2009 Z06 Buyer's Tour Today
06-20-2008, 06:52 PM
#1
Safety Car
Thread Starter
2009 Z06 Buyer's Tour Today
I had (most of) my Buyer's Tour today. It was a fabulous experience, and I also learned a few things about the '09s that I haven't seen published before.
My car will be the first regular production 2009 Z06. It is the third 2009 on the line. The first is an AO coupe, then an AO Z51 vert, then my AO Z06. In front of the '09s is about a 5-car gap, and then the last of the '08s, a white car, I believe a vert. Sorry for not remembering exactly, it's been a very long day.
When they shut down today there were about 5 2008s left on the line. So of course, mine didn't get completed and I will need to come back first thing Monday morning to see wheels down and do the "first" start. It got past the real first start today with flying colors.
The car is gorgeous. I hoped that the Atomic Orange with the new-style chrome Z06 wheels and a Dark Titanium interior would look good, and boy does it ever! Stunning! Even the folks on the line seemed to really like it.
The plant had a lot of personnel from Engineering and the pilot programs there sheparding the first 2009s down the line. Everything that I could see went very smoothly with one minor exception. One of the changes for 2009 that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere is that the PCM has been moved from under the battery to a vertical location on the outside of the battery well. So now, to get to the computer, you'll need to pull the right fender off, I believe. This new location is for all cars, coupes, verts and Z06s. Well, as the line worker was attaching the cables to the PCM on my car he had to tug on them a bit to get enough slack. He called over one of the engineering guys and showed him and I'm sure they'll ask the vendor to give them just a little more length.
The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned online (could have missed it) is just what the new "enlarged" Z06 oil tank looks like. It's not what I expected at all. It's not a bit like the LPE tanks. Instead, there are two tanks, joined together. The main tank looks like a normal Z06 tank, at least to my eye. Attached to it, near the bottom, and to the rear and slightly outboard, is a short tank with a slightly smaller diameter and a conical bottom. Picture a tank with a funnel attached to the bottom of it. Although I couldn't get close enough to be sure, it looked like the oil feed was being taken from the bottom of the "pup" tank. Very interesting. Clearly, the ZR1/Z06 oiling system rework wasn't just a simple enlargement of what was already there.
My window sticker is interesting. There isn't any pricing on it. I'm going to get this one laminated after the Museum Delivery and then get another one from the Museum with pricing. Apparently the 2009s have not been officially "released" yet and can't be shipped. Lori at the Museum said that her current info is that that will happen on the 25th. I wonder if that's why the window stickers don't have pricing?
There were a bunch of ZR1s in the plant, although I didn't see any on the line. I saw a black, Cyber Gray, and a Victory Red. All were stunning! I was much more impressed by them in person than I had been in pictures - yes, hood and all. Wait 'til you see one before passing judgment!
I was told there are currently about 1,000 '08s in the Allied staging lot. Certainly it looked very full - a sea of Corvettes! Allied is going to keep working while the plant is shut down and should have pretty much all of them cleared out by the time the plant resumes on 7/14. I would assume that also means that any '09s produced in the first week will be eligible for shipment during the shutdown if they are "released".
My tour guide was Steve Ashby and, as others have said before me, he was just great. He went out of his way more than once to make my experience a memorable one. He also worked ALL day, leading us around pretty much non-stop from 8:45 this morning until about 2:45 in the afternoon. Big thanks also go to Lori, who I got to meet in person today, and of course Rick Conti at EVS Chevrolet. I asked Rick to get me a very early 2009 Z06 - and he delivered.
My car will be going into the Engineering NCM Delivery bay and Lori said it would likely be there through the shutdown. So if you see an AO Z06 with the new wheels in there, that's mine! We're going to pick it up on Monday, 7/14, the earliest day that could be arranged, and then taking off on a 5k mile "delivery trip".
My car will be the first regular production 2009 Z06. It is the third 2009 on the line. The first is an AO coupe, then an AO Z51 vert, then my AO Z06. In front of the '09s is about a 5-car gap, and then the last of the '08s, a white car, I believe a vert. Sorry for not remembering exactly, it's been a very long day.
When they shut down today there were about 5 2008s left on the line. So of course, mine didn't get completed and I will need to come back first thing Monday morning to see wheels down and do the "first" start. It got past the real first start today with flying colors.
The car is gorgeous. I hoped that the Atomic Orange with the new-style chrome Z06 wheels and a Dark Titanium interior would look good, and boy does it ever! Stunning! Even the folks on the line seemed to really like it.
The plant had a lot of personnel from Engineering and the pilot programs there sheparding the first 2009s down the line. Everything that I could see went very smoothly with one minor exception. One of the changes for 2009 that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere is that the PCM has been moved from under the battery to a vertical location on the outside of the battery well. So now, to get to the computer, you'll need to pull the right fender off, I believe. This new location is for all cars, coupes, verts and Z06s. Well, as the line worker was attaching the cables to the PCM on my car he had to tug on them a bit to get enough slack. He called over one of the engineering guys and showed him and I'm sure they'll ask the vendor to give them just a little more length.
The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned online (could have missed it) is just what the new "enlarged" Z06 oil tank looks like. It's not what I expected at all. It's not a bit like the LPE tanks. Instead, there are two tanks, joined together. The main tank looks like a normal Z06 tank, at least to my eye. Attached to it, near the bottom, and to the rear and slightly outboard, is a short tank with a slightly smaller diameter and a conical bottom. Picture a tank with a funnel attached to the bottom of it. Although I couldn't get close enough to be sure, it looked like the oil feed was being taken from the bottom of the "pup" tank. Very interesting. Clearly, the ZR1/Z06 oiling system rework wasn't just a simple enlargement of what was already there.
My window sticker is interesting. There isn't any pricing on it. I'm going to get this one laminated after the Museum Delivery and then get another one from the Museum with pricing. Apparently the 2009s have not been officially "released" yet and can't be shipped. Lori at the Museum said that her current info is that that will happen on the 25th. I wonder if that's why the window stickers don't have pricing?
There were a bunch of ZR1s in the plant, although I didn't see any on the line. I saw a black, Cyber Gray, and a Victory Red. All were stunning! I was much more impressed by them in person than I had been in pictures - yes, hood and all. Wait 'til you see one before passing judgment!
I was told there are currently about 1,000 '08s in the Allied staging lot. Certainly it looked very full - a sea of Corvettes! Allied is going to keep working while the plant is shut down and should have pretty much all of them cleared out by the time the plant resumes on 7/14. I would assume that also means that any '09s produced in the first week will be eligible for shipment during the shutdown if they are "released".
My tour guide was Steve Ashby and, as others have said before me, he was just great. He went out of his way more than once to make my experience a memorable one. He also worked ALL day, leading us around pretty much non-stop from 8:45 this morning until about 2:45 in the afternoon. Big thanks also go to Lori, who I got to meet in person today, and of course Rick Conti at EVS Chevrolet. I asked Rick to get me a very early 2009 Z06 - and he delivered.
My car will be going into the Engineering NCM Delivery bay and Lori said it would likely be there through the shutdown. So if you see an AO Z06 with the new wheels in there, that's mine!
We're going to pick it up on Monday, 7/14, the earliest day that could be arranged, and then taking off on a 5k mile "delivery trip".
06-20-2008, 09:58 PM
#5
Team Owner
Congratulations on your buyers tour. Pretty awesome having the first Z06 for 2009. 
You are right about the pricing and the sticker. The cars have to be approved and reach their merchandising date. In years past (pre-2008) the model year changeover started and the cars built were held during the two week shutdown. The reason for the hold is so that "captured fleet" vehicles from the first part of the build could be driven, tested and inspected by engineering personnel during the shutdown period for evaluation. Once the plant returned to work after the shutdown a meeting was held to review the validation reports and upon acceptance the cars were released.
In 2008 this procedure was changed and the cars were released for shipping as built to Allied. The qualification of the cars was completed in pilot build phases during the end of the previous years production. A lot will depend on if they can get the process validated and the cars signed off prior leaving on the shutdown. If I were a betting man I would venture that the cars will make their merchandising date and be available for release and sale. The updated window stickers will then be produced and released.
There had been a fair amount of discussion on the Z06 forum about the new dry sump oil system. Here is a GM slide on the new design tank.
You are right about the pricing and the sticker. The cars have to be approved and reach their merchandising date. In years past (pre-2008) the model year changeover started and the cars built were held during the two week shutdown. The reason for the hold is so that "captured fleet" vehicles from the first part of the build could be driven, tested and inspected by engineering personnel during the shutdown period for evaluation. Once the plant returned to work after the shutdown a meeting was held to review the validation reports and upon acceptance the cars were released.
In 2008 this procedure was changed and the cars were released for shipping as built to Allied. The qualification of the cars was completed in pilot build phases during the end of the previous years production. A lot will depend on if they can get the process validated and the cars signed off prior leaving on the shutdown. If I were a betting man I would venture that the cars will make their merchandising date and be available for release and sale. The updated window stickers will then be produced and released.
There had been a fair amount of discussion on the Z06 forum about the new dry sump oil system. Here is a GM slide on the new design tank.
06-20-2008, 10:09 PM
#6
Safety Car
Thread Starter
06-20-2008, 10:25 PM
#8
I had (most of) my Buyer's Tour today. It was a fabulous experience, and I also learned a few things about the '09s that I haven't seen published before.
My car will be the first regular production 2009 Z06. It is the third 2009 on the line. The first is an AO coupe, then an AO Z51 vert, then my AO Z06. In front of the '09s is about a 5-car gap, and then the last of the '08s, a white car, I believe a vert. Sorry for not remembering exactly, it's been a very long day.
When they shut down today there were about 5 2008s left on the line. So of course, mine didn't get completed and I will need to come back first thing Monday morning to see wheels down and do the "first" start. It got past the real first start today with flying colors.
The car is gorgeous. I hoped that the Atomic Orange with the new-style chrome Z06 wheels and a Dark Titanium interior would look good, and boy does it ever! Stunning! Even the folks on the line seemed to really like it.
The plant had a lot of personnel from Engineering and the pilot programs there sheparding the first 2009s down the line. Everything that I could see went very smoothly with one minor exception. One of the changes for 2009 that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere is that the PCM has been moved from under the battery to a vertical location on the outside of the battery well. So now, to get to the computer, you'll need to pull the right fender off, I believe. This new location is for all cars, coupes, verts and Z06s. Well, as the line worker was attaching the cables to the PCM on my car he had to tug on them a bit to get enough slack. He called over one of the engineering guys and showed him and I'm sure they'll ask the vendor to give them just a little more length.
The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned online (could have missed it) is just what the new "enlarged" Z06 oil tank looks like. It's not what I expected at all. It's not a bit like the LPE tanks. Instead, there are two tanks, joined together. The main tank looks like a normal Z06 tank, at least to my eye. Attached to it, near the bottom, and to the rear and slightly outboard, is a short tank with a slightly smaller diameter and a conical bottom. Picture a tank with a funnel attached to the bottom of it. Although I couldn't get close enough to be sure, it looked like the oil feed was being taken from the bottom of the "pup" tank. Very interesting. Clearly, the ZR1/Z06 oiling system rework wasn't just a simple enlargement of what was already there.
My window sticker is interesting. There isn't any pricing on it. I'm going to get this one laminated after the Museum Delivery and then get another one from the Museum with pricing. Apparently the 2009s have not been officially "released" yet and can't be shipped. Lori at the Museum said that her current info is that that will happen on the 25th. I wonder if that's why the window stickers don't have pricing?
There were a bunch of ZR1s in the plant, although I didn't see any on the line. I saw a black, Cyber Gray, and a Victory Red. All were stunning! I was much more impressed by them in person than I had been in pictures - yes, hood and all. Wait 'til you see one before passing judgment!
I was told there are currently about 1,000 '08s in the Allied staging lot. Certainly it looked very full - a sea of Corvettes! Allied is going to keep working while the plant is shut down and should have pretty much all of them cleared out by the time the plant resumes on 7/14. I would assume that also means that any '09s produced in the first week will be eligible for shipment during the shutdown if they are "released".
My tour guide was Steve Ashby and, as others have said before me, he was just great. He went out of his way more than once to make my experience a memorable one. He also worked ALL day, leading us around pretty much non-stop from 8:45 this morning until about 2:45 in the afternoon. Big thanks also go to Lori, who I got to meet in person today, and of course Rick Conti at EVS Chevrolet. I asked Rick to get me a very early 2009 Z06 - and he delivered.
My car will be going into the Engineering NCM Delivery bay and Lori said it would likely be there through the shutdown. So if you see an AO Z06 with the new wheels in there, that's mine! We're going to pick it up on Monday, 7/14, the earliest day that could be arranged, and then taking off on a 5k mile "delivery trip".
My car will be the first regular production 2009 Z06. It is the third 2009 on the line. The first is an AO coupe, then an AO Z51 vert, then my AO Z06. In front of the '09s is about a 5-car gap, and then the last of the '08s, a white car, I believe a vert. Sorry for not remembering exactly, it's been a very long day.
When they shut down today there were about 5 2008s left on the line. So of course, mine didn't get completed and I will need to come back first thing Monday morning to see wheels down and do the "first" start. It got past the real first start today with flying colors.
The car is gorgeous. I hoped that the Atomic Orange with the new-style chrome Z06 wheels and a Dark Titanium interior would look good, and boy does it ever! Stunning! Even the folks on the line seemed to really like it.
The plant had a lot of personnel from Engineering and the pilot programs there sheparding the first 2009s down the line. Everything that I could see went very smoothly with one minor exception. One of the changes for 2009 that I haven't seen mentioned elsewhere is that the PCM has been moved from under the battery to a vertical location on the outside of the battery well. So now, to get to the computer, you'll need to pull the right fender off, I believe. This new location is for all cars, coupes, verts and Z06s. Well, as the line worker was attaching the cables to the PCM on my car he had to tug on them a bit to get enough slack. He called over one of the engineering guys and showed him and I'm sure they'll ask the vendor to give them just a little more length.
The other thing that I haven't seen mentioned online (could have missed it) is just what the new "enlarged" Z06 oil tank looks like. It's not what I expected at all. It's not a bit like the LPE tanks. Instead, there are two tanks, joined together. The main tank looks like a normal Z06 tank, at least to my eye. Attached to it, near the bottom, and to the rear and slightly outboard, is a short tank with a slightly smaller diameter and a conical bottom. Picture a tank with a funnel attached to the bottom of it. Although I couldn't get close enough to be sure, it looked like the oil feed was being taken from the bottom of the "pup" tank. Very interesting. Clearly, the ZR1/Z06 oiling system rework wasn't just a simple enlargement of what was already there.
My window sticker is interesting. There isn't any pricing on it. I'm going to get this one laminated after the Museum Delivery and then get another one from the Museum with pricing. Apparently the 2009s have not been officially "released" yet and can't be shipped. Lori at the Museum said that her current info is that that will happen on the 25th. I wonder if that's why the window stickers don't have pricing?
There were a bunch of ZR1s in the plant, although I didn't see any on the line. I saw a black, Cyber Gray, and a Victory Red. All were stunning! I was much more impressed by them in person than I had been in pictures - yes, hood and all. Wait 'til you see one before passing judgment!
I was told there are currently about 1,000 '08s in the Allied staging lot. Certainly it looked very full - a sea of Corvettes! Allied is going to keep working while the plant is shut down and should have pretty much all of them cleared out by the time the plant resumes on 7/14. I would assume that also means that any '09s produced in the first week will be eligible for shipment during the shutdown if they are "released".
My tour guide was Steve Ashby and, as others have said before me, he was just great. He went out of his way more than once to make my experience a memorable one. He also worked ALL day, leading us around pretty much non-stop from 8:45 this morning until about 2:45 in the afternoon. Big thanks also go to Lori, who I got to meet in person today, and of course Rick Conti at EVS Chevrolet. I asked Rick to get me a very early 2009 Z06 - and he delivered.
My car will be going into the Engineering NCM Delivery bay and Lori said it would likely be there through the shutdown. So if you see an AO Z06 with the new wheels in there, that's mine!
We're going to pick it up on Monday, 7/14, the earliest day that could be arranged, and then taking off on a 5k mile "delivery trip".Your last sentence about the Z06 is one of the things I like most about it.
You are about to make a 5,000 mile road trip in your car and can do it with complete confidence and the backing of General Motors behind you.
06-20-2008, 10:40 PM
#9
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Congratulations! 
I did the buyer's tour and R8C on my '07 vert. The R8C experience was great, but the buyer's tour was outstanding! I'd recommend it to any of you.
06-21-2008, 12:35 AM
#10
Melting Slicks
Congratulations on your new Vette. Steve was my buyer's tour guide and you're right - he's incredible. It's gonna be a long wait to July 14 but the anticipation will do ya good!
06-21-2008, 07:58 AM
#12
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Gannet,
You were correct. I was there at the same time. The last 08 was a vert. Black over White. The 09s look fantastic. The production line was running around 115, so it was a slow day. I posted the V.I.N. number last six on my thread for that vert. 35284. I think that we saw the same ZR-1s. Blank sheets. Congrats on your new Vette. Mine was born last December.
You were correct. I was there at the same time. The last 08 was a vert. Black over White. The 09s look fantastic. The production line was running around 115, so it was a slow day. I posted the V.I.N. number last six on my thread for that vert. 35284. I think that we saw the same ZR-1s. Blank sheets. Congrats on your new Vette. Mine was born last December.
06-21-2008, 08:01 AM
#13
Safety Car
Great info...thanks for posting...interesting comment about the harness & PCM location...just one of those deals that get tweeked as produciton cranks up.
This is a definite improvement for the long term, as I ahve seen the horror stories of leaking battteries totally destroy the PCM and harness too.
-CKB
This is a definite improvement for the long term, as I ahve seen the horror stories of leaking battteries totally destroy the PCM and harness too.
-CKB
06-21-2008, 10:03 AM
#20
Safety Car
Thread Starter
Thanks to all for the congrats. They are appreciated.
I'm going to try and get Steve to take a full pic of the car at the end of the line, in addition to the customary odometer and happy new owner shots. If so, I should be able to get it posted up Tuesday.
Once it goes on display in the Museum, which if all goes well should be the first week in July, I hope that some compassionate Forum member who is visiting the Museum with a good camera will take pics and post up.
I'm going to try and get Steve to take a full pic of the car at the end of the line, in addition to the customary odometer and happy new owner shots. If so, I should be able to get it posted up Tuesday.
Once it goes on display in the Museum, which if all goes well should be the first week in July, I hope that some compassionate Forum member who is visiting the Museum with a good camera will take pics and post up.
Last edited by Gannet; 06-21-2008 at 04:56 PM.