Report on my 2008 Museum Delivery: Bowling Green to San Diego (Pics)
Congrats and nice write up. 
08-06-2007, 12:50 PM
#48
Safety Car
Nice write up! I'm jealous of the museum delivery. Definitely a must for my next Vette.
How in the heck did you manage to avoid all of the bugs?! After a few hundred miles each day on my last road trip, the front end was positively gross!
Enjoy the new toy!
How in the heck did you manage to avoid all of the bugs?! After a few hundred miles each day on my last road trip, the front end was positively gross!
Enjoy the new toy!
08-06-2007, 01:14 PM
#49
Melting Slicks
Congrats!!
Your post regarding the Museum Delivery came at a very opportune time. I'm a forum 'newbie' and have been lurking here for a few days reading all the great information.
The wife and I are starting to get the Vette bug again. We perviously owned 4 Vettes...a '72, '76, '86 and inbetween all those an original '66 w/427. So, now we're asking ourselves do we want an '07 or wait and order a '08 ,with the Factory Delivery option. Your post definitely convinced us what to do in regard to delivery.
You trip sounded exciting and one to be envied...cross country in a brand new Vette, doesn't get any better.
Have fun and best of luck with the new ride.
AL
Your post regarding the Museum Delivery came at a very opportune time. I'm a forum 'newbie' and have been lurking here for a few days reading all the great information.
The wife and I are starting to get the Vette bug again. We perviously owned 4 Vettes...a '72, '76, '86 and inbetween all those an original '66 w/427. So, now we're asking ourselves do we want an '07 or wait and order a '08 ,with the Factory Delivery option. Your post definitely convinced us what to do in regard to delivery.
You trip sounded exciting and one to be envied...cross country in a brand new Vette, doesn't get any better.
Have fun and best of luck with the new ride.
AL
08-06-2007, 11:32 PM
#51
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Congrats!!
Your post regarding the Museum Delivery came at a very opportune time. I'm a forum 'newbie' and have been lurking here for a few days reading all the great information.
The wife and I are starting to get the Vette bug again. We perviously owned 4 Vettes...a '72, '76, '86 and inbetween all those an original '66 w/427. So, now we're asking ourselves do we want an '07 or wait and order a '08 ,with the Factory Delivery option. Your post definitely convinced us what to do in regard to delivery.
You trip sounded exciting and one to be envied...cross country in a brand new Vette, doesn't get any better.
Have fun and best of luck with the new ride.
AL
Your post regarding the Museum Delivery came at a very opportune time. I'm a forum 'newbie' and have been lurking here for a few days reading all the great information.
The wife and I are starting to get the Vette bug again. We perviously owned 4 Vettes...a '72, '76, '86 and inbetween all those an original '66 w/427. So, now we're asking ourselves do we want an '07 or wait and order a '08 ,with the Factory Delivery option. Your post definitely convinced us what to do in regard to delivery.
You trip sounded exciting and one to be envied...cross country in a brand new Vette, doesn't get any better.
Have fun and best of luck with the new ride.
AL
08-13-2007, 01:27 PM
#53
see the...
As they used to say "see the USA in a Chevrolet" so very nice story and pictures. Thanks!
08-13-2007, 02:16 PM
#55
Race Director
Thanks for the writeup and pics. Rem,inded of my year-ago drive home from Bowling Green to Northern Cal. What a great car to see this great country in! Sure is hard to keep it to 55 for the first half-thousand miles, isn't it? The second mine got to 500 miles I blasted by another car on a two lane and got to 125! 
Sure is hard to keep it to 55 for the first half-thousand miles, isn't it? The second mine got to 500 miles I blasted by another car on a two lane and got to 125!
08-13-2007, 03:35 PM
#56
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Location: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
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Congrats - we did the Museum Delivery in late 99 & drove back to San Diego (Carlsbad). Great trip, in spite of being interrupted by a blizzard in Texas.
Picking up a silver '06 in Orlando later this week & looking forward to another road trip!
Picking up a silver '06 in Orlando later this week & looking forward to another road trip!
08-13-2007, 04:54 PM
#58
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Congrats on your new Vette. Great color combinations. And yes the Museum delivery is great ! Did mine in 06 and headed east, back to MA.
Does it get any better than a cross country, Good ole USA, road trip in a brand new Chevy Corvette = Priceless
And you got the fastest color.
Happy Motoring
Dave Y
08-13-2007, 05:00 PM
#59
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On Tuesday morning I picked up my 2008 1YY from Bowling Green.
Before I get into details of this incredible road trip, I owe a very special thanks to Purdue/Andre and his father who were kind enough to give me one of their GMS vouchers. I genuinely appreciate this Andre. Please share this post with your dad and let him know I was thinking about him as I toured the factory and museum. Since you posted pictures of him, he kept popping to the front of my mind during the tours... wishing I could thank him then and there. Thanks again!!
Road Trip Metrics
Miles Driven: 2231
Observed Avg Fuel Economy: 28-29 (This fact amazed me) more below.
Coolant Temps: 210.. always (Odd no?)
Avg Speed on Interstate: 85-95 mph
Number of Tickets: ZERO!
Ambient Temps: 55 in Colorado, 118 in Nevada
States Crossed: 9, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona (a 25 mile corner) and California.
The Tour
Thomas from the Museum gave a great insightful tour. He knows more about the car's history, heritage and assembly than anyone else I've ever met.
The Car
The car was waiting for me upon arrival at the Museum... under Cam No. 4. I noticed a 3/4" tear in the passenger's seat bottom cushion, so Dave from the museum's PDI dept. immediately took my car back across the street to the plant to have them fix it. By the time the day was over, and I was ready to leave, my new baby was back with a brand new seat!! Hows that for service? Thanks to Thomas, Dave and everyone else behind the scenes who handled this for me.
SUPRISING FUEL ECONOMY
Since the new EPA rules result in lower "window sticker" mileage I was assuming I'd be getting 16/26 in real world driving. During the first 500 miles of break-in driving I was observing 26 mpg on the DIC. I thought this was reasonable. But, as the trip went on, and my car racked up more miles, the fuel economy actually IMPROVED!! Over the next 2,000 miles I was averaging 28-29 mpg. On the downward leg through the Rockies it climbed as high as 30.5.
THE ENGINE
I dont have much to compare it to as this is my first Vette, but the LS3 really impressed. It was fast, smooth and had a nice little growl (but not too much). The drive train proved superior to that of my 2003 Porsche 996 in terms of power delivery, smoothness, shifting.... not to mention economy. And the lopey idle is niiiiice.
THE ONLY GRIPE
With all the great efforts that have gone into making this car world class, why did Chevy go so F#@&'n cheap on the leather? Since they're only using leather seating "surfaces," why not make those tiny surfaces from GOOD high-quality leather? I know this is gnit-picky, but the lack of a quality leather creates a substantial uncomplimentary contrast against the car's other tremendous attributes. GM: PUT IN SOME PREMIUM QUALITY LEATHER. I would be very happy to pay the extra $100 it would cost.
PICTURES
That guy's Vette looks just like mine.
Thomas from the Museum breifs me on the gizmos. Here hes showing me how to use the 2008's Remote
Collision Avoidance Warning Illumination System.
GM calls it RCA-WIS, but I think they look and operate just like tail lights.
Corvette @ St. Louis Arch
Corvette @ St. Louis Arch: another view
Corvette & Missouri Corn.. or was it Kansas
Corvette @ Colorado Rockies
Corvette @ Colorado Rockies
Corvette in Utah
Corvette outside Vegas.. World's Tallest Thermometer @ 113f
While Kansas was great, there's no place like home: Back in San Diego by Pacific Ocean
Before I get into details of this incredible road trip, I owe a very special thanks to Purdue/Andre and his father who were kind enough to give me one of their GMS vouchers. I genuinely appreciate this Andre. Please share this post with your dad and let him know I was thinking about him as I toured the factory and museum. Since you posted pictures of him, he kept popping to the front of my mind during the tours... wishing I could thank him then and there. Thanks again!!
Road Trip Metrics
Miles Driven: 2231
Observed Avg Fuel Economy: 28-29 (This fact amazed me) more below.
Coolant Temps: 210.. always (Odd no?)
Avg Speed on Interstate: 85-95 mph
Number of Tickets: ZERO!
Ambient Temps: 55 in Colorado, 118 in Nevada
States Crossed: 9, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Arizona (a 25 mile corner) and California.
The Tour
Thomas from the Museum gave a great insightful tour. He knows more about the car's history, heritage and assembly than anyone else I've ever met.
The Car
The car was waiting for me upon arrival at the Museum... under Cam No. 4. I noticed a 3/4" tear in the passenger's seat bottom cushion, so Dave from the museum's PDI dept. immediately took my car back across the street to the plant to have them fix it. By the time the day was over, and I was ready to leave, my new baby was back with a brand new seat!! Hows that for service? Thanks to Thomas, Dave and everyone else behind the scenes who handled this for me.
SUPRISING FUEL ECONOMY
Since the new EPA rules result in lower "window sticker" mileage I was assuming I'd be getting 16/26 in real world driving. During the first 500 miles of break-in driving I was observing 26 mpg on the DIC. I thought this was reasonable. But, as the trip went on, and my car racked up more miles, the fuel economy actually IMPROVED!! Over the next 2,000 miles I was averaging 28-29 mpg. On the downward leg through the Rockies it climbed as high as 30.5.
THE ENGINE
I dont have much to compare it to as this is my first Vette, but the LS3 really impressed. It was fast, smooth and had a nice little growl (but not too much). The drive train proved superior to that of my 2003 Porsche 996 in terms of power delivery, smoothness, shifting.... not to mention economy. And the lopey idle is niiiiice.
THE ONLY GRIPE
With all the great efforts that have gone into making this car world class, why did Chevy go so F#@&'n cheap on the leather? Since they're only using leather seating "surfaces," why not make those tiny surfaces from GOOD high-quality leather? I know this is gnit-picky, but the lack of a quality leather creates a substantial uncomplimentary contrast against the car's other tremendous attributes. GM: PUT IN SOME PREMIUM QUALITY LEATHER. I would be very happy to pay the extra $100 it would cost.
PICTURES
That guy's Vette looks just like mine.
Thomas from the Museum breifs me on the gizmos. Here hes showing me how to use the 2008's Remote
Collision Avoidance Warning Illumination System.
GM calls it RCA-WIS, but I think they look and operate just like tail lights.
Corvette @ St. Louis Arch
Corvette @ St. Louis Arch: another view
Corvette & Missouri Corn.. or was it Kansas
Corvette @ Colorado Rockies
Corvette @ Colorado Rockies
Corvette in Utah
Corvette outside Vegas.. World's Tallest Thermometer @ 113f
While Kansas was great, there's no place like home: Back in San Diego by Pacific Ocean
I have one question for you. How long did it take for you to do the Plant Tour, Museum Tour and take Delivery of your Vette? Just trying to plan our Museum Delivery and where we can expect to be for that evening. Thanks for any help. Sandy
