My new LMB Coupe!
06-19-2007, 08:38 PM
#1
Heel & Toe
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Location: Seaford NY
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My new LMB Coupe!
Well it took me a month to get the pictures and story together but here ya go:
After always wanting a Corvette my wife and I finally made the decision this spring when I found out that Chevrolet would no longer produce LeMans Blue. After building the car on the Chevrolet website in March I went to one of the largest Corvette dealerships in NY to discuss the car and pricing. I called him the next day and told him I would come in to place the order at the end of the week. We set and appointment. When I showed up he informed me his allocation was up and he could not order me a car. No apologies, no assistance, nothing. I walked out. He was not, nor will he ever, get my business again.
I went onto the CorvetteForum and inquired about purchasing and allocations. (I did not know about the forum but the dealer had the site on his PC). Forum participants gave me a lot of great information but one stood out - more on that later. The next week my wife and I went to one of the largest Corvette dealerships in the US (check in hand) to place an order. Considering I was purchasing a $50k + car they did not seem to go out of their way to assist us and their pricing was not competitive. Their cars on the lot had options I did not want (Nav, On-Star) and did not have the color combination I was looking for: LMB w/ two-tone cashmere. We walked out disappointed.
While we sat in the parking lot I of this dealer I pulled some of the forum
responses I had printed. I had been contacted by Rick Conti of EVS
Chevrolet in Wisconsin who had responded to my questions about ordering a car. I had called him the day before and his enthusiasm and knowledge of the car was first rate. I had never purchased a car without personally meeting with the car salesman and was a little apprehensive. It was a Friday @ 5:00PM but I decided to give Rick a call. Over the phone in 10 minutes the order was placed and done. No hassle, no grief and more importantly he treated me like a valued customer. I immediately decided to also order the Museum Delivery (R8C) because of his rave review of this experience.
This went perfectly - He called me in a few days and said the order was
placed and I would soon have a build date and Museum appointment. Three and a half weeks later my car was completed and I had my Museum Delivery on May 17. Even though Rick was going to be out of the office for the birth of his 4th child he ensured that all paperwork was completed and that I had my temporary tag to pickup the car. As you can imagine, all of my future Corvette purchases will be with Rick.
My wife and I flew down to Nashville after horrendous flights delays and
did not get to the hotel in Bowling Green until 5:00AM with a factory tour scheduled for 7:45AM. This factory tour, and our guide Larry, made this worth the trip. Seeing how the car is built and the technology that is used along with the people who build this car is truly impressive. I got to start one of the cars at the end of the line and they let me sit in a car in the test tunnel which is a great experience. Seeing your car in the Corvette Museum is an experience like no other.
We set out that afternoon for a two-day 15 hour trip to Long Island, NY. It rained (torrential) for 12 of those hours. But it did not matter. She is home, safe, perfect and mine.
[Please don't start a rant about Chevrolet dealerships - it is always
subject to an individual's experience. There are many great dealerships out there both domestic and foreign, it's all about finding the right one and the right salesperson. I have had great experiences with Ford and Cadillac. I have walked out of a Porsche showroom when the guy tried to explain to me that German engineering is superior - when he called me last month I told him he helped make my decision to buy a Corvette!]
2007 Corvette Coupe / 3LT
LMB / Two-Tone Cashmere / Transparent Roof
QX3 Chrome Wheels / R8C Museum Delivery
After always wanting a Corvette my wife and I finally made the decision this spring when I found out that Chevrolet would no longer produce LeMans Blue. After building the car on the Chevrolet website in March I went to one of the largest Corvette dealerships in NY to discuss the car and pricing. I called him the next day and told him I would come in to place the order at the end of the week. We set and appointment. When I showed up he informed me his allocation was up and he could not order me a car. No apologies, no assistance, nothing. I walked out. He was not, nor will he ever, get my business again.
I went onto the CorvetteForum and inquired about purchasing and allocations. (I did not know about the forum but the dealer had the site on his PC). Forum participants gave me a lot of great information but one stood out - more on that later. The next week my wife and I went to one of the largest Corvette dealerships in the US (check in hand) to place an order. Considering I was purchasing a $50k + car they did not seem to go out of their way to assist us and their pricing was not competitive. Their cars on the lot had options I did not want (Nav, On-Star) and did not have the color combination I was looking for: LMB w/ two-tone cashmere. We walked out disappointed.
While we sat in the parking lot I of this dealer I pulled some of the forum
responses I had printed. I had been contacted by Rick Conti of EVS
Chevrolet in Wisconsin who had responded to my questions about ordering a car. I had called him the day before and his enthusiasm and knowledge of the car was first rate. I had never purchased a car without personally meeting with the car salesman and was a little apprehensive. It was a Friday @ 5:00PM but I decided to give Rick a call. Over the phone in 10 minutes the order was placed and done. No hassle, no grief and more importantly he treated me like a valued customer. I immediately decided to also order the Museum Delivery (R8C) because of his rave review of this experience.
This went perfectly - He called me in a few days and said the order was
placed and I would soon have a build date and Museum appointment. Three and a half weeks later my car was completed and I had my Museum Delivery on May 17. Even though Rick was going to be out of the office for the birth of his 4th child he ensured that all paperwork was completed and that I had my temporary tag to pickup the car. As you can imagine, all of my future Corvette purchases will be with Rick.
My wife and I flew down to Nashville after horrendous flights delays and
did not get to the hotel in Bowling Green until 5:00AM with a factory tour scheduled for 7:45AM. This factory tour, and our guide Larry, made this worth the trip. Seeing how the car is built and the technology that is used along with the people who build this car is truly impressive. I got to start one of the cars at the end of the line and they let me sit in a car in the test tunnel which is a great experience. Seeing your car in the Corvette Museum is an experience like no other.
We set out that afternoon for a two-day 15 hour trip to Long Island, NY. It rained (torrential) for 12 of those hours. But it did not matter. She is home, safe, perfect and mine.
[Please don't start a rant about Chevrolet dealerships - it is always
subject to an individual's experience. There are many great dealerships out there both domestic and foreign, it's all about finding the right one and the right salesperson. I have had great experiences with Ford and Cadillac. I have walked out of a Porsche showroom when the guy tried to explain to me that German engineering is superior - when he called me last month I told him he helped make my decision to buy a Corvette!]
2007 Corvette Coupe / 3LT
LMB / Two-Tone Cashmere / Transparent Roof
QX3 Chrome Wheels / R8C Museum Delivery
06-19-2007, 08:40 PM
#3
Moderator
Member Since: Dec 2002
Location: Lakewood Ranch, FL
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Very Cool 
Congratulations on the car and for the R8C
Congratulations on the car and for the R8C
06-19-2007, 08:58 PM
#11
Instructor
Member Since: Jun 2006
Location: Cloverdale Indiana
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Hey, That looks like mine. Almost, I have auto+ onstar,but same color and seats,painted top. I like your top,it looks good.
I did the NCM delivery also.
I love my car,and i'm sure you will to.
I did the NCM delivery also.
I love my car,and i'm sure you will to.
06-19-2007, 09:10 PM
#15
Le Mans Master
Congratulations! LMB is an awesome color, glad we got another one here on LI. Now you just have to make it to Bellemore on a Friday night or Captree/OBI on a Sunday morning.
(even though I don't like the French)
06-19-2007, 10:12 PM
#20
Racer
Member Since: Mar 2007
Location: Nashua NH
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Hi,
Congrats. This is truly amazing. It totally mirrors my story. I first went to a dealer near my office. The sales rep sells 3 Corvettes a year and knew very little about vettes.
I later discovered the forum and spent a couple weeks learning about the car and the purchasing process, GM supplier pricing, etc.
Needless to say I ordered from a forum dealer. In his lot, he had 15 vettes at least, all with OnStar and/or Nav, which I didn't want, just like you.
I also wanted LMB, two-tone Ebony Titanium, dual roofs, A6, F55, chrome wheels and 3LT. Look at my gallery link under my Corvette photos. You'll see my baby on the truck, etc. It was worth the 4+ week wait. I would have ordered the museum delivery but I was skeptical about the long drive back to New Hampshire.
Enjoy and congrats again.
Steve
Congrats. This is truly amazing. It totally mirrors my story. I first went to a dealer near my office. The sales rep sells 3 Corvettes a year and knew very little about vettes.
I later discovered the forum and spent a couple weeks learning about the car and the purchasing process, GM supplier pricing, etc.
Needless to say I ordered from a forum dealer. In his lot, he had 15 vettes at least, all with OnStar and/or Nav, which I didn't want, just like you.
I also wanted LMB, two-tone Ebony Titanium, dual roofs, A6, F55, chrome wheels and 3LT. Look at my gallery link under my Corvette photos. You'll see my baby on the truck, etc. It was worth the 4+ week wait. I would have ordered the museum delivery but I was skeptical about the long drive back to New Hampshire.
Enjoy and congrats again.
Steve