Corvette C7 Hardtop

[Vet Guru]

What do you think of GM for the C7 Corvette dropping the coupe and convertible. And instead having a hardtop retractable? Z06 would still have a fixed roof and fast back window.
I Know GM has the Cadillac XLR which is really a C6 body but all the new cars seem to be doing this type of roof VW,Ford,Vauxhall maybe GM may do this as one model no more hardtop and coupe and convetable?

[franv8]

Saw a Focus whatchamaflip the other day. He stopped at some lights having endured the rain for a few moments before making the roof re-appear. This act in itself was pretty impressive ( I thought it was going to turn into the Citreon robot)

BUT - it just doesn't feel'right' to me, I can't help but feel soft-tops should be just that, I know they make the tops lightweight, it still feels like a load of extra 'stuff' in the wrong place on a car. At least the targa tops tend to improve rigidity (try driving a C4 with it out...), I can't believe the same happens with a bendy wendy top thingy.

[roscobbc]

I still remember the first time I saw a '59 Ford Skyliner with the retracable hardtop. Magic just watching it operate. Have you noticed that most of the cars with retractable hard tops (except perhaps VW Eos) seem to look a little unbalanced in proportions. All the European marketed ones have rear seatroom suitable only for amputees or small kids.

[vetteheadracer]

I had a Merc SLK (the hiardresser car of the late 90's) and it had one of these. It was a major league p.i.t.a. it was forever getting stuck halfway up or down. Took 20 minutes for the computer to reset itself and allow it to complete the manoeuvre.
Car had six visits to the dealer before they fixed it having changed out just about every component before they discovered it was a 50p sensor that failed when it got hot! i.e. black car in sunshine.....doh!

Apart from the issues of the extra weight, reliability and no luggage space they are a great idea.

[c5ragtop]

I've yet to see a car with a retractable hardtop without a large and ugly boot area. I wonder if the Vette would be any different. Could make the good looks of the C5 even more desirable though............

[franv8]

Merc SL 55?

[anonymous-user]

c5ragtop said:

I've yet to see a car with a retractable hardtop without a large and ugly boot

Agreed. I also think it would raise the C of G by putting too much weight high up and inflate the price of Vette. So that's a "no thanks".

[te51cle]

I can definitely see it being an option on the XLR but not on the vette for all the same reasons mentioned above: CG, weight, complexity/reliability, space reduction (where are the golf clubs going to go ?) and cost.

[v8yea]

The main problem with cassette roof systems is the weight distribution,do you build it to have 50/50 when the roof is up or down ? The Merc SLK was built with a rear spring rate for the roof in the open position,therefore it bounced from the rear when the roof was up due to the weight shift

[sayerbloke]

franv8 said:

Merc SL 55?

Easily one of the very prettiest cars on sale today

But yeah; Other folding hardtops are a bit hit-and-miss.

[Vet Guru]

I think the XLR is nice looking for a hardtop convertable and its made in Bowling Green!!