I drive my Corvette with the radio off about 70% of the time (love the sound of the PRT's and I only drive it on weekends - window down). I always want an antenna down when driving. As far as it being a weight and no frills car, then why did they leave on the power driver seat and Bose stereo?

 

Yep, C-O-S-T
We're not talking about just ONE little Corvette here.

For you non-believers, here's a little CBA ("Cost Benefit Analysis").
(all figures are guestimates-nothing more, I don't purport to know the actual numbers but the antenna cost has been quoted here)

$85.00 * 3000 units = $255,000.00 (Conservative Z-06 Sales/Year)
$255,000 * 5 years = $1,275,000.00 (Guessing At A 5 Year Run)

1.275 Million ain't hay even for the General.

Yep, COST.

At 50,000 each that will pay the salary of 5 line workers per year.

Weight hasn't got a thing to do with it.
Make a nice pit-stop by the restroom before driving and you can save another pound off the Gross Vehicle Weight.
Then you can afford the WEIGHT of that power antenna.

Oh, why do I have the stupid fixed antenna on my Z-28? Were thay trying to save every pound there also? Or trying to save every dollar?
I propose the latter.

Quite actually, COST is associated with just about EVERY action we take.

Think about it.

 

You may well be correct, and I go crazy over that kind of think. It's the Japanese back in the late '70's who showed us that by adding nice little extras like power mirrors, antenna's, cupholders etc, people would buy their cars (well, that and some decent quality). Instead of how much they save, I'd rather them say "hey, it's a $50,000 car. Would we really loose a sale if we made it a $50,500 car and added the power antenna, better seats and homelink system? I'm using an example here. Some may not want those things. But I still say Covette has been inconsistent on the Z06 because it is still a long way from a stripped down, performance only car.

 

jshindler: you are absolutely correct and right on target!!

Here's some new numbers for the calculation:
2001 Z-06 production: 5,773

$85 * 5773 units = $490,705.00 per year
$490,705 * 5 years = $2,453,525.00

That's TWO ga-million buckeroos.

What will they leave off next to save a couple of bucks per unit?




[Modified by VetNutJim, 2:58 PM 12/7/2001]

 

Come on guys:
You are using a retail number of $85.00 for the antenna and not figuring the cost of the fixed antenna that is there. My guess is the real difference in cost to put on a power antenna from the factory instead of the fixed one is no more than $20.
Now having said that; the $20 is not necessarily a loss per each car. GM can just add that to the sticker. Who would notice another $20 on a $50,000 sticker.
I think the fixed antenna is there for weight savings, for the same reason we do not have covers for the rear compartments.

 

Thanks Dave, I was about to write almost the identical messagge.

About the only "frills" I think GM erred in offering for the Z was memory & chromatic mirrors.

Besides that, it is as bare bones as any real enthusiast would want it.

* Power driver lower seat?
Without the mem option, I bet it would not be there.

* HUD?
Actually, incredibly worthwile at track events, no need to refocus (although the HUD RPM gauge is almost useless it its current version).

And bottom line: a factory car with a ~7.6 power/weight ratio, and about $125 per HP msrp. Actually I don't think anything else comes close to this!

So if someone wants a power antenna, or a power passenger seat, or a moonroof and full size spare tire or whatever... have fun.

Any mod that I make will be towards lowering that power/weight ratio. If it gets too uncomfortable I'll buy a SAAB or a Volvo with white fluffy leather seats.

But then again that is just my opinion.

 

Would you please post the part numbers for these items?

Thanks,
Chris

 

I also got mine from Fichtner. I would simply call and talk to the parts people; they will know what you need. The power antenna for the vert., and the bracket should do the trick.

 

sorry but i dont have the part numbers anymore, just email Bob who is the parts manager at Fichtners,,,,,his email address is below,,,,,ask him for all the part numbers of the parts involved for installing this setup,,,,,you will need the power antenna unit and the big bracket,,,,,when i had ordered mine i was sent the antenna, a big bracket, a small bracket, and a grommet,,,,,i didnt need the small bracket or the grommet since the grommet was the same as the one that was already on the car for the mast antenna,,,,,plus i didnt need the small bracket because it was also already on the car holding the mast antenna...but with everything together that i received the total was only about 85.00 to 90.00 i believe. Its a nice antenna and seems to be of good quality,,,,,,i had ordered this and a few other items even before my vette had arrived,,,,,and of course i had to play with it so while sitting on the couch i had an nice harley battery that had a decent charge and made some small jumpers and made the antenna go up and down a few times :D

Bobs email address,,,,, corvetteparts@hotmail.com

 

Need a little help here.
I am also considering the power antenna but would like to know:
1. Does the factory and Mid-America power antenna go up when the radio (music) is turned on and down when the radio (music) is turned off? Or will the antenna go down or stay down if a CD is playing?
Thanks,
Dave

 

I just finish installing the Mid-America power antenna kit in my Z. It stays up whether the CD or radio is on.

 

Normally, if the radio is on the antenna will be up, regardless if youre playing the radio or cd. If you want the antenna to stay down while playing a cd then you will have to install a switch between the signal wire that goes to the radio. Below are instructions from the tech tips. You will need to install the switch on the pink wire from the antenna. With the switch you will save wear and tear on the antenna if you listen to alot of cd's.


Antenna install
The three wire connector from the antenna:
orange-12v constant
black-ground
pink-12v via radio on/off
I used the orange and black at the accessory wires near the fuse box under the kick panel on the passenger side. The pink needs to be connected to the radio on/off. This may be available from behind the radio, but I used the Bose signal processor, which is located on the drivers side above the gas pedal....silver box with two plugs. The plug you want, plugs straight up into the Bose box. Pull this plug out and it has two rows of wires. You want the green, A8, wire. This is the 12v on/off with radio. I spliced into the this wire and ran a wire around and under the console near ash tray and over to the right side passenger floor to connect to the three wire that I ran from the antenna to the front right passenger floor accessory connection. This green wire connects to the pink.

 

Antenna #10285495 $78.65
Bracket #10275748 $4.64
The antenna will act just like the stock factory electric antenna, when the radio or CD player is being used it will be up. :)

 

Thanks for the info!

 

The green Bose wire above the gas pedal did not give me signal on my 02', I used the Bose relay in the passenger footwell fuse box.

 

:yesnod: I agree w/ Speedy. :cheers:

 

"There will never be a power antenna on my Z06, it didn't come with one. They didn't put one on for a reason....
Enjoy!"

Humm, if thats the case, why did you add a magnetic drain plug?? or a custom floor mat, or a partition divider, or a 2002 intake, or :)

 

Hi,

ok it's an old post but...what is the difference between a Powered antena for a FRC (Z06) and one for a Convert ?
Thanx
mimi