This isn't good news...(Z51 Constraint issues)
10-15-2013, 08:36 AM
#42
Burning Brakes
I didn't "need" a Z51 but I ordered it for two principal reasons--the wheels are much better looking than the standard wheels IMO and the Magnetic Ride Control is not offered on the standard model. I had MSRC on my C6 and didn't want to go backwards technologically.
Assuming that these two items are not the reasons for the Z51 constraints, GM could make the standard model more attractive if they offered one or both of these as separate options on the non-Z51 coupe.
Assuming that these two items are not the reasons for the Z51 constraints, GM could make the standard model more attractive if they offered one or both of these as separate options on the non-Z51 coupe.
10-15-2013, 08:38 AM
#43
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St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
if that thing really said up to one year or into the '15 model year, that's really severe! in which case, what Gary wrote above could become reality. I read where one fellow walked in and was told Z51 wouldn't be available until May/June next year; at first, he thought the guy just didn't know and tossed out a timeframe. hmmm, maybe not so. I find it hard to believe it would take this long to remedy lack of supplier/parts issues tho.
10-15-2013, 08:46 AM
#44
Melting Slicks
this is the email I have spoke about in other posts from GM on my Z51 vert. I will contact my dealership as well to see what type story I get from them.
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet regarding your 2014 Corvette Stingray order. We apologize for the delay in our response. We have received a large number of inquiries since last week’s shipment announcement. We are working as hard as we can to provide the latest updates.
As of October 09, 2013, the status of Order Number RHHRNM is the following:
Order has been placed by your dealership and accepted by Chevrolet and is now in line for production. This process can take time, is subject to change, and does not mean that the vehicle is physically being built at this time. The next step in the process will be the assignment of a Target Production Week (TPW). However, at this time a TPW is not available for this order.......
We appreciate your patience and recognize the high amount of anticipation for the 2014 Corvette Stingray.
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet!
Sincerely,
The Chevrolet Marketing Team
http://www.chevrolet.com
You have received this email advertising GM products and services in response to your recent request for vehicle information. To opt out of receiving future email messages from General Motors please visit http://www.gmcontactpreferences.com/.
General Motors Corporation, 100 Renaissance Center, 482-MAR-100, Detroit, MI 48265
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet regarding your 2014 Corvette Stingray order. We apologize for the delay in our response. We have received a large number of inquiries since last week’s shipment announcement. We are working as hard as we can to provide the latest updates.
As of October 09, 2013, the status of Order Number RHHRNM is the following:
Order has been placed by your dealership and accepted by Chevrolet and is now in line for production. This process can take time, is subject to change, and does not mean that the vehicle is physically being built at this time. The next step in the process will be the assignment of a Target Production Week (TPW). However, at this time a TPW is not available for this order.......
We appreciate your patience and recognize the high amount of anticipation for the 2014 Corvette Stingray.
Thank you for contacting Chevrolet!
Sincerely,
The Chevrolet Marketing Team
http://www.chevrolet.com
You have received this email advertising GM products and services in response to your recent request for vehicle information. To opt out of receiving future email messages from General Motors please visit http://www.gmcontactpreferences.com/.
General Motors Corporation, 100 Renaissance Center, 482-MAR-100, Detroit, MI 48265
Seems like GM marketing did their job getting us interested enough to buy the Z51 package, but production is having start up issues for this very popular package. I will not change my order to the non-Z51 base Vette vert, and truthfully, getting the car delivered in December-March Minnesota winter is not what I need.
10-15-2013, 09:22 AM
#47
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Just got off the phone with the dealership that I ordered my Z51 vert with. According to the sales manager from the update he received from GM yesterday, Z51 constraint was only for 3-4 weeks and the vert is on track to be in production late November/early December.
10-15-2013, 09:32 AM
#48
Team Owner
I didn't "need" a Z51 but I ordered it for two principal reasons--the wheels are much better looking than the standard wheels IMO and the Magnetic Ride Control is not offered on the standard model. I had MSRC on my C6 and didn't want to go backwards technologically.
Assuming that these two items are not the reasons for the Z51 constraints, GM could make the standard model more attractive if they offered one or both of these as separate options on the non-Z51 coupe.
Assuming that these two items are not the reasons for the Z51 constraints, GM could make the standard model more attractive if they offered one or both of these as separate options on the non-Z51 coupe.
10-15-2013, 10:12 AM
#49
Melting Slicks
I agree.
It's really quite simple, if they cap the entire year's Z51 production to what's either already delivered or in the pipeline then the 2014 launch is a massive failure IMHO. Chevy builds cars people want and with JIT manufacturing they just need about 45 days to re-jigger supplier deliveries to meet the pipeline which is what I suspect they are doing.
For Christ sake, it's October 2013, the car has been in production all of 8 weeks and they have only built 1/4 of the cars they plan and someone prints you may have to wait till the 2015 model year for a Z51!
Do the math, if they were figuring a 35% take rate over the course of the year that's still 12,250 Z51's. At the time this article was written then had barely produced 3000 cars and had booked orders for maybe another 3000. That means 6000 cars with a 75% take rate = 4500 cars. Had their initial prediction been accurate they only expected to build 2100 so it's not surprising that by the time they hit VIN 3000 all the parts were used up.
Another thing, look around at published constrained posted by dealers. Each one has the constraint and the estimated duration. Z51 was listed as <4 weeks, that was on last week's report.
Expect Z51's to start popping back up on allocation by Nov 1st but there will probably only be a limited number, perhaps 25% of the total week's allocation. 2015 model year, yeah right......... That's right up there with my dealer telling me GM had 35000 C7's in the order books already.......
It's really quite simple, if they cap the entire year's Z51 production to what's either already delivered or in the pipeline then the 2014 launch is a massive failure IMHO. Chevy builds cars people want and with JIT manufacturing they just need about 45 days to re-jigger supplier deliveries to meet the pipeline which is what I suspect they are doing.
For Christ sake, it's October 2013, the car has been in production all of 8 weeks and they have only built 1/4 of the cars they plan and someone prints you may have to wait till the 2015 model year for a Z51!
Do the math, if they were figuring a 35% take rate over the course of the year that's still 12,250 Z51's. At the time this article was written then had barely produced 3000 cars and had booked orders for maybe another 3000. That means 6000 cars with a 75% take rate = 4500 cars. Had their initial prediction been accurate they only expected to build 2100 so it's not surprising that by the time they hit VIN 3000 all the parts were used up.
Another thing, look around at published constrained posted by dealers. Each one has the constraint and the estimated duration. Z51 was listed as <4 weeks, that was on last week's report.
Expect Z51's to start popping back up on allocation by Nov 1st but there will probably only be a limited number, perhaps 25% of the total week's allocation. 2015 model year, yeah right......... That's right up there with my dealer telling me GM had 35000 C7's in the order books already.......
The constraint should moderate to around 30-35% in November or December. That said, it may stay at that level for the rest of the 2014 model year (MY).
Think about the other side of the equation. If Chevrolet forecasted 35% take rate on the Z51, that means they also forecasted 65% take rate on the base car. They must have a lot of parts for the base car backed up at BG and/or the supplier's warehouses. GM may have "must take" contracts with the base car parts suppliers as well. Even if they were able to ramp-up the Z51 parts supply they would need to deal with the over-stock of base parts. Depending on the terms of the procurement contracts this problem could exist through the end of the 2014 MY.
This all leads to the current situation: The plant needs to build more base cars and fewer Z51 cars. GM's short term solution is to constrain the Z51 and force dealers to order base cars. Longer term they may have to offer incentives on the base model or increase the price on the Z51.
Enthusiasts will wait for the Z51 to be available. Forcing more base cars into the market will put cars in showrooms and sell more to the general public.
This is a mess and the GM marketing and Supply Chain departments were clearly out of sync. Only time will tell if they can adjust and meet the demand for Z51; or if they continue to try to control the market by limiting Z51 supply and flooding the market with base models.
Oh to be a fly on the wall at the Corvette Management Team meetings…
10-15-2013, 10:40 AM
#50
10-15-2013, 10:58 AM
#51
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2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16,'17,'18-'19-'20-'21-'22
It wouldn't be the first time . . .
I'll bet you don't "need" a Corvette at all. Nobody buys Corvettes for practical reasons. We buy them for emotional reasons. What would folks be saying if they put the LT1 engine on constraint but not to worry, they have a bunch of LS2 and LS3's sitting around that they'll put in them until production of the LT1 picks up again?
10-15-2013, 11:14 AM
#52
Team Owner
Remember 1977, when the purchasers of Oldsmobiles thought they were buying an Olds Rocket V-8, only to discover it was a Chevy 350 V-8 when they went to change the oil filter and air filter? That put a stake through the heart of the Oldsmobile reputation, from which it never recovered. Thanks, GM.
10-15-2013, 11:34 AM
#53
I love the way you guys have somehow gotten yourselves all whipped into a frenzy and started canceling/changing orders based on an UNSUBSTANTIATED theory posted by someone who has no inside knowledge and is presenting assumptions as if they are fact. Get a grip, folks. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate you abandoning your preferred Z51 package because it will reduce my wait time. I just think it is silly how rumor gets embellished with assumptions that turn into "fact" on this forum within a single thread. It is just like watching a 
every time. 
every time. 
Instead of the z51 package I used that money to order a spoiler and wheels… problem solved. 
Last edited by Eagle Ray 7; 10-15-2013 at 11:38 AM.
10-15-2013, 11:51 AM
#54
Melting Slicks
Could be that the constraint is orchestrated by GM to get the percentage of base cars higher, to help with overall fuel mileage goals.
10-15-2013, 12:00 PM
#55
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Your assumption is wrong in my case. I made my decision based on the information provided to me by my dealership. The z51 package offers a lot for the money but honestly I only ordered it for the wheels and spoiler. Crazy right! Instead of the z51 package I used that money to order a spoiler and wheels… problem solved.
Instead of the z51 package I used that money to order a spoiler and wheels… problem solved. Last edited by Glen e; 10-15-2013 at 12:16 PM.
10-15-2013, 01:03 PM
#57
Instructor
Orded my 3LT with Z51 from Rick on 9/23. Just went from 1100 with Z51 "hold" to 2000 yesterday. I think I saw where one other buyer with Rick did as well. Not sure when they will come off constraint but at least it looks like there is a weekly allocation that the big dealers are getting, although small,,,,,,,,,
At the end of the day it looks like the Z51 option delayed my order for 3 weeks, more then a fair trade off to get what I want!
Eric
At the end of the day it looks like the Z51 option delayed my order for 3 weeks, more then a fair trade off to get what I want!
Eric
10-15-2013, 01:12 PM
#58
Melting Slicks
10-15-2013, 01:14 PM
#59
Have they ever come on here to report on previous version??? Seems like they are too proud to admit delays or major supplier issues. Being more transparent is a good thing nowadays with social media and word spreading alot faster then back in the stone age of the way gm's communication channels still seem to be stuck in.
10-15-2013, 01:17 PM
#60
Team Owner
They have done that before. In the summer of 1997, they put the sport seats(weight) and the 3.15 performance axle on constraint for MPG reasons.