Factory Tour
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,146
Likes: 1,940
From: Hagerstown MD
St. Jude Donor '15-'16,'18
Factory Tour
How different is the standard factory tour that is offered to the general public from the one you get if you do a Museum Delivery?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 199
From: Grand Rapids area MI and Palm Coast, FL
My R8C NCM delivery tour was a private guided tour at an unhurried pace for just my wife and me (although I could have brought two more people). I was introduced to several engineers and plant employees during the tour. I was greeted warmly by other plant employees who thanked me for buying the car they build. All in all the plant tour took about 2.5 hours but could have been extended somewhat longer if I wished. Great, great experience. Even my wife who isn't into cars at all loved the tour, and the whole day.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,162
Likes: 114
From: Prosper, TX
My R8C NCM delivery tour was a private guided tour at an unhurried pace for just my wife and me (although I could have brought two more people). I was introduced to several engineers and plant employees during the tour. I was greeted warmly by other plant employees who thanked me for buying the car they build. All in all the plant tour took about 2.5 hours but could have been extended somewhat longer if I wished. Great, great experience. Even my wife who isn't into cars at all loved the tour, and the whole day.
Dazed Confused & Verklemp
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,398
Likes: 109
From: Naples, FL & Clear Lake, IA
We took the general factory tour the day before the Christmas shutdown. Those tours are headed by Western Kentucky students. The girl that was head of our approximately 20 people couldn't even tell me therear tire size on the new Z06. One of my questions was handled by a line supervisor who realized how uninformed she was. Later I asked one of the WKU male docents and he couldn't answer my tire size question either! at least he told me there was a customer's parked outside and I could check for myself!
Still it was great fun watching all the Vettes being built. During that mid-day tour, around 1/2 of the cars were Z06. Also lots of non-Z06 Shark Grey Coupes. Not many conv's.
I did get to talk with a couple of the retired plant docents as they were waiting for their Museum Delivery customers. Very friendly and informative.
While Museum Delivery appears to be a great experience, Bowling Green is 1/2 way between where we live, and too far to get to for a car delivery. Saved my money for mods!!!!!!
Still it was great fun watching all the Vettes being built. During that mid-day tour, around 1/2 of the cars were Z06. Also lots of non-Z06 Shark Grey Coupes. Not many conv's.
I did get to talk with a couple of the retired plant docents as they were waiting for their Museum Delivery customers. Very friendly and informative.
While Museum Delivery appears to be a great experience, Bowling Green is 1/2 way between where we live, and too far to get to for a car delivery. Saved my money for mods!!!!!!
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 493
Likes: 19
From: Bay Area CA
My R8C NCM delivery tour was a private guided tour at an unhurried pace for just my wife and me (although I could have brought two more people). I was introduced to several engineers and plant employees during the tour. I was greeted warmly by other plant employees who thanked me for buying the car they build. All in all the plant tour took about 2.5 hours but could have been extended somewhat longer if I wished. Great, great experience. Even my wife who isn't into cars at all loved the tour, and the whole day.
Exact same experience.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 790
Likes: 24
From: Pensacola FL
If you go to my thread I just posted yesterday "sharing my experience" you will see what I had. Also there are 2 levels of tours through the plant one is the tour with 20 people like said below by a WKU person who know really nothing that us as Corvette Owners would ask. The 2nd tour available is the VIP tour through the NCM you have to ask for that. Its $50 a person and there is no more than 6 people in your group and you get someone from NCM which is a NCM delivery specialist. The last tour you can get is like the tour I got by doing the "Buyers Tour" where you actually go and follow your car being built through the entire process. Actually an once in a lifetime experience and it is over the top. You see stuff not even offered on the VIP tour. Shane Webb at the NCM can help you with any questions you have. If you would like to know anything else I can help you with send me a private message. Good luck.
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 194
From: So Cal
If you go to my thread I just posted yesterday "sharing my experience" you will see what I had. Also there are 2 levels of tours through the plant one is the tour with 20 people like said below by a WKU person who know really nothing that us as Corvette Owners would ask. The 2nd tour available is the VIP tour through the NCM you have to ask for that. Its $50 a person and there is no more than 6 people in your group and you get someone from NCM which is a NCM delivery specialist. The last tour you can get is like the tour I got by doing the "Buyers Tour" where you actually go and follow your car being built through the entire process. Actually an once in a lifetime experience and it is over the top. You see stuff not even offered on the VIP tour. Shane Webb at the NCM can help you with any questions you have. If you would like to know anything else I can help you with send me a private message. Good luck.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,017
Likes: 169
From: SE VA VA
When I went with a local club, they broke us into two groups - the tour guides admitted different levels of knowledge - gearheads and techies go with that guide, non-gearheads with this guide...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,838
Likes: 158
From: Buford GA
St. Jude Donor '05
If you go to my thread I just posted yesterday "sharing my experience" you will see what I had. Also there are 2 levels of tours through the plant one is the tour with 20 people like said below by a WKU person who know really nothing that us as Corvette Owners would ask. The 2nd tour available is the VIP tour through the NCM you have to ask for that. Its $50 a person and there is no more than 6 people in your group and you get someone from NCM which is a NCM delivery specialist. The last tour you can get is like the tour I got by doing the "Buyers Tour" where you actually go and follow your car being built through the entire process. Actually an once in a lifetime experience and it is over the top. You see stuff not even offered on the VIP tour. Shane Webb at the NCM can help you with any questions you have. If you would like to know anything else I can help you with send me a private message. Good luck.
If this is the case, it would be awesome for me, the wife wouldn't care about the factory tour, but I have a few good friends that would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it...could be a guy road trip to watch the build and then the wife and I could come back later and get the car...
Racer
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 493
Likes: 19
From: Bay Area CA
So (I'm thinking of doing R8C on a 'vert in May), I can do a "Buyers Tour" and watch my car come down the line and then at a later date, come back to the Museum and pick up my car?
If this is the case, it would be awesome for me, the wife wouldn't care about the factory tour, but I have a few good friends that would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it...could be a guy road trip to watch the build and then the wife and I could come back later and get the car...
If this is the case, it would be awesome for me, the wife wouldn't care about the factory tour, but I have a few good friends that would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it...could be a guy road trip to watch the build and then the wife and I could come back later and get the car...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 920
Likes: 81
From: Frankfort Kentucky
We were really lucky on our group run of the mill factory tour. We did have a WKU student leader, but he was a senior and his major was engineering. He did a great job and spent about and extra 45 minutes with those of us that had additional questions! I guess some people just get liberal arts measures by the luck of the draw! We have decided that we are going with the birthing of your corvette package on the next one and we are looking forward to the included tour.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,099
Likes: 64
From: Houston TX
St. Jude Donor '09
We took the regular tour back in 2006 and had an excellent guide and did not feel rushed at all. We got to speak with a few of the workers and they were polite and professional and answered a few questions. Very good time. I'm sure the VIP and buyer's tours are longer and better, but the regular one was good.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 58
Likes: 3
From: Houston TX
So (I'm thinking of doing R8C on a 'vert in May), I can do a "Buyers Tour" and watch my car come down the line and then at a later date, come back to the Museum and pick up my car?
If this is the case, it would be awesome for me, the wife wouldn't care about the factory tour, but I have a few good friends that would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it...could be a guy road trip to watch the build and then the wife and I could come back later and get the car...
If this is the case, it would be awesome for me, the wife wouldn't care about the factory tour, but I have a few good friends that would really enjoy it and get a lot out of it...could be a guy road trip to watch the build and then the wife and I could come back later and get the car...
I watched mine get built right before Christmas (12/22) and went back to pick it up earlier this month (1/5).
Shane @ NCM is very responsive and can answer any questions you have.