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Let me start by saying that GM did a fantastic job with the convertible. It looks as good and functions as well as one could hope. They just nailed it.
That said, I still prefer the coupe and am curious as to how the board in general feels. Why do I prefer the coupe? Two main reasons. First I like the lines and overall look better with roof closed. In profile there’s virtually no difference. The convertible’s painted roof options are easily implemented on the coupe with a wrap, so that’s not an advantage. Where the coupe’s edges the convertible, in my eyes, is the elevated line from the roof to the rear end, punctuated visually by the exposed engine.
Second, with the coupe you still get virtually the same open air experience, albeit with degraded cargo space and ease of use (owners will love that 16 seconds to sky, even with the trunk full). Relatedly, although the top-down look of the convertible is really good, I think I like the coupe better, in part because of its uniqueness in the ME segment. The Ferrari 458/488/F8 and McLaren 570S/12C/650S/720S, to which the C8 compares aesthetically, also feature nacelles. And while the C8 convertible does this look as well as Ferrari and better (in my view) than McLaren, it’s not distinctive in this regard. The coupe, however, brings a look that neither Ferrari nor McLaren provide (Ferrari last did this with the F355 GTS, which looked fantastic with the roof off).
Incidentally, speaking of McLaren, I suspect they’re the most concerned of the big three exotic ME marques (Lamborghini being the third) about the C8 crashing the ME party. Even setting price aside, the LT3 Z51 Stingray nips at the 570’s heels, and if the C8.R’s body and FPC engine are GS/Z06/Zora harbingers, the 720 and its successor will soon be under major pressure. Ferrari and Lamborghini will hold more strongly given brand maturity.
I am absolutely in love with the convertible, but sticking with the coupe for a few reasons. Price difference- I ordered a 3LT Z51 coupe. If I do that with the convertible, I will have to sacrifice the interior I really want from the 3LT or sacrifice Z51, which I don't want to do. 2nd reason- the engine visibility. I love that you can see the engine in the coupe, one of my favorite points of the C8. Plus, you can still take the top off on the coupe, so I am happy with that.
I like the coupe,..and while I think they nailed it with the 'vert I just don't think there is that much of an open air difference,of course I haven't seen both cars in person yet...Finally get to see a coupe here in Florida on Oct.28th...
I've never heard anyone who's owned a convertible before agree with the contention that it's the "same open air experience." The presence of the fixed rear window and overhead structure greatly degrades that experience.
A removable targa is just a large sunroof, which every SUV on the road now offers, many covering both front and back passenger compartments. The fact that one has to leave the car to R&R that sunroof means they normally just stay on.
The ability to press a button while in motion up to 30 mph also makes all the difference in the world. My C7 vert is a nearly daily commuter, and my top is often up and down 4-5 times in the same 30 mi. commute each way.
I've never heard anyone who's owned a convertible before agree with the contention that it's the "same open air experience." The presence of the fixed rear window and overhead structure greatly degrades that experience.
A removable targa is just a large sunroof, which every SUV on the road now offers, many covering both front and back passenger compartments. The fact that one has to leave the car to R&R that sunroof means they normally just stay on.
The ability to press a button while in motion up to 30 mph also makes all the difference in the world. My C7 vert is a nearly daily commuter, and my top is often up and down 4-5 times in the same 30 mi. commute each way.
Fair enough. I used the term “virtually” to imply a slight advantage to the convertible from an ope-air experience standpoint. Maybe I should have said “nearly”. In fact, I’ll need to experience both to know for sure. I agree with the convenience advantage, and said as much. The “vert” is clearly a(nother) home run for GM and the Corvette team.
Question should be... Who would get the convertible if it was the same price as the coupe ?
I'd get the the convertible if it was the same price as the coupe. But I wouldn't drive it enough with top down to justify the additional cost.
I used to have a Miata PRHT. Didn't want the top down on the freeway. Didn't want the top down when the sun was beating on me. Didn't want the top down when it was cold or bad weather. And my wife rarely wanted the top down when she was with me.
But on the perfect day and perfect road there is nothing like the experience of a full convertible. I'll just have to make do with the targa top removed on those days.
The convertible looks nice. But that's the problem, its just nice. It doesn't break from the coupe as much as I hoped. I'm happy with my early C8 coupe order and I'm sticking with it now that the convertible has been released.
If both the C8 Coupe and Vert could have been revealed, priced with the same differences, and able to be ordered the same day (09/18/2019) I would have adjusted my current C8 Coupe Order, now at 3000, to accommodate ordering the C8 HT Vert instead, within $4k (not hard). As it is now it would be tough to give up an early build with delivery soon after the new year. I’m staying Coupe.
i’ve experience with both Corvette Coupes and Verts and to me they’ve always had their individual strengths in looks and open air function. Either choice sometimes worlds apart over subsequent models. And I’ve experience with a HT Vert too, an ‘11 BMW Z4, which to me was a great mix of top down convenience and having a Coupe look, just not a Corvette. To me the choice between the 2020 C8 Coupe and HT Vert is almost par. Your call.
Maybe a 2021-2023 C8 HT Vert is in my future? New colors, GS Model too.
I've never heard anyone who's owned a convertible before agree with the contention that it's the "same open air experience." The presence of the fixed rear window and overhead structure greatly degrades that experience.
A removable targa is just a large sunroof, which every SUV on the road now offers, many covering both front and back passenger compartments. The fact that one has to leave the car to R&R that sunroof means they normally just stay on.
The ability to press a button while in motion up to 30 mph also makes all the difference in the world. My C7 vert is a nearly daily commuter, and my top is often up and down 4-5 times in the same 30 mi. commute each way.
I do agree with you that the Convertible with the top down has more of an open air experience than the Coupe with the top off. However, the Coupe with the top off has a much more open air feeling than a sunroof open in an SUV. I have had many Corvette Convertibles and Coupes with removable roofs and also many cars with sunroofs ....that hole in the roof is no where near the same experience as a Corvette Coupe with it's roof off. I put the open air experience with the Coupe at about 75% of the Convertible.
Last edited by Supersonic 427; 10-04-2019 at 12:28 PM.
I’ll just take the top off the coupe. I already have converts to drive. I live in an area where it almost never rains so I don’t even need the top on the coupe
I've never been a convertible guy, but recently seeing all these hard top 'spider' exotics would make me choose one because they serve two purposes. I would get the vert for the C8, all the other years 100% coupe. I don't care if it is a little bit heavier or is a little bit less quick.. I don't track our cars, or Flex, lol.
I think the convertible looks better. The buttresses improve the lines of the design IMO. They help tie in the disjointed style of the front half of the car to the rear half of the car.
I'd get the the convertible if it was the same price as the coupe. But I wouldn't drive it enough with top down to justify the additional cost.
I used to have a Miata PRHT. Didn't want the top down on the freeway. Didn't want the top down when the sun was beating on me. Didn't want the top down when it was cold or bad weather. And my wife rarely wanted the top down when she was with me.
But on the perfect day and perfect road there is nothing like the experience of a full convertible. I'll just have to make do with the targa top removed on those days.
And my wife rarely wanted the top down when she was with me.
My wife just reminded me that I liked the top down on our MB SLK32 a lot more than she did. She had to put her hair in a ponytail to keep it from blowing around in her face. She really preferred driving with the top up. I really like the thought of the vert but probably wouldn’t use it enough given that she is often a passenger with me. I think I’m going to stick with the coupe.
10-04-2019, 11:41 AM
Who likes the Coupe better?
