When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I don't think it is lazy. The C4 targa roof is just plain heavy and big compared to the C5’s roof and the present C7.
my 94 was my first car i owned with a removable roof. So I didn’t know any better. I rarely took it off due to being lazy and didn’t feel like loosening bolts. It was heavy or hard. Just time consuming. And most of the time I didn’t have time to fiddle with it.
People complain because of how easy it is on the c5 and later cars. And because people are complainers.
The Supra is probably the most overrated car right now. It o ly became popular thanks to the fast and the furious.
I remember back in the 80's and 90's when people would fall all over themselves in love with the Supra. I never got it then, I kind of do now. They have a fierce and loyal following.I used to drive a 1985 MR2 and I loved it to death. I see why people love these old Toyotas.
Last edited by The Thomas J; 12-22-2018 at 09:51 PM.
Get these and the job gets a little easier. Replaces the rear bolts so don't have to use the tool - just tightened/loosen a ****. Still need the tool for the front ones, though. Still, well worth it! Got 'em on my C4 and love them.
Get these and the job gets a little easier. Replaces the rear bolts so don't have to use the tool - just tightened/loosen a ****. Still need the tool for the front ones, though. Still, well worth it! Got 'em on my C4 and love them.
well the T-tops come out of and go back in my '71, (25yr older tech than my '96) faster than it takes to pull one of the 4 screws out so maybe that's why people complain. But hey at least the top can be removed and there's no T-Top bar getting in the way of my sky view.
I agree. I had a '75 , T tops are lighter and faster to remove compared to a C4 Targa.
My only problem was where do you put them after you remove them .
Trunk space was behind the seats (The dark hole) I stacked mine with a moving blanket. Nice !!
Having a quick release vs a bolt when properly designed is a moot point as far as integration with chassis rigidity. Being the roof assembly now is 1k plus it's much harder to steal something that's bolted down. However given tech that was available they may not have been able to implement a quick release like the third gen camaros/firebirds on a full targa and achieve the correct amount of clamping force required. That being said, who knows. The difference in mine with the top off isn't terribly noticeable unless you're pushing the thing.
GM engineers did have a quick release latch for the C4 . During testing the latches would loosen, from the vibration , causing the top to fly off. They needed a quick fix (4 Bolts) and (3) Mounting locations.
The market is very interesting with these cars....if not perplexing. The majority of cars the old C4 ZR-1 pulled a freight train on through a 1/4 mile burst have doubled or tripled in prices since those days, while the old C4 ZR hit the toilet in prices. The Acura NSX has been the biggest surpirse. Back when I was in college, I remember guys getting high mileage models for high 20s. Now...those same high mileage early years are going for 60 grand! I checked the prices out of curiosity last week after 15 years and I did a double take and figured I was looking at some guy's crazy price, but they're all wanting top dollar. The old slogan for the NSX was Ferrari performance at an Acura/Honda price but now in the collector market, the NSX prices are actually higher than its direct Ferrari 348 competitor. Decent mileage later models are around 80-90K. Some NSXs are selling for 100K while the 348s are getting 60K or so. Very weird.
Guess speed isn't everything, it more about perception. So weird to read an old Car and Driver artilce with a 1990 ZR-1 smoking a Ferrari, Lotus, NSX, Porsche and those four cars went north in prices after initial depreciation hits and the Vette is still heading south all these years.
I agree . I own a C4 , the targa Top is just plain heavy. 32 lbs versus C5, to C7, 20 -21 lbs
That really isn't that heavy, and just for ***** and giggles I just weighed mine and it came in at 21.6lbs...
Originally Posted by The Designer
GM engineers did have a quick release latch for the C4 . During testing the latches would loosen, from the vibration , causing the top to fly off. They needed a quick fix (4 Bolts) and (3) Mounting locations.
Like I said, probably couldn't implement it properly.
The market is very interesting with these cars....if not perplexing. The majority of cars the old C4 ZR-1 pulled a freight train on through a 1/4 mile burst have doubled or tripled in prices since those days, while the old C4 ZR hit the toilet in prices. The Acura NSX has been the biggest surpirse. Back when I was in college, I remember guys getting high mileage models for high 20s. Now...those same high mileage early years are going for 60 grand! I checked the prices out of curiosity last week after 15 years and I did a double take and figured I was looking at some guy's crazy price, but they're all wanting top dollar. The old slogan for the NSX was Ferrari performance at an Acura/Honda price but now in the collector market, the NSX prices are actually higher than its direct Ferrari 348 competitor. Decent mileage later models are around 80-90K. Some NSXs are selling for 100K while the 348s are getting 60K or so. Very weird.
Guess speed isn't everything, it more about perception. So weird to read an old Car and Driver artilce with a 1990 ZR-1 smoking a Ferrari, Lotus, NSX, Porsche and those four cars went north in prices after initial depreciation hits and the Vette is still heading south all these years.
Not about perception, it's about supply and demand.
GM engineers did have a quick release latch for the C4 . During testing the latches would loosen, from the vibration , causing the top to fly off. They needed a quick fix (4 Bolts) and (3) Mounting locations.
Originally Posted by The Designer
I agree . I own a C4 , the targa Top is just plain heavy. 32 lbs versus C5, to C7, 20 -21 lbs
Where are you getting this information from? Two people who've owned both, have posted and said that they're about the same weight. Now 84 4+3's posted his actual weight @21 lbs.
The C4 top has 4 bolts, 4 mounting locations. Here is what the engineer for the C4 said about it:
Not about perception, it's about supply and demand.
I believe perception is baked into the demand. The NSX on a quick lookup had almost 9,000 units sent to the USA, and over 18,000 units produced worldwide. If you put a 95 ZR-1 and a 91 NSX side by side and asked average person which one was faster, they'd say the NSX because it looks faster, design-wise. Which one is more sophisticated? The NSX because the engine is behind the driver means they went all out technologically. Which car has the better engine? The NSX because the engine is behind the driver.
Last edited by 1985 Corvette; 12-23-2018 at 07:17 PM.
Since I bought my C4 in October and live in NJ I have only removed the targa top once mainly to get a good look at the condition of the weather stripping. I didn't consider it to be overly heavy and held it while I looked at the stripping because had not replaced the rear gas struts yet so the hatch glass wouldn't pop up.
Once spring comes I'm looking forward to taking the couple minutes needed to remove the top and driving in the open air.
Where are you getting this information from? Two people who've owned both, have posted and said that they're about the same weight. Now 84 4+3's posted his actual weight @21 lbs.
The C4 top has 4 bolts, 4 mounting locations. Here is what the engineer for the C4 said about it:
It's been a while, I dragged my OEM solid fiberglass top out and weighed it. Sorry about the 32 pound quote. The scale reads almost 31 pounds, sorry. Maybe 84 4+3 was A lightweight acrylic top? As for 84 4+3 I wonder what he will say in 40 to 50 years LOL
It's been a while, I dragged my OEM solid fiberglass top out and weighed it. Sorry about the 32 pound quote. The scale reads almost 31 pounds, sorry. Maybe 84 4+3 was A lightweight acrylic top? As for 84 4+3 I wonder what he will say in 40 to 50 years LOL
Yes I was referring to the glass top not the solid one. My bad on that. Fiberglass has the downside of being heavy compared to the plastic based? Top on the newer ones. Technology marches onward.
And in 40-50 years I won't be able to do much of anything more than likely. (Maybe dead.) I've already destroyed my back to the point I've had to crawl in the house up the stairs and into bed... That's what you get for throwing around 300lb heaters by yourself though. I now only carry around 150lbs or so. That is a safe limit. Keeps me in shape. I'll be kicking myself in ten years probably.
12-22-2018, 09:48 PM
I had a C6 before and during the beginning of my C4 ownership; the C6 roof is no lighter nor smaller than the C4 roof. Neither is heavy IMO.
