T-Tops for Your New Camaro?

[bprange]

I can't believe how many people hate t-tops, if it was an option on a 5th gen it would be the first box I would check (after the biggest engine of course). I really wouldn't be bothered by a removable top but to be able to open up the top of your car without having a convertible is one of my favorite things. I cannot stand that I do not have them on my Z and enjoy the crap out of the time in my cousin's SS with the tops out. Why not offer one of them (t-tops/targa) as an option and get it if you want it on your car. When I think Caramo, I think t-tops also, I don't care that its 70/80's "technology". With all their knowhow, I am sure something could be done to update it but for a price...

[Casull]

Originally Posted by bprange

I can't believe how many people hate t-tops, if it was an option on a 5th gen it would be the first box I would check (after the biggest engine of course). I really wouldn't be bothered by a removable top but to be able to open up the top of your car without having a convertible is one of my favorite things. I cannot stand that I do not have them on my Z and enjoy the crap out of the time in my cousin's SS with the tops out. Why not offer one of them (t-tops/targa) as an option and get it if you want it on your car. When I think Caramo, I think t-tops also, I don't care that its 70/80's "technology". With all their knowhow, I am sure something could be done to update it but for a price...

My only problem with them is that they may not look right on the new 5th gen. I love t-tops as well and would love to have them on the 5th gen as long as it looked right. With the new design not being a hatchback, I doubt that would happen though.

[3whiterag]

Its not that we hate them, my IROC has them, it is just that we have been told that IT WILL NOT HAPPEN!

[35th02ss]

How would everyone feel about a sunroof??

[Casull]

Originally Posted by 35th02ss

How would everyone feel about a sunroof??

IMO Vert > t-tops > sunroof > coupe in general. With the 5th gen, i am still skeptical about the looks of t-tops, but i would DEFINITELY spend money on a sun roof

[EllwynX]

Originally Posted by 35th02ss

How would everyone feel about a sunroof??

If it's my only option I'll get it. But I'd much rather have TTops.

And, as I know I've stated before, the sunroof had better be an oversized one that takes up a LARGE area of the roof. Something similar to the G6's multipanel sunroof.

[stevenm357]

T Tops ROCK.. it's like a convertible.. but you still have something over your head.... i don't think they will be brought back though

I wrecked a pontiac G6 with the panoramic sun roof ... that sucked. i still miss that sun roof.

[Silverado]

Hey

Just found this forum and thought I'd sign up. Seems like a lot of good discussion going on here.

Like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 5th Gen. My last Camaro was a 3rd Gen RS that I "upgraded" everything to make a Z-28 (same performance, lower insurance). I had to get rid of it and was looking for another one when I got married. I couldn't afford to have two cars, as I didn't drive my Camaro in the winter (Nebraska winters aren't the best), so I stuck with something more practical....a 1999 Silverado Extended Cab Z-71...1st year of that body style. Once I got to the point where I could afford to have a Camaro again, I started looking, but then my wife got pregnant, so again, the Camaro fell down on the priority list (and stayed there since we just had our 3rd kid in December). I traded my '99 Silverado last June for an 06' Crew Cab Short Bed Z-71 (needed more room in the cab for hauling the kids around).

I've been bugging my wife about getting a Camaro (esp since now I have a 3 car garage, so there's somewhere to store it in the winter), and she's been great about it, but it hasn't been practical for us to do so. I basically made a deal with her when I saw the 5th Gen concept...I'll wait until the 5th Gen's come out before getting one....more time to save up (since like the rest of you, I want the biggest, baddest engine they offer).

There is only one other thing I want on my 5th Gen, and I haven't really seen anyone talking about it. I've written to GM 3 or 4 times in the last 10 months about it and of course, there's been no response. Coupe in late '08, Convertible in '09. Where's the T-top version? This car would look sweet with T-tops and would give the Camaro one more plus over the Mustang (as if it needed anymore). I miss my T-tops from my old Camaro (and my '82 Monte Carlo from high school too). Personally, I think GM/Chevy would be insane not to make the t-top version. They have better insurance rates than convertibles. Considering nobody currently makes a t-top car and there are fewer and fewer targa tops out there, a t-top Camaro would stand out even more. Just my two cents.

Anyway, thanks for letting me join up. I'll try to join in the conversations and be an active member.

Keep up the good work.
Silverado

[Casull]

Originally Posted by Silverado

Hey

Just found this forum and thought I'd sign up. Seems like a lot of good discussion going on here.

Like everyone else, I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 5th Gen. My last Camaro was a 3rd Gen RS that I "upgraded" everything to make a Z-28 (same performance, lower insurance). I had to get rid of it and was looking for another one when I got married. I couldn't afford to have two cars, as I didn't drive my Camaro in the winter (Nebraska winters aren't the best), so I stuck with something more practical....a 1999 Silverado Extended Cab Z-71...1st year of that body style. Once I got to the point where I could afford to have a Camaro again, I started looking, but then my wife got pregnant, so again, the Camaro fell down on the priority list (and stayed there since we just had our 3rd kid in December). I traded my '99 Silverado last June for an 06' Crew Cab Short Bed Z-71 (needed more room in the cab for hauling the kids around).

I've been bugging my wife about getting a Camaro (esp since now I have a 3 car garage, so there's somewhere to store it in the winter), and she's been great about it, but it hasn't been practical for us to do so. I basically made a deal with her when I saw the 5th Gen concept...I'll wait until the 5th Gen's come out before getting one....more time to save up (since like the rest of you, I want the biggest, baddest engine they offer).

There is only one other thing I want on my 5th Gen, and I haven't really seen anyone talking about it. I've written to GM 3 or 4 times in the last 10 months about it and of course, there's been no response. Coupe in late '08, Convertible in '09. Where's the T-top version? This car would look sweet with T-tops and would give the Camaro one more plus over the Mustang (as if it needed anymore). I miss my T-tops from my old Camaro (and my '82 Monte Carlo from high school too). Personally, I think GM/Chevy would be insane not to make the t-top version. They have better insurance rates than convertibles. Considering nobody currently makes a t-top car and there are fewer and fewer targa tops out there, a t-top Camaro would stand out even more. Just my two cents.

Anyway, thanks for letting me join up. I'll try to join in the conversations and be an active member.

Keep up the good work.
Silverado

Welcome to the site! You definitely bring up a very hot topic with the t-tops. It seems as though there are 2 camps: One that really wants them no matter what, and another that feels as though they will not look right on this car and will disrupt the lines. I am undecided personally. i would have to see it first to decide either way.

[Silverado]

Originally Posted by Casull

Welcome to the site! You definitely bring up a very hot topic with the t-tops. It seems as though there are 2 camps: One that really wants them no matter what, and another that feels as though they will not look right on this car and will disrupt the lines. I am undecided personally. i would have to see it first to decide either way.

Thanks for the welcome.

As I mentioned about the t-tops,I want them. Now, having said that, I don't want to see the car changed a lot to accomodate them. I don't think you could get away with glass tops on this car. I think you need to stick with the solid roof panels here.

Although, if they would do t-tops, with the proper reinforcement....they could get away with aluminum (or the more expensive carbon fiber) panels to help save on the weight. (I agree with what was said before about the weight of the car, so anything that can be done to help that would be a plus as well.).

[i want 1]

welcome silverado.
i share ur passion about the T's. i think it would look sweet as hell whith this cars body lines. hell even a corvette style targa would look sweet. but i don't see GM doing this and putting the carbon pannels on to keep the weight down that would be ness to re-inforce the uni-body b/c of the lack of roof strength. it would no longer be a 26k car.
but hey anything is possible. maybe we could start a petition here and submit it to GM. but i dought anything would come of it. but we should still try.
maybe one of the moderators could help us with that.
jay.

[TAG UR IT]

Welcome, Silverado! Hope you enjoy the site and post up!

Here ya go, Jay. I added a poll. This site is frequented by GM staff so I wouldn't doubt it if this is noticed. Everyone has to vote to make it count, though. Just click the yes or no!!!

[AFSNightrod]

I'm on the fence. I have been spoiled with my '89 Formula 350 and my TA that I have now. I love my T-tops. In good weather they come out before I go to work and go back in when I lock up for the night(unless I go somewhere where I know I'll be away from it for a bit). Plus I love throwing the deuce straight up as I leave some import, or sticking my head out to yell at friends in their cars at stoplights. I'd take any kind of open roof setup as long as it's tastefully executed, isn't a huge weight issue, and is structurally sound. Otherwise I'll go without. A narrow sunroof down the center like the current Maxima wouldn't look too bad on it...

[evalentin32]

Has anyone heard if they will be a t-top option for the 09 camaro?

[darthknight72]

We know there will be a convertible,but beyound that who knows.The Mustang doesnt have a t-top or sunroof option,so the t-top might be a thing of the past.Thats just a guess of course.GM might not even know yet if they plan on a t-top.My best advice would be to let the General know you want a t-top in your new Camaro,if there is a big response for people wanting a t-top Im sure they'll make one.

[Dragoneye]

There will be no T-Tops... Ed Welburn stated that during an interview a while back:

The interviewer asks, are there going to be any other body styles besides coupe and convertable? and Ed responds we are only planning on producing coupes and convertable. (he said it real flat, and matter-of-factly; as though he's been asked this thousands of times before)

[Silverado]

While I agree with what you say Dragon, (and I interpret his response that way too), technically, technically, a t-top car is a coupe. So, there could still be a chance (I'm not holding my breath) that the t-tops could be an option....still two body styles...coupe and convertible....the coupe just has a t-top option.

Now, honestly, I wish GM would get their collective heads out of their asses and make the t-tops an option. I've said it before....t-tops would make this car hotter than it already is.

Here's what's going to happen....they will finally come right out and say "no t-tops", so I will wait for the convertible. Then, in late 2010 or early 2011, they will come out with t-tops, just to piss me off......(they did the same thing with my Silverado Ext Cab...."no, we aren't doing a 4th door", so I buy my '99 in June....in November, there are Y2K models on dealer lots with the 4th door....).

GM....Listen up....make t-tops an option.

[SSRich]

i dont see the new camaro getting T-Tops they said it cant be done no matter how much i want them. But maybe we could get a Targa top or something, I read a guy works with sunroofs business and they got a large number order for the camaro.

[JeepinMatt]

I don't want T-tops. I just want it to be a true hardtop

[TAG UR IT]

I'd do a targa top similar to the vette. Depending on cost, I'd look into getting it done by an after market company....if they could do it right.

[LDiablo]

For me, it's all or nothing. I agree with Casull's ranking:
Vert > t-tops > sunroof > coupe

Course I wasn't convinced on 5th gen until I saw the convertible. So I'm biased.

But if the car's supposed to be based on 1st gen and sort of a "where would that have gone if we'd not ever gone to second gen" then maybe T-tops would have never happened. There were no Ts in first gen. I'm just saying. Ts really took off in the Smokey and the Bandit years. Damn, that was one fine T/A.

One word for whoever likes that vertical Maxima sunroof: wha?

[JeepinMatt]

Coupe. More rigid, less weight

edit- actually it's a hardtop, but close nuff. Add in a roll cage and the difference should be minimal

[acscamarochick06]

But they had also commented in one article I had read about how there were also some stylings taking from the 2nd gen. There were t-tops in the 2nd gens (I am trying to hold out hope here, people)

I will say that it is honestly going to be HARD for me to give up my Camaro I have now because it has t-tops and I wanted them for so long.

If the Camaro came out with t-tops I would be rushing to get one, no matter what the price was and no matter what kind of loan I had to get lol. But without t-tops... I mean I love the car, but I would REALLY LOOOOOOVE the car if I could get my t-tops.

IMHO, I really don't think they would hurt the looks of the car and the "lines" of the car...



GM gives me t-tops and I'll do this HAHA!

[Silverado]

"GM gives me t-tops and I'll do this HAHA"


Camarochick, that's hilarious....I'd do it to, but I don't think my hairy chest is going to help the cause....LOL

[Dragoneye]

Originally Posted by Silverado

"GM gives me t-tops and I'll do this HAHA"


Camarochick, that's hilarious....I'd do it to, but I don't think my hairy chest is going to help the cause....LOL

maybe not. but i'd sure be the ultimate throwback to the Mullet Days, huh?