General Discussion for the Hardtop

[fatherlarry]

Let's hear a little about your experiences with the hardtop.

[tscurt]

I traded in a BMW 540 that I bought new in '97 for it. I did business with the first dealer willing to let me test drive a 'Vette no questions asked and that took some doing. I had to go over the border to New Jersey to a dealer who let me drive both a '99 A4 and a Mn6. For me it was no contest. I was going to leave and told him too bad he didn't have an 00 FRC in pewter. So he goes and finds one coming in on a truck to Pennsylvania. In the end I, a Pennsylvania resident, had to go to New Jersey to buy a car being delivered in Pennsylvania. I drove it home in the rain, the first and only time the car has ever seen rain. First mod was chrome tips. Then chrome wheels and a Corsa Touting exhaust. Then CAGS defeat, Kirban Shifter and a succession of knobs ending up with the Hardbar. Went from chrome wheels to hi-polish and put in a Corsa Xpipe and K&N FI filter set-up. Then PIAA super white bulbs all around, amber euro-tails and amber side markers. Then a tunnel heat shield. Took off the hi-polish wheels and put on factory 01 style painted wheels with colored decals on the caps. This past November, gave it to Mike Kleeman at Rapidmotorsports. This is where the fun starts--Mike put in the Agostino Racing Engines Stage 1 set-up: heads, cam. Z-06 intake manifold was added, TPIS headers (the improved ones), TGK plugs, red factory wires, new computer. It is now a stout touring car, docile until 3500 rpm, when all the upper end stuff comes into play. Then it pulls like a train. I don't race or abuse the car, so I don't know its ultimate capabilities but it looks, sounds and runs great, IMHO.

[HT99+63]

I had a Beamer, Lexus and a number of other cars. There's just something about the Corvette. It's nice when you go down the road and another Vette passes you and you both wave. I parked my car next to a Porsche and you know something, my Vette looked outrageous opposed to the Porsche. There's just something about it. I can't explain it. It's just gives you a feeling that you have to have more than one. Especially with this hardtop, knowing they only made a little over 6,000. It is different.:cool:

[Mr. C's 5]

In the spring of 99, I had a real nice 95 coupe and was diving around when my lady had to visit the little girls room (forgive me Cat). We stopped at a local Chevy dealer an while I was waiting, asked one of the salesmen “you wouldn’t consider doing a GMS (GM employee discount) on a Hardtop, would you?” He said “ I think we might”. It took two weeks to get the stupid grin off my face. They made the deal, gave me a great trade and the rest is history. – C.

[TopVette]

Wow! That's a great story. We're did you buy the car? Was it new when you bought it? You're lady must have been in the bathroom for a long time. You traded your '95 in for a hardtop all in a matter of a flush! That's must be the fastest deal in history.:rolllaugh

That must have been really exciting for you though. You know something about this hardtop that makes me feel different. I know I have something different.:cool:

[Mr. C's 5]

TopVette,
Actually, it didn’t take that long. She was only gone for a couple of minutes and, as she tells it, when she came out she saw me sitting with the salesman with this grim on my and knew something was up. Yes, it was new a new car but it wasn’t at the dealership yet. I was supposed to get pewter but the car was sold by another salesman. So my guy said there was this torch red HT with a hud coming in and was I interested. Ha! Took about two weeks to arrive and I was actually in the Bowling Green plant taking a tour the day it shipped. So, all and all, I guess timing is everything. – C.