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Subject:
Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
From: "Fred" <antispam(at)aol.com>
Subject: Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
Lines: 14
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:58:06 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.190.190.116
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Sorry, just another Vette targa verses convertible question. Now I am
wondering about the suspension, handling, body flexing etc of one verses the
other. On some cars, traditionally, the convertible versions flex a lot
more, rattle more, are noisier in general, etc. Are heavier too. In
Corvette-land, what is the story? Specifically with the C5s (which I
presume is the closest thing to a C6 which is what I wish to buy) . What
are all the pros and cons of both the targa and convertible? Once the C6
cars hit the showrooms, I will indeed study and inspect them backwards and
forwards, test drive, etc. But as I sit here staring at photos of Vettes,
drooling, I`d love some advanced information from experienced Vette
enthusiasts to start me off. Thanks for all the input! And thanks to those
who have answered my wind noise question! Much appreciated.
From: "Dad" <knockers(at)fish.net>
Subject: Re: Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 12:44:45 -0400
Lines: 51
NNTP-Posting-Host: 216.201.44.39
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"Fred" <antispam(at)aol.com> wrote in message
news:2YwJc.35857$_b.14378747(at)news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> Sorry, just another Vette targa verses convertible question. Now I am
> wondering about the suspension, handling, body flexing etc of one verses
the
> other. On some cars, traditionally, the convertible versions flex a lot
> more, rattle more, are noisier in general, etc. Are heavier too. In
> Corvette-land, what is the story? Specifically with the C5s (which I
> presume is the closest thing to a C6 which is what I wish to buy) . What
> are all the pros and cons of both the targa and convertible? Once the C6
> cars hit the showrooms, I will indeed study and inspect them backwards and
> forwards, test drive, etc. But as I sit here staring at photos of Vettes,
> drooling, I`d love some advanced information from experienced Vette
> enthusiasts to start me off. Thanks for all the input! And thanks to
those
> who have answered my wind noise question! Much appreciated.
>
>
I`ve yet to drive a C5 or a C6, coupe (3,246#), convertible (3248#), or Z06
(3173#) that has a rattle or noticeable body flex. There is nothing
traditional about the C5 convertible as far as more flex than the coupe. The
frame is 4 times stiffer torsionally and weighed 114 pounds less that the
1996 convertible. The class top is not a structural member as it was in the
C4.You must be thinking about the horror stories about the C4. I drove one
of those more miles than I care to admit now that I`ve put over 56,000 miles
on the C5`s. Of course I didn`t get to ride in the C6 off the parking area
so its not much of a test. There are no pros or cons about the coupe or the
convertible, you like one or the other. I always get a coupe with the glass
roof and unless there is a beauty queen sitting on the roof the glass top
stays on nearly all of the time. There are no Corvette "targas", just the
coupe with a removal panel, convertible, and the FRC and/or Z06. GM never
uses that term as far as I know, but even the Corvette black book does, but
they have no connection to GM. As far as handling the Z06 was built for that
reason, but it`s a toss up when you watch the times at the autocross. If you
can`t drive the Z06 to it`s full potential you will be beat by those coupe
and convertible drivers that can.
Tire noise is the worst thing I can think of on the C5 and the C6 has a new
tread design that may help that problem. Between 10 and 15,000 they started
to howl on all three sets that I have run. I now have a set of non runflats
that I run on trips and they are smoother, quieter, and stick better than
the stock tires and they have an all season tread that I run in the winter.
--
Dad
04 C5 CE Z51
05 C6 Silver/Cobalt/6spd order in hand.
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd
From: "Fred" <antispam(at)aol.com>
Subject: Re: Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
Lines: 42
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 19:37:49 GMT
NNTP-Posting-Host: 24.190.190.116
________________________________________________
Thanks for the info!
<< Tire noise is the worst thing I can think of on the C5... I now have a
set of non runflats that I run on trips...>>
Non-runflats.... ok, what do you do if you get a flat? Just curious. Since
I am new to Corvettes, the whole concept of not having a spare tire seems
quite odd to me. By the way, how long have Corvettes been manufactured
without spare tires? What year did they start the non-spare tire set-up?
Have you ever heard of anyone adding some type of a baby-donut spare into
the back of their modern Corvettes? I realize that there is basically no
space for a spare... but... getting a flat is part of driving, there needs
to be some way of safely driving the car to a tire shop if the tire should
go down. I do a lot of long distance driving in the backwoods... getting
totally stranded in the middle of nowhere is something I wish to avoid at
all costs... getting a flat is not too uncommon.
I am familiar with riding motorcycles... of course, on a bike, you do not
carry a spare wheel / tire... but I used to carry a quick patch kit with
some compressed air canisters, at least with this set up there is a chance
(even if small) that you could get the vehicle rolling again after a
puncture as opposed to being totally stranded in the middle of nowhere.
I`ve been lucky with the bike, never got a flat... but I have gotten several
flats with my cars and was very glad in every case that I had a good
properly inflated spare tire in the trunk. Yes, I am one of those
meticulous semi-neurotic characters that checks his spare tire pressure
everytime the regular tire pressure is checked. I once got two flats in one
trip. Fortunately the second flat occurred after the first flat was
repaired so my spare was still handy. It happens.
Does there exist a proper temporary "donut" spare tire for the C5 Corvette?
I would think that Chevy dealers would have such a thing on hand merely as a
tool for moving the car around in the case of a bad blow-out. I would guess
that new Vette tires might not always be in stock in all locations at all
times.
Would love to hear comments regarding this issue. When I was eyeballing a
C5 for the first time at the dealer not too long ago, I spent quite a bit of
time trying to find the spare... the salesperson probably had a good chuckle
before he explained the whole run-flat thing to me.
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