First impression
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
First impression
Just saw my first one. Mag Red Cashmere interior six speed On Star XM Radio Both Tops Polished wheels. Beautiful car, fit is excellent,I was a little disappointed in the paint finish. Orange peel on the left rear quarter panel and back of the car. I expected better. The rest of the paint on the car looked good. The salesman didn't know much about the car and kept looking at their selling guide for information. They kept setting off the alarm and couldn't find the key fob. We are hopefully going to see a Daytona Sunset Orange next week in Orlando and I will be looking closely at the paint quailty. Next tuesday we will be in Bowling Green to see all the colors together in case we want to change our order, while we still can. The pictures we took aren't any better than what's already out there, so I won't post. Dealer asking $10K over MSRP.
Last edited by kcart; Aug 24, 2004 at 09:12 PM. Reason: Forgot
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 28,675
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From: Ormond Beach FL
NCM Ambassador
CI-3-4, 9 & 10 Car Show Winner
CI-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10,'14, '16
St Jude Fedex Bowl Donor '09
Glad you got to see one in person... It upsets me to hear that some dealers do that... 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
I didn't know about the forum dealers when I ordered mine from a low-volume dealer, so it's going to take time to get mine. But I am just paying MSRP. If you can't get one from your favorite dealer for anything close to MSRP, check with one of the forum sponsor dealers. 
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 1,879
From: USA
Very disappointing about the orange peel. I thought they were getting all of the paint problems ironed out prior to production so they wouldn't encounter situations like this. As for the dealer charging 10K over MSRP, I would have fallen to my knees laughing when he said that. Then I would've just walked right out the door(still laughing at the top of my lungs of course). Bastards!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 17,541
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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
I was at a stop light recently next to a new (black) Lexus - the orange peel on that car was much worse than any 'vette I've ever seen, C3 thru C6. Some orange peel is a fact of life with modern paints & restrictions on pollutants.
Ya can't see it when you're behind the wheel anyway....
Ya can't see it when you're behind the wheel anyway....
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
One other thing I noted about the car, it's quieter than the 2004 model. Sounds good though. I would have laughed at the dealer for wanting $10K over MSRP, but I have one on order through Ken at the vettenet, so I will be laughing at the poor slob who pays the $10K.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
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Originally Posted by kcart
One other thing I noted about the car, it's quieter than the 2004 model. Sounds good though. I would have laughed at the dealer for wanting $10K over MSRP, but I have one on order through Ken at the vettenet, so I will be laughing at the poor slob who pays the $10K.
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 83,301
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From: Virginia
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '06
I don't know why people keep expecting the Corvette to not have orange peel when 2004 and 2005 model cars costing twice as much (BMW 7-series and Porsche 911) have orange peel that's just as bad.
Welcome to modern paint processes.
Welcome to modern paint processes.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,002
Likes: 1
From: It's warm in Fla!
CI 6-7-8-9-10-12 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '11
Harley the one I looked at last night is at Jim Rathmann in Melbourne. Scissors, The 2002 Lexus I am selling to get the vette (and paid $42,000 for) has absolutely no Orange peel. I am hoping the one I saw last night was an early production victim.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 7,076
Likes: 26
From: Nevada and Florida
Originally Posted by Scissors
I don't know why people keep expecting the Corvette to not have orange peel when 2004 and 2005 model cars costing twice as much (BMW 7-series and Porsche 911) have orange peel that's just as bad.
Welcome to modern paint processes.
Welcome to modern paint processes.
Even the XLR has it. I think GM can do a better job. They need to perfect the process. Color sanding robots perhaps?
☠☣☢ Semper Ebrius ☢☣☠
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 83,301
Likes: 4
From: Virginia
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII Veteran
St. Jude's Donor '06
Originally Posted by kcart
The 2002 Lexus I am selling to get the vette (and paid $42,000 for) has absolutely no Orange peel.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,240
Likes: 1,879
From: USA
Originally Posted by Scissors
All of the ones I've seen do have orange peel. And this being D.C., I have seen more than my fair share of Lexuses (Lexii?) in our parking garage.
I have a 2004 RX330 and 2001 GS300. No orange peel on either car. I don't know what's wrong with the cars you're seeing in D.C., but I can guarantee that it's not an issue on either of my Lexus vehicles.