Adrianz28medina

Hey guys I'm new to the forums and I'm also not a ls1 owner. But I'm deciding on buying one. I just can't decide between a red convertible ss 2001 55,xxx miles $11,999 or a black 2001 z28 57,xxx $9,900 hardtop . They both have leather seats and stock rims. I like the SS hood and wing. Im not really into convertibles but this one looks nice and the z28 looks nice too but it's just looks normal. Idk lol but whatever I get will be my DD so I don't wanna screw myself over. Eventually Ill modify it and whatever. I previously had a 94 LT1 z28 red. So I thought it would be cool to get another red camaro.

Firebrian

The $2K difference between those vehicles is basically the value of the SS package + convertible. Actually, I'd price that difference at $3K so the SS is probably the better deal. It should also hold it's value better than the Z28 though once they pass 60K miles (and especially 70-75K miles) they lose some collector demand. If you plan to drive the car to 100K miles and beyond then mileage is not that important. If you are going to put less than 5K miles on per year you might want to consider a 35K to 40K mile car that will give you some leeway if in a couple of years you decide you want something different.

One advantage to the convertible is that you don't have to worry about the bubbling roof paint issue that the hardtops and TTops have (figure a $1500 repair). The only way to avoid this is to avoid the sun. If you intend to leave the car on a sunny show field or out at your work parking lot in the hot sun for hours then the convertible top holds up a lot better. Though if I had a couple I'd probably have some type of soft sail panel cover made up that I could easily install while at work (a dash pad cover is nearly the right size). In the rain and other elements I would prefer the coupes. The convertibles drive a bit looser and will have more shakes and rattles. If you don't plan to beat on it then that's not too much of an issue. Stone chips will show up more easily on the darker paints including red. White is a pretty good color for hiding all those stone chips on a DD.

If it were me it would be a no brainer for the SS vert. I'm assuming since this will end up being a DD you're going for an automatic? My wife and shared a white '98 Z28 automatic for a DD from 2002-2009 taking it from 22K to 115K miles. Other than a rear differential seal leaking and the AC charge leaking out, the car never had a significant issue. It ran strong even at 115K miles though I could feel more slop in the suspension.

Fry_

Get the hard top or find a t-top car if you plan to drag race much.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

Definitely something to be considered. UV/heat brings out the bubbles as stated, and this issue applies to all '99+ cars (and some '98s built in the last few months of production).

Doing the sail panel replacement on a t-top car is much less work/cost than doing it for a hardtop. Also, understand that GM doesn't make these panels any longer, so used or aftermarket are the only repair options. Having said that, convertible tops don't last forever either, so if the car is used daily (or worse yet sits outside) you'll eventually have to replace the top on a convertible as well.

BMR Sales2

iTrader: (40)

I would definitely go with the hardtop vehicle but I am not that big of a fan of convertible vehicles.

murphinator

iTrader: (2)

The convertible sounds like a nice cruiser , ragtop , ss package , bright color nice head turner. If this meets your needs then it would work well for you.

Around here you will see most advice in a thread choosing between a ragtop and a hardtop or t top car slant away from the ragtop.

The ragtop is considerably heavier , more prone to rattles , more prone to leaks , more road noise , needs a rollbar to run faster than 13.99 which an 01ss should do bone stock BTW

A lot of us on here are actively or at least passively/occasionally into drag racing so the preference usually goes like this : #1 hardtop #2 t tops #3 vert. That being said red ragtop ss with low miles sounds like something that will hold value decent for you.

I have owned 4 4th gens to date and 3 currently 2 hardtops and 2 t tops , my preference is hardtops.

You mention its going to be your daily, what type of climate do you live in ?

MonmouthCtyLS7

iTrader: (6)

Id also go with the hardtop as well.

DANOZ28

iTrader: (1)

for a cruiser / daily driver go topless! says the guy who luvs his vert. 11 years and still in luv.

Chevyguy2001

Vert all the way and its an SS

JOHNNY59

iTrader: (398)

don't like t-tops or verts, but that's just me. I have two hard tops, 98 Formula and 98 SS.

98z8uup

iTrader: (7)

Go with the hard top.