Is the C8 closer to dealer lots than we think? -- Torque News

[meyerweb]

https://www.torquenews.com/8047/2020-c8-corvette-coupe-and-spyder-convertible-are-closer-you-think-being-dealer-lots

Nothing all that new here. They're saying January rather than February.

The 2020 C8 Corvette Coupe And Spyder Convertible Are Closer To Dealer Lots Thank You Think

The 2020 C8 Corvette has been officially revealed, and so far it's quite impressive. One thing that hasn't been talked is when we can expect to see the car on the dealer lots. Well, let's talk about it.
The C8 Corvette is the next highly anticipated Corvette and after the reveal on the 18th the popularity has grown even further. I've talked to a few different dealerships and 2 things remain constant, that is the build date and the date when we'll see them at the dealerships. Now before we get into that information let's talk about something that was notably missing at the reveal which was, of course, the convertible C8 Corvette.

There were a lot of rumors of a spyder style convertible coming early on but it was a no show at the reveal. Or so we thought. At the very end of the show we got a "sneak peak" if you will at the convertible car and sure enough it's a spyder style convertible. GM hasn't officially announced anything regarding the convertible yet but these pictures were pulled out of their video at the end of the reveal which obviously show the car in it's convertible form.

2020 C8 Corvette Convertible

Fans of the convertible will be pleased, it's an amazing looking option. I'm not usually a huge fan of the convertible design but the spyder style setup is the best of both worlds if you need that true drop top experience. I would imagine we will hear official confirmation of this from GM very soon but I can't help but wonder why it wouldn't have been shown off at the same time as it's targa top brother. It could be that there were additional tests that needed to be done or more likely they didn't have the specs finalized on weight, price, etc.

With the convertible typically starting at about 5k more than the base they may have wanted to focus specifically on the fact that the C8 stingray was going to cost under 60k without having a caveat to the convertible model. Either way it looks great and we should see it very soon with all of the specs ready to go.
The convertible option will obviously forgo the see through window in the back due to needing some of that space to store the convertible top. Odds are good it wouldn't' be as pretty as the coupe through that window so GM decided to lose it for the drop top models. GM also just released a video teasing the convertible and C8.R which are both supposed to be revealed this fall which you can watch here. I can't wait to see what the C8.R can do on the track.

2020 C8 Corvette Availability

Let's talk about availability for the coupe model. As I said earlier I have spoken to a few different dealerships about the build dates and when we can expect to see them on the lots and the answers were always the same. Production starts in december and we'll start seeing them on the local lots in January. For those of you out there who must have one as soon as you can get it, you could have an all new C8 Corvette as early as January 2020. It's a lot closer than I originally expected. I figured December production date and probably March or April delivery at the earliest.

GM has mentioned they want to build as many of these cars as possible and get them out there as fast as possible and it seems they are going to be doing exactly that.

[John]

Interesting. I agree that first coupe delivery could be in January. I think that if that gets folks to be thinking early January, that is a false hope. Mike Furman who usually bats close to 100%, is saying the beginning of February for the coupe. The HT convertible will lag, both in initial production and in first deliveries, IMO about 3 months (or maybe a little less than that) later.

[WillRockwell]

I was told I might get mine in January

[John]

Not saying not possible, but if I had a dime If I had one dime from every car salesperson who “exaggerated” to his/her every Corvette customer, I would be able to buy the C8 ZORA for cash.

One constraint and either you are compromising on something you wanted, or waiting. Let us all not forget that the first month’s of C8’s are going to all be on a four week quality control hold within BGA grounds.

Best of luck on your salesperson’s promise becoming reality.

[ZORA 69]

Interesting. I agree that first coupe delivery could be in January. I think that if that gets folks to be thinking early January, that is a false hope. Mike Furman who usually bats close to 100%, is saying the beginning of February for the coupe. The HT convertible will lag, both in initial production and in first deliveries, IMO about 3 months (or maybe a little less than that) later.

I still sAY THAT THIS IS A GREAT TOPIC FOR A POLL. Common sense says that someone in the business Like Mr. Furman would best know. BUT, we are all dreaming and a poll sure would make it fun.

[John]

Good idea; I will create one right now. Stay tuned please.

[George]

Isn't the UAW contract up this Fall...and do they expect any trouble with a new contract? Hopefully that won't play into the timing issue.

[Michael]

Not sure why they wouldn't be coming in January. Last C7 in October. 3 week changeover. Production starts. Six week QA hold. Shipping two weeks. Seems like January is perfectly doable for first cars.

[John]

Not sure why they wouldn't be coming in January. Last C7 in October. 3 week changeover. Production starts. Six week QA hold. Shipping two weeks. Seems like January is perfectly doable for first cars.

I am repeating hearing that the Plant conversation/upgrade to make the C8 is going to take a lot longer than 3 weeks. Nevertheless, I still think late January is a do-able first customer C8 arrival since IMO a four week QCH will make up for some of the longer plant conversion time.

Michale, we get to close to the same conclusions with some different input factors.

[JB]

If I were gm ..id have the first production cars built at the factory before the 3 week shutdown ...then have a few quality control guys go over the cars....during the 3 week shutdown....then ship the cars out after the shutdown...

unless of course UAW contracts forbids that....

i do think having quality control examine the finished vehicles during a 3 week holiday break would be awesome...

bring in an outside service if need be or pay time and a half to a plant employee..or better yet a group of the upcoming double shifters who have been transferred to bowling green and of course a supervising staff...to learn more about the corvette...


what a great way to spend Christmas break....(I'm kidding about all of this as I would imagine the UAW contract is ironclad A CAN NOT DO)..

still thats what I would do....build the first batch before the break...have a select outside organization or BG management or pay time and a half or double time to get the quality control staff to go over the first run vehicles while the plant was shut down.


Then deliver the first batch of cars in the beginning of January

dont the first cars truckload of cars trickle in to the dealerships...

If so...it is possible a few could get pre Christmas delivery ..

[Ace]

There is the internet wisdom that if an article headline is a question it is anwered in nearly all cases with a No.

Maybe some folks are lucky and get the very first C8s in January. But to be real, GM will take a close look at the quality control of the first models and producing a new car can always have some few hiccups in the first weeks. So February - March seems much more likeable for most customers.

[John]

Thanks Ace. I believe your analysis would be perfections if you had used the word “early” in front of the your last word “customers.”

Maybe some folks are lucky and get the very first C8s in January. But to be real, GM will take a close look at the quality control of the first models and producing a new car can always have some few hiccups in the first weeks. So February - March seems much more likeable for most early customers.