Advice for someone ordering
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Advice for someone ordering
Hi, all!
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 39,115
Likes: 17,972
From: DFW Area TX
You are going to be very hard-pressed to find a dealer at MSRP that can get you a C8 delivered "in a timely manner". 9-12 months is pretty common. Any deposit should apply to the purchase price. There won't be any discounts for the 2021 model year.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,671
Likes: 4,144
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Contact Mike Furman at Criswell.
Much, much lower refundable down that what you are suggesting (I'm not going to speak for him but he'll fill you in) applied to the total cost of the car on delivery, MSRP, fastest delivery possible IMO, drive it home and use the time to get over the 500 mile break in period faster..
The 2 biggest bargains of the C8 are the 2LT and the Z51. If you don't get Z51 get the performance exhaust. Mag ride is now an option for Non-Z51. If your roads aren't too good in your area, I would suggest it.
Aside from that everything is really personal taste and how much you want to spend.
Lastly, if you like to drive with the top down all the time get the convertible.
Much, much lower refundable down that what you are suggesting (I'm not going to speak for him but he'll fill you in) applied to the total cost of the car on delivery, MSRP, fastest delivery possible IMO, drive it home and use the time to get over the 500 mile break in period faster..
The 2 biggest bargains of the C8 are the 2LT and the Z51. If you don't get Z51 get the performance exhaust. Mag ride is now an option for Non-Z51. If your roads aren't too good in your area, I would suggest it.
Aside from that everything is really personal taste and how much you want to spend.
Lastly, if you like to drive with the top down all the time get the convertible.
Last edited by Sin City; Jan 16, 2021 at 06:27 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 1,061
Hi, all!
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 228
Likes: 68
From: Northern CA
@Al@MatickChevy is who I would suggest. Low, refundable deposit. Straight shooter. Msrp. No games, and he's always had time to respond to me when needed. What I've found is some smaller dealers were pretty clueless, and some larger dealers didn't have "time". To answer questions as they are dealing with thousands of inquires probably.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,834
Likes: 2,151
From: Kelso, Wa
Hi, all!
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
First post here regarding a C8. I want to order a C8 by June and had a few questions for someone who has already been through the process:
1. I live in between Chattanooga TN and Knoxville. What dealer in the vicinity should go through to get an order delivered in a timely manner? I'm up for going a few hundred miles in any direction.
2. Do you think the dealers will be asking MSRP plus a $5000 down payment that doesn't go to the balance for all of 2021?
3. What options would you suggest? I was thinking of a 2LT and front memory lift package plus a few others.
4. Is there anything you wish you knew before buying one?
Thanks!
-J
All of the deposit goes towards purchase price, at least at EVERY reputable dealer.
MacMulkin's deposit is $2k.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 2,194
Likes: 1,898
From: Not too far from MacMulkin
2026 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C8 Z06/7/E-Ray of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2021 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I've posted this a couple of times. If you know you're buying a C8, send in your deposit ASAP!
The deposit is refundable until you get matched to an allocation, so there's plenty of time to figure out the details, and your specs will probably change many times before then anyway. Don't wait!
When I was figuring things out, it took a little while for me to finally get my deposit in because I wanted to be sure about the details, and based upon the number of deposits I later learned MacMulkin was receiving at the time (25 or so per day), waiting set me back at least a month!
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 164
Likes: 63
From: Maryland
my dad put a deposit with mike recently. He was told it would most likely be a 2022
Contact Mike Furman at Criswell.
Much, much lower refundable down that what you are suggesting (I'm not going to speak for him but he'll fill you in) applied to the total cost of the car on delivery, MSRP, fastest delivery possible IMO, drive it home and use the time to get over the 500 mile break in period faster..
The 2 biggest bargains of the C8 are the 2LT and the Z51. If you don't get Z51 get the performance exhaust. Mag ride is now an option for Non-Z51. If your roads aren't too good in your area, I would suggest it.
Aside from that everything is really personal taste and how much you want to spend.
Lastly, if you like to drive with the top down all the time get the convertible.
Much, much lower refundable down that what you are suggesting (I'm not going to speak for him but he'll fill you in) applied to the total cost of the car on delivery, MSRP, fastest delivery possible IMO, drive it home and use the time to get over the 500 mile break in period faster..
The 2 biggest bargains of the C8 are the 2LT and the Z51. If you don't get Z51 get the performance exhaust. Mag ride is now an option for Non-Z51. If your roads aren't too good in your area, I would suggest it.
Aside from that everything is really personal taste and how much you want to spend.
Lastly, if you like to drive with the top down all the time get the convertible.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,671
Likes: 4,144
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
New people trying to order should be realistic to understating the situation.
Last edited by Sin City; Jan 16, 2021 at 07:32 PM.
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 16
Likes: 2
I placed an order for a 2021 HTC on October 10, 2020. As of yesterday my car is at Code 3300 with a TPW of February 1, 2021. My dealer is charging MRSP and the deposit (2K) I placed will go completely toward the purchase price.
Thread Starter
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Thanks all. A local dealer said it would be $5K down and it would not apply to the cost of the vehicle and was not refundable. Glad to hear that's not widespread because it turned me off to the idea of getting the vehicle at all if it was widespread. I appreciate the responses and advice. You all are much more friendly than some other car forums I've been on with sports cars so I'm glad to hear there seems to be a good and helpful community of enthusiasts as well.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,488
Likes: 1,743
From: Knoxville Tn
If you're looking for aa semi local dealer. Reeder in Knoxville is on the top 100 list (around mid 60's) and sells at MSRP+ a small documentation fee (about $400). Call and ask for RickBoggs, he handled my purchase which I'm receiving at the museum on the 23rd. #865-684-1801
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
There are some top ten Corvette dealers that have lists that are not as long and overwhelming as the super big dealers. For example, I ordered from Rick Hendrick Chevrolet in Duluth, GA and his list was manageable. I gave him $1000 deposit on 15 September ... that was refundable. Then another $4000 when his allocation covered my order. That happened on 15 November and at that point, all $5000 was not refundable, BUT all $5000 applies to the total cost ... which is MSRP+Doc fee+taxes/license. So they do not add to list.
The total time between my initial list deposit and delivery will be about 4 1/2 months. My car built last Friday and I expect it will be in my garage around the end of the month. There are a few of us that have not had to wait 12 or 18 months. You just have to find a dealer that has high enough Corvette historical volumes to have good 2021 allocation from Chevrolet ... and one that doesn't have a waiting list so long that they won't be able to get to you in a timely manner. That's the trick ...
The total time between my initial list deposit and delivery will be about 4 1/2 months. My car built last Friday and I expect it will be in my garage around the end of the month. There are a few of us that have not had to wait 12 or 18 months. You just have to find a dealer that has high enough Corvette historical volumes to have good 2021 allocation from Chevrolet ... and one that doesn't have a waiting list so long that they won't be able to get to you in a timely manner. That's the trick ...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 6,671
Likes: 4,144
2020 C8 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks all. A local dealer said it would be $5K down and it would not apply to the cost of the vehicle and was not refundable. Glad to hear that's not widespread because it turned me off to the idea of getting the vehicle at all if it was widespread. I appreciate the responses and advice. You all are much more friendly than some other car forums I've been on with sports cars so I'm glad to hear there seems to be a good and helpful community of enthusiasts as well.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 85
Likes: 35
From: Haslet TX
Hi welcome to the forum. You can't go wrong with one of the forum dealers. Also check with some of the second tier dealers. I've noticed a few posts recently where someone ordered in Oct and will have their car in the next few montths. Any reputable dealer will apply the deposit to the purchase price. A few dealers will make the deposit nonrefundable once the order is accepted but most don't. $5000 is on the high end of the deposit scale.
.
Many feel 2LT is the best bang for the buck. You should check out the C8 Order Guide sticky at the top. The important thing is to get on someones list now. Then you can decide what you want to order while you wait Educate yourself on allocations and constraints and be sure to find out where you are on his list and how many allocations he has.. Check the stickies.
Have fun!
.
Many feel 2LT is the best bang for the buck. You should check out the C8 Order Guide sticky at the top. The important thing is to get on someones list now. Then you can decide what you want to order while you wait Educate yourself on allocations and constraints and be sure to find out where you are on his list and how many allocations he has.. Check the stickies.
Have fun!
Last edited by PeytonJ; Jan 17, 2021 at 12:42 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 196
Likes: 183
First off... I love my sebring orange 3lt Z51 coupe. But if I was doing it again... I'd probably go with the convertible. I take the top offore than I expected and the convertible makes that so easy. I also would have done a museum delivery (and I'm in CA)... Make the experience special.