harmful to vert top to keep it down constantly?
09-01-2009, 03:59 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
harmful to vert top to keep it down constantly?
Hey guys, just wondering if there's any harm to the vert top and/or plastic rear window if I were to keep the top down basically permanently (except when I wash the car of course). The owner's manual just says to help protect the interior of the car from the elements you should keep the top up and it also says not to lower it if wet. But assuming I only put the top down when dry is there any harm to the top by leaving it down a lot?
I've had other convertibles in the past and sometimes the owner's manuals will say to keep the top up whenever possible so that the top will better keep it's shape, etc. But I don't see any such statement in my vette manual like that. Is it still a good idea to keep the top up even if it's garaged? Reason I ask is because it looks so much cooler sitting in my garage with the top down
I've had other convertibles in the past and sometimes the owner's manuals will say to keep the top up whenever possible so that the top will better keep it's shape, etc. But I don't see any such statement in my vette manual like that. Is it still a good idea to keep the top up even if it's garaged? Reason I ask is because it looks so much cooler sitting in my garage with the top down
09-01-2009, 04:53 PM
#2
Melting Slicks
Member Since: Oct 2005
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St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Hey guys, just wondering if there's any harm to the vert top and/or plastic rear window if I were to keep the top down basically permanently (except when I wash the car of course). The owner's manual just says to help protect the interior of the car from the elements you should keep the top up and it also says not to lower it if wet. But assuming I only put the top down when dry is there any harm to the top by leaving it down a lot?
I've had other convertibles in the past and sometimes the owner's manuals will say to keep the top up whenever possible so that the top will better keep it's shape, etc. But I don't see any such statement in my vette manual like that. Is it still a good idea to keep the top up even if it's garaged? Reason I ask is because it looks so much cooler sitting in my garage with the top down
I've had other convertibles in the past and sometimes the owner's manuals will say to keep the top up whenever possible so that the top will better keep it's shape, etc. But I don't see any such statement in my vette manual like that. Is it still a good idea to keep the top up even if it's garaged? Reason I ask is because it looks so much cooler sitting in my garage with the top down
09-01-2009, 05:59 PM
#3
Drifting
Member Since: Apr 2005
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....I don't have a vert, but I would think having the top down at all times would give the top lots of wrinkles....
And keeping the top up will keep the dust out of the interior when stored....
Rik
09-01-2009, 07:18 PM
#4
Melting Slicks
Leaving it down doesn't seem to hurt mine. The material does not hold wrinkles. Any wrinkles are stretched out immediately. My rear window is glass.
Last edited by MK 82; 09-01-2009 at 07:21 PM.
09-01-2009, 08:46 PM
#5
Race Director
Mine was down for more than 2 years
I popped it back up after I removed the hard top IOT install antenna
Still looks great pic is from 4th July weekend glass window too
09-01-2009, 10:14 PM
#6
Burning Brakes
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I'm in Fla and the top stays down most of the time, every once in a while I put it up if it's to hot out or I want to wash the car, any wrinkles that are in it smooth out and looks as good as new. I think it's a toss up, there's pro's and cons so I think do what you want, I would mention that I replaced my vinyl top with a sta-fast fabric last year and if I still had the vinyl top I think I would put it up so the vinyl wouldn't crack in the folds......JMHO Love my vert!
09-02-2009, 07:36 AM
#7
Le Mans Master
I am not a tourist who I always see driving with the top down when it is 115 heat index
09-02-2009, 08:53 AM
#8
Team Owner
With the vinly window, it's a good idea to fold a clean soft towel lengthwise and place it where the window folds before pushing the top down all the way. That will keep parts of the window safe from scratches. OEM C4 tops are fabric except for the white top which is vinyl.
On my old C4 vert, the biggest wear points on the cloth were where the fabric folded over the two hinges on the side bar. With the top down, that was a pinch point and the fabric is caught where the two pieces folded over each other.
If the car sits in a garage,you should at least raise the top and bring the forward edge to the windshield frame. That only takes a few seconds to do and the top can be lowered back down just as quickly. Doing that keeps the interior from getting too much dust inside.
On my old C4 vert, the biggest wear points on the cloth were where the fabric folded over the two hinges on the side bar. With the top down, that was a pinch point and the fabric is caught where the two pieces folded over each other.
If the car sits in a garage,you should at least raise the top and bring the forward edge to the windshield frame. That only takes a few seconds to do and the top can be lowered back down just as quickly. Doing that keeps the interior from getting too much dust inside.
09-02-2009, 12:01 PM
#9
Racer
Thread Starter
With the vinly window, it's a good idea to fold a clean soft towel lengthwise and place it where the window folds before pushing the top down all the way. That will keep parts of the window safe from scratches. OEM C4 tops are fabric except for the white top which is vinyl.
On my old C4 vert, the biggest wear points on the cloth were where the fabric folded over the two hinges on the side bar. With the top down, that was a pinch point and the fabric is caught where the two pieces folded over each other.
If the car sits in a garage,you should at least raise the top and bring the forward edge to the windshield frame. That only takes a few seconds to do and the top can be lowered back down just as quickly. Doing that keeps the interior from getting too much dust inside.
On my old C4 vert, the biggest wear points on the cloth were where the fabric folded over the two hinges on the side bar. With the top down, that was a pinch point and the fabric is caught where the two pieces folded over each other.
If the car sits in a garage,you should at least raise the top and bring the forward edge to the windshield frame. That only takes a few seconds to do and the top can be lowered back down just as quickly. Doing that keeps the interior from getting too much dust inside.
I've gotten pretty fast at putting it up and down now so what I'll probably end up doing is just putting it down Friday night and enjoy it all weekend iwth the top down and then put it partially back up Sunday night as Cruiser described for the work week to keep the dust out.
09-02-2009, 12:10 PM
#10
Melting Slicks
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St. Jude Donor '12, '15
Hard top
That's been my question as I am interested in getting a Convt Hard top for my 1993. I was told by keeping your top down for any length of time will cause the soft top to shrink. ??
Mike
Mike
09-02-2009, 12:21 PM
#11
Racer
Thread Starter
Well I also have an '08 Jeep Wrangler and I've noticed that it's a lot easier to put up when it's warm/hot outside - so I think the vinyl does suffer a bit of shrinkage depending on the temperature. I'm mostly concerned though about wrinkles and creases, especially in my rear plastic window and I think cruiser's solution is a good idea for that.
09-02-2009, 03:21 PM
#12
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I tend to leave my top down while driving and put it up when I'm not. Why? To keep people/animals/dust/dirt and crap out of the car.
09-02-2009, 10:09 PM
#13
Race Director
