Leave the top down, or put it up/down every day?

[Chevy_cowboy]

We plan to only drive the camaro on nice days, and almost always with the top down... So I'm wondering what's better for the top, leaving it down in the garage overnight if we plan to drive it again in the next few days or put the top up every night?

[Baba]

It's definitely better to raise the top as leaving it down unnecessarily for extended periods of time will produce a lot of wrinkles. That will definitely make the top look bad and take a very long time with the top up to get rid of.

In addition, by putting the top up, you're protecting the interior from dust / dirt and also other things getting into the interior - even if it might be stored in your garage.

[Indydriver]

I'm going to be a new vert owner soon, so also very interested in this topic and I appreciate the comments by Baba and will watch for this. I am also concerned about wear and tear from frequent daily opening and closings of the top.

One thing I've already done, even before delivery, is purchase an interior cover. I have a four mile commute to work where I park in a somewhat secure parking garage. I want to leave the top down and tonneau cover on for days at a time as I go back and forth from work, using the quick-to-install and remove interior cover for protection. A very high quality cover such as I bought is only $114 and seems to me to be an indispensable accessory for most vert owners. Here's a link to a sale thread I posted the other day if anyone else is interested.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347282

[Baba]

Here are a few links to threads in the convertible forum specifically addressing wrinkles, et al.

How long do you keep your top down?

Keeping top down indefinitely?

Top wrinkles on a 3-week old Camaro :(

THIS is what I try to avoid by leaving my top down for long periods. I've seen ones worse than this and, perhaps, these are "outliers"? Not a chance I want to take, however.
Wrinkles in top normal?

[Indydriver]

Baba, thanks for the heads up on this issue. Wasn't there a major design revision in the top ca. 2012-13 due to complaints/claims? Do the postings here indicate improvement/elimination of the problem? I've read some of the "bent 5th rib" threads and that problem seems to have been resolved.

[95birdible]

Having owned 4 F body convertibles since 1987 (69 SS Camaro, 1995 Firebird, and 2 2012 Camaro SS) if the car is to be parked for more than an hour always put the top up. It will stretch back to its original form this way and will reduce the wrinkles. Plus it keeps all the junk out of the interior like pollen, leaves, bird crap etc.

[Baba]

Originally Posted by Indydriver

Baba, thanks for the heads up on this issue. Wasn't there a major design revision in the top ca. 2012-13 due to complaints/claims? Do the postings here indicate improvement/elimination of the problem? I've read some of the "bent 5th rib" threads and that problem seems to have been resolved.

There was a top revision for the 13's. I know it was either the late 12's or the 13'. There are others here who know one heck of a lot more about it than I do.

The links refer to the 11 and early 12 MY's, primarily. However, there have been late 12 and "some" 13 MY owners who've encountered problems, if I recall correctly. I'm not aware of any 14 MY top problems but I'm not at all certain there aren't any.

[kevinw]

i have left my top down all weekend last fall after i bought the car. i had it in garage. but i wont do that again, as alot of wrinkles. i think overnite would be ok, but not for extended days. thats why the top has a motor on it.

[el ess A]

I am VERY glad I put the top up on mine in the garage. Case in point, during a most unusual hard freeze here in January, a non-insulated water line in the garage ceiling froze, cracked, and when melted, then deluged the drywall till it cracked and poured water ALL over the Z. That's rare as we built the house 10 years ago. Who'd have thunk it here in the south? Talk about a freakout. Just glad I did have the top up. Plus, it's recommended by Chevy in the owner's manual that any time you won't be with the car for a while outside, it's good to put the top up. (line now repaired AND insulated)

Think about this. With the top down, it's all folded up. Now, have you ever been on one of those all day flights and when you finally get to the hotel, some of the clothes you had packed are all wrinkly because they've been stuffed in a tight space all day? I think y'all know where I'm going with this. Put the top up for more than an overnighter and you'll be happy.

[OrangeVert]

+1. Top up every night, if I remember. :-)

[basecar]

When I had my 11, with all the problems, a top specialist told me that you should put your top up at night when your done driving. This helps the top stretch back to normal and will take out the wrinkles. I do this on our13 and have not noticed any wrinkles or problems.

[pensphan87]

If wrinkles are your concern I would put it up every time you get out

but they have never been a concern of mine. My car sits all winter with the top up and most of the summer with the top down, so I can sneak in joy rides every chance I get. I understand the original complaints about wear marks but have always felt that fabric tops are going to get marks and wrinkles you can do your best to avoid them but it's going to happen.

Good luck

[fsrtwo]

I have a Jeep Wrangler that i leave the top folded all summer. I am not worried about the wrinkles. I do notice that when I put the top back up in the fall, it seems like the top shrunk a bit and I have to stretch it more to lock it in place.

[77rs]

Over the years I had 6 ragtops most had vinyl tops. I always put the top up and parked in the sun to warm up the top and eliminate wrinkles. Don't know about cloth tops.