Please tell me if I’m crazy
05-31-2018, 09:11 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Please tell me if I’m crazy
Hello all,
New member here, trying to purchase my first Corvette. Will post pics when I get it promise
I was all set to write the check to a local SA dealer for a ‘19 GS when I noticed a panel alignment issue during delivery inspection. Car was flawless otherwise. Kudos to the folks who put the delivery checklist together btw! The Internet sales manager took the car back to their “Corvette expert” to have them look at the gap after I brought the issue up. That’s when things went sideways. When he came back he literally told me that his guy says it’s normal and the issue should go away after driving the car for a little while. The plastic would “fill in”. His words. He also said “buy it and bring it in for a warranty replacement if it doesn’t”. I’m 49 and have owned a bunch of cars and not one had the magic injection molded plastic this car has. To add insult to injury, he said he didn’t know if his boss would honor the agreed upon price after I told him I needed to sleep on it. Anyway, based on the attached photo, was I wrong in thinking this was an issue and expecting the dealer to offer something other than nonsense in return?
I’ll hang up and listen, thanks.
New member here, trying to purchase my first Corvette. Will post pics when I get it promise
I was all set to write the check to a local SA dealer for a ‘19 GS when I noticed a panel alignment issue during delivery inspection. Car was flawless otherwise. Kudos to the folks who put the delivery checklist together btw! The Internet sales manager took the car back to their “Corvette expert” to have them look at the gap after I brought the issue up. That’s when things went sideways. When he came back he literally told me that his guy says it’s normal and the issue should go away after driving the car for a little while. The plastic would “fill in”. His words. He also said “buy it and bring it in for a warranty replacement if it doesn’t”. I’m 49 and have owned a bunch of cars and not one had the magic injection molded plastic this car has. To add insult to injury, he said he didn’t know if his boss would honor the agreed upon price after I told him I needed to sleep on it. Anyway, based on the attached photo, was I wrong in thinking this was an issue and expecting the dealer to offer something other than nonsense in return?
I’ll hang up and listen, thanks.
Last edited by GTZMarion; 09-12-2018 at 03:11 PM.
05-31-2018, 10:12 PM
#2
Race Director
Not crazy, but judging from the photos, I'm not sure which would concern me more the gap on the left panel being slightly wide and a little miss-aligned left to right or the right panel being too tight to the point you may find the paint chipping from the edges after driving a short time. This 'paint chipping' is a fairly common C7 body issue.
The bumper cover can be adjusted to address both conditions.
Surprising in that the 2019's panel fit is 'supposed to be' improved over earlier C7s.
The bumper cover can be adjusted to address both conditions.
Surprising in that the 2019's panel fit is 'supposed to be' improved over earlier C7s.
Last edited by Kevin A Jones; 05-31-2018 at 10:21 PM.
05-31-2018, 10:21 PM
#3
Race Director
Not to diminish your concerns but I can see why it seems the dealer is not taking this as seriously as you. I would just tell them you are willing to buy the car at the agreed upon price as long as that is fixed before you take delivery. On their side of things they aren't going to mess with it unless you actually buy the car because the next guy may not care.
By the way, there is nothing crazy about expecting that to fit better. It is obviously misaligned.
By the way, there is nothing crazy about expecting that to fit better. It is obviously misaligned.
Last edited by PatternDayTrader; 05-31-2018 at 10:26 PM.
05-31-2018, 10:27 PM
#4
That is quite a gap difference. I would prefer they fix it before taking delivery. Make the fix a condition of taking delivery. Which dealer?
05-31-2018, 10:31 PM
#5
Keep looking, you'll find your car, just as you want it.
05-31-2018, 10:35 PM
#6
Racer
Not crazy. Corrected to your satisfaction prior to purchase or walk. Plenty of Corvettes for sale. Actually, if a dealer handed me the line about "filling in", I probably would find somewhere else to buy my car.
05-31-2018, 10:41 PM
#7
Those panels aren't ever going to "fill in." Or move magically apart. I'd be more concerned about the too-tight panel gaps than the too-wide ones, IMO. Vertical difference along the panels is never going to "equalize" either.
Yet another sales team blowing smoke to make a sale. Amazing what a salesman will say. I would not take delivery unless it looks right from the get-go.
All that can be set right before you take possession. Now is the time to make sure they do it, because trying to get them to do it later may prove problematic.
Yet another sales team blowing smoke to make a sale. Amazing what a salesman will say. I would not take delivery unless it looks right from the get-go.
All that can be set right before you take possession. Now is the time to make sure they do it, because trying to get them to do it later may prove problematic.
05-31-2018, 10:44 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
Problem will not go away.
05-31-2018, 10:46 PM
#9
Race Director
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: Bonneville Salt Flats, 223mph Aug. '04
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WoW! If THAT s**t was normal they'd all look like that... and, mine doesn't!!!
"Fix it, or sell it to someone else," my response. Way too many Vettes for sale, imho.
All the best.
"Fix it, or sell it to someone else," my response. Way too many Vettes for sale, imho.
All the best.
05-31-2018, 10:46 PM
#10
So they want you to buy the car so they can fix it under warranty so they can get paid for it by GM. What a sleazy way to do business. The 'fill in' comment would seal the deal for me. Very uncomfortable situation to start a good relationship with a dealer. Too many make it too hard to do business with them.
Nice car but buy it under your terms, not theirs.
Nice car but buy it under your terms, not theirs.
05-31-2018, 10:48 PM
#11
Race Director
Those panels aren't ever going to "fill in." Or move magically apart. I'd be more concerned about the too-tight panel gaps than the too-wide ones, IMO. Vertical difference along the panels is never going to "equalize" either.
Yet another sales team blowing smoke to make a sale. Amazing what a salesman will say.
Yet another sales team blowing smoke to make a sale. Amazing what a salesman will say.
05-31-2018, 10:53 PM
#12
06-01-2018, 12:41 AM
#13
It didnt leave the factory that way. Maybe the car hit something, something hit it or it was damaged when it was being off loaded from auto transport carrier..
The bumper could have been removed and repaired..
Who knows what happened..
The bumper could have been removed and repaired..
Who knows what happened..
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woodsguy (06-01-2018)
06-01-2018, 12:44 AM
#14
And at any rate, that will never self-repair.
06-01-2018, 01:12 AM
#15
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Needless to say, but I’m not interested in doing business with these folks just based on the ridiculous responses from the manager. I’ve never had a dealer try to snow me like that before or be so indifferent. No, I was more interested in whether you all thought the gaps were an issue. You obviously do. Thanks so much for the opinions! I’ve got a drive in another GS elsewhere already lined up.
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06-01-2018, 01:22 AM
#16
That's an assembly issue, and panel fit is no better on 19's than any other MY. Paint quality and finish is better, but there is still variability in panel mounting. A simple adjustment should take care of the issue. Mounting and dismounting that nose panel is pretty elementary.
It's also routine for dealer sales people to offer up pretty stupid explanations like you were told because they are clueless about such things. However, a professional body shop specialist could take care of that in an hour. Nonetheless, it's inexcusable they were so unreceptive to your obvious concerns.
It's also routine for dealer sales people to offer up pretty stupid explanations like you were told because they are clueless about such things. However, a professional body shop specialist could take care of that in an hour. Nonetheless, it's inexcusable they were so unreceptive to your obvious concerns.
Last edited by Foosh; 06-01-2018 at 01:27 AM.
06-01-2018, 01:48 AM
#17
was I wrong in thinking this was an issue and expecting the dealer to offer something other than nonsense in return?
06-01-2018, 02:09 AM
#18
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
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You do have to realize that plastic body panels aren't as dimensionally stable as metal parts so there will be more variation between them and how they fit together. They have gotten a lot better over the last 30 years but it will never be as exact as a stamped piece of metal. In the picture on the left it might be possible to adjust the flexible front fascia a little so it matches the fender better and the body guy may be exactly right. A little heat and some bumping around due to driving down the road and it might slip by itself. The C6Z had places where the front fascia interfaced with the front hood surround near the headlights which would move around and some times it would look weird and other times it looked like a perfect layout.
Bill
Bill
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crapthatsloud (06-04-2018)
06-01-2018, 03:57 AM
#19
Race Director
Many C7s leave the factory with miss-aligned body panels.
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