TxJester

I really like the look of the HTC but went the other way for one reason only. And anybody that has owned a SSR that had a top problem will absolutely understand, potential top problems as much as I like them made me a hard NO on HTC.

hyprsprt

Ok , got it

psollitto

Ssr?

BlaznZ06

SSR

Ron_Attleboro_MA

I am waiting for my 2024 HTC. Sold my 2017 Grand Sport Convertible.
I understand how easy it is to fear the possible failures, especially when many of us whine on the forum.
To avoid problems it might be best to buy an old 60's car.
* maybe a 6-cylinder with a 3-speed manual transmission
* no power windows or other powered features
* don't get AC and temp control, they fail also
* no electric door locks
* no ABS, computer modules, infotainment,....

Seems silly when we go to extremes listed.
Buy whatever you like, get a Platinum Extended Warranty, and enjoy your car.
A C8 coupe is still a fine sports car. C8's out now 4 years and most will enjoy fault-free cars.
Best wishes to all;
Ron

AT T 2D

I went with the hard top convertible because it is a different car than the SSR truck and there are so very many other things that can go wrong anyway. It is like comparing the C8 to the last GM attempt at mid-engine, the Fiero. Though I did just sell my 1988 Fiero GT within the last year......

spireland

Good thing I didn't buy an SSR, because I love my drop top.

sshallen

6,000 per year 20 years ago.

I recall, imperfectly, a parable.

"One brother walks barefoot through a field of soft, cool grass. The other brother fears the bite of a snake, and wears heavy boots, unable to enjoy the grass. The snake has already bitten him."

I enjoy my HTC all day every day, and raise the roof at least once a day to secure it. In seconds. In the rare event it acts up, I'll have it repaired.

Fishfryer527

Almost every convertible I’ve ever had became a problem. So I went lift off top on my C8… I think I’m going HTC on the next one.

luckily I leave the top off all the time, if it looks like rain I take the other car. My wife likes the top on most of the time, so I just put it on for her if the weather looks shaky..

but the next one will be a HTC

rfkirk

When I first decided to make a C8 purchase, I told myself absolutely no convertible. They are nothing but problems and when I owned a Mercedes 320SLK hard top convertible, I rarely put it down. Living in Texas with all its over 100 degree days, I felt there was no need of a convertible. So I made my deposit with MacMulkin and my initial build was for a Coupe and I kept making minor changes while waiting for them to request my built once they had an allocation. then a week before I was asked for my build, someone here on the forum @SunnyDaze pointed out that he only lived a few miles away from me and had recently picked up his HTC. He offered to stop by one day to show it to me. He wasn't here for two minutes before I decided that my hesitancy about the convertible was nonsense. A week or two later MM asked for my build and it was exactly as I had configured it over a two month period, except I changed it to a HTC. Now I can't wait for it to get here.

Bob Paris

On a road trip with a coupe, you have a top problem if you want to remove the top and store in the trunk. Not possible if you have luggage in there. With the HTC, the top goes over the engine without any reduction in trunk space. BTW, more issues with coupe tops squeaking or flying off than HTC malfunctions.

frankjr

Owned a 2021 coupe and have a 2024 HTC on order, never a fan of soft tops but like the idea of a retractable hard top for convenience, space when traveling and the look. Loved my 2021 which had many trouble-free miles but after getting it the only thing I would have changed in my build would have been an HTC. All a matter of what one likes.
Wishing everyone many happy carefree miles in either your C8 coupe or HTC.
Enjoy the ride.

pltmgr

No question for me. I had to see the red covered engine through the glass hatch.

saleen556

The HTC is a win win option. My first ever convertible car and can’t imagine owning a coupe again. I personally never concern myself with potential issues. Life it too short for that.

rfkirk

That was my initial attraction too, then I thought of the hours I would spend given my CDO (that's OCD in alphabetical order) cleaning that engine and I ordered a HTC.

Red Mist Rulz

So far, top problems seem to be pretty uncommon. Yes, there have been some people who had issues, but with more than 125,000 C8s sold, and nearly half of them HTCs, not very many. For me, the only benefit to the coupe is the ability to see the engine, which wasn't all that important to me. With the HTC, and I can put the top down and still have full use of the trunk. And it's so much easier than removing / replacing the targa I do it on almost every drive (weather permitting). Even short drives where I'd never bother with the targa.

As far as complexity, the entire C8 is a massively complex car. The engine and DCT make the top seem as simple as Lincoln Logs. If you want to avoid complexity, start shopping for a C3 (but watch out for the headlight mechanism - maybe better stick with a C1).

To each his own. My '21 has 20,000 miles, many hundreds of top activations, and it's been flawless.

wayback

I initially wanted a HTC. I test drove both styles. Personally liked the Coupe best, so that’s what I bought. The Texas heat played a much bigger role in the decision than worrying about the HTC top mechanicals. 53 days this summer over 100 degrees with 43 days in a row.

Buy what you like if you truly want to be happy with your car.

Jettcity1

No question for Me, I love to see the engine back there and the removable hard top looks great when it is off as well.
The HTC is a completely different look when the top is retracted and I do look it but let's see that engine as it is something that everyone wants to see.

tadda

I'm just not a convertible guy...

I've owned a few HTCs before (Merc AMG and MX5-RF) and although they were amusing novelties, I found I rarely dropped the tops on them...Even with my current C8 Z51 Coupe I have yet to remove the top and it's been a year since I've owned it... Also, I really enjoy seeing the engine bay though the rear hatch...

C6 MoneyPit

I was super excited about the visible engine on the coupe - which is why I ordered one, despite the fact that my C6 and C7 were both convertibles. Sadly the novelty of the visible engine (and cleaning it) have worn off - and though I remove the top on occasion, it's not as often as I would drop the top on a HTC - especially for a short trip. So in hindsight, I think I would have been happier with the HTC and give up the visible engine - which does look pretty cool IMO.