I know what you mean and that's why I'm not going to check mine out (ha).
Body Panel Alignment
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Body Panel Alignment
Anyone else have some questionable body panel alignment?
My driver side door and gill/slot piece do not match flush like the passenger side.
Check it out
Is this acceptable for these cars?
My driver side door and gill/slot piece do not match flush like the passenger side.
Check it out
Is this acceptable for these cars?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,070
Likes: 160
From: Coralville Iowa
Sure - they aren't perfect. IF you want the Vette level of performance AND interior / exterior build perfection get ready to spend a LOT more money on the car. Considering the total package I can easily live with a bit of imperfection in panel alignment.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 28,015
Likes: 32
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,485
Likes: 3
From: Central NJ
well, I'm not sure if it's "acceptable", but it is "normal"... I've been shopping for several weeks now for a GS, I keep telling myself that as soon as I find a car with perfectly aligned panels (mostly concerned with the top) I'll buy the car, I haven't found one yet! and I have a feeling I won't be able to find one anytime soon... I love the overall package, but man, the fit and finish on these cars really sucks...
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Team Owner
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 34,034
Likes: 222
From: Land of Thunder
2018 C2 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14-'15, '19
Orange peel is one of my pet peeves, and normally I would buy a black car, but that isn't happening on a Vette. So I picked a different color to minimize it.
I'm also doing the buyers tours and museum delivery in hopes that will address things like alignment. We shall see.
I'm also doing the buyers tours and museum delivery in hopes that will address things like alignment. We shall see.
I adjusted mine myself and it did make it better.
Youre OCD
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
come see my panels, you will feel better
i should have 1. refused my car, or 2. had them do a fix on at least 4 points. i did not do any thing for fear of more and/or other problems. is it possible my car could have be severely jarred coming off the tranporter. the top of the left rear quarter at the very back and top spot where the hatch and rear deck meet was way, way off. the quarter was like 3/16 ths higher than the hatch corner and the rear panel ( above the outside left tail light.) it had to be impossible to let it out lof the factory ike that. when summer came, i would just push down on the quarter panel and eventually got it down alot, but it it still high. there is not one joint on my car that is even close, never seen one so bad. next time i pick one off the lot like i did at kerbecks in 2002. fortunately, the car has only had the normal tsb problems, but the joint fit was/is terrible. usually check all the vets i come across and it still is the worst i have seen, by a long shot. could this be a tranporter victim. close inspection yielded no problems like the car got hit/bumped, and i was up the same day to see the car after it was unloaded.????
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,485
Likes: 3
From: Central NJ
i should have 1. refused my car, or 2. had them do a fix on at least 4 points. i did not do any thing for fear of more and/or other problems. is it possible my car could have be severely jarred coming off the tranporter. the top of the left rear quarter at the very back and top spot where the hatch and rear deck meet was way, way off. the quarter was like 3/16 ths higher than the hatch corner and the rear panel ( above the outside left tail light.) it had to be impossible to let it out lof the factory ike that. when summer came, i would just push down on the quarter panel and eventually got it down alot, but it it still high. there is not one joint on my car that is even close, never seen one so bad. next time i pick one off the lot like i did at kerbecks in 2002. fortunately, the car has only had the normal tsb problems, but the joint fit was/is terrible. usually check all the vets i come across and it still is the worst i have seen, by a long shot. could this be a tranporter victim. close inspection yielded no problems like the car got hit/bumped, and i was up the same day to see the car after it was unloaded.????
that is exactly why I won't order a car! I'm afraid that it will come delivered with bad fitment, and of course you could ask the dealer to fix it but they will most likely just screw it up more... like you, I'm going to have to find one on the lot, and instead of having the exact car I want, I'll have to settle for "close enough"... the worst part is that the stupid dealers insist on ordering chrome wheels, a $2K option that I hate...
Moderator
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 40,888
Likes: 4,342
From: Lakewood Ranch, FL
Yes it is. The technical term is Sheet moulding compound (SMC)
Definition: A fiber glass reinforced thermosetting compound in sheet form, usually rolled into coils interleaved with plastic film to prevent autoadhesion. Made by dispensing mixed resin, fillers, maturation agent, catalyst and mold release agent onto two moving sheets of polyethylene film. The lower one also contains chopped glass roving or glass mat. SMC can be molded into complex shapes with little scrap.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 650
Likes: 0
From: Dallas Texas
The body panel alignment and gap consistency on my 2006 coupe was fantastic. I was amazed and hugely impressed at how good it was. Made me feel the car was extremely well made.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about my new 2009 coupe. The gaps between body panels are larger and inconsistent. After purchase the dealer had to align the right front fender with the passenger door, as the alignment was way off. The dealer got it to the point that it is acceptable but not perfect.
There are other areas where the alignment and gaps are not nearly as good as the 2006, but are acceptable. For example, where the hatch meets the roof bow by the door handle on the passenger side. I don't see how this one can be adjusted without messing up the alignment elsewhere around the hatch -- the size and shape just don't seem to be quite right. I may discuss it with the dealer and see if it can be improved in some way.
I have to wonder if tolerances on body panels have been loosened. Or maybe I was just very lucky with the 2006.
I'm happy with the new car, but a little disappointed in this area. On the other side of the ledger, the paint quality is outstanding.
Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about my new 2009 coupe. The gaps between body panels are larger and inconsistent. After purchase the dealer had to align the right front fender with the passenger door, as the alignment was way off. The dealer got it to the point that it is acceptable but not perfect.
There are other areas where the alignment and gaps are not nearly as good as the 2006, but are acceptable. For example, where the hatch meets the roof bow by the door handle on the passenger side. I don't see how this one can be adjusted without messing up the alignment elsewhere around the hatch -- the size and shape just don't seem to be quite right. I may discuss it with the dealer and see if it can be improved in some way.
I have to wonder if tolerances on body panels have been loosened. Or maybe I was just very lucky with the 2006.
I'm happy with the new car, but a little disappointed in this area. On the other side of the ledger, the paint quality is outstanding.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 129
From: Fairview Heights IL
If you're looking for physical perfection (or darned close to it), order the car you want and pick it up at the Museum in Bowling Green (RPO R8C). The vehicles in the Museum's nursery are given the utmost in the way of pre-delivery prep. If they spot something that's not quite right, they fix it on the spot or send it back to the factory for correction. That's why your assigned delivery date at the Museum is at least two weeks after it rolls off the assembly line.