Picked up my "(unknowingly-partially) sea wolf grey" Z06 on Dec 1, 2023, 25 months after placing deposit. Had appointment to get ceramic and PPF installed 2 weeks later and got derailed!

<Photos below show Sea Wolf Grey body panels contrasting with contrasting flat grey, real obvious in 3500-5000K light.>

Notified Corvette Concierge of the issue, just 18 days after delivery/pick up and was instructed to take car to local certified corvette dealership for verification.

I dropped everything I was doing and immediately drove to the local certified Corvette dealership (who were very accommodating on seeing me on such short notice). The paint mismatch issue was immediately verified collision team manager, sales manager and other staff, report generated internally and sent up to command by the dealership. Independently, I cycled back to Chevrolet Concierge who immediately assigned a Case number on my issue, I thought this is pretty "open and shut", boy, was I mistaken!.

A week after case issued, I was contacted that Chevy- Corvette is happy to have local dealer paint the panels for free, (thinking to myself for a long nanosecond & wondering how that paint repair will look on my CarFax?), I responded that I was not interested in painting my 1200 mile- 25 day old six figure car, suggested that a "Buy Back" & rebuild would be better served to Chevrolet and to me as a customer. Corvette contact took my request and submitted it to management 12-26-2023 just one week after the discovery of the problem, I thought "not too bad for a big corporation over the holidays".
Independently, I immediately reached out to my delivering dealer who, without any hesitation at all after viewing the same photos you see below, sprung in to action and assured me he would be working on a plan to get a replacement car ordered (without the proverbial queue).

2 weeks go by, (Chevrolet did a good job reaching out on several occasions stating that "nothing had happened in the Buy Back review resolving my issue").

Today, Chevrolet denied & closed the Case and stated "I need to work out a resolution with the selling Dealer". I have been punted, knowingly to a dealer 8 hours and a time zone separated and I thought to myself "sure glad I didn't waste 2.5 weeks waiting for that advise..."

My delivering dealer repeatedly reassured me that a replacement build was possible; could be ordered but that there is one significant hang up... No Sale or transfer of title allowed in first 6 months or the Warranty on Powertrain is voided (this is imposed by...Chevorlet and I am now stuck in no man's land...I cannot trade the car in to the selling dealer for another 5 more months. Wow!

Epilog: Dealer is going to reach out to Chevrolet to see what they want to do to resolve the trade in issue.

Just so bitterly frustrated with how Chevrolet is dealing with such an obvious faux pas with their product. This is not a labor issue, this is not a covid issue this is nothing more than people looking at a bottom line, detached from their customers.

Incidentally, the local Chevy dealer (collision shop manager) who performed the initial incoming inspection on December 19 had never, in 30 plus years working on Chevrolet, seen an issue like this and the ceramic/PPF installer with 16 years working with all brands of cars had not seen it either.

You got to ask yourself, how in 2024, with all the statistical process control, AOI & Quality Circles, audit steps can Corvette mix up my body panels on the production; cycle my vehicle and the other one that has my body panels through their QC checks, all the audits and not catch this simple but incredibly obvious gaffe?

I reconcile myself that I have an extremely rare Corvette, unique, 1 of only 2 custom FACTORY painted Z06's, (some other dude is out there in his Z06 with my 4 panels, if you see a Sea Wolf Grey out there that only partially sparkles in the sun (on the driver side of the car), let them know I have the parts they need to correct their car.

Still hoping Chevy will do the right thing and work with my selling dealer to make this right for us but todays action by the Chevy Team is really demoralizing statement about the brand and their commitment to customers. I do not normally get on web like this, but after nearly 4 weeks and with todays determination,Corvette Team deserve the embarrassment of what they have done.



hood


Rear Quarterpanel I

rear quarter panel II

fuel cover

 

I can only try to imagine to be in your shoes after the long wait and what you paid. It is not a happy day to see a fellow member in distress.

Hang in there.


George

 

It’s a collectors item.

it’s also unacceptable that an unfinished car was sold to you.

I don’t mean to be an a-hole, but GM didn’t think that color through, it should be more evident that it was two tone from the start. It should have never made it out of the factory but obviously it doesn’t look two tone to everyone.

 

Unbelievable that they would not catch this, then not correct this. Shame on you Chevrolet for not stepping up.

 

That’s Terrible. That’s worth an email to Mary B the CEO.

 

Send these photos to Shane at the NCM. He will forward them to the plant. You will get an answer. In the past I have seen the plant take cars back for a complete re panel. Why is it you didn't see this before signing the papers and taking delivery. Some of those panels like the convertible top unit and the gas door are painted by a third party and come to the plant pre painted this is why you have an mis match. To get things moving along faster I would immediately file for a buy back with the BBB. Online.

 

This strikes me as proof positive that the Corvette has too many monochrome color choices.

Keep us posted.

 

I am surprised no one at the receiving dealership noticed the different colored panels. I will add this to my list of things to always check before accepting delivery of my next new car.

 

That sucks…. As you said…. Talk about disappointing….

I would chalk this up to a “gm decision”…. this is a BS Corp answer.

The last time I had any success with a factory based issue like this I went to the government SEC website and copied the names of every member of the board of directors and sent them all the same letter asking for help.

Unfortunately gm has no fear that people might not buy a Z06 because of your issue. If they thought it might actually affect sales they would have a different answer. They should at least wave the six month no trade nonsense if you and your dealer are able to fix this on your own.

best of luck

 

I took delivery of my sea wolf gray Z06 on december 2. No such problems with my paint. Chevrolet needs to make things right with you.

 

Hard to understand why (1) you even accepted the car (2) it took you so long to notice the problem and (3) if ”the local Chevy dealer (collision shop manager) who performed the initial incoming inspection on December 19 had never, in 30 plus years working on Chevrolet, seen an issue like this" he didn't inform you before you accepted the car, and note the problem on the PDI form.

 

The first one bolded above is why AI may very well become the future, just so that this type of mistake doesn't happen.

The second one is obvious to me, and to some others as well. Jumping through hoops should not have to be the new owner's job.

If I can make a suggestion to the OP, follow RapidHTC's advice. It can't hurt to try it.

For those who say it's difficult to understand why OP took the car in that mult-color state there any number of reasons including, "the fog of getting your new car." All are justified even IF the result is the new owner and every person along the line at the factory, delivery, dealer, etc. could have, and should have noticed the different colors.

Good luck to OP.

 

OP- that mismatched paint is inexcusable. Sorry you are not getting more help from GM - they should waive the six month selling stipulation (which it really should not be classified as in the first place) and let your dealer order a new car for you. They can then figure out what to do with the car.

 

I’m still dealing with my Z06 crap

Now I’m down to having to email My GM Rewards to see if I can get reward $ for my situation.
Hope your situation gets resolved

 

LOL.. with this logic we should waive all future claims and warranties once we take delivery of a car.

 

The people who do the PDI overlook these things so they just pass it onto the buyer so it'll be their problem. they are that lazy! The chevy dealers are lazy and dont want to handle this crap. I would never buy another chevy besides a corvette.

 

wow thats incredible, how could that car get thru QC...........I am hoping Chevy steps up and does the right thing with some additional pressure from you and the dealer

 

To be fair something this bad should have never made it to PDI, I dont expect some underpaid overworked line tech at the dealer to catch it, but I damn sure would hope the QC folks at the factory would.

 

Having the repaint correct completed as originally directed may have been and may still be the best course of action at this time.. I would not have shown on carfax.

 

Harlequin edition C8.