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From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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Panel finish
I came upon a 2014 C7 coupe the other day in traffic. I was in the lane left of the Vette. While sitting at the light about two car lengths back, I noticed the driver's door had ripples in it. These were too deep for the typical orange peel. It looked like parking lot door dings that metal cars get. I know the car is an early 2014 as I remember when it first showed up on base. Is this just a one off? The car is crystal red. I haven't been close enough to any of the other C7's in the area to compare. This is not a bash thread. I currently own a 2006 C6 and have had 5 other Vettes from C3 to C6. I plan to get a 2016 Z06 convertible.
I have noticed what I would describe as seams in the rear quarters near the wheel well. It is only visible from a distance as when I look closely there is no sign of it. I don't pay any attention to it so it doesn't bother me, similar to what has been noted as orange peel. I just can't get enough of this car, it is awesome in so many ways and a few flaws I can live with.
I came upon a 2014 C7 coupe the other day in traffic. I was in the lane left of the Vette. While sitting at the light about two car lengths back, I noticed the driver's door had ripples in it. These were too deep for the typical orange peel. It looked like parking lot door dings that metal cars get. I know the car is an early 2014 as I remember when it first showed up on base. Is this just a one off? The car is crystal red. I haven't been close enough to any of the other C7's in the area to compare. This is not a bash thread. I currently own a 2006 C6 and have had 5 other Vettes from C3 to C6. I plan to get a 2016 Z06 convertible.
I know exactly what you are talking about but they don't really look like door dings to me. I think it's a by-product of the SMC material but it doesn't really bother me but alot of people say they can't see it but I'm not sure how they can't cause it's obvious if you are looking.
I see them on almost every C7 I look at. I always thought of it as rippling of the material used to make the body panels. It seems least noticeable to me on Arctic White.
I have hand washed my '14 probably 25 times, and have seen countless Vettes at car shows at out driving around, and I have not notice those imperfections. Now you will have me looking for these
I've noticed them too, especially along the front fender of a couple I looked at. You have to be at just the right angle with the light coming from the opposite side for it to stand out.
Yup...imperfections in the body panels and mucho orange peel. Volumes have been written on this forum about it and GM does not seem to want to address it. I have both issues and have decided to just live w/ it for now. I have solicited help from GM thru Cust Svc as well as dealer, to no avail. The problem shows much worse on certain colors...mine is NRB. The AW, BS, and TR don't seem as bad. I would watch this very carefully as the 2015's are delivered before placing an order for the 2016.
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Actually, GM has acknowledged the issues, taken steps toward correcting the issues, and is working towards even further solutions to minimizes the issues as much as possible. I posted this a few months ago, but the basic issue is how paint lays on the new composite materials that the doors and fenders are made of. A step they have taken already is to double prime the doors and fenders. Furthermore, they are working on tweaks to the composite material in order to come up with something that works better, but this process takes more research, development, and implementation time than adding a second coat of primer.
I have hand washed my '14 probably 25 times, and have seen countless Vettes at car shows at out driving around, and I have not notice those imperfections. Now you will have me looking for these
Some will swear that it's not on their C7 but every C7 has it. You just need to be at the perfect angle or looking for it to see it.
Actually, GM has acknowledged the issues, taken steps toward correcting the issues, and is working towards even further solutions to minimizes the issues as much as possible. I posted this a few months ago, but the basic issue is how paint lays on the new composite materials that the doors and fenders are made of. A step they have taken already is to double prime the doors and fenders. Furthermore, they are working on tweaks to the composite material in order to come up with something that works better, but this process takes more research, development, and implementation time than adding a second coat of primer.
You know what really bothers me about this ? GM had years to nail this down. Its not like these problems are something new. They knew from prototypes and initial product builds where the problems were. All these paint and fitment issues should have been solved before the first car was delivered to a customer. Where is the world class engineering that GM likes us to believe they have ? Seems to me that some people were not doing their job very well.
From: Out Where the Buses Don't Run, Eglin AFB/ Niceville FL
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Thanks for the replies. So far I have seen it on two 2014 coupes, one CRM and the other black. I have not been able to get close to any 2015's yet. I'm hoping they get this resolved as I'd hate to plunk down $100K and have to see these flaws. I really want to move up to a C7 Z06 convertible in 2016. I'm not bashing the C7 by any means. I think Chevrolet has made vast improvements over the generations. I've been a Vette owner since 1985 starting with a C3 and have not been without one in all of these years. If need be, though, I'll keep the C6 I currently own.
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Originally Posted by Tally Ho
Thanks for the replies. So far I have seen it on two 2014 coupes, one CRM and the other black. I have not been able to get close to any 2015's yet. I'm hoping they get this resolved as I'd hate to plunk down $100K and have to see these flaws. I really want to move up to a C7 Z06 convertible in 2016. I'm not bashing the C7 by any means. I think Chevrolet has made vast improvements over the generations. I've been a Vette owner since 1985 starting with a C3 and have not been without one in all of these years. If need be, though, I'll keep the C6 I currently own.
The overall paint and finish is better compared to early to mid 2014. GM still has some work to do with the door "ripples" though. Again, these are only visible from certain angles.
When I was washing my car the other day, I saw these randomly on my car. It looked to be under the clear coat. It is impossible to see, I only saw it from the certain angle under my garage light.
Some will swear that it's not on their C7 but every C7 has it. You just need to be at the perfect angle or looking for it to see it.
I would not say you have to be at a perfect angle at all. You just need to have straight edges reflecting off the paint that has a lot of contrast like a white panel up against a dark board or a wall of of horizontal/vertical fluorescent tube lights which is what many car manufacturers use to detect paint flaws. All you have to do is look at the reflection of the edges in the paint and its obvious. I can't believe people on here claim they don't have orange peel on a factory paint job . These cars have orange peel and ripples on top of that.
Last edited by Pocket Aces; Dec 1, 2014 at 11:48 PM.
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Originally Posted by Greenkirby21
Is it something like this?
When I was washing my car the other day, I saw these randomly on my car. It looked to be under the clear coat. It is impossible to see, I only saw it from the certain angle under my garage light.
That's not what I was referring to. I'm not sure I've seen anything like what you're showing.
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Originally Posted by jagamajajaran
Actually, GM has acknowledged the issues, taken steps toward correcting the issues, and is working towards even further solutions to minimizes the issues as much as possible. I posted this a few months ago, but the basic issue is how paint lays on the new composite materials that the doors and fenders are made of. A step they have taken already is to double prime the doors and fenders. Furthermore, they are working on tweaks to the composite material in order to come up with something that works better, but this process takes more research, development, and implementation time than adding a second coat of primer.
Good to know they are working on it, but it really is something they should have corrected before the car went into production as mentioned earlier.
Panel finish
. These cars have orange peel and ripples on top of that.
