Buying a new Corvette
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,679
Likes: 23
From: Newark CA
Buying a new Corvette
Have you purchased a C8 Corvette from a local dealer? I have only contacted one, Fremont Chevrolet, but it wants a $5000 markup on a Grand Sport. I have a deposit at MacMulkin, but wanted to give local dealers an opportunity to get my money.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 613
Likes: 440
From: Bay Area, CA
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I went through this clown show when I shopped for my C8 in 2023. Bay Area dealers are usually the last in the country when it comes to removing mark ups. I wouldn't bother with Fremont Chevrolet. I would start with Boardwalk in Redwood City. If they won't deal with you, then try one of the Socal dealers like Rydell or Ventura. I shopped 11 Bay Area dealers (all the way out to Tracy) and they all sucked. Boardwalk called me back a couple of months later, but by then it was too late. I ended up ordering from Rydell in Northridge and road tripping the car back up 101. What a beautiful drive in a C8 (or any car). Good Luck.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,083
Likes: 710
From: Sunnyvale CA
Or buy online from a major dealer like MacMulkin and have it delivered here from the factory (same cost no matter where it is delivered) Many years ago local dealers wanted $5-10K over MSRP for my C5. I met a dealer online in Georgia who did not. They got my money and a local dealer got a few hundred dollars for prep.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 52
From: Northern California
Stick with Macmulkin, not only do the California dealers mark them up, they also load up the MSRP with useless options to raise their revenue. If you look at the cars on the lot at MacMulkin and compare them to the ones here in California you will see the difference. I don’t needed a corvette branded roadside or emergency kit or overpriced stripes or high wing spoiler. MacMulkin orders them with z51 and magnetic ride and others have that and the lift and GT2 seats. Most do get ordered with the 1k wheel upgrade. I bought it their lot and paid 3k to ship here. They are offering 6% of MSRP in 2027 orders which is a great deal if you don’t mind waiting. The existing 2026 models will be dropping soon as the 2027 models start hitting the lots.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,050
Likes: 665
From: Norcal
I went through Tracy in 2022 for my 2023. No mark up, no BS they were MSRP and didnt try HARD lol to upsell warranty, etc. It was a great experience. I wanted to use Rich and team at Able but at the time no allocations. I would check with him for the hell of it. I use them for all my dealer specific work. I know people praise Able around here all the time but trust me there is a reason.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 613
Likes: 440
From: Bay Area, CA
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I went through Tracy in 2022 for my 2023. No mark up, no BS they were MSRP and didnt try HARD lol to upsell warranty, etc. It was a great experience. I wanted to use Rich and team at Able but at the time no allocations. I would check with him for the hell of it. I use them for all my dealer specific work. I know people praise Able around here all the time but trust me there is a reason.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 52
From: Northern California
For those worried about purchasing from an out of state dealer and having the car shipped here, while the cost of transportation has gone up, the smog process is currently easy. My car arrived last Friday and I driven it for 300 miles and it passed smog yesterday with three pending test and only cost $50 for test and certificate. VIN verification next and I should get my plates sometime next week.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 613
Likes: 440
From: Bay Area, CA
2025 C8 Stingray of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Another option is courtesy delivery. Bay Area courtesy delivery might cost around $1k, but registration and smog is handled. If you're saving $9k off a $90k car through MacMulkin (or any other high volume outside of California dealer, even with $1k courtesy delivery + $1,500 shipping, you still come out way ahead versus buying from a Bay Area dealer.
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 52
From: Northern California
Another option is courtesy delivery. Bay Area courtesy delivery might cost around $1k, but registration and smog is handled. If you're saving $9k off a $90k car through MacMulkin (or any other high volume outside of California dealer, even with $1k courtesy delivery + $1,500 shipping, you still come out way ahead versus buying from a Bay Area dealer.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,353
Likes: 787
From: Redondo Beach, California
Bought a 2024 from MacMulkin. I'm in California. I ordered in Feb of 2023 and received my car in October. I opted for Museum Delivery and drove the car 2100+ miles home. A lot of fun...relaxing drive. They helped me with the paperwork for the California DMV. Getting it registered In California was no problem.
The Museum won't let you drive the car home unless you have tags for the car. Temporary tags are OK. The "tags" California provided were a 5 inch square piece of red paper to mount inside the windshield. I didn't want to drive all the way back to Ca without, at least, the traditional paper tags common in most states. Didn't want to be pulled over and have to defend Ca's 5 square inch piece of red paper. MacMulkin sent me, at no charge (?) a New Hampshire paper license tag...happiness on my part.
The Museum won't let you drive the car home unless you have tags for the car. Temporary tags are OK. The "tags" California provided were a 5 inch square piece of red paper to mount inside the windshield. I didn't want to drive all the way back to Ca without, at least, the traditional paper tags common in most states. Didn't want to be pulled over and have to defend Ca's 5 square inch piece of red paper. MacMulkin sent me, at no charge (?) a New Hampshire paper license tag...happiness on my part.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 77
Likes: 52
From: Northern California
Bought a 2024 from MacMulkin. I'm in California. I ordered in Feb of 2023 and received my car in October. I opted for Museum Delivery and drove the car 2100+ miles home. A lot of fun...relaxing drive. They helped me with the paperwork for the California DMV. Getting it registered In California was no problem.
The Museum won't let you drive the car home unless you have tags for the car. Temporary tags are OK. The "tags" California provided were a 5 inch square piece of red paper to mount inside the windshield. I didn't want to drive all the way back to Ca without, at least, the traditional paper tags common in most states. Didn't want to be pulled over and have to defend Ca's 5 square inch piece of red paper. MacMulkin sent me, at no charge (?) a New Hampshire paper license tag...happiness on my part.
The Museum won't let you drive the car home unless you have tags for the car. Temporary tags are OK. The "tags" California provided were a 5 inch square piece of red paper to mount inside the windshield. I didn't want to drive all the way back to Ca without, at least, the traditional paper tags common in most states. Didn't want to be pulled over and have to defend Ca's 5 square inch piece of red paper. MacMulkin sent me, at no charge (?) a New Hampshire paper license tag...happiness on my part.