ZL1 QC Hold Extension "mega"-Thread

[2ndCamaro79]

When everyone starting talking about the 5th gen hold, I looked it up on google. There were some people just complaining, but there were some that had a good reason to be aggravated. I recall one post from a mother who was trying to arrange the purchase of the 5th gen with the date of her son coming home from deployment in the middle east. She was upset to find the delivery had been pushed back.

[Drake Heminger]

Originally Posted by 2ndCamaro79

When everyone starting talking about the 5th gen hold, I looked it up on google. There were some people just complaining, but there were some that had a good reason to be aggravated. I recall one post from a mother who was trying to arrange the purchase of the 5th gen with the date of her son coming home from deployment in the middle east. She was upset to find the delivery had been pushed back.

Understandable.

[stymie]

6 weeks can turn into 6 months. That's right Chevy... keep your customers hanging, dangling on the hook. Chevy Customer Service is totally clueless. Good luck trying to get a straight, "informed" answer. If I had it to do over... if I could go back to October, 2011, I would NOT have written that check. I can almost see Chevy limiting the run of 2012 ZL1s to 500 units. Oh sure... it will be worth it, be patient, once you get behind the wheel... you'll forget about the delay, blah blah blah yada yada yada.

[GoldenBear]

Has there been any official word from GM stating that ZL1 would be available any time before "Spring 2012?"

According to my calendar Spring 2012 falls between March 20, 2012, and June 19, 2012. Therefore, there is a three month window for the ZL1 to become available without it being "late." There has been some speculation on Camaro5 that ZL1 deliveries could begin as early as mid-March, but I believe that was only Camaro5 speculation and nothing official from GM.

I believe that for most ZL1 purchasers, the ZL1 will be a "hobby car" added to one's stable, and that selling another vehicle will not be part of the ZL1 acquisition process, so any ZL1 "delay" will not be a significant factor for most ZL1 purchasers. For the few for whom a "delay" may impact, it's the part of the risk that one takes when opting for the privilege of being one of the first to drive a new vehicle model or trim level.

[Drake Heminger]

Originally Posted by stymie

6 weeks can turn into 6 months. That's right Chevy... keep your customers hanging, dangling on the hook. Chevy Customer Service is totally clueless. Good luck trying to get a straight, "informed" answer. If I had it to do over... if I could go back to October, 2011, I would NOT have written that check. I can almost see Chevy limiting the run of 2012 ZL1s to 500 units. Oh sure... it will be worth it, be patient, once you get behind the wheel... you'll forget about the delay, blah blah blah yada yada yada.

We just need more information... now I do question Customer Service a bit... she said production doesnt start until spring 2012? then she said oh wait QC has been extended... Idk what to believe... but its all we got

[OVRKLL]

Originally Posted by 69NMYSS

No idea, i was just being a smartass cuz thats all I keep hearing is relax, be patient, this happened before, blah, blah, blah

You know that's what I don't get...if this happened before and it was a nightmare, why is it happening again?
Granted GM is doing the right thing to fix a problem, but placing a production hold is not addressing the root cause.
It seems GM didn't learn from their previous release...that's not good or comforting.

And yeah I agree, saying to just relax (I'm guilty of it as well) may be a whole lot easier for some (like me) that did not have to make a bunch of arrangements for this car.
Gottah feel bad for those that are going through a stressful time because GM hasn't improved their Customer Service Index from the previous Camaro release.

And not to worry, Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world...if you believe.

[stymie]

MY last Z28 Camaro was purchased new in 1983 for $17.5K. It was equipped with the L69 H.O. engine, the same one used in the Monte Carlo SS. That miserable POS was eventually bought back by GM/Chevy. It took Chevy 1.5 YEARS to design, test & get EPA approval for a retrofit kit to correct a fuel starvation "issue".

I'm NOT getting a warm fuzzy feeling over this latest news!

[Drake Heminger]

I had a qoute from Al O. who told motor trend that the ZL1 would arrive at dealers ealry-mid march... then my dealer got a letter sayin mid-late march... now Im hearing mid-late april...

[Drake Heminger]

Good news for the 5th Gen Nation! According to a thread recently posted on Camaro5, production of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 has officially kicked off at GM’s Oshawa assembly plant. Chevy dealerships that will be receiving a ZL1 allocation were sent a letter from GM Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick to let them know what to expect in the coming months. "Fitzpatrick says that ZL1 production will start out slowly and gradually ramp up, with extra diligence being put into the quality control of the first few ZL1’s that roll off the line. He also added that the dealerships shouldn’t expect their ZL1’s to start arriving until early-to-mid-March."

http://www.lsxtv.com/news/gm-announc...icially-begun/

[stymie]

This was a learning experience. I will never put non refundable money down on a car that has yet to hit the streets as a production vehicle. It would be amusing to see the 2013 ZL1 released prior to the initial run of 500 2012 cars currently held in QC LIMBO/quarantine. Maybe, I should cut my losses & move on; GODZILLA is looking pretty good to me at this juncture.

[Drake Heminger]

Even Customer Service agreed that what GM is doing as far as the misleading information is wrong to us the customers... That was on a personal level as well as I asked her opinion on the subject matter... they got alot of complaints this week and she has sympothy for the one's who have to worry about other things than a car

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by stymie

MY last Z28 Camaro was purchased new in 1983 for $17.5K. It was equipped with the L69 H.O. engine, the same one used in the Monte Carlo SS. That miserable POS was eventually bought back by GM/Chevy. It took Chevy 1.5 YEARS to design, test & get EPA approval for a retrofit kit to correct a fuel starvation "issue".

Wow, $17,500 for a 1983 Z28? Are you sure? That seems really expensive for a 1983 Z28.

I also purchased a new L69 5.0 H.O. Z28, but I paid just under $13,000 for it. Mine also had the annoying fuel starvation issue. It was very intermittent, and usually would only occur during WOT. However, it was very frustrating. That Z28 was not a vehicle that I owned for very long, as I replaced it after owning it for only about 2 years.

The TPI engines, which first appeared, I believe, in 1985 (LB9), made for much better vehicles.

[Blueclyde]

Originally Posted by stymie

This was a learning experience. I will never put non refundable money down on a car that has yet to hit the streets as a production vehicle. It would be amusing to see the 2013 ZL1 released prior to the initial run of 500 2012 cars currently held in QC LIMBO/quarantine. Maybe, I should cut my losses & move on; GODZILLA is looking pretty good to me at this juncture.

Your beef should be with your dealer not GM. You should be pestering them daily for a refund. I have a very small fully refundable deposit with my dealer. That was part of the deal. If they wouldn't have done this I would have gone elsewhere. GM and this process of fully commercializing the ZL1 should have nothing to do with your apparent discontent.

[GoldenBear]

Originally Posted by Drake Heminger

Good news for the 5th Gen Nation! According to a thread recently posted on Camaro5, production of the 2012 Camaro ZL1 has officially kicked off at GM’s Oshawa assembly plant. Chevy dealerships that will be receiving a ZL1 allocation were sent a letter from GM Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick to let them know what to expect in the coming months. "Fitzpatrick says that ZL1 production will start out slowly and gradually ramp up, with extra diligence being put into the quality control of the first few ZL1’s that roll off the line. He also added that the dealerships shouldn’t expect their ZL1’s to start arriving until early-to-mid-March."

The note sent to dealers by John Fitzpatrick on January 26, 2012, indicated that "Deliveries of these initial retail ZL1 units are tentatively scheduled for arrival to dealerships in early to mid-March 2012."

That means that at that time, late January 2012, that the ZL1 deliveries were tentatively scheduled for early to mid-March arrival at dealerships, not that the ZL1s would absolutely arrive at dealerships during that time frame.

Unexpected things occur when a new design is developed and brought to market. People should learn to expect the unexpected with regard to new design and development. Innovation and invention are not things that always fit into a neat time schedule. Developing the ZL1 is not as simple or as easy to schedule as putting 10 widgets on thingamabobs every hour on an assembly line.

The ZL1s will arrive in due time, and, I believe, that most owners will be pleased and satisfied.