I am going to look into getting a 99 Z28 Convertible this weekend.

I have never owned a convertible before, so I don't have any idea about how the top is holding up.

Sure, the car is only three years old, so the top should be in good shape, of course, but how long do they last in F-bodies? Or in verts in general?

Any problems with sealing the water out? What about noise? Any other specifically convertible-related issues I would need to be aware of?

TIA!

TS

 

a friend of mine had a 95 or 96 conv. and it leaked badly. the little back window seperated from the top. If I remember correctly, he bought the car in 99 or 2000. I would imagine that like everything else, alot depends on how you take care of it.

 

i heard they leak a lot........id just get a ttops

 

...get the vert, I love my vert, so do the chicks. As for the vert itself, the top will leak, but only if you have high pressure water hitting it. It dosen't leak in the rain nor a steady steam of water when washing. It really only leaks in one spot on each side. As for noise, you'll get the typical wind noise but not much more than other verts. I like the look of the cloth top, it will last a long time and easy to "keep" clean, if you keep it clean. They are a bit heavier than hardtops and t-tops but it's all in extra bracing in the frame.

...I think the vert looks sharp, I will be taking it to the track next year seeing I have modded quite well. Check out LS1.com's section on verts. Lots of guys there that love their vert's and some very fast ones.

..Don't let someone talk you out of the vert, it's resale value is huge. Take care of it and she'll last forever.

Good luck

Mike

 

Any leaks aren't probably any worse than with t-tops, so that's not an issue.

Mostly it is the wind noise I'm concerned since it will be my daily driver. Then again, I'm sure the exhaust will eventually be louder than the stocker, so the noises will be well covered.

Subframes are definetely going to be the first mod, though.

I guess I'll just have to wait and see what the noise is like when I test drive it. I'm not really that seriously looking for a vert anyway, but it this unit fits well in my price range and there haven't been too many 99-00 t-top Z28's for sale locally in my price range lately.

All further comments, good or bad, are welcomed.

TS

 

...if wind is a concern, you can get a wind deflector from afterthoughts auto, it would help alot. My vert has a loudmouth and it will have FLP longtubes, wind noise, a thing of the past.

..as for SFC's there are not many to choose from, I'm going with the BMR's because of my longtubes. Kenny Brown make's the best of the best.

 

Yeah, I've read a lot of good stuff about the Kenny Brown's, so they are at the top of my list.

Wind deflector? Interesting... Is that something similar than the deflectors for sunroofs etc.?

Any if the exhaust is not loud enough, you can always turn up the stereo.

 

...no, ever see those expensive BMW's vert's with that screen behind the two front seats? have a look at afterthoughtsauto.com, I think that's right. Check out LS1.com sponsers.

 

Ahh... Okay. I've seen those.

Sure, if you drive with the top down, you will get a lot of wind noise, but I actually meant the wind noise driving with the top up.

How noticeable is that?

 

I just got my '02 vert and the wind noise even on the highway is not bad at all. Mine is not much worse than a normal car. The radio at a medium volume setting completely covers the road noise. I can even hear my engine/exhaust if I get on it and I have an all stock car.

 

My 97 is in it's fifth PNW winter, outside. No more leaks than my previous t-top car, Road noise is liviable, top is still in great shape, not quite as white as when new. Nothing like it on a sunny day.
Chassis flex is the only drawback, stb, sfc and rollbar, makes it stiff.

 

I agree with everything except the resale thing. Kelly Blue book doesn't do verts justice, so the only way I can see your oint is private sale. Even so, that is not so great to the well informed consumer.

 

The resale value is not much of an issue to me since the F-body is now on a hiatus, I plan on keeping the next one for a long period of time.

Thanks for the comments everybody. If the dealer still has it on Saturday, I'll be there taking a look at it and if the turns out to be good and we can agree on the numbers , then maybe...

All further comments are appreciated, too.

TS

 

Vert all the way dude!!! I can't say enough about mine, and even though mine is brand new, there is nothing like throwing the top down on a sunny day.. u get looks behind belief. As for leaks.. well obviously mine doesn't leak.. never.. its brand new it shouldn't... but i heard ttops are just as bad. I was out lookin for a vert for my first car and i was ready to settle for ttops... i am so glad i didn't.

 

Funny how you guys keep mentioning that "you will benoticed" and "chicks dig it" etc. Not that I wouldn't like the chicks to dig my car, but it could get me in trouble with my wife...

Anyway, I'll go check it out tomorrow and we'll see what happens. It'll probably be more battle of numbers with the sales people than anything wrong with the car.

I have set in my mind the price I want to pay and if I can't get them down to that, then I'll just walk out. No biggie. There are other cars out there.

Thanks for all comments so far and if you have other advise regarding the vert's, just let me know.

TS