[Chip]

Now that the new C-7 convertible is rolling off the assembly line @ BG and folks here are starting to show them off I thought I would start a thread devoted to the care and upkeep of this stunning and sometimes topless car. I hope this thread will serve as a guide to ownership of a car that will require somewhat unique care in order to keep it looking sharp. Please feel free to post up tips concerning the ownership of the convertible version of the new C-7. Items like top care, roof seals care, interior care, and any special tips you have accumulated over the years that will help first time convertible owner take care of their new car is requested. Also I always enjoy hearing about what kind of hat you will be wearing as you pile up the miles. I wear one some of the time, but really enjoy the "wind in hair" feeling. (That is while I still have a few!)

 

[Chip]

I have never owned an convertible that had a top color other than black. How hard is it to keep lighter colors clean? What did you use to keep it spotless?

 

[redwhtconv]

I hade a caschmire top on my C6, Used a "Mothers. " top cleaner when I cleaned it I found the best thing to do was not to get it wet. Don't know what I will do with the C7 if it does need serious cleaning. Convertibles need vacuuming more often. we have a portible one with a power brush.

 

[jsvette]

I used a product called Raggtopp on my convertible tops. Did it one to two times per year as necessary. It did a great job of keeping it looking brand new and thoroughly waterproof. Here is a shot of one of my convertibles about 4 months after Raggtopp treatment (and the top was about 5 years old at that point)

A nice feature of Raggtopp is that you do not have to be concerned about overspray; a lot of top preservatives out there require you to mask the rest of the car when you treat the top. With Raggtopp you just wiped off any overspray with a microfiber cloth and that was it.

 

[Rich427]

I have never owned an convertible that had a top color other than black. How hard is it to keep lighter colors clean? What did you use to keep it spotless?

Sorry this picture is not more of a close up, but the Vette in the middle is the car I just sold to make room for my new C7 vert. It is an '01 with an Oak top, that I bought new. I use Adam's Car Wash and use a very mild boar's hair brush. But one of the issues with light tops is not so much dirt, but an area where the material creases with the top down will look dirty. Once that material develops this, there isn't anything you can do to fix it that I am aware of. So, to prevent this as much as possible. When I have been out cruising with the top down, when the car goes back into the garage, the top goes back up. I don't keep the top down when not in use and allow the top to stay creased for long periods of time. At least I try not too. This has worked for me and I will continue to use this process with the C7, which I pick up at the museum on 12/11. I hope this helps!

 

[Texas2Gun]

Rich
I know it’s off topic but I love your garage. We can never seem to find a house with more than a 2 car garage every time we move. lol

 

[tzmama]

My husband will be drooling over this garage when he sees this picture. Beautiful cars too.


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[Rich427]

Rich
I know it’s off topic but I love your garage. We can never seem to find a house with more than a 2 car garage every time we move. lol

I know what you mean. Regardless of size, it is never large enough. I designed this house and laid out the garage. If you notice the two bays on the left sit back about 7 feet from the other two. And above the right two bays I created a gable. This was to breakup the massive front of the garage and keep it from looking like a huge garage and a small house. Builders cut back cost in the garage and that is why you will see cars cramped in undersized garages. I was a little restricted with my garage depth, but the garage itself is 24 feet deep X 48 feet wide. For an attached garage this serves me very well.

 

[Rich427]

My husband will be drooling over this garage when he sees this picture. Beautiful cars too.


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Thank you, mama!!!

 

[Vette#3]

Sorry this picture is not more of a close up, but the Vette in the middle is the car I just sold to make room for my new C7 vert. It is an '01 with an Oak top, that I bought new. I use Adam's Car Wash and use a very mild boar's hair brush. But one of the issues with light tops is not so much dirt, but an area where the material creases with the top down will look dirty. Once that material develops this, there isn't anything you can do to fix it that I am aware of. So, to prevent this as much as possible. When I have been out cruising with the top down, when the car goes back into the garage, the top goes back up. I don't keep the top down when not in use and allow the top to stay creased for long periods of time. At least I try not too. This has worked for me and I will continue to use this process with the C7, which I pick up at the museum on 12/11. I hope this helps!

Rich,

I have an '07 vert with a Cashmere top. The top is in great shape, however, it does show the creases which makes it appear dirty along those lines. I like your idea of keeping the top up when not in use and plan to do that when I finally receive my new C7. Thanks for the tip!

 

[Rich427]

Rich,

I have an '07 vert with a Cashmere top. The top is in great shape, however, it does show the creases which makes it appear dirty along those lines. I like your idea of keeping the top up when not in use and plan to do that when I finally receive my new C7. Thanks for the tip!

Give it a try. It worked for me and you really have nothing to lose with this approach.

 

[Fdxpilot]

This is the drooling husband. If we had that garage, we could keep the wife's '06 Z51 convertible. We have a three car, but the way our driveway is laid out, the stall closest to the main house is useless for anything bigger than a motorcycle or bike, unless none of our other vehicles is outside. So the two good stalls house our two vettes and the bad weather utility type vehicles, like my Avalanche sit in the driveway.


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[ALF01]

Although I'm trading a ZR1 in on my new C7 convertible, I've owned 4 previous convertibles, and completely agree with the posts regarding the "crease marks".

One other hint is to buy lint roller for the top, and keep it in your detail bag……..

 

[Chip]

Would those of you with prior "light colored top" experience avoid a light color top because of these crease marks? How long did it take for them to show?

 

[Werk-it]

Would those of you with prior "light colored top" experience avoid a light color top because of these crease marks? How long did it take for them to show?

I have had a couple light colored vert tops and it didn't stop me from getting the Kalahari top on my C7.

 

[Rich427]

Would those of you with prior "light colored top" experience avoid a light color top because of these crease marks? How long did it take for them to show?

Chip,

I ordered what I liked and thought would look good. Laguna Blue with grey interior and grey top. I live in SW Florida and can tell you that my Z06 CE (great car BTW) has a black interior and it does get hot. So, the wife and I were not looking for anything black including the top. The LB with grey interior is only available with either the grey top or the black top. That drove us to the grey top and we are not looking back!

 

[Dasyatis]

Chip,

I ordered what liked and thought would look good. Laguna Blue with grey interior and grey top. I live in SW Florida and can tell you that my Z06 CE (great car BTW) has a black interior and it does get hot. So, the wife and I were not looking for anything black including the top. The LB with grey interior is only available with either the grey top or the black top. That drove us to the grey top and we are not looking back!

Nice combo. Be sure to post some pix once you get it!

 

[Rich427]

Nice combo. Be sure to post some pix once you get it!

Will do! We pick it up at the museum on Wednesday and then it's a caravan back to Florida. Will definitely have some pics posted by next weekend.

 

[redwhtconv]

I've owned 9 rag tops of various colors from multiple manufactures. Lighter colors are of cosrse more difficult to keep clean, but the reason I ordered a Black top was for stripping options.


I took delivery on my Convertible last Sunday

and have been able to ride with my top down on two days.
Initial raiting woulg be incredible, can't wait to be able to run through the gears unrestricked. The car is a great deal quieter with the top down than our C6 converible. Visibility through the rear view mirror is limited with the top up, couldn't find my wife in the C6 on the way home, she was too close and I was looking over her.
I have 2 new car issues. The 1st is you can open the trunk using the rear deck button without the keyfob being present. The 2nd is the convertible protection cover in the trunk does not match the snaps or is too wide. this causes it to unsnap preventing the top to operate.

It was 76 today and the top is down, there predicting a high of 39 for tomorrow and Sunday. We will be grounded for a couple of days.

 

[jsvette]

Congrats redwhtconv! Are your trunk shots done with the top up or down? Looks like similar space at least at the rear compared to the coupe.