brettbolt

In early October my wife is going to a seminar in Charlotte, NC. I am considering going with her (we would be flying in from California).

I'm interested in taking a side trip after the seminar to the Bowling Green factory. My wife does not really want to go there because its a 440 mile drive.

Also, I'm not even sure if factory tours will be offered in October. This is from the assembly plant website:

"Beginning September 14, 2012 tours of Bowling Green Assembly will be temporarily closed as we begin preparations to build the next-generation Chevrolet Corvette. We can't yet announce when the plant will reopen to the public, but can tell you it will be well worth the wait. For updates, please check our website, www.bowlinggreenassemblyplant.com. Thanks for your interest in General Motors and America's favorite sports car, and we can't wait to show you the next-generation Corvette built right here in Bowling Green."

For those who have done the factory tour, would you recommend going (if they're open for tours in October), or should I skip it?

Rky Mtn C6

I was going to go to the NCM this year and hit the assembly plant as well. I also heard the assembly plant tours won't begin until "late" fall. Therefore I put it on the bucket list for next year. Got a couple friends/fellow C6 owners going with me. One is planning on taking a museum delivery of a C7 while there.

jb_va2001

This trip, or another, plan to tour the BG plant (once tours resume) and visit the NCM. Any Corvette fan will LOVE it. Expect to spend several hours in BG between the two.

Cheers,
JB

BearZ06

Do it. If you're a Corvette fan you won't regret it. The Assembly Plant and Museum are very close, and you'll be busy for most of the day and may even want to go back to the museum the next.

tloon

Absolutely worth it. Especially if you can include a stop at Nashville, 60 miles south. Even better.

ben dover

^This^.

R&L's C6

I would say if you want to see the museum, the plant tour is also worth doing. I enjoyed the plant tour but I don't think it would be worth it to drove almost 500 miles to just do the plant tour though. JMO

If your wife isn't into Corvettes, she probably wont enjoy either...

tprice

Wife and I are wanting to go see it, and hit Nashville as well, so may wait till next spring to make sure the plant is open for tours. Actually thought of making it a Labor Day weekend trip but I really would like to see the plant while I am at it

Scuba Ghost

The museum and plant tour is a must. I would keep checking the NCM website to see when the tours of the plant will start again.

beepster

Yup, you will be glad you did it. There are also a couple of interesting area side trips such as The Bourbon Trail (Makers Mark distillery), etc. Beautiful country, seize the opportunity...you may never get back

carl3989

My wife and I went a couple of years ago. Let me assure you sir it is a must do for any car enthusiast, let alone a vette owner. Even my wife who is less than enthusiastic about cars enjoyed the factory tour and was even disappointed that they didn't show us the paint shop.

FortMorganAl

Just order a C7 and specify NCM delivery next spring. Now there is a trip you will never forget! Personal guided tour of both the factory and the museum with your own guide to answer every question as well as your car being on display in the museum for all the people who paid to get in to see.

OK, if you can't swing that and you care about Corvettes, yes, the museum is worth a 440 mile detour once and the factory tour is even better IMHO. Once you've see a factory worker using a large rubber mallet to get the fascia cover on or another pulling with all his might sideways on a hood to get it aligned and the way the hood flexes in the process, you will have an all new feeling about the garage queens.

peter pan

Take the drive and do both the museum and factory

BWF07

The date you post was for Sept of 2012. This is 2013. You may want to check again, as I do believe the plant will be in full production mode in Sept of 2013 as they will be shipping that month. They were are still are closed for the remodeling and retooling for the C7 right now, but I believe the plant tours will be starting up again soon.

cduckworth

The NCM and the factory tour are both well worth the trip IMO. The factory workers are very friendly, and it was a great thrill to see our car on the line. I've been three times, and I'll go back again for sure.

Supersonic 427

I have been to the museum and plant 5 times. 1997, 2000 and for 3 Z06 Fests from 2002-2004. A great experience...you will like it! I will be going again, one of these days.

Sunnyvale Dave

I was making a business trip back East a few years ago. For a relatively small additional cost, I could have stopped at Bowling Green. People here advised me to do it. I didn't listen to their advice. I wish I would have gone to Bowling Green.

My advice would be to do it.

carpe dm

My wife and I have been going to the plant since 1983, have served as tour guides, etc. You will enjoy it. The Museum, across the street, is a "must", too.

brettbolt

Now the question is not whether I want to go (I do), its whether they'll be open for tours in early September. I hope they will announce the opening in time for me to make plans.

Anthony s

GO! I went , took the all day tour, it was great! My wife was even impressed. She discussed paint selections with a manager from the paint dept. going back when they start the C7 tours.