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Ordering a new car is fun. For me this will be a rare experience and I have read a ton of great info on this forum. Sometimes all the opinions and stories can be intimidating. Working my way through all the info and sorting out what applies for myself I have learned a few things. If your thinking of ordering a new car maybe this will help....
1.) Order from a forum dealer with a 10-12% discount from MSRP.
2.) I live on the west coast and would not have the car delivered to a courtesy dealer again. I would either pick it up at the Forum dealer or museum. Watching the painfully slow and inefficient train wreck of a shipping process out west was just too much.
3.) After driving the car for a few weeks now and about 1000 miles I have no rock chips. I'm not going to put expel on the car and I'm going to live.
4.) The "base" Stingray is awesome. The ride is incredibly smooth. The tires don't throw rocks any more than my other cars I own. I don't have any brake dust issues, in fact I havnt noticed any. It corners incredibly and I havnt come close to the cars capability. In short my decision to not get the Z51 was right for me and I have no regrets. Price was not a factor in my choice it was livability for a driver.
5.) I like the Z06 side skirts I installed although I like the car without them too. I think they will protect the car and they do add a nice contrast that highlights the cars lines. In person I can't see any detraction. Two things I'm not crazy about. I sometimes catch my foot on the skirt when entering the car. The skirts gather water spots faster than the rest of the car.
6.) These cars drive fine in the rain. In fact after driving in the rain for four days the car didn't even look that dirty. I never felt traction loss.
7.) I would have ordered black wheels and then purchased chrome ones on this forum if only I had known. I would have owned both sets for the price I paid for chrome from the factory.
8.) Chrome on torch red looks awesome. So does Kalahari. It's all about your own tastes. Don't be afraid to order your own combo. Heck I even ordered yellow calipers and I love them.
9.) I am happy I ordered the vert and the M7. I drive more with the top down than with it up and it all happens at the push of a button. Even happens between rain clouds. M7 is plenty fast and feels more engaged to me. Again there is no wrong choice.
10.) My car came with no mechanical problems or appearance issues. There are no rattles (yet). In short everything looks feels and sounds like I expected and this car is tight. This really is an incredible car.
I love my car too, but will say that with my black wheels, there is dust on them about 5 minutes after driving it. I assume its break dust, but it could just be from the road. My guess would be that chrome/silver wheels hide light amounts of dust, but the black makes it stand right out. Anyway, glad you are enjoying your car. Looks awesome.
Dam nice! I'm wondering if the side skirts help with the chipping....
Did you try one with the Z51 pkg?
I believe they will. They have only been on for about 100 miles. I didn't have rock chips before installing them but did have bug splatter on the rockers?? That has gone away.
I did not drive any C7's before ordering. I knew it would be great from all the comments on here. I'm not dissapointed. I'm not opposed to z51, I'm sure it is great too. Maybe someday I will drive one and think OMG I have to have this! I think I'm probably safe though. Now the Z06 might be another story. I think I'll avoid driving one of those at least till the new car smell on mine wears off!
I, like you, ordered and did not get the Z51 package as I thought the car would be a better GT car without the stiffer suspension. As you stated it is smooth, handles well and I won't get it to its limits where I normally drive. I have the black wheels and they get dusty in about 1/2 hour after cleaning, not brake dust, just road dust.
Your list is good and I find that what you have stated to be correct. We drove to the Bash in Kentucky and found that the standard tires did not throw small stones up, therefore, no chips along the rocker area of the car.
Your TR convertible is very pretty and I am sure that you will enjoy it for miles to come.
Nice post, thanks for your insight.
Dam nice! I'm wondering if the side skirts help with the chipping....
I have them on my VY Coupe. YES!!! I got a rock chip on the edge of the skirt that would have put a fingernail sized chip on the side of the car.
I also have the GM fender flare/flaps which equally help. Highly recommend both.
Good list I agree with them all except number 1. At least in my area there are local dealers discounting as much as the forum dealers.
Your Vette looks awesome, enjoy it.
I love my car too, but will say that with my black wheels, there is dust on them about 5 minutes after driving it. I assume its break dust, but it could just be from the road. My guess would be that chrome/silver wheels hide light amounts of dust, but the black makes it stand right out. Anyway, glad you are enjoying your car. Looks awesome.
Search carbotech 1521 and your troubles will be over.
Opinions vary. I have found paint protective film very useful. Our 2009 Pontiac G8GT has been saved from lots of chips with its 3M film. The C7 has had a couple saves from XPEL.
Yes, they’re not museum pieces (at least I don’t view them that way) but the film keeps the front end looking better. Don
Opinions vary. I have found paint protective film very useful. Our 2009 Pontiac G8GT has been saved from lots of chips with its 3M film. The C7 has had a couple saves from XPEL.
Yes, they’re not museum pieces (at least I don’t view them that way) but the film keeps the front end looking better. Don
Don I think we agree. I believe it works and I believe I will eventually get chips. The fear that I would get a chip as soon as I drove off a dealers lot if I didn't have expel installed at the dealer was just not founded and I decided I'm comfortable for now taking the risk.
Don I think we agree. I believe it works and I believe I will eventually get chips. The fear that I would get a chip as soon as I drove off a dealers lot if I didn't have expel installed at the dealer was just not founded and I decided I'm comfortable for now taking the risk.
Understood. For the first few years of its life, the G8 was in the east mountains of Albuquerque. NM used crushed lava rock for traction in the winter storms. Really nasty stuff, one cloud of it destroyed another of our cars windshield.
The C7 is in the TX Hill Country, lots of limestone, so I chose to film it too.
In some areas, a film may not bring benefits commensurate with the cost. Don
2.) I live on the west coast and would not have the car delivered to a courtesy dealer again. I would either pick it up at the Forum dealer or museum. Watching the painfully slow and inefficient train wreck of a shipping process out west was just too much.
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
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10 things I have learned since ordering......
