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Subject:
Re: Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
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
________________________________________________
"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.
From: "Dad" <knockers(at)fish.net>
Subject: Re: Handling, flexing, rattles? - Vette targa verses convertible
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 16:44:40 -0400
Lines: 38
NNTP-Posting-Host: 216.201.44.47
________________________________________________
"Fred" <antispam(at)aol.com> wrote in message
news:h2BJc.37734$_b.15081405(at)news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> 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?
Same thing they do with the Z06 that does not have runflats, a small air
compressor and a repair kit.
>
> Does there exist a proper temporary "donut" spare tire for the C5
Corvette?
No. Although there may be one from the C4 that you could get the right
diameter for the rear. I`ll take my chances on the flat as opposed to having
a 20 pound missile in back of me.
> 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.
>
I picked up a nail once, plugged it and replaced the tire about 500 miles
later. It was worn out by then and I went to the conventional radials then
as an extra set of wheels and tires.
--
Dad
04 C5 CE Z51
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd
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