jonn127

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm starting to get a little worried about whats going to happen the first year this car comes out. First the Volt and now the Sonic. The Sonic may have some FREAKING MISSING BRAKE PADS????!!!!! Thats just scary. Did this bailout thing not teach them anything?

HarryWild

As with many GM cars of the past; quality is the "X" factor when you buy a new GM car. But I think they learned a lot when they got together with Toyota. You can only control the workers so far; and if one of them is either not obey instructions or is having a bad day; you will get a car that is not assembied quite like it should be.

But each year more of the assembly line is automated so in time; all cars should turn out to be like each other.

BluegrassMotorsport

Quality concerns? I wouldn't get worried yet. But I do know that GM absolutely has to get the C7 right. They have no choice. The general build quality and interior quality have to be good.

DannyBoyC6

If the C7 is a significant redesign, I'd be extremely leary about buying the first year or two. If it's a C6.5, I wouldn't worry at all -- except if I buy the DSG tranny option that may or may not happen.

range96

I wouldn't worry too much about quality.

What quality?

GM can't (or won't) even fix the steering wheel vibration on their $120K ZR1.

cutnout

As a retired Director of Quality Assurance I can tell that there wouldnt be any problems surrounding C7 production with tighter tolerances, robust tooling and subassembly process controls,( notwithstanding design flaws) that couldnt be minimized.Even the potential design flaws could be eliminated using time tested parts and with through testing and real non-recurring actions. They really do some nonrecurring controls on safety issues. I truly believe the General knows how to build and test good goods as they invented repeatability in this country. They really did starting with basic standards called Jo-Blocks. But they have always been driven by value engeering. Also a not so little problem has always been not listening to dealers and customers and eliminating what I call nits. Not counting the real problems like the auto convertible tops tearing and cracked door jams and hatchback latches its the nits that most of us complain about. Offered in good faith because I still will buy a C7. cutnout aka Charlie

range96

Maybe you should've stayed on the job a little longer so we won't have GM's flagship make your fingers numb after 30 minutes of driving.

cutnout

Forgot to say that I didnt work for GM. Probably wouldnt listen to me anyway. cutnout aka Charlie

Jinx

I'm reasonably certain that the Sonic assembly line moves faster and has less-experienced workers than the Corvette assembly line. Mistakes happen, but you can bet a lot fewer mistakes happen in Bowling Green.

I am not concerned in the slightest about quality(1), the result of the manufacturing and assembly process.

I am neither concerned about quality(2), the robustness of the engineering of the power, control, or safety systems.

I am a little concerned about quality(3), the choices of materials and features and design for the interior. But we'll see how they do in a year and change.

stic5

I agree totally. On a side note, the overall negativity on this board about GM sickens me. Go to the 911 boards or whatever else you would prefer to buy. Don't sit here and make things up to gripe about.

range96

Some (most) gripes about quality are real concerns. Not necessarily fault of the BG assembly process. Most components come from the outside.

Case in point, the "dreaded vibration", is not a result of faulty assembly, it is the result of unbalanced, out of tolerance (for radial and lateral runout) CC rotor.

It seems Brembo dumps their Ferrari reject rotors at Bowling Green.

Note to GM employees seeing my post: please PM me with a voucher for a free well balanced set of rotors to change my views on your flagship vehicle.

AMGPilot

LOL! "GM" and "Good Quality" do not even belong in the same sentence

LS1LT1

100%

GM isn't the ONLY car company that has had 'first model year' issues, they all (be it domestic or import nameplate) have them.

texvette2

GM will not get it right. They got more important high volume
car/trucks to concentrate on. Yeah Corvette is support to be
the best chevy has, but in the end its a low volume status car
with a dwindling market. Time will make it a good car like the
others, the first two years will be problem child's.

The percentage of the market who even cares if a Corvette is
around, probably doesn't register on the overall scale.

1KULC7

Why don't we just wait and see, we don't even know what the car looks like yet and you are already complaining about the quality

EVERY year the quality of the Corvette has approved, yes it has. Maybe not as much as some think it should or maybe they are not using finer material, but the quality has improved. Having bugs to first year cars are common, just how serious are they, with Corvette the bugs have been rather MINOR compared to others. I think the worse was the lockouts on the C5, but a fix came quickly.

So, I say, wait and see. I would not buy first year anything, car, version 1 in software, or a new TV. I wait a couple of years just to make sure the bugs are out.

jb_va2001

If you buy a car in its first year of production you better be prepared for a little extra aggravation, maybe a recall or two.

I also expect we'll only get the C7 "Base" coupe and convertible during year one. Those who wait longer to buy will be rewarded with choices like the GS, Z06 & ZR1.

Anyone else think the C7 isn't coming until 2015? I had hoped for a 2013 intro but don't see that happened now.

LS1LT1

What's with the 'uber negative/crybaby/"oh no the sky is falling" LONG before it even actually happens' mentality of some of these people?! LOL






Exactly. And this applies to ALL new vehicles, not just GMs or Corvettes.

TCW

I don't think that this has ever been a problem at the Bowling Green plant. Every time I've visited there I found that the line workers were proud of what they do and they loved the car they were building.

Tom

thetaxman

Corvette ED

GM is going to start production of 2013 Corvette in May and run until March. Then the plant will be closed for six months to do the change over to build the C7.