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Ever notice how most every car seems to look sleeker and prettier as a convertible? There’s just something about removing the weight and heaviness of the roof and focusing the eye totally on the car body below.

But even with that said, the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette roadster is something extra special: It’s seductive.

It has only two seats, wicked in leather. It has that look-at-me-but-don’t-mess-with-me, throaty, V8 rumble, even at city speeds. At a time when just about everyone rides high in some sort of sport utility or truck, it sits low — and proudly so. And it’s always ready to pull away, leaving the real world behind.

Yes, this Corvette is a beauty. And while I have always loved the lines on the Corvette, I haven’t always been as impressed with its practicality or fit and finish or the ride comfort.

But there’s a real trunk in this Corvette with a full 13.9 cubic feet of space — 11.2 cubic feet if the top is down. The ‘Vette convertible hasn’t had that kind of trunk since the 1962 model, and Chevy points out you can fit two golf bags back there.

This roadster is an impressive piece of work in terms of weight. It weighs just one pound more than the Corvette coupe because Chevy engineers designed the coupe with the convertible in mind. Much of the structural integrity for both cars is in the big, center tunnel and along the side rails, so a lot of extra reinforcement for the convertible was unnecessary.

It helps the roadster drive and handle much like the coupe — quick to respond and breathlessly impressive in corners.

The coupe’s 345-horsepower, 5.7-liter V8 is also under the hood of the roadster and just a nudge on the gas pedal can convince you it’s more than able to propel you all the way to that 200-mile-an-hour mark at the end of the crowded speedometer.

It really can’t, however, since Chevrolet estimates top speed at 172 mph. But who in the real world is going to quibble?

And, I’m happy to say, the new Corvette convertible delivers good ride comfort, even on lengthy trips. There’s a definite firmness in this roadster, but it’s not overly harsh.

The convertible does differ a bit from the coupe. Additional standard equipment includes speed-sensitive steering, run flat tires with a tire-pressure monitoring system, and power driver seat.

1998 Chevrolet Corvette

The soft top is manually operated and it works easily. The two front latches at the windshield readily snapped and unsnapped on the test car, with no fumbling.

And in the back, at the car body, there are no awkward latches. Chevrolet designed the cloth top with an articulated leverage design that automatically applies pressure on the back of the soft top as you latch the front of the roof. In essence, the back part of the top rests snugly on a black, inset strip back there with just that pressure.

What a nifty way to do it and it means you don’t have to worry about scratc hing the car’s fiberglass body.

The top, by the way, comes in three colors: black, tan and white. The rear window is glass and has an electric defogger.

Both the 1998 Corvette coupe and roadster have — for two-seaters — roomy and accommodating interiors, judging by what they used to have before this generation of ‘Vette debuted as a coupe earlier in calendar 1997.

The convertible just began arriving this fall. Chevrolet did not have a 1997 Corvette convertible, skipping that model year altogether as it made the changeover to the new coupe.

One extra note: The automaker says the starting price of the ’98 Corvette roadster — $44,990 including delivery charge — is $635 less than the previous model, which was in the 1996 model year.

How often does that happen?

NUTS AND BOLTS

What we drove: 1998 Chevrolet Corvette convertible, a two-door sports car with 5.7-liter, LS1 V8 and four-speed automatic t ransmission.

Estimated base price: Around $44,425

Estimated price as tested: $50,849

Curb weight: 3,246 pounds

Length: 179.7 inches

Turning circle (curb to curb): 40 feet

Standard features: Two front air bags; power windows, door locks and mirrors; power driver seat; retractable headlamps; rear window defogger; four-wheel anti-lock brakes; AM/FM stereo with cassette player and digital clock; leather seats; limited slip differential; traction control; air conditioning; tilt steering wheel.

Options on test vehicle: None.

Estimated EPA figures: 17 mpg city; 25 mpg highway