Top- Down Show Down 1995

Chevrolet CorvetteBase Price: $44,225Price As Tested: $48,7292-door, 2-passengerfront engine,rear drive5737cc OHV V-8300 hp @ 5000 rpm340 lb-ft @ 4000 rpm4-sp. auto.96.2-in. wheelbase3360-lb curb weight5.7 sec, 0-60 mph14.2 sec/98.4 mph, quarter mile114 ft, 60-0,braking0.92 g, skidpad65.1-mph,600-ft slalom17 city/24 hwy, EPA

If the Corvette roadster were any more macho, it would spit excess Y chromosomes out its tailpipes and need a shave every morning. Make no mistake; this car announces its driver's sexual availability better than an open 55-gallon drum of Aramis.

That the Corvette remains desirable after 12 years in production (10 as a convertible) is a testament to its design. But its design is archaic in significant ways: It's 178.5 inches long but doesn't have a trunk, and passengers need a block and tackle to gracefully clear the high door sills.

The Corvette's top is simple and attractive. Though the top operates manually, it drops rapidly (in only 10 seconds) and stows beneath a one-slam hard cover. (It's also available with an optional hardtop.) The Corvette's proportions look even better as a convertible than as a coupe; its long nose is balanced by the illusion of the rear deck extending into the doors.

Unfortunately, the convertible Corvette is, literally, a converted coupe. That's apparent in cowl shake and iffy weather sealing around the side windows. Big tires and a stiff suspension (even when set on the softest "touring" setting) mean that road imperfections are transmitted to the interior of every Corvette; in the convertible, this leads to structural tremors.

Lowering the top makes the driver and passenger more aware of the Corvette's engine, and that's a very good thing. With 300 horsepower and an all-American sound, the 5.7-liter LT1 V-8 is a brilliant companion and an even better match than the ZF six-speed manual is for GM's 4L60E four-speed automatic transmission.

The all-new '98 Corvette will be available as a thoroughly engineered convertible, and while the current car still has its attractions, we're eager for its successor.