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When using the C6 coupe with the top off, and stored in the hatch, there is hardly any cargo space. With a convertible it seems there is a little, but a lot less than the coupe without a top in it. If you're on a trip with luggage you wouldn't be able to take the top off on a coupe.
Am I missing something? I'd love to hear your opinions.
Last edited by Vette 460; 02-19-2022 at 08:29 PM.
Reason: to designate the model.
We have used our coupe for approx 70 k miles of the 112+k miles on the clock. We go on longer road trips, over a week to 3 weeks, so it's 2 medium sized suitcases in the hatch area, plus laptop, etc..that completely fills the back.
Our trips are always pre planned, so we never take the top off while travelling from point A to B. Once we reach our daily destinations and check into the hotel, we do sometime remove the top and cruise around the area to check it out, or to sight see. Because of the turbulance of the coupe with the top off, I would never drive on the interstates with it off doing 75mph. I can see if it is a short trip, a few soft bags could fit under the stored top. The top fits under that partition without removing anything.
My experience in a coupe on two road trips each 3 weeks long was that by using 4 duffel bags there was no problem stowing the top whenever we wanted. We had it off numerous times on the highway. Hard bodied suitcases are to be avoided because they won't compress down. There was also a CPAP machine, briefcase, and laptop under the Targa, plus other odds and ends. A small cooler, bag of food, and toolbox sat right behind the seats. But we didn't have 3 weeks of worth clothes; a couple of stops at laundromats were made. Even drove a bit at 80+ in Texas and Montana a few times with the top off when had to take an I road. It was fun, but your hat needs to be screwed on tight.
Just to prove it (sort of), here we are in the desert, headed for Barstow - top off and all luggage etc in the car under the top or behind the seat.
Last edited by FatsWaller; 02-20-2022 at 03:28 PM.
Reason: Typo and add pic
When I went Vette shopping. The removable panel became deal breaker and bought a vert. Some surprise rain and all you have to do is pull over and press a button and boom! You have a roof. Don't even have to get out of the car. Also not bad luggage space on vert. 2 suitcases that fit in above airplane cargo fit nicely
I bought the coupe for a couple reasons 1 the canvas rooftop looks hideous when up 2 the maintenance of that top is a pain in the ***. However I will say it is a lot easier to put up and down. I will say l have friends with verts and they are very happy this is just 1 guys opinion.
I think the vert looks good with top up or top down. Not much maintenance either. I have only treated it twice in five years and it still looks good. It is in the garage when not driving. Can hold enough luggage to let you travel with two suit cases easily.
Most people who buy convertibles don’t drive them unless it is a bright sunny day. So they never see any sort of bad weather unless you get caught in a rainstorm. I drive mine top down only and maintenance is easy. When water starts to soak into the fabric I use the 303 cleaner and protectant and done. Did my top 2 years ago and still looks good. It’s all about personal preference on a coupe or a vert and how you intend to use the car.
Fatswaller,
Beautiful picture and car.
When you had four duffel bags and the top off, were the duffel bags on top of the stored top or under the top? was the top in the OEM mounts?
Fatswaller,
Beautiful picture and car.
When you had four duffel bags and the top off, were the duffel bags on top of the stored top or under the top? was the top in the OEM mounts?
Thanks for the kind words. All the luggage was under the top and the top was in the mounts. I've got an Exotic Vette hatch partition which makes it easier because the leading edge of the Targa just touches the top of the partition. So as long as the duffel bags (and allowing for the fact the bags will deform a bit) are no higher than the partition in the front of the hatch or the mounts in the rear you know the Targa will fit on top of the luggage. You can just see the Targa lip in the pic below. And as I said the cooler, tool box and food sit nicely and are accesable on the ledge created by the partition. Fitting the luggage is a bit like doing a jig saw puzzle, except because the bags and contents are soft, you can change the shape of the pieces a bit.
When I went Vette shopping. The removable panel became deal breaker and bought a vert. Some surprise rain and all you have to do is pull over and press a button and boom! You have a roof. Don't even have to get out of the car. Also not bad luggage space on vert. 2 suitcases that fit in above airplane cargo fit nicely
As I get older wrestling with the targa by myself is a PITA always seem to need help removing and re installing. For that reason Im looking for a Vert.
Thanks to everyone for your imput. It's nice to hear the different ideas and solutions. I will consider it all as I search for my C6.
Actually I think the model and condition of the car is more important than coupe or vert and either one will make my day!
God bless
Having had both in the last 2 years I am definitely on the vert side-I do live in the southeast so I can put the top down most of the year. I'm also a golfer and I like the fact I can put my clubs in the trunk with the top down.
My wife and I do a lot of golf road trips with two golf bags and luggage and the coupe is the better option for that use, with the understanding that the top stays on for capacity and security while traveling.
I've owned three C6 coupes and currently own a C5 coupe and a C6 convertible. The coupes have a ridiculous amount of storage space relatively speaking. One time, I actually transported a second set of wheels and tires for my ZR1 inside the ZR1 (three under the hatch and one in the passenger seat). We don't do any travelling in the Vettes anymore and very rarely grab groceries in them, so the cargo space is now moot. That said, there have been times where I wish I had the larger cargo space in the convertible. And then I drop the top in nice weather and forget all about it.
When traveling, we always keep the top up and the trunk full. Freeway driving with the top down is not especially fun. This also limits the ammount of lugage that I'll have to move into hotels. A good thing. When the top is down, it significantly cuts down the trunk space. Once at a location, and the luggage is removed, top down side trips are good to go.
FYI My new to me '09 has a power top, and has a partition in the trunk to isolate the top, and takes up about 30% of the storage space, even when the top is up. I guess this is some kind of safety or liability thing for people who are not smart enough not to try to put the top down when the trunk is full??? I've removed the partitiion and defeated the microswitch that it activated. Now, I have the full trunk available to me when the top is up.
My previous '08 with manual top, did not have this partition.
02-19-2022, 06:57 PM
Convertible vs Coupe cargo space
