Stephani Smith

I absolutely agree. The big 3 have hundreds of allocations and you can't convince that this is good for Corvette as a brand to get so specialized. Spread some of those out. Not saying they should not have a good amount, just not IMHO an obscene amount.

My local dealer helped me out big time when my ex husband walked out on me. I was trying to put myself through school and hold onto my only car, my 84 Z51 Corvette, Ronin. It was a very rough patch of years and I could not have done it without their flexibility and help in a number of ways. It would have crushed me to loose my best friend, Ronin, and because of what they did, I was able to keep him running. I don't see MacMulkin, Conti or Kerbeck doing anything like that. Just new sales - and who cares about what happens after.

So when I'm now in a position to buy Ronin a new body I went to them to repay the debt. They sell about 6-10 a year so they are not very big. They were completely honest with me - they had Z51 allocations left but thought it was still going to be at least 3 months. I placed the order on Feb 28, it had every option you can order and still be NCM delivery (3LT, vert, dual stripes, NPP, MSRC, etc.). I've been #1 on their list since I ordered and I know it's tough with the options I wanted.

I just went to 2000 today and I only had to give up the carbon fiber dash. (Which is already ordered and on its way from ShopChevyParts.com). Sometimes the little guys win, ;-).

I used to be on StingrayForums.com and frankly I just am so sick of their attitude that if you don't buy from the big three you aren't worth anything.

You'd think that supporting a fellow corvette owner would be more important? Not to those forum guys.

To those of you still hanging with your local dealer - two weeks ago I had the conversation with my dealer saying that we should probably decide on a 'I give up' date. They were able to turn around and take that to their regional Chevy Rep and wrangle a promise for a Z51 vert slot this week. I don't know if this will help you, but it might be worth a try. Good Luck and my positive thoughts are with you and I commiserate with your frustrations.

Glen e

It's good you finally got your order in, but you can't really get mad a others on any forum that say go to a forum dealer. Why? Because from our perspective, when a dealer is keeping you at 1100, we can only assume it is because he has no allocation. So the only logical suggestion is a forum dealer as WE KNOW YOU WILL GET A CAR THEN.

We really don't know anything else. Many ask what should I do? We tell them a forum dealer, then they get mad we're dissing their guy. We don't know "your guy" and give the only answer we know will work.....

Michael A

If they make another big bump in price, I'll be buying a Cayman S because it will be cheaper.

That last price increase when you factor in Z51 was ridiculous.

Michael

jimmyb

No way a Cayman S will be cheaper....

Current MSRP on a 2014 Cayman S is $63,800
Current MSRP on a 2LT 2014 Z51 is $62,205

So, the Corvette is CHEAPER and MUCH better equipped (everything on a Porsche is an OPTION). Even if the 2015 2LT Z51 goes up to $65,000, it's still a LOT cheaper than a Cayman S with similar equipment (and that's assuming the 2015 Cayman S doesn't go up, which is HIGHLY unlikely).

Jimmy

JoesC5

Of course you are aware that the second year(2006) of the C6 production, the Z51 option was upstaged by the 2006 Z06. That might have had a major effect on Z51 demand just as the 2015 Z06 will have on the Z51.

A lot of people buy the "Top Dog" option because it is the "Top Dog". For the second year of C7's production, the Z51 will no longer be the "Top Dog" and sales will reflect it.

sp330

Please first read Mr. Glen's response to you.

That's great your local dealer helped you out like that, but to think the big forum dealers only care about new sales is absolutely ridiculous.

If those big dealers only cared about new sales, then nobody would buy from them afterward. Nobody would recommend them. And guess what? They wouldn't be a big Corvette dealer then.

If someone was treated poorly for ordering a dash trim piece they vent about it on the forum, why wouldn't someone vent when they're ordering a brand new car? Or need help after the sale was made?

Assuming those big 3 wouldn't help someone in a sticky situation is flat out unfair.

sp330

Even if you buy a Corvette at sticker and option the Porsche to a comparable level of the 2LT and get a good discount, the Porsche will still be more expensive.

AFVETTE

I ordered my 2006 Z51 coupe on Jan 16th 2006 and drove away from the NCM on March 23rd.

laborsmith

My point exactly. I can not recall, but was the Z06 a mid year availability?

Laborsmith

JoesC5

The 2006 Z06 was released at the same time as the base 2006 C6. But the 2006 base C6 release was delayed because the 6 speed automatic transmission(for the base C6, not the Z06) was not ready for the normal June model year changeover.

JoesC5

I believe that ~7% of new Corvettes are sold by the top 3 dealers, ~12% are sold by the top 10 dealers, 33% of new Corvettes are sold by the top 50 dealers and 80% of new Corvettes sales are sold by the top 900 dealers.

gthal

I'm not sure if this is correct Joe.

I read that Kerbeck had 1,200 allocations for 2014. If there are, say, 25,000 sold then that is almost 7% by one dealer.

Maybe your stats are correct but I would bet the top 3 sell notably more than 7% based on the Kerbeck allocation alone.

Michael A

I hear you, Jimmy. I was saying that half sarcastically, but if they keep putting in these $4000 bumps in price... the Corvette bargain starts fading. I just pulled up the Porsche 2015 Price List, and it looks there was no increase in price for 2015 for the Cayman S.

Michael

2 Ag R8Cs

I ordered one from a local dealer in November but had to give up and drive from SC to NH to get my car. I got the car from dealers stock and drove it back home. The car had everything I wanted (Z51, 3LT, exhaust, magnetic ride, 7 speed vert in silver) the only thing it did not have was the carbon fiber dash. I have heard it isn't that hard to switch the dash to C/F and I would probably switch mine if I was not going to nuy a new Vette in less than 2 hears.

In my situation summer was getting close and I did not want to go through the summer without a new Stingray. If I was in your situation I would try to get something close. For me it was a choose of having everything exactly the way I wanted it with the exception of the C/F dash or not having a car this summer.

The NH dealer seems like one of the few dealers that does not add on any extra charges. This was the the first time I paid sticker price but at least it was not over sicker and the fact that I saved $3,200 by getting a car that was built before march 3rd made it tolerable

Lest's assume you find something real close you have to decide if you would rather settle or be without a C7 this summer.

PS I do not know if you ordered the exhaust option but for me the few extra horse power isn't as important as the beautiful sound of the exhaust. and on a long drive the exhaust sound is a little tedious so I like the fact that I can just turn it off and go quiet mode I want to

Sin City

If this is true, how sad for Corvette buyers.

What you're saying is that there are a bunch of posers out there who want a fake Z51 or bought the Z51 last year not for the performance edge but just to have the bigger wheels and spoiler.

That is truly sad. I would have thought most would have bought the Z51 for the performance, not for the way it looks.

I can tell you I bought mine because I actually thought the standard car was better looking but wanted the performance the Z51 offered. And, I'm not disappointed.

Why else to you buy a car like this? To look good going to Starbucks?

Glen e

I don't see anything sad about that....thank god it drives business....most hi perf cars are there to make a statement only.......just the way the buying public is....very few really own cars to use them in perf situations.....just like the ameteur duffer golfer owns a $400 Taylor made driver....

Dave@Ciocca

I agree, there's nothing sad about it. The base Corvette IS a performance car. If can really be honest, 80% of the people who bought a Z51 have no need for the extra options and will NEVER get the benefit of those options.

The only mistake GM made was not anticipating the popularity of that wheel design and/or the black wheel. 50% Z51 would have been more than enough if it wasn't for the wheel. It's got nothing to do with being a poser or a wanna-be, it's about the style that you like.

Dave

jimmyb

I agree with you on the appearance! I like the base wheels better and I like the regular spoiler better, and the base car will do more than I am capable of. So, at that point, why buy Z51? (from my standpoint).

Based on Dave's hint (!), it sounds like the Z51 wheel/tire combo will be available next year on the base car as a stand alone option.

Jimmy

jimmyb

Hey Michael,
For fun, I just went to the Porsche site and built out a 2014 Cayman S with as many options as I could to get close to the level (and similarity) of equipment on a 2LT Z51. My final price....$81,445

I think the 2015 Corvettes will go up but I think it will be a more normal type increase (3 - 5%) than the big jump they took mid-year 2014.

Jimmy

blackmagicZ

I don't believe she's mad that someone suggested going to a forum dealer. I believe it's more the way some people make that suggestion. There's nice and then there's arrogant. I've seen it on numerous threads, even going are far as name calling. Helpful suggestions are always welcome, but don't get mean and nasty, and suggest that a person is stupid for not using a forum dealer.