Paint runs on doors...the rest of the story (from pickup to re-delivery)
12-06-2013, 10:31 AM
#441
Team Owner
This whole episode really confuses me. On the one hand, the OP has nothing but praise for GM and alludes to being compensated "well" by GM for his time and trouble. On the other hand, 5+ weeks is about 3 weeks to long for this to have been going on. My gut tells me that GM really did "lose" the project and somebody just said, " Oh @$*% we should have had this done 3 weeks ago".
While I really want GM to do well, and the C7, nothing they are doing, including the OP's car, is leading me to believe they are getting the ship righted.
To the OP, you have the patience of Job and my hat is off to you. I wouldn't have had this much patience.
While I really want GM to do well, and the C7, nothing they are doing, including the OP's car, is leading me to believe they are getting the ship righted.
To the OP, you have the patience of Job and my hat is off to you. I wouldn't have had this much patience.
12-06-2013, 10:34 AM
#442
Somba master
I was wondering...
Since this process has been going on for over a month, and looks to be a couple weeks more, there must be more going on than has been so far disclosed.
The OP has posted much about the paint issues, with photos. But he also alludes to other issues that needed addressing. I may have missed what the other issues were. He also mentions being compensated by having some extras added at BG while the car is there. All these are his business, of course, and reflect a deal with GM to be compensated for the loss of use of his brand new car.
I just can't believe the reskinning process could take this long.
The underlying problems with paint quality and fit must be more than superficial.
My best quess is that, best case, BG engineers dissected his car and found some production variables out of tolerance. They then had to go back and find where the process broke down and devise a fix to their assembly system itself. All while the line is running full tilt and introducing the convertable to the mix.
Now, given the time they have had the car at the factory, I hope that explains the delay. The reason given to the owner sounds very suspect.
They weren't satisfied with their own handiwork and want another do over? Then what's going on with the cars being built on the line? They are not getting all the supposed individual attention of this car at the assembly line speeds. Are they meeting standards?
Anyway, I suspect one of two scenarios may be going on.
One, the process of uncovering the underlying faults in the car and the assembly process are being systematically addressed while the car is in their hands. The car is being used as a retraining tool and test bed for new processes. A full scale, top to bottom, teardown, assessment and rebuild is going on in order to improve the product coming off the line.
The car will be kept at BG until all the issues can be eliminated in production, for evaluation and training.
Or two, the car's repair has been delayed by lack of parts, or low priority in manpower for accomplishing the job. Possibly stuck in a corner awaiting someone to take some time out of their busy day to work on it for awhile in a random manner.
I hope it is the former.
I would love to see BG explain here just what has been done to remedy this issue, but I would bet anything they will remain silent as always.
Since this process has been going on for over a month, and looks to be a couple weeks more, there must be more going on than has been so far disclosed.
The OP has posted much about the paint issues, with photos. But he also alludes to other issues that needed addressing. I may have missed what the other issues were. He also mentions being compensated by having some extras added at BG while the car is there. All these are his business, of course, and reflect a deal with GM to be compensated for the loss of use of his brand new car.
I just can't believe the reskinning process could take this long.
The underlying problems with paint quality and fit must be more than superficial.
My best quess is that, best case, BG engineers dissected his car and found some production variables out of tolerance. They then had to go back and find where the process broke down and devise a fix to their assembly system itself. All while the line is running full tilt and introducing the convertable to the mix.
Now, given the time they have had the car at the factory, I hope that explains the delay. The reason given to the owner sounds very suspect.
They weren't satisfied with their own handiwork and want another do over? Then what's going on with the cars being built on the line? They are not getting all the supposed individual attention of this car at the assembly line speeds. Are they meeting standards?
Anyway, I suspect one of two scenarios may be going on.
One, the process of uncovering the underlying faults in the car and the assembly process are being systematically addressed while the car is in their hands. The car is being used as a retraining tool and test bed for new processes. A full scale, top to bottom, teardown, assessment and rebuild is going on in order to improve the product coming off the line.
The car will be kept at BG until all the issues can be eliminated in production, for evaluation and training.
Or two, the car's repair has been delayed by lack of parts, or low priority in manpower for accomplishing the job. Possibly stuck in a corner awaiting someone to take some time out of their busy day to work on it for awhile in a random manner.
I hope it is the former.
I would love to see BG explain here just what has been done to remedy this issue, but I would bet anything they will remain silent as always.
12-06-2013, 10:52 AM
#443
Melting Slicks
12-06-2013, 10:59 AM
#444
Race Director
I realize that due to the excitement of buying a new toy that most wouldn't see the defects initially, but I honestly wouldn't have taken delivery of the car. I would've rejected it at the first sign of trouble.
I didn't take the time to read the entire thread but I sure hope GM is offering considerable consideration for the OP's unnecessary troubles.
I didn't take the time to read the entire thread but I sure hope GM is offering considerable consideration for the OP's unnecessary troubles.
12-06-2013, 11:06 AM
#445
Burning Brakes
Friends (and I do mean that because most everyone here wants the best for me, and I appreciate that),
I don't think the issues are such that a repair shop could not properly repair a wrecked/damaged C7. What I deduce from the information I have is that plant management wants to make sure my Corvette is 100% right. I'm sure they are learning a great deal from this experience and that their findings have already and will continue to benefit every C7 buyer. They stand behind the new Corvette and want the best for the customer. They are professionals and are handling this in an extremely professional manner in my opinion. Would I have preferred to have not had any issue to begin with? Absolutely. Would I have preferred to have had my Corvette back by now? Yes. But in the end, what I want is a beautiful Corvette that I will enjoy for years and years to come. And I have complete confidence that plant management wants that for me too.
Eventually, all of this will be a distant memory. In the mean time, I will continue to have the highest confidence in those involved in the process because through all of this they have only demonstrated that they want me to be happy in the end and that they are working as hard as possible to make that happen.
Even in the midst of this experience, I would not for a second hesitate to go out and buy another 2014 Corvette right now if I had the means to do so. I'd love to have both a Vert and a Coupe someday. There are thousands of C7s out there without the issues that I have experienced and I know for a fact that the plant has taken measures to remedy issues that were initially more prominent. They are listening to their customers and are making necessary changes and adjustments. The recent C7s I have seen at my local dealer have been as close to perfect as anyone would expect.
One thing I keep in mind when dealing with difficult situations in life is that the person on the other end of the situation is a human being who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Everyone involved in the process to this point has done nothing but demonstrate that they have my best interests at heart. Because of this, my final judgement will be based on the final result, which I anticipate will be absolutely wonderful.
Again, thanks for the concern and comments. And thanks to those in BG working hard to get my Corvette back to me in the best condition humanly possible.
I don't think the issues are such that a repair shop could not properly repair a wrecked/damaged C7. What I deduce from the information I have is that plant management wants to make sure my Corvette is 100% right. I'm sure they are learning a great deal from this experience and that their findings have already and will continue to benefit every C7 buyer. They stand behind the new Corvette and want the best for the customer. They are professionals and are handling this in an extremely professional manner in my opinion. Would I have preferred to have not had any issue to begin with? Absolutely. Would I have preferred to have had my Corvette back by now? Yes. But in the end, what I want is a beautiful Corvette that I will enjoy for years and years to come. And I have complete confidence that plant management wants that for me too.
Eventually, all of this will be a distant memory. In the mean time, I will continue to have the highest confidence in those involved in the process because through all of this they have only demonstrated that they want me to be happy in the end and that they are working as hard as possible to make that happen.
Even in the midst of this experience, I would not for a second hesitate to go out and buy another 2014 Corvette right now if I had the means to do so. I'd love to have both a Vert and a Coupe someday. There are thousands of C7s out there without the issues that I have experienced and I know for a fact that the plant has taken measures to remedy issues that were initially more prominent. They are listening to their customers and are making necessary changes and adjustments. The recent C7s I have seen at my local dealer have been as close to perfect as anyone would expect.
One thing I keep in mind when dealing with difficult situations in life is that the person on the other end of the situation is a human being who deserves to be treated with respect and dignity. Everyone involved in the process to this point has done nothing but demonstrate that they have my best interests at heart. Because of this, my final judgement will be based on the final result, which I anticipate will be absolutely wonderful.
Again, thanks for the concern and comments. And thanks to those in BG working hard to get my Corvette back to me in the best condition humanly possible.
12-06-2013, 11:41 AM
#446
Drifting
Originally Posted by R&L's C6
Most all of us can learn a lesson from him. I sat with a dear friend in a hospice room tonight. It once again made me realize most all of the stuff we all p!$$ and moan about is really insignificant and petty.
Guys like you crack me up. It's real easy to sit behind a keyboard and say I wouldn't stand for this or that. I have been in his position, what's he suppose to do? His only options are to work within the system or go out and hire a lawyer and start a long and costly legal battle with a corporation big enough that has a team of lawyers on their payroll.
He's doing exactly what he should be doing. He's on one of the largest social media sites for Corvettes (of which prominent people from Bowling Green visit) giving honest updates. They know a lot of people are watching how this plays out. Starting a public p!$$ing match and name calling with the people that are fixing his car will accomplish nothing.
He's doing exactly what he should be doing. He's on one of the largest social media sites for Corvettes (of which prominent people from Bowling Green visit) giving honest updates. They know a lot of people are watching how this plays out. Starting a public p!$$ing match and name calling with the people that are fixing his car will accomplish nothing.
However, I don't disagree with those who think that the reasons being given to the OP for the delays seem somewhat suspect. Regardless, lets hope that the OP's car is returned to him 100% perfect from top to bottom & that they also compensate him well monetarily for the loss of use & the delays.
12-06-2013, 11:43 AM
#447
Burning Brakes
I was wondering...
Since this process has been going on for over a month, and looks to be a couple weeks more, there must be more going on than has been so far disclosed.
The OP has posted much about the paint issues, with photos. But he also alludes to other issues that needed addressing. I may have missed what the other issues were. He also mentions being compensated by having some extras added at BG while the car is there. All these are his business, of course, and reflect a deal with GM to be compensated for the loss of use of his brand new car.
I just can't believe the reskinning process could take this long.
The underlying problems with paint quality and fit must be more than superficial.
My best quess is that, best case, BG engineers dissected his car and found some production variables out of tolerance. They then had to go back and find where the process broke down and devise a fix to their assembly system itself. All while the line is running full tilt and introducing the convertable to the mix.
Now, given the time they have had the car at the factory, I hope that explains the delay. The reason given to the owner sounds very suspect.
They weren't satisfied with their own handiwork and want another do over? Then what's going on with the cars being built on the line? They are not getting all the supposed individual attention of this car at the assembly line speeds. Are they meeting standards?
Anyway, I suspect one of two scenarios may be going on.
One, the process of uncovering the underlying faults in the car and the assembly process are being systematically addressed while the car is in their hands. The car is being used as a retraining tool and test bed for new processes. A full scale, top to bottom, teardown, assessment and rebuild is going on in order to improve the product coming off the line.
The car will be kept at BG until all the issues can be eliminated in production, for evaluation and training.
Or two, the car's repair has been delayed by lack of parts, or low priority in manpower for accomplishing the job. Possibly stuck in a corner awaiting someone to take some time out of their busy day to work on it for awhile in a random manner.
I hope it is the former.
I would love to see BG explain here just what has been done to remedy this issue, but I would bet anything they will remain silent as always.
Since this process has been going on for over a month, and looks to be a couple weeks more, there must be more going on than has been so far disclosed.
The OP has posted much about the paint issues, with photos. But he also alludes to other issues that needed addressing. I may have missed what the other issues were. He also mentions being compensated by having some extras added at BG while the car is there. All these are his business, of course, and reflect a deal with GM to be compensated for the loss of use of his brand new car.
I just can't believe the reskinning process could take this long.
The underlying problems with paint quality and fit must be more than superficial.
My best quess is that, best case, BG engineers dissected his car and found some production variables out of tolerance. They then had to go back and find where the process broke down and devise a fix to their assembly system itself. All while the line is running full tilt and introducing the convertable to the mix.
Now, given the time they have had the car at the factory, I hope that explains the delay. The reason given to the owner sounds very suspect.
They weren't satisfied with their own handiwork and want another do over? Then what's going on with the cars being built on the line? They are not getting all the supposed individual attention of this car at the assembly line speeds. Are they meeting standards?
Anyway, I suspect one of two scenarios may be going on.
One, the process of uncovering the underlying faults in the car and the assembly process are being systematically addressed while the car is in their hands. The car is being used as a retraining tool and test bed for new processes. A full scale, top to bottom, teardown, assessment and rebuild is going on in order to improve the product coming off the line.
The car will be kept at BG until all the issues can be eliminated in production, for evaluation and training.
Or two, the car's repair has been delayed by lack of parts, or low priority in manpower for accomplishing the job. Possibly stuck in a corner awaiting someone to take some time out of their busy day to work on it for awhile in a random manner.
I hope it is the former.
I would love to see BG explain here just what has been done to remedy this issue, but I would bet anything they will remain silent as always.
I would think it would be the option two of your statement IMO. Here's the thing thou. If his car had so many issues to begiin with, why not just build another car for him and and use his old car as "lessons learned" for QC input? Sometimes cars are so messed up in the build process that no matter how they try to fix the issues it still won't come out correctly. Just sayin'...
12-06-2013, 12:16 PM
#448
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
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The other problem is the cars in the production queue are already allocated to somebody else with specific options for each one. You just can't insert him back into the queue without upsetting somebody else and screwing with the ton of parts that will be coming into the plant and already allocated to certain cars. They have Just in Time production nowadays without a huge inventory of parts laying around in some stock room. Everything is queued to specific vehicles all the way back to the parts suppliers. In its ultimate form JIT means a miner doesn't shovel some material out of the ground until there is a production need for it. Cheapest place to have your inventory is in raw materials sitting in the ground.
Bill
12-06-2013, 12:46 PM
#449
Tech Contributor
Member Since: Oct 1999
Location: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Posts: 40,123
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However, I don't disagree with those who think that the reasons being given to the OP for the delays seem somewhat suspect. Regardless, lets hope that the OP's car is returned to him 100% perfect from top to bottom & that they also compensate him well monetarily for the loss of use & the delays.
Even if they have already planned ahead to be able to handle those issues it will still take time to get everything done since it is out of the normal production process of the plant.
I am having a new house built by one of the nationwide large builders. Their plans are all standard and everything for building a certain model house is preplanned right down to the last stick of wood and where it is installed. We required some changes to door widths in the house so they built the house with the standard plan door framing and then assigned some carpenters to go into the house and tear out the just built door framing, move the studs a few inches (including any electrical items attached to the studs) and nail them into place. There was one spot where we didn't want a door so they built the framing and then removed it. Seems like it would have been easier to just put the studs in their final location Vs moving them later. Problem is the production team couldn't handle those changes. It is really a lot more difficult than drilling two tapped holes and adding a screw.
Bill
12-06-2013, 02:13 PM
#450
Would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Last edited by Old Yellow; 12-06-2013 at 02:33 PM.
12-06-2013, 02:23 PM
#451
Instructor
Member Since: Oct 2013
Location: Mckellar on
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I would not want it back at this point anyway!!!
would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their conifers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their conifers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Last edited by skinner1961; 12-06-2013 at 02:39 PM.
12-06-2013, 02:31 PM
#452
16 Vettes and counting…..
would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their conifers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their conifers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
As much as I hate to say it, I have to agree that it's really been long enough. Couldn't the 30 day lemon law be applied at this point?
12-06-2013, 02:40 PM
#453
Honestly at this point they would have been better off just building him a new car and just put Mr drips a lot in the GM test car pool or just send it to the GM auction. I think the time they are spending on fixing this thing is crazy.
12-06-2013, 02:43 PM
#454
Would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
another good way of taking care of business .
12-06-2013, 02:51 PM
#455
Pro
Member Since: Feb 1999
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 566
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Would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
I'm on the OPs side. GM is take extra-ordinary measures to get this right, and hopefully solve some production problems. It is to his credit that he is working with them. If they are doing other things to compensate that is icing on the cake.
12-06-2013, 02:59 PM
#456
12-06-2013, 03:14 PM
#457
Safety Car
Would any of us tolerate this much of a hassle if it was any other consumer product. I don't think so. The time for the atta boys has passed. If this was a flat screen TV at 1/70th the cost you would have had a new one 6 weeks ago.
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
Terminate now. use the BBB arbitration, and if they don't settle to your satisfaction it's time to lawyer up. I had to do it with a car a couple of years ago, and a phone call to the dealerships owner from my lawyer resolved it the same day, and I got a new car with more options for the same money.
Your money is sitting in their coffers, and you're pounding a keyboard. It's time to grow a pair. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
Ed
12-06-2013, 03:25 PM
#458
Melting Slicks
I built many multi million dollar custom homes during that time and if I had homes that the owners were still trying to work out the kinks after two years the State would have pulled my contractor's license and taken me to court.
12-06-2013, 03:49 PM
#459
Burning Brakes
12-06-2013, 03:51 PM
#460
