TimberR6

So on November 2017 I decided to take a leap and buy my first Corvette (2017 GS Heritage Edition). Not only was this my first Corvette but this was my first new off the lot automobile purchase, so as you can imagine I was beyond thrilled to drive this beautiful piece of machinery off the lot. Fast forward 2-3 weeks later to my first time washing the car (dealer detail jobs are a joke) and I notice several (10ish) paint imperfections on the body and rear spoiler. I was absolutely floored by the poor quality control of this $83K+ (sticker price) car. I'd read stories of known Vette issues in past years but was under the impression the paint issues had mostly been corrected, boy was I wrong.

Upon closer examination I could see several areas on the fender edges that appear to not have been painted. there are also "worn" spots on the inside corners of the spoiler where it looks like someone laid it down upside down and maybe slide it across the floor. See pics...

I called the dealer where it was purchased (Hendrick, Cary NC) and was told by the service manager to bring it in and they would repaint the problem areas. I expressed my displeasure with having to have a brand new $80k car repainted with less than 1000 miles. I also informed the service manager that I am aware that dealer paint jobs aren't factory paint jobs (different paint, baking temps etc.) and that repainted cars have diminished value. The SM proceeded to tell me that their paint jobs are"exactly the same" as factory paint jobs and that repainted cars don't lose value. He honestly said both of those things to me ...I knew right there this was going to be a difficult process. I explained to the SM that he was full of it and that I'd call someone else with more intelligence.

I called GM customer care from a number I found on this forum and spoke with the absolute nicest customer service agent I've ever dealt with. The CS lady and I spoke weekly over the next few weeks as I refused to speak with the Hendrick SM after his blatant lying previously. I expressed several viable solutions,or at least solutions I would be happy with:
1. Send car back to factory and have it repainted
2. Buy car back/trade for comparable model
3. Get repaint estimates from dealer and non-dealer and reimburse me the difference

After 2 months of back and forth with said CS lady I received a phone call today from a new lady at GM. After a long and heated discussion she told me GM would only be willing to work with the dealership to have the car repainted at the dealership. Anything else would have to be negotiated with dealership and was outside of what GM would do. Basically repaint or nothing. So I called the dealership and spoke with some manager there and was told the same thing... "I can help you have the car repainted, other than that I don't have another option".

So basically GM is just as bad, if not worse than any other company that once they have your money they don't care about you as a customer any more. That is why this will probably be my last Corvette/GM product I ever purchase.

Anyone have any suggestions or ideas on how to deal with these paint quality control issues form the dealership or corporate GM?

fsvoboda

If you check out the "How It's Made" program on C7 (search You Tube) you'll find that the factory paint jobs are done with the panels on a fixture, not on the car, so sending the car back to the factory for a paint job isn't going to work--and besides would risk further damage in shipping even if it were feasible. Also, paint matching could be an issue.

Cars get damaged in transit and repainted with some regularity. If you search here on Corvette Forum you'll find discussions of this. It should be no big deal: both GM and the dealer seem to be willing to do this for you.

dbirdhouse1

Yes this is just a car, not life threatening, fear of nuclear attacks in Hawaii type concerns but the range of emotions from the excitement/nervousness about taking the plunge and then finding the shortcomings you have (I've always examined auto purchases with great care, sorry to state the obvious) is justifiably exasperating.

I hope it is repaired to a reasonable standard and since it was not due to an accident the diminished value is not a sure thing (I've been down that road with being rear ended more than once); there's nothing that needs to be declared like a Carfax report.

In any case I'm genuinely sorry for what you've dealt with....better days ahead

tcinla

Thanks for that comment. Personally, I haven't really seen people mention the possibility of damage in transit. It seems that most people indicate how one particular company or another take such good care of the cars they transport.

got2hav1

Sorry you are having such problems. I don't think I have ever seen a new car with that severe paint problems. You are right to be upset. Hope you get it resolved soon.

cburke3344

I had my 2014 stingray shipped from long island ny to fleming island fl. a couple months ago. Not a good idea they broke front grille some real nice sratches on rear spoiler. Took big junk out right side rocker. Been fighting with them ever since no luck they just keep giveing me the run around.

383vett

Sorry this is happening to you. Since you bought it off the lot, did you look at the car before buying it?

fsvoboda

I've got a lot of sympathy for you and original poster. To a lot of people it's just a car, to you, it's your baby.

This is one reason that I tend to stick to good dealerships and sales people when I find them. In the last 30 or so years I've dealt with only four new car dealerships, and five new car sales people.

JNess

I'm not sure why you feel a re-paint means diminished value. This is only true in the case of a an accident that shows on carfax. A good re-paint would be undetectable. Hell.... A good repaint could be better than factory, if they take care to eliminate orange peel.

cadyshac

Hard to believe that made it out of the factory looking like that. Did you not thoroughly inspect the car at the time of purchase? It seems like you would have noticed at least some of that when you first bought the car. Either way I hope you get it worked out to your satisfaction.

Ron'sGS

OP sorry to see the problems with your car. You have to wonder how some of these cars are getting by quality control. I know it's just a car, but I would be highly upset if it was mine. I hope you're able to get it resolved.

DALE#3

WELCOME TO THE FORUM Rot's that your first post ain't a positive 100% Happy Post..
Gonna give you a not so good reply.It's a known dilemma.A good percentage of the paint jobs that left the factory before the recent shutdown have issues.I knew it.Learned here since 2014.
Drove over 300 miles to look my car over.Before the purchase..
You purchased,then looked the car over..Bad move.
Couldv'e got a better price,maybe? Or decide then walk.
You kind of messed up..Good your getting it fixed.I would be fussy on the finish.GOOD LUCK..Enjoy it hopefully

Greg00Coupe

That’s a lot of damage. Never seen anything like that. Sure you have the entire story? Looks like it got abused after it left the factory

I can’t image the dealer accepted it in that condition?

madrob2020

I am certainly not about to blame you. I noticed in several pics tho that it appears there are scratch marks/swirls like excessively hard scrubbing during a wash. It also appears numerous edges have what appear to be damage from a machine polisher/buffer, including the tips of the spoiler. Whenever machines are used to polish/buff it is so critical to have the correct bonnet/pad & not too a high speed. All edges are very susceptible to damage if even momentarily aggressively buffed by machine. Never want to "roll" the buffer over the edges, the clearcoat is not thick enough to take abuse. Perhaps this was done at said dealership prior to your arrival to bring it home & they grabbed the $7 an hr. dude to "detail" your car so it would be clean & shiny when picked up. Probably too late to try to claim that, just saying. I wish you the best of luck, don't give up, & try to be as nice as possible when dealing with Hendricks, although it might be too late. PS: Almost all the pics showing damage appear to have been done after build, they would have no need to polish/buff their cars.

JALLEN4

The very first thing you need to do is call the Service Manager back that you tried to embarrass by acting like a ten year old twit. How people assume they are going to get "good service" after acting like a horses rear parts to the people who are in charge of that service, I will never understand. You bought one of several million cars GM sold last year and one of several thousand your dealer sold. Neither party is going to change the way they do business because your upset with the first new car you ever bought.

I have bought everything from a Corvette to a Bentley, several Mercedes, and multiple new Porsches and have yet to get a single one that was perfect. I have though learned not to burn everything around me down to the ground when I find a flaw. Rather, try to kill the guy who has to fix it with kindness until he proves to you he is absolutely incompetent. There will be plenty of time then to go into your little kid impression.

We have all been there in your shoes with our dream car and a problem. Acting with maturity and understanding with those in charge of fixing it will work a lot better!

rcooper

You might try to get in touch with Jagamajaran, he had a yellow C7 that went back to the factory for repaint. This was a couple of years back but he would be the best person I know of to give you a bit of help.

gurneyeagle

Sorry to pile on, but I agree 100%. The dealer didn't build the car; they sold it and now have to pick up the pieces of the shitty job done in Bowling Green. Questioning their ability to fix it before even given the chance doesn't reflect well on you either. The diminished value comments to the service manager will ill advised too.


How old are you?


Hope you get your car fixed to your satisfaction, but I wouldn't have gone the route you took.

Kev4

You stated that you bought the car of the lot. Did you inspect the car prior to your purchase. You should of not bought that car and looked for something different. Although I do think the dealership will fix you up fine.

MikeERWNC

If Hendrick is repainting it, it will have diminished value.
Their body-shops could care less about the customer. they only care about labor hours and overall cost.
Hendrick is all about money in, not fixing problems correctly, especially when it is on their dime...
You will never see me going to another Hendrick dealership. Their body shop will never see another one of my cars.

Too bad you can't go to an independent shop for this. That color will be impossible.
The guy who paints my bikes, matches colors perfectly.

Always Red Dave

A lot of us that bought 2014- 2017 C7'S have some sort of paint issues but your car has WAY WAY WAY to many paint issues. OP in all honesty I might of not seen every issue on your car when I took delivery but I would have saw most of those issues if not all and would have rejected the delivery right there and then. Good luck wish I could tell you to use some touch up paint but that's not working for all these defects that need to be addressed immediately!