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I'm about ready to pull the cord on a new 2019 GS 2LT coupe and I'm having pre-buyer's jitters. It'll be black with red interior, manual x-mission, PDR, and either pearl nickel or chromed wheels. All other options (battery protection package, red-painted calipers, carbon flash emblems, etc.) are nice but not a must. Is anybody willing to share any final insights on:
* highly recommended dealers (looking at Bachman, Coughlin, Kerbeck, MacMulkin, and Criswell)
* late-build automatic vs manual x-missions. The transmission class action really concerns me and I don't know how big of an impact it has on the Corvettes. I read the threads collecting information on the issues members have had, but I don't have perspective on how pervasive the issue is across all Corvettes produced with that x-mission and if the factory fluid changes has truly helped/cured the issue. If so, what post build date should I be looking for?
Thanks in advance for any input. I appreciate the help!
If you are getting a manual anyway, why worry about the auto issues?
I don't know how prevalent the auto issues really are, but between that, the fact that I'm a manual guy anyway, and also likely that this is the last manual Corvette, I would get the manual if you're at all on the fence... ymmv
"Last manuals" have a way of retaining value. I don't know if that will apply to a high volume production Chevy as much, but no one years later is ever saying "Yeah, I've got to get my hands on one of those automatics!"
In regard to your A8 concerns, the issues are certainly real however keep in mind that there have been over 125,000 C7s produced with A8 transmissions and the vast majority have had no issues, Most estimates put defects around 5%. However many owners with A8 issues come here to report such and seek info. While this is good it makes A8 issues seem FAR MORE widespread than they actually are. Plus the new fluids have helped and of course the Range devise is available which further reduce risk of A8 issues by blocking v4 mode.
May I make suggestion. I almost went with this config but could not find it...black exterior, with yellow GS stripes (the ones over the fender), yellow calipers, with black suede inside with yellow stitching.
From dealers is one bachman in Louisville Kentucky? That is a dealer close to me is why I ask. I purchased my C6 from them and the service was horrific. They have a new corvette sales dude who from a personality I do not like but he seems like he knows what he is doing and generally cares. I have heard many good thinks about kerbeck but never talked with them.
carbon flash on a black car would look nice...also - painted caliper are cool. Good luck. I am sure you heard about the rim issues with the GS. Not to scare you just want you to be aware so you can decide for yourself. Me...I went z51 because of it - had to play scared but a stingray with z51 is still a pretty good corvette so I thought why not.
The manual transmission has no issues. Stable and reliable. The A8? It's a crap shoot. I would recommend staying away from it. But with that said, you probably have about only a five percent chance of getting an A8 with issues. Too high of a percentage in my opinion.
Mike Furman at Criswell is the best. He's taken excellent care of me on 5 new car purchases in the last 3 and a half years. Would never buy a Corvette from anybody else.
I'm about ready to pull the cord on a new 2019 GS 2LT coupe....
You have good taste.
...and I'm having pre-buyer's jitters.
Don't.
* highly recommended dealers (looking at Bachman, Coughlin, Kerbeck, MacMulkin, and Criswell)
I bought my 2017 GS from MacMulkin and had a very good experience, but I won't besmirch the other two which perennially receive good reviews as well.
* late-build automatic vs manual x-missions.
No, you were on the right track in your first paragraph stating that you would opt for the M7. I've had both and IMO you should've veer from that. Keep in mind there is no evidence that I've seen that A8 problems have been completely eradicated. You don't want to go through what I did with the A8, and I won't elaborate further in the interest of getting OT and long-winded, not to mention hyperventilating.
The manual transmission has no issues. Stable and reliable. The A8? It's a crap shoot. I would recommend staying away from it. But with that said, you probably have about only a five percent chance of getting an A8 with issues. Too high of a percentage in my opinion.
There are also M7 issues dont be fooled man.
They pop up all the time. Glad you have no issues but at my buddy's shop he runs into them all the time. Very surprised seeing them with issues as the percentage of owners with an M7 are so low here especially maybe just gets lost?
As for the A8? Here's the latest info from the plant.
I asked because I wanted to order an A8.
OP. Hopefully that puts you in the right mindset. Once I was choosing M7 or A8 for my new 2019, I started searching for M7 issues and it reinforced what I have witnessed hanging around the shop. Every other M7 Zo6 has a notch shifter slight noise grinding whistling all kinds of little things. Chatter etc.
If you like to drive a manual? Nothing can replace it and many are used to the little quirks it doesn't bother them. I like things more refined personally.
Originally Posted by p3pilot
Mike Furman at Criswell is the best. He's taken excellent care of me on 5 new car purchases in the last 3 and a half years. Would never buy a Corvette from anybody else.
Mike Furman is the best. And if not him? I would go to macmulkin. I live 45 minutes from Kerbeck. They have a bunch of cars but it's like a mill. They dont want to deal on a trade at all. And their salesman give that grimy feel by the way they speak to you. Just my personal opinion. Been there a bunch over time.
Mike is just a great guy taking cars away. Hes still someone I would hang with and shoot the sh*t with. If you spend 15 minutes with him hes a friend for life. Such a great overall experience. Good luck. Pal. Get what you want and from the person you think will treat you best. It's only money a grand or two either way is nothing if the experience now and beyond doesn't live up.
I hate to say this but check the paint around the headlights, front bumper where it meets the fender, all the panels where they meet one another. There seems to be an uptick of paint defect on brand new car threads showing up lately.
I disagree totally and completely with the guy above who states he's heard of so many M7 issues from his personal experience "hanging around his buddy's shop".
Ummm sure, ok.
I've heard of Zero issues with the M7 transmission from its beginning all the way back in 2014 up through today in 2019... Zero.
If it was I assure you it would be headlines here on The Corvette Forum, NO doubt... AND their would be a Sticky at the top of this Forum just like the one for the A8 that is a mile long that goes back all the way to mid 2017, and remains ongoing today, with more than TWELVE HUNDRED posts, complaints, and replies.
However... we've all heard of and read the "zillion" long ongoing nightmare stories of the A8, which still to this day remain unresolved, and NO definitive true real Permanent fix has yet to be discovered by GM for their A8 transmission that is in
ANY OF THEIR CARS...
ANY OF THEIR TRUCKS...
ANY OF THEIR SUVs...
ACROSS THE ENTIRE GM LINEUP... PERIOD.
HENCE THE CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT.
.
Last edited by HorsePower Junkie; 07-10-2019 at 01:02 AM.
I hate to say this but check the paint around the headlights, front bumper where it meets the fender, all the panels where they meet one another. There seems to be an uptick of paint defect on brand new car threads showing up lately.
I just saw that you live in Hutto lol. Me too. Small world.
There are also M7 issues dont be fooled man.
They pop up all the time. Glad you have no issues but at my buddy's shop he runs into them all the time. Very surprised seeing them with issues as the percentage of owners with an M7 are so low here especially maybe just gets lost?
As for the A8? Here's the latest info from the plant.
I asked because I wanted to order an A8.
OP. Hopefully that puts you in the right mindset. Once I was choosing M7 or A8 for my new 2019, I started searching for M7 issues and it reinforced what I have witnessed hanging around the shop. Every other M7 Zo6 has a notch shifter slight noise grinding whistling all kinds of little things. Chatter etc.
If you like to drive a manual? Nothing can replace it and many are used to the little quirks it doesn't bother them. I like things more refined personally.
Mike Furman is the best. And if not him? I would go to macmulkin. I live 45 minutes from Kerbeck. They have a bunch of cars but it's like a mill. They dont want to deal on a trade at all. And their salesman give that grimy feel by the way they speak to you. Just my personal opinion. Been there a bunch over time.
Mike is just a great guy taking cars away. Hes still someone I would hang with and shoot the sh*t with. If you spend 15 minutes with him hes a friend for life. Such a great overall experience. Good luck. Pal. Get what you want and from the person you think will treat you best. It's only money a grand or two either way is nothing if the experience now and beyond doesn't live up.
OK. But I have an A8. I was trying to provide a potential buyer an objective review of how they both have performed in comparison to each other over the last few years. My A8 has been flawless, but based on discussions on this forum and in the general public, a significantly more complaints and issues have been logged against the A8 transmission by a wide margin, even taking into consideration there are five times as many automatics in service compared to the manuals. One would expect to read about more issues with the A8 since there are so many more, but it is totally out of proportion even taking that into consideration. Thank you.
Last edited by joemessman; 07-10-2019 at 04:56 AM.
13,000 miles with no A8 issues!
as soon as you close the deal on your new GS, call Ron Fellows at Spring Mountain to schedule the performance driving school What a blast!
Thank you for all the replies and input. I appreciate the help and your sharing of experiences. I'll take them into account as we move along in the process.
07-09-2019, 02:18 PM
2019 GS purchase questions
