Ordering vs buying one on the lot

ourwully

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While I wait for my order I seem to be compulsively looking at all things Corvette. One thing that has caught my attention is the price of Corvettes on the lots. What I have noticed is that a lot of the ones in the dealerships seem to be one extreme or the other. There are quite a few very basic Stingrays and quite a few of the more expensive Grand Sports, Z06s, and loaded Z51s all with prices over 100K and certainly beyond my budget. There are even a lot of 2 and 3 year old cars beyond my budget. I know this is just self affirmation but by ordering my car I was able to get exactly what I wanted at a price I could afford. For me, my basic requirements were convertible, white, chrome wheels, heated seats (2LT), and the Z51 package. Although I would have loved to get other options they just put the car out of my reach. I wonder how many impulse buys at the dealership have ended up with buyers wishing they had got a different colour or different options. I know I almost bought a blue Z51 with black wheels that was on the lot but I just couldn't live with black wheels.
 
While I wait for my order I seem to be compulsively looking at all things Corvette. One thing that has caught my attention is the price of Corvettes on the lots. What I have noticed is that a lot of the ones in the dealerships seem to be one extreme or the other. There are quite a few very basic Stingrays and quite a few of the more expensive Grand Sports, Z06s, and loaded Z51s all with prices over 100K and certainly beyond my budget. There are even a lot of 2 and 3 year old cars beyond my budget. I know this is just self affirmation but by ordering my car I was able to get exactly what I wanted at a price I could afford. For me, my basic requirements were convertible, white, chrome wheels, heated seats (2LT), and the Z51 package. Although I would have loved to get other options they just put the car out of my reach. I wonder how many impulse buys at the dealership have ended up with buyers wishing they had got a different colour or different options. I know I almost bought a blue Z51 with black wheels that was on the lot but I just couldn't live with black wheels.

For sure lot cars are at times a compromise in some way for buyers. Ordering a car is the way to go providing you know exactly what you want. A good dealer will let you explore the lots cars then order but usually the hard sell will be on the lots cars due to allocation moaning.
I’m on my 2nd C7 Z so I had the dealer find the exact car I wanted and bring it to me. Yes a bit pricey but I got the car fairly quick.
Buyers come in all shapes and sizes so it a pretty individual choice thing.
Glad you got exactly what you wanted.
 
Benefit is that those fully loaded cars see very deep discounts at year end and you end up scoring fully loaded 3LT's at the price of base model. But, you are also buying a Corvette in the middle of winter so you need to store it and test your own patience :)

Personally I found a car with every option I wanted on the lot--I would have spec'd it no differently. This may not work for everyone. In the end these cars are not cheap in December or July--so just be sure to get what you want.
 
I had considered waiting to order at the end of the season but I figured the discount I got on the new one might be offset a bit by a lower trade in. Who knows. As it is, if the car comes late I will be storing it fairly soon anyway.
 
Agree. I netted around $13k discount and probably got around $3k less on my trade, but still very much worth it for me. All for 0% financing which is another perk at that time that I factored in.
 
I went to two dealerships yesterday in search of a Corvette brochure. My dealer was kind enough to print me a colour copy but I really wanted to have a hard copy. The first dealer had two Corvettes in the showroom but no brochures. The second dealer had 4 Corvettes and no brochures but one of the salesman was able to find me a 2017 version. When I got home I noticed that it was virtually the same as my 2019 printed version so I was quite happy. He also told me that they cost around $25 and that they sell around 6 or 7 Corvettes a year but could give away hundreds of brochures.

My visit to the dealerships confirmed my earlier post. Of the six cars I saw, they were all over 100K except for one red LT1 coupe that had red brake calipers as its single option and was selling at around 70K. It was a really nice looking car and you could see why they had chosen the red calipers. One of the cars that really got my attention was a white Z51 coupe with carbon fibre spoilers, sills , and various other places. It was a stunning car but its cost was more than 20K more than the Z51 convertible I ordered. I may be in the minority here , but if I was going to spend 20K more I would have gone for the Grand Sport. Despite my feelings on the matter I know for sure that the person who buys this car will be very happy with it. It will get a lot of attention. The one thing that would worry me, however, was that front spoiler mounted below the already low front. When I had my C6 I was always careful but I still managed to scrape the front bottom a few times.
 
A lot depends on how long it has been sitting on the lot. The longer the better - for you.
Not everyone likes yellow, I love it, so that played to my favor.
The only thing missing on mine is the NPP dual mode exhaust. I can live quite well without it. Besides, you do not hear it that much in the car except at low speed. It is more for the neighbours benefit. LOL
It is an LT2 with Z51 and decked out the same (options) as an LT3 & painted calipers (red). Got the supposedly zero% financing as well plus extended warranty. Came in well under $100K but that was July 2016.
The dealers are more liable to bargain at this time of year as the car may have been sitting there for some time and the next model year will be coming on to their lots fairly soon. You just have to shop around and find what you can do without (NPP for me) and if the rest is up to your criteria, go for it
 
I went to two dealerships yesterday in search of a Corvette brochure. My dealer was kind enough to print me a colour copy but I really wanted to have a hard copy. The first dealer had two Corvettes in the showroom but no brochures. The second dealer had 4 Corvettes and no brochures but one of the salesman was able to find me a 2017 version. When I got home I noticed that it was virtually the same as my 2019 printed version so I was quite happy. He also told me that they cost around $25 and that they sell around 6 or 7 Corvettes a year but could give away hundreds of brochures.

My visit to the dealerships confirmed my earlier post. Of the six cars I saw, they were all over 100K except for one red LT1 coupe that had red brake calipers as its single option and was selling at around 70K. It was a really nice looking car and you could see why they had chosen the red calipers. One of the cars that really got my attention was a white Z51 coupe with carbon fibre spoilers, sills , and various other places. It was a stunning car but its cost was more than 20K more than the Z51 convertible I ordered. I may be in the minority here , but if I was going to spend 20K more I would have gone for the Grand Sport. Despite my feelings on the matter I know for sure that the person who buys this car will be very happy with it. It will get a lot of attention. The one thing that would worry me, however, was that front spoiler mounted below the already low front. When I had my C6 I was always careful but I still managed to scrape the front bottom a few times.


The Corvette brochure I got with my 17 Z is actually pretty good. Lays out all the options in colour detail. I would definitely press your dealer to get you one. A nice keepsake to have with your new car. It will show all the things you chose to make the car yours.
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As far as the low aero goes. Yes you're correct it is very low and you have to consider that always. However driving over speed bumps and parking lot entrances that have dips etc is safely done at an angle. I have stage 3 aero on my car and virtually never scrape with the angle approach.
Where you need to be really careful is parking. There is not a parking curb that will not rip the splitter off your car. It is just too low to clear them. Backing in is the preferred way but not easy or practical for a quick stop at 7-11. If you got the front parking cameras in your build your laughing as they work great. If not... be careful.
Just to add... if you do happen to rip off your splitter on a curb, it both embarrassing and expensive but not the end of the world. The car is designed to let it rip off without any other major damage. Plus aftermarket stuff can be considerably cheaper. Dealers are replacing this stuff constantly and a good dealer will bring you in the cheaper aftermarket stuff and install it for you with no complaint.

Enjoy your new 19. You are getting a fantastic car to drive.

D
 
As with a House, always get what you want, need and can afford with these gems.
Do a virtual shop in that brochure of everything you want. Find out if a dealer has it or can get it.
If not order it as you will get what you paid for …
Patience is required when shopping on the lot. Dealer Reps love a fish that is Hot to Bite.
I shopped 300 miles for 5 very similar vehicles on 5 Dealership Lots. It was terrible waiting
but what sweet satisfaction once I knew we didn't have to leave the Lot one day without
signing an offer to purchase. 45 days and 300 miles and I have zero regret and zero remorse.
Every Corvette looks Great and so are their Owners … selfishly, I am good being the only person
knowing every day that my Corvette is Awesome :thumbs: … I have a Wife parking next to me saying
the same about hers … that's what matters
I also have such great friends who embrace adding a thing or two post-purchase. They appear to me as merely tweaking their initial satisfaction up a notch at a time … over time … and I really enjoy seeing them doing this.
I'd would have factory ordered if I didn't see 5 that fit me very well on nearby lots … They were all the same color; loaded Stingrays (one was an upgrade 2lt), all Z51, all coupes, all same wheels … Bought the only one without the Mag Ride … as it didn't matter...
Best of good fortune to you ...

Now to sweeten your experience … there will be many here that agree and recommend that you put a US$1000
Bill toward a vacation in Las Vegas for a few days and enjoy two more days at the Corvette Owners Driving School … That will simply snap a big red-bow around your car for you to never look back with any "what ifs…"

I am excited to see what you get delivered and embrace … and more so … your photo of/with it … Cheers!
 
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I don't know anything about the Corvette Owners Driving School. That sounds like a good deal for two days instruction. Is it a special deal for new owners or is it always available?
 
I forgot to mention but I won't be adding the front spoiler because my intention is to make my own licence plate holder and attach it to two of the screws the spoiler would use. I made one for my c6 out of aluminium and then folded the plate so it was long and narrow like a European plate. I was never so happy as when I took that huge clunker of a plate off the front of my c6. In my opinion, the front of the Corvette is the best looking front of any car regardless of price and to spoil it with a huge plate right in the middle of the grille is a crime. All the cars I saw yesterday had the big plate holder right in the middle of the grill and one even had a plate holder that was so high its top was over the top of the grill . Looking at the cover of the 2017 brochure, as posted above, I can't imagine spoiling that look with a big plate.
 
I don't know anything about the Corvette Owners Driving School. That sounds like a good deal for two days instruction. Is it a special deal for new owners or is it always available?

It is and the best $1000 you can spend owning a Corvette. Takes all the guesswork out of driving a Corvette and you are treated like gold when there.

GM pays $2000 of the $3000 us for the 2 day owners school. Must be registered within 12 months after buying the car.
Anyone can register at any time as they have many many cars...but it's at full cost. You as a new owner will be given the exact model and transmission you purchased so its apple to apples for you as an owner. It's like driving your own car.

Spence has all the details as he is on "first name basis" with the gang at Spring Mountain.
 
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I just googled the school and it looks great. My wife was listening and she wants to go to. Do you get 2 places for $2000? Also can you go anytime. I think January would be a nice break.
 
Below is what I posted this year for my Wife and @ddgermann
Phone them and inquire … it's one driver for the $1000 …
I would like them to tell you everything you need to first know.
Then please feel free to ask anything you want to myself or anyone here
Just click the red links below ...
Spring Break has worked really well in order to blend a statutory holiday off work …
You have 12 months from when GM has your VIN# tied to your Name
That's what Spring Mountain first confirms and then the excitement builds.
They accept every driving style and you drive their cars (of same spec to what you Buy)

Enjoy ...

:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs:

Should other Brand New 2017/2018 Corvette Owners want to minimize time off Work and use a Long Weekend
Easter Weekend - March 30th & 31st 2018 is booking ( $US 1000.00 )

Corvette Owners School

WestJet Vacations has great travel packages too

Vacations, all-inclusive vacation packages | WestJet.com

Alamo has Camaros & Mustangs to Rent

Las Vegas McCarran Airport (LAS) Car Rental - Alamo Rent A Car

First thing you have to do is call Spring Mountain and have your
New Canadian Purchased Corvette VIN verified
1-800-391-6891
(ask for Melinda or Donna to get started)
(if you want tell them Spence Noble referred you - COS of April 3&4, 2017)
 
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Thanks for the additional information. I just phoned them and they were very helpful. Unfortunately GMC only subsidizes one driver, but my wife can ride along, stay in the room, and eat for free. Sounds like a plan to me. Now if I can coordinate it with a Leafs game that will be even better.
 
Just to chime in on Spring Mountain after calling them last week. We're considering going in December.... A few comments:

-as Derek mentioned you are matched to the car you purchased. But in the case of GS's you have to book sooner as there is limited availability of this car
-yes the gal mentioned you need to provide your VIN as Canadian cars are not in their database to confirm. They in turn call their GM contact.
-looks like the $1K fee includes a nite at the facility hotel. Can add a second ( only BEFORE) the school for $120
-they mentioned something about $10K liability on the car if it gets damaged ( maybe someone can explain details).
-The cost of the school for non-owners is $2,500.00 for the Stingray class, and $3,695.00 for the Grand Sport and Z06 class.
Looks like a fun fun experience!
 
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… if I can coordinate it with a Leafs game that will be even better.

Gee whiz … Give a guy an inch and he takes a mile … ;):thumbs:

Pick the Venetian to Stay at in Las Vegas … it's a perfect fit for "Happy Wife …"
(westjet served me excellently with an inclusive travel package - over the phone)
 
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This 2019 Corvette brochure is available from the National Corvette Museum web page..
A buddy got this for me recently.
I haven’t opened it yet... I am waiting to look thru his books..!

Graham
 

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