That is all I can say about the amazing time I had on my Buyer's Tour. My Dad and I spent the last two and a half days in Bowling Green at the plant watching my Grand Sport Coupe be assembled. The entire program was way more than I ever expected! My schedule opened up about a week ago and I realized I might be able to do the Tour. Gary and Lori at the Corvette Museum were really great about working with me under such short notice. They obviously can't adjust when my particular car was being built, but they coached me through when I would need to be there in order to see the most. Our tour guide, Lance, met us at the plant Tuesday morning and we got to see my frame headed for the line. He was a wealth of knowledge and gave us endless tidbits about the thousands of things being done to the car. We saw the entire "trim" line completed on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, Lance had us out on the line at exactly the right time to see the body and the chassis "marry" together. It was amazing to see how "easily" the two met up and were attached. We spent the rest of the day following the car and waiting for the next big point where the car "touched down" and actually sat on its wheels and suspension. At that point it needed to go through several areas of inspection before it actually "came off the line". Would it make it in time?? The car touched down at just before 4 pm...it didn't make it off the line...in fact, it was the last car left on the line for that day. That might seem bad, but that also meant that it was going to be the FIRST car off the line on Thurday 4-1-10...and that sounded better to me. We all showed up early on Thursday, even before the line started moving. There was no way I was going to miss the opportunity to sit in my new car-a beautiful car that I had watched grow from the frame up, but couldn't even touch as it crept past me for two days! The line started up and I was invited over to have a seat, smell the leather, and press that start button! The car roared to life and my heart skipped a beat. It was really something! They gave me a "birth certificate" with my name and today's date on it, and everyone around was congratulating me. Awesome!!

Some may think this is all a bit of overkill, but for the true enthusiast, it is a MUST DO!! You will understand and appreciate your car SO much more. I have always been pleased with Corvette quality, but now I see why. ALL the employees were great. They were all thanking me and asking me questions, as I watched them meticulously build my car. They really WANT these cars to be perfect, and it shows!

They only thing that would have been better, was to have the car taken directly over to the museum so Lance could have done one of his detailed Museum Deliveries, but I will have to wait for the Allied Delivery truck to make it to the Northeast with my new Coupe. The wait is going to be awful...but so worth it in the end!

Do yourself a favor. If your schedule can accomodate the trip, do the Buyer's Tour. It is the opportunity of a lifetime!

Thanks again to everyone at Bowling Green Assembly and the National Corvette Museum. Especially Lance, Lori, and Gary.

 

Congrats on the new corvette. with your comments. I always go down and watch my corvette on the line.

 

Congrats! We were just there a few weeks ago. Such a nice place and nice people making such a "NICE" car. Can't wait to see pics.

 

Congratulations. I wish they had this tour when mine was built. I did the museum delivery which included a plant tour. Maybe some day. Keep us posted and post some pictures.

 

Can't wait to post them!!

 

If I buy another one some day, probably a C-7, I'll do the Buyers Tour myself. I did the R8C and had the factory tour associated with it and that was great! Glad you had a good time and it must be so cool to see "your" car coming to life.

 

Congrats! I'll bet it was great to see YOUR very own car being built.

I got to do the Museum delivery but unfortunately they had suspended the Buyer's Tour when my car was being made.

 

Thanks for the post on the buyers tour. I did mine in January and everytime I read about someone's experience it just brings back my memories.

I agree with you that the buyers tour is a must do!

 

Nice write up....I always enjoy these....congrats and good luck sleeping for the next couple of weeks...

 

Nice write-up! It sounds like a wonderful experience.

 

Congratulations on the birth of your new Vette. When I read this line from your post, "I have always been pleased with Corvette quality, but now I see why. ALL the employees were great. They were all thanking me and asking me questions, as I watched them meticulously build my car. They really WANT these cars to be perfect, and it shows!" I know just how right you are. All the guys, from the factory, to the truck, to the dealership, really do their best, to deliver the best product that they can to us.

 

Yeah, but when the dealer takes over, it's just another Chevy, not a @50K+ Corvette. At least that's been my experience. FWIW. . .

 

Sounds like a great experience. Congrats on the new vette

 

Yep, go get it serviced and then its no better then a cobalt.

 

Find another dealer then because there are a LOT of respected dealers who do know what a Corvette means and they treat it that way.

 

That is what we did and next Vette buy I hope to do the buyers tour

 

From reading your post, is it accurate to say that they are now standing firm on staying on the green line?

 

"The Dealer" means sales, and service. There are many great sales and service pros that work at Chevrolet dealerships from coast to coast, if you have a less than professional experience at your local dealership call Chevrolet at 800-222-1020, 8:AM - 5:PM Monday - Saturday, and let them know of your concerns.



And that's the way it should be. All Chevrolet owners, whether they be the owner of a Aveo, or a brand new ZR1, should get the same professional service writers, and technicians to service their cars.

There are many great Chevrolet dealerships, with a buch of great sales and service people all over the country. Buying, and servicing cars is expensive, I'm sure knowing this upfront upsets many customers before they ever meet the sales, or service personal. Attitude is everything, instead of believing and acting like every car sales, or service person is out to rip you off, try to treat them like they are your friend, what goes around, comes around, you just might suprised.