crooked in the first place) the pin didn't go into the hole in the back ,but the top still latches,it rattles instantly and that is when I realize what the problem is.This has happenend to me three times ,but I am now in the habit of taking the few extra seconds to double check everything before take off,after I latch it I even pull up and down on it a little bit to make sure.I concur ,there should be some sort of light or warning signal indicating that the top is not secured properly.
For anyone that is looking,My friend did have good luck locating tops for sale on ebay,you may luck up like he did and find the same color to avoid having it painted,just a thought.

Caseyk

 

[ejf]

Twice!!! Holy Moly I don't think I had my top out at all last year. My top was only scratched up. I called a friend of mine who does painting. He painted a custom motorcycle tank for me and did an excellent job. He said he would paint the top for a couple hundred. I think I'm going that route.

 

[65-to-00]

...... "loudmouth soup .. " ............... otfl

just when you think you heard em' all ............



Just like flying .... there are pilots who have landed with the gear up; and there are those who are gonna' ...

The big question is who's next? hnoes

It won't be me cause I never take my top off, it has to do with freakin cats who like to use cars as a litter box.

:ugh

 

[dmd]

Done it. Was in the middle of putting the top back on my '98 - had just laid it in place but hadn't latched it yet - when the cell phone starts ringing in my pocket. I paused to answer it, and found out that a friend was in jail for some loony driving antics and needed to be bailed out. I was so distracted by the situation I drove off without realizing I hadn't latched it down yet, and off it came at the magical 35mph. Nobody was behind me fortunately, and it was repaired for about $600. I thought then too that a warning light on the DIC would've been a nice touch.