Surprised by poor quality of new 2018 at local dealer
#21
I would agree with you if not for:
1. None of my 4 C5s had defects or orange peel this bad. Body panel gaps and paint falling off were unheard of.
2. GM touted the amazing attention to detail and tighter fit and finish of the C7 model. If you're specifically going to sell on an attribute, you'd better deliver. They promised 911 quality for 50-70% of the price. Car is a huge step up interior design wise and gadget wise from any C5, but there a lot of things subpar as well.
1. None of my 4 C5s had defects or orange peel this bad. Body panel gaps and paint falling off were unheard of.
2. GM touted the amazing attention to detail and tighter fit and finish of the C7 model. If you're specifically going to sell on an attribute, you'd better deliver. They promised 911 quality for 50-70% of the price. Car is a huge step up interior design wise and gadget wise from any C5, but there a lot of things subpar as well.
Last edited by Billy346; 01-10-2018 at 04:44 PM.
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RapidC84B (01-10-2018)
#22
Team Owner
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#23
#24
My last 3 Mercedes Benz' sedans' paint, fit and finish over 27 years has been nothing short of magnificent. Here's my 12 year old E320 CDI sedan; the paint quality is nothing short of outstanding!
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Billy346 (01-10-2018)
#25
I stand by my comment though! Park that Benz next to that busted red Corvette and see which one gets more compliments!
#26
Le Mans Master
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Typical GM "quality", plain and simple.
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#27
Melting Slicks
Had I not done all the repairs to my 10YO BMW, it would be upside down in value by now. My C5 on the other hand, ~120K and no significant maintenance, just oil changes, brakes and tires and that's with the SC and LTs installed at 40K
#28
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I guess I was lucky with mine. Perfect panel fit, very little orange peel, and the A8 hasn't skipped a beat. I have 54,000 on it. You can see my build date in my signature below this post.
Knock on wood!
Knock on wood!
#29
You lost the argument, so you change the issue. Real bright, Billy.
Oh, look at my POS fit n finish new red Corvette.
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RapidC84B (01-10-2018)
#31
Curious what the maintenance has run you on the MB over the past 12 years?
Had I not done all the repairs to my 10YO BMW, it would be upside down in value by now. My C5 on the other hand, ~120K and no significant maintenance, just oil changes, brakes and tires and that's with the SC and LTs installed at 40K
Had I not done all the repairs to my 10YO BMW, it would be upside down in value by now. My C5 on the other hand, ~120K and no significant maintenance, just oil changes, brakes and tires and that's with the SC and LTs installed at 40K
5 years:
Half the Texas sales tax and annual licensing of my new C7.
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 01-10-2018 at 05:42 PM.
#32
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Skid Row Joe (01-11-2018)
#33
Melting Slicks
I have no issues with panels on my 17 Stingray, built in October of 2016 according to the sticker in the door. I do have Orange Peel but I'm not entering any car show competition so... meh. I might do a paint correction before next summer comes but it's not high on my 'must do' list.
#34
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2022 C7 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
Finalist 2020 C7 of the Year -- Modified
2018 C7 of Year Winner
2017 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Could you pease elaborate on your source of the VIN cutoff for new VS old paint of the 2018 Vettes. I am very interested in this.
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Skid Row Joe (01-10-2018)
#35
Seriously though, when I was looking over my Corvette before purchase, I didn't even think to go over the fit of the body panels or the smoothness of the paint. I didn't actually start noticing the way the car fit together until I washed it the first time. I didn't know about orange peel until I read this forum! Now that I know about both of them, I notice them more, but they don't bother me as much as they may bother you. (My car is put together alot better than the red one in those photos though. I'd be pretty angry if I noticed the body panels were that far off in my car.)
However, I guarantee if you parked that busted red Vette next to your pewter Mercedes in a parking lot, very few *if any* people would notice the defects in the 'Vette. They would see a red 'Vette with a pewter sedan parked next to it. They'd say, "Wow, look at that Corvette! If I ever get one, I want a red one like that." And no mention will be made of the pewter colored sedan sitting next to it. I'm not knocking your Mercedes. It's a quality automobile, which you have enjoyed. But in terms of what people notice, the last thing they will notice is the body fit and finish.
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CorvetteBrent (01-12-2018)
#36
Very few will admit to their C7's paint & fit-n-finish flaws.
Hard to believe the new C7 #*&*%#@$^&* here!
#37
OK, all of these comments made me go into the garage and check out my Vette. Panels were all lined up and no Orange peel. Must of been lucky. Car was built in April 2017.
#38
Team Owner
Thread Starter
All of them have orange peel on the sides... just have to look at the right angels. They're not wet sanded to remove it. The issue is some are so bad it jumps out at even the casual observer.
#39
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Early 2018 production was June 5 to July 27.
2486 stingrays and 2925 GS for a total of 4511.
1958 ZO6's.
5470 coupes and 999 converts.
On this thread, post #14 has some different numbers. I believe that these #'s are correct.
Last edited by dyoung; 01-10-2018 at 07:48 PM. Reason: Found the #'s on an earlier post.
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Iconic (01-10-2018)
#40
Melting Slicks
Now THERE's a hornet's nest of a topic if ever there was one. German luxo isn't cheap to purchase ( leases.... that's another issue) and if you keep them long term, the maintenance can be quite disruptive to your wallet. Once the warranties are expired... watch out.
I'm actually telling my neice to look into Mazda since she's all about low total cost of ownership, quality, durability, features you get for the money, quality of Dealer handling of the customer, etc. Tech is quickly distributed to most car brands when it appears so She can spend more for a C class ( some call them stripped out sh8t boxes when compared to the icon of big german lux barges of old) where she has to pony up extra for the options or go with something like a Mazda 6 where everything comes standard for a lower cost (same tech). A lot of people put a premium on the 3-pointed star but a small sedan from Merc vs a Mazda 6, from a price/feature comparison standpoint, can be a tough decision. Unless you a brand snob / fan boy, in which case there is no perspective where a Mazda sedan can equal a c-class. Now the new c-class interior quality is premium, no doubt about it. I'm talking from a tech feature perspective.
I'm actually telling my neice to look into Mazda since she's all about low total cost of ownership, quality, durability, features you get for the money, quality of Dealer handling of the customer, etc. Tech is quickly distributed to most car brands when it appears so She can spend more for a C class ( some call them stripped out sh8t boxes when compared to the icon of big german lux barges of old) where she has to pony up extra for the options or go with something like a Mazda 6 where everything comes standard for a lower cost (same tech). A lot of people put a premium on the 3-pointed star but a small sedan from Merc vs a Mazda 6, from a price/feature comparison standpoint, can be a tough decision. Unless you a brand snob / fan boy, in which case there is no perspective where a Mazda sedan can equal a c-class. Now the new c-class interior quality is premium, no doubt about it. I'm talking from a tech feature perspective.
Curious what the maintenance has run you on the MB over the past 12 years?
Had I not done all the repairs to my 10YO BMW, it would be upside down in value by now. My C5 on the other hand, ~120K and no significant maintenance, just oil changes, brakes and tires and that's with the SC and LTs installed at 40K
Had I not done all the repairs to my 10YO BMW, it would be upside down in value by now. My C5 on the other hand, ~120K and no significant maintenance, just oil changes, brakes and tires and that's with the SC and LTs installed at 40K
Last edited by tcinla; 01-10-2018 at 07:44 PM.