'splain this
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 24,132
Likes: 1,347
From: Spring Texas
'splain this
There have been a fair number of threads about people asking what it takes to add this or that (PDR, dimming mirror, brakes, woofer, etc.) to their car. These requests are for fairly new cars, too.
Why didn't the people order the correct trim level to begin with? It's a real PITA to retrofit.
Why didn't the people order the correct trim level to begin with? It's a real PITA to retrofit.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 26,261
Likes: 4,363
From: Chirper Island
My guess is that most people don't order cars. They buy what closest fits their criteria off the lot.
Even those who order cars may think that a certain option is not that important, but after they have driven it awhile, they realize that, YES, it is important, after all.
Even those who order cars may think that a certain option is not that important, but after they have driven it awhile, they realize that, YES, it is important, after all.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 6,486
Likes: 1,659
From: Las Vegas NV
When you are buying off the lot, many times the 'right' car isn't EXACTLY right, but one that is present, 'right enough', and available at a price you can live with.
And that's just NEW cars. There is a pretty sizable amount of 1 year old Corvettes for sale too.
I wonder what the percentage of customer-ordered Corvettes actually is? My guess would be less than 10%, maybe even as low as 5%?
Last edited by Kent1999; Jun 16, 2017 at 10:46 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 911
Likes: 318
From: Parts Unknown
I didn't want to pay 5k (or whatever the price was to go to a 2LT) for the 2 things that I wanted, the garage door opener and auto-dimming rearview mirror, so I paid about $450.00 for the parts and installed them myself.
Last edited by Mister Big; Jun 16, 2017 at 10:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,746
Likes: 916
I also think it is a lack of some folks thoroughly researching all the options prior to taking that impulse plunge and once they realize that their car doesn't have this or that, they start researching how to add the option(s).
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 227
Likes: 27
I bought mine without magnetic ride because it wasn't s deal breaker, and dealer ran out of orders for the year already, so I had to pick from one of 6 preconfigured car even tho they haven't been build yet. But now thinking back i think mag ride would have been real nice. Still not going to retrofit simply because I don't know if I can really really tell the difference as a daily driver.
Last edited by amphora001; Jun 17, 2017 at 12:05 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 6,140
Likes: 2,745
From: Northeast
One reason is a lot of buyers are not well-versed in options, packages, and/or models. They'll see something that they like, maybe a color, and then they'll make the purchase only to find out later that it doesn't have this or that...
Some assume that most subscribe to a forum where related information is readily available when, in fact, most do not...
Some assume that most subscribe to a forum where related information is readily available when, in fact, most do not...
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 5,895
Likes: 1,565
From: Calgary Alberta
I bought mine without magnetic ride because it wasn't s deal breaker, and dealer ran out of orders for the year already, so I had to pick from one of 6 preconfigured car even tho they haven't been build yet. But now thinking back i think mag ride would have been real nice. Still not going to retrofit simply because I don't know if I can really really tell the difference as a daily driver.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,477
Likes: 2,249
From: Southern NJ
There have been a fair number of threads about people asking what it takes to add this or that (PDR, dimming mirror, brakes, woofer, etc.) to their car. These requests are for fairly new cars, too.
Why didn't the people order the correct trim level to begin with? It's a real PITA to retrofit.
Why didn't the people order the correct trim level to begin with? It's a real PITA to retrofit.
I often wonder this myself. Over a 60 month payout, the cost difference ends up being the price of a steak dinner at nice restaurant.
I think many potential buyers get caught up in the emotional experience at the dealership. A good salesperson can make an AMC Gremlin look appealing and when you are sitting inside the car thinking you can be driving home in this beautiful car TODAY, you start rationalizing how much money you are saving and it really isn't that big of a deal not having whatever it is. Then reality hits when you have the car for a little while and you really want that one option you decided wasn't that important OR the buyer just didn't do their due diligence and look up all of the available features and options before buying and just didn't know.
I prefer to read up on cars that I am considering and doing the math ahead of time to see how much it's going to cost for what I really want so there are no regrets and buyer's remorse.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 16,684
Likes: 1,193
From: La Center WA
As a Corvette salesperson I always try to help my clients end up with what they truly want even if it costs a little more. I firmly believe that a person will continue to enjoy the benefits of those options long after they forget how much they paid for them. There's no joy in making monthly payments on a car that you don't like.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 8,729
Likes: 1,508
From: Redmond WA
Sometimes people are stretching to get into a particular car so they buy a cheaper example of it and them lament that they don't have the features they now know are available. Part of that is learning about the car after you buy it, not a great order to do it in.
So you buy a 1LZ coupe because that's what you can afford, but the more you read about the PDR, the more you want one... and then you can eventually afford it but it's too impractical to add to an existing vehicle.
I think that's the general trend, anyway... I doubt a lot of people are buying 1LZ cars to save weight, anyway.
So you buy a 1LZ coupe because that's what you can afford, but the more you read about the PDR, the more you want one... and then you can eventually afford it but it's too impractical to add to an existing vehicle.
I think that's the general trend, anyway... I doubt a lot of people are buying 1LZ cars to save weight, anyway.
Last edited by davepl; Jun 17, 2017 at 01:48 PM.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 365
Likes: 77
From: Gold Canyon, Arizona
Ricky: Loosy, lemme 'splain.
Lucy: "Okay..."'Splain."
Ricky: "You make fun of my English?"
Lucy: "That's English?"
(Audience laughter)
Your reference is not lost on us.
Lucy: "Okay..."'Splain."
Ricky: "You make fun of my English?"
Lucy: "That's English?"
(Audience laughter)
Your reference is not lost on us.
Last edited by Mike6811; Jun 17, 2017 at 06:47 PM.
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 35,078
Likes: 12,438
From: NE South Carolina
I bought mine without magnetic ride because it wasn't s deal breaker, and dealer ran out of orders for the year already, so I had to pick from one of 6 preconfigured car even tho they haven't been build yet. But now thinking back i think mag ride would have been real nice. Still not going to retrofit simply because I don't know if I can really really tell the difference as a daily driver.
With the relatively good, washboard free roads we have in Eastern SC had a C6 Z51 and C7 Z51 without mag shocks and was happy with the ride and performance. Bought a new Grand Sport and mag shocks are standard.
The ride is a bit softer when in Touring Mode than my C7 Z51. It is much stiffer in Track! In fact one poster said you could feel it go over a dime in Track and may be right. My C7 Z51 was not even close in ride stiffness. I'll relegate that setting to my favorite 270 degree exit ramp!
This is my 5th Vette. Have ordered every one with exactly what I want, no compromises. I do the research to know what that is. The last three were bought from volume dealers, Kerbeck for two. Wouldn't buy any other way. They have the allocation to get what I want, they are ordering ~25 cars a week. So even if an item is on 20% allocation because of availability, likely they can get it. No haggling on price. Paid exactly what was quoted.
For the Grand Sport found a small dealer 25 miles away that accepts courtesy delivery and has a great service staff. Great overall buying experience.
Last edited by JerryU; Jun 17, 2017 at 09:40 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 9,175
Likes: 4,017
From: 2019 CMG Z06/ZR1
In my case, having several engineer friends at GM who are muscle car enthusiasts and knew my preferences and tracking habbits, they suggested a Z51, mag ride, ptm, m7 as must-haves. A dealer friend of ours had ordered the exact configuration I wanted, but in 1LT a couple months before. The only thing I hated about my 1LT was no homelink. Easy fix, a $200 plug and play 2LT visor.
Otherwise, I miss nothing else. I have a fully loaded Camaro as well, but other than HUD, I don't use all the heated/cooled touch this and that crap. And the vette being so low, and that huge LCD display screen in your face, I don't really need HUD there. *** planted into my Recaros, pedal to the floor. That's how I enjoy my summer weekends.
Otherwise, I miss nothing else. I have a fully loaded Camaro as well, but other than HUD, I don't use all the heated/cooled touch this and that crap. And the vette being so low, and that huge LCD display screen in your face, I don't really need HUD there. *** planted into my Recaros, pedal to the floor. That's how I enjoy my summer weekends.
Last edited by LT4CMG; Jun 17, 2017 at 11:42 PM.