2nd Opinion – Blackett Upon departure from a restaurant, I heard the valet speak these sweet words: “Hello, Sir. You are the gentleman with the red Corvette?” Ah, you just don’t forget moments like that.

There is one major negative point I need to report about my time in the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible: Someone demanded I turn over the keys upon my return to the office.

Life is simply not fair.

Over the course of a day or so, a 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible and I rumbled along the highways of southern California, flew through the twisty mountain roads outside of Los Angeles, and spent an evening traversing local streets looking for a decent restaurant. Upon departure from that eatery, I heard the valet speak these sweet words: “Hello, Sir. You are the gentleman with the red Corvette?” Ah, you just don’t forget moments like that.

What was behind my brief fling with the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible could be found under the hood – that 6.0-liter V8 with 400 horses and 400 lb.-ft. of torque. Match that up to a curb weight that tipped the scales at about 3,200 lbs. and this Chevy offers an impressively low power-to-weight ratio (translation: each horse is burdened with relatively little weight). Managing that power through the six-speed manual transmission was a cinch, given the shifter’s nearly perfect placement in the center console and short, precise throws between gears. What was less endearing was the tranny’s skip-shift feature, which often left me struggling to find a forward gear in the middle of an intersection. Nothing saps the coolness out of driving a red 2005 Corvette like coasting to a stop in the middle of an intersection. I think those hot women that were in the car behind me are still laughing.

Find the right gear, and leave all of the taunting in your dust. Acceleration is excellent and, thankfully, so is the braking. After an extremely enjoyable run in the mountains, including hard braking into sharp corners and consistently laying on the stoppers for a lengthy downhill run, there was no noticeable decrease in the effectiveness of the brakes. Not so much praise can be given to the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette’s ride, which was harsh regardless of whether the suspension was set in the Sport or Touring mode. But, to it’s credit, the ‘Vette kept a very tight line in the curves and only broke free when turning the stability control off and using a heavy foot on the go-pedal.

Driving with the top up is a fairly quiet experience, but cruising through the mountains should definitely be experienced with the top down – hearing the sound of that V8 reverberate off canyon walls is the automotive enthusiast’s equivalent to hearing Pavarotti sing at the Met. Dropping the canvas requires unhooking the center latch and pushing a button on the dash, whereupon a compartment behind the seats opens and swallows the soft top. Unlike many convertibles, the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible does not exhibit noticeable cowl shake, and the neatly stored top and relatively low rear beltline allow for decent visibility.

Regardless of whether the top is up or down, the interior is a pleasant place to enjoy a drive. Both seats offer power adjustments, and the power tilt and telescoping steering wheel helps in creating a suitable position for the driver. Most of the controls, including those for the radio and trip computer, were easy to reach and understand. However, the radio face did wash out under certain lighting conditions. What was most impressive was the heads-up display – the screen was perfectly placed in the driver’s view and offered information regarding speed, radio stations, and more. Why this technology hasn’t been more widely accepted over the past several years is a mystery, though it’s likely due to cost and complexity. Regardless, it’s a great supplement to traditionally gauges, and a preferred alternative to the center-mounted instrumentation that some manufacturers have adopted.

As good as it the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible was, there were a few nitpicky points I had with the interior. First, the oversized steering wheel felt like it was ripped out of an old Chevy Lumina. And second, the remote ignition just seems like an easy way to lose keys; this driver prefers a traditional ignition that forces you to keep track of the keys.

With an abundance of power, superb handling, and a well-designed interior, few will find fault with the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible. But the issue of styling has ruffled a few feathers, mainly due to the deletion of the flip-up headlights. In this editor’s eyes, the new look gives the ‘Vette more character, a modern face with some personality. For those who desire heritage cues, the quad taillights and Coke-bottle Corvette shape remain, and the front air dam insert closely mimics the grille of the original 1953 Chevy Corvette.

At about $63,000 as tested, the 2005 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible is $60,000 more the 1953 original – just an expensive dream for most of today’s car shoppers. However, if you’ve got the means and a good radar detector, it may be a small price to pay for an extraordinary amount of fun. – Thom Blackett