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Sober, calm, new Stingray, but this post is too damn long
Not sure how to keep this thing short.
How do I feel? Well, for viagra, you're supposed to seek medical help if your boner lasts 4 hours or more. I've had mine since October 29th.
The car is obnoxious; it's loud, it snarls, it roars, it spins the wheels all the time, it's sexy, it's rewarding, it's everything my sex life isn't. Sorry I'm gross, but how does one discuss their feelings for their vette without thinking about sex anyway?
What I purchased:
z51, 2LT m7, dual roof, racing stripes (looking forward to the comment "I hate stripes, but I love them on your car"), carbon dash, machine wheels, PDR, basically everything except the competition seats. I even had the dealer install rear Z06 vents - and I have no good reason for doing that.
Due to the microfiber seat inserts, the shifter is also microfiber, which I really appreciate as it's never hot in the sun..
Ordering timeline:
Ordered around August 18th, had my order moved to 3000 within 4 days. TPW was 9/14. Rail lagged, but the car ended up at the dealership on the 21st or 22nd of October.
I live in San Jose CA, ordered from Ken Fichtner at Denny Menholt in Billings MT. Why? He came highly recommended and CA dealers were asking for $5000 over MSRP for 2015s..
Ken and his wife Kathy are wonderful to do business with. Ken kept me updated weekly, at least, and promptly answered all of my emails. But the good stuff happened at the dealership, he and his wife Kathy gave me a full tour. Guess how long the paper work was? About 5 minutes. Seriously, I walked in, played with my car, got advice on the drive, setup Onstar, setup some favorites in XM, and then literally spent less time buying the thing than I would writing a check in a grocery store.
I stayed at the TownHouse Suites, a Marriot, just down the road. The hotel manager handled my reservation and left me a bottle of wine in my room to celebrate. I loved Montana.
Day 1:
I snuck over to the dealership around midnight, after my flight got in, in 35 degree weather (with nothing but a t-shirt, I forgot my jacket), walking 2 miles, to check on Tiffany. I snapped the below picture.
The next morning, after 40 minutes of sleep and 4 gallons of coffee, I took ownership of what I ordered:
This is Ken giving me the "roof goes here" tour. My wife says "oh he's so cute," which I can't comment on, but I can tell you, he knows his vettes and how to make a customer happy.
Now I drive to California. Yellowstone's most desirable route was closed, and the other route, via Cody WY, had a 10,000 foot pass where temps were hovering around 25 degrees. Ken and Kathy strongly discouraged that route and suggested Gallatin Canyon out of Bozeman.
This was the break in drive. I kept Tiffany under 4000 RPMs, varied the throttle as much as sanity permitted, and douched out on the freeway with dozens of nearly WOT instances to 4000 RPMs, supposedly, to properly seat the rings (2000 miles later, not 1 lost drip of oil). Heading into Yellowstone there was heavy rain and at the 7000 foot peak, snow. "Weather" mode was the only mode I knew for about 200 miles. It was, obviously, a beautiful drive.
My favorite part was simply not having to tolerate trucks. It took seconds to pass, even without changing gears. 3rd and 4th gear are ridiculous fun on the freeway.
By 6 or so, I was at Twin Falls Idaho, which is precisely the 500 mile mark. The staff at Twin Falls Chevrolet was awesome. They were well aware of the 500 mile requirement, of dry sump systems, etc. They put in 9.8 quarts of Mobile 1 and hand washed the car for 14.95.
The Ruby Mountains hung off on the horizon, shrouded by storm clouds as I headed down into Nevada
At this point, I had to conclude the following:
- Track mode exhaust is F@#KING heaven, except after 300 miles at 80mph on the freeway, then any other mode is great. Any other mode.
- Comedycentral on XM is the best entertainment in existence
- Translucent roof is amazeballs in bad weather
- The built in Nav is outstanding once you get past the quirks
- Car Play is outstanding. I would search for some place to eat on my phone through yelp, as soon as I found it, I would connect it to my car and have Car Play direct me to the place. Much easier than the nav, which I tended to use for the long interstate drives
- It's ridiculous getting over 30MPG
- But at 80-85mph the mileage is more about 25 in eco mode
- The stereo is great, but the bass is too much on bass heavy music, this is a problem I don't mind having
Active rev match is fun..
I came up to a red light and a family was crossing with a stroller, as I slowed and downshifted into first, the engine revved. The dad looked at me with disgust and stood there for a second in disbelief. I rolled down the windows and explained my first world problem, "sorry buddy, my car has rev match and I'm still too dumb and slow to remember it's on!"
This breakfast place has crazy good reviews, car play got me across town right after the dealership finished the oil change. The Buffalo Grill:
I could have sworn I would be constipated for a few weeks, but thankfully I wasn't. This place makes home made biscuits that weigh almost a pound and are served up with warmed butter and home made jam.
Finally, I landed in Reno. Congested. The highlight was a woman, slightly giddy, or insisted that I talk to her about the car, start up, hear it rev. I felt a little dirty when it was all over and didn't want to tell my wife about that experience.
In Reno I had a cop car catch me very quickly, I panicked as I saw was going 40 in a 30.. the office simply pulled up beside me with a big smile and a thumbs up, and then pulled off into a plaza.
The third day of driving was to be the best; see my daughter and climb up and over the Sierras. I could tell I was in California, no one cared anymore about my ride, there were LEOs every few miles, and the temperature climbed to 79 degrees.
My kids freaked out and a fight ensued over who would get a ride first. My wife couldn't give 2 chits.
That's my 9 year old photobombing Tiffany's arrival.
This is my 6 year old chilling out at a gas station. Cute blonde in her booster seat.
It is a mid-life crisis car. I've spent 20 years now being in service to others; family, friends, customers, managers. Finally, something nice for myself, and something nice I enjoy daily..
Congrats. I'm from San Jose and my car has a tpw of next week. Looking forward to picking mine up. That rail shipping is gonna kill me waiting for it to get to milpitas
You're a lucky guy & I nominate this as a possible "post of the year", if there's such an honor. Also believe that's the first time I've seen a child car-seat in a Corvette. Needless to say you've got a great new ride!!
Thanks for the post I enjoyed your adventure. Your car is super cool! A day without Corvette is a day you can never get back. Remember there are two kinds of drivers, those who drive Corvette and those who wish they could.
You're a lucky guy & I nominate this as a possible "post of the year", if there's such an honor. Also believe that's the first time I've seen a child car-seat in a Corvette. Needless to say you've got a great new ride!!
and second the motion.
But more important, you and family will remember this great experience the rest of your life.
Last edited by cor28vettes; 11-13-2015 at 11:43 PM.
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15- '16-'17-‘18-‘19-'20-'21
NCM Lifetime Member
Yup, Ken and his s/o are great folks. I'd stop and visit them at the old store down the road when I'd do Beartooth. I just bought a new C7 from him today over the phone.
I think you nailed one of the best things about the corvette,,,,,,,,,,,,, its such an awesome travel car and such an awesome experience. I could not be more happy for ya brother.
Sounds like you are like me, You Enjoy each day no matter what it brings you! And some days (((because you damn well deserve it))) it brings you a nice little white rocket to HAUL *** IN WAY TO GO PIMP
11-13-2015, 08:09 PM
Sober, calm, new Stingray, but this post is too damn long
and second the motion.
WAY TO GO PIMP
