C5 convertible is not the convertible for me

"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
07/10/2014 at 22:29 • Filed to: None

In the continuing saga of my attempts to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , I was able to find one of the convertibles on my list and try it out. A local Chevy dealer has an !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! with 29k miles on it which I drove tonight.

Several years ago, I drove both a C5 Z06 and C5 base convertible. I thought the Z06 was great and the base vert was a bit too much of a cruiser. I wanted to reacquaint myself with the C5 in general, so a Z51 vert (apparently C5 Z51 verts are pretty rare) was the perfect one to try.

Alas, I don't think it's the move for me. Not because of how it drove, which was plenty entertaining. Plenty of grunt, shifter is...ok, nothing amazing but not terrible. Easy enough to heel-toe, and the width of the car plus the suspension setup means very little body roll. Not as tossable as my 135is, not as much steering feel, and not even close to similar brake bite. But overall, sure, I'd be cool with it. So far, so good.

However, there are 2 things which would prevent me from really enjoying the car. Which I feel like I should've remembered from the last time I drove a C5 vert, but hey that was in like 2009 or something.

1. The windshield header is right at my eye level and really close to my face. Which isn't a problem in itself, but the sun visors are way too big and don't sit flush with the windshield header. I could never position them in a way that wasn't significantly blocking my field of view.

2. The manual top is ridiculous. I had an NB Miata several years ago, I can deal with a manual top. But unlike the Miata where you can unlatch it and throw it back while sitting in the car, and raise it by simply reaching over your shoulder, the C5's built-in fiberglass tonneau requires you to park the car and get out to raise the top. Not terrible, but irritating.

So...cross that one off the list. Now if only I could find a 986 Boxster S or a Z4 M Roadster to try out, I could continue investigating.

DISCUSSION (12)

Dsscats > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 22:34

If you liked the miata, you may also want to try the Z3M. It's just a bit more tossable and a bit less formal than the Z4M. And defiantly try a 986 Boxster S and, if you can, a base or S 987 just for an idea of the differences

JGrabowMSt > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 22:35

Get a Mercedes R129 SL. The soft tops are 100% automatic. Just uh, there will be a day when it doesn't work correctly. Fix it yourself, far cheaper that way.

Why not get the T Top, or whatever they want to call it removable top for the C5? That's what a friend of mine has, and it's really not that bad to get it in/out just by yourself.

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 22:35

"The windshield header is right at my eye level and really close to my face. Which isn't a problem in itself, but the sun visors are way too big and don't sit flush with the windshield header. I could never position them in a way that wasn't significantly blocking my field of view."

This is a problem with so may convertibles! Even cars newer than this.

A lot of convertible owners that have this issue just remove the visors and wear sunglasses at all times.

Did this car have power seats?

One thing I've read is that power seats sit higher, so if you're tall you want to try to find the car you want with manual seats (if they were sold that way). Which can be very hard to do if most buyers opted for the power seats.

Textured Soy Protein > Dsscats
07/10/2014 at 22:38

I've driven a 987 S in like, 2006 or something. A long while ago. But the 986 S is more within my self-imposed price limit. I'd try to go for an '03-'04 for the glass rear window.

If I got a Z3 M it would be an '01-'02 with the S54 motor. But prices on those seem like they aren't appreciably lower than the Z4 M. Which I guess means maybe it'd hold its value well. But I kinda hate plastic rear windows on convertible tops.

Textured Soy Protein > Manuél Ferrari
07/10/2014 at 22:41

Yeah, this car did have power seats. I mean, they might've been slightly higher up in the car than the manual equivalent, but they're pretty low down to the floor overall.

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 22:43

Bummer you still sat so high with the seats being pretty low to the floor overall.

How tall are you?

Textured Soy Protein > Manuél Ferrari
07/10/2014 at 22:48

I'm 5'11" so not like I'm super tall. It's more that the windshield is pretty steeply raked so the header is all up in my grill.

Jayhawk Jake > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 22:57

I'd always take the coupe version. Not the Z06, but the non-Z06 has the targa. It's not too difficult to take off the top, and you get a nice big open space above you.

No manual top will every be as good as a miata.

All Motor Is Best Motor > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 23:02

Out of curiosity, how much were they asking for the 'Vette?

Textured Soy Protein > All Motor Is Best Motor
07/10/2014 at 23:10

$26,821 which seems slightly high to me. This is the listing.

Manuél Ferrari > Textured Soy Protein
07/10/2014 at 23:15

Got it. The design wasn't great. Bummer. Especially for an American car. Chevy should have catered to Mericans. Even somewhat average height guys like us are tall compared to a lot of other countries. I'm 6' and I've had the same issue as you in many convertibles.

Textured Soy Protein > Jayhawk Jake
07/10/2014 at 23:33

Yeah I like how the Z06 drives but I'd rather have some kind of sunroof or open top. Actually my 135is even though it's a coupe, feels nice and airy with the windows down and sunroof open.

I'll try to check out a targa at some point. I feel slightly bad though, this one Chevy dealer is pretty much the only place around me to drive a Corvette.