3 of 3, look for my NCM Delivery and 3000 Mile Review threads as well.
Chip asked me to post these reports I made on another forum. There are three altogether.
This is the third of my 2014 Corvette Stingray acquisition reports. I have covered the NCM delivery and trip and 3000 mile review of the car in other threads. This one is to detail the out of state purchase and CA registration process for anyone contemplating the same.
This is my second purchase from Ken at Fichtner Chevrolet. Ken is always responsive, great to deal with, and I believe capable of making things happen many other dealers cannot. He seems to have a close relationship with the Chevrolet folks coordinating the orders and passes everything he can onto the customer. I first contacted Ken in May 2013 and reserved one of his allocations. I wanted the Competition seats so Ken was not able to enter my order until August when AE4 became available in the GM OrderWORKBENCH system. I was at event code 1100 on 8/8/13. Without getting into all of the detail the next two months were very unpredictable. My order went from likely production in spring 2014 to possible production in November 2013, to Ken might run out of allocations before the Z51, AE4, and carbon constraints were lifted. While waiting I also had a chance to go to Spring Mountain and see all of the color combinations. My original order was 2LT Laguna Blue with Jet Black/Medium Gray interior. Once I saw how light the gray was (and that the carpet was also gray) and how rich the Brownstone looked, I changed my order to 3LT Brownstone on 10/1/2013. Then the constraints got really bad and I began to think I would be waiting until spring after all. On 10/24/13 I got an early morning email that Ken could order my car with everything I wanted except the dual roof. I don’t know how Ken did it, but in the middle of all the worst constraints he got my order to Code 2000 with Z51, AE4, C2Z, and FAY. Production was 12/5/13 and museum delivery on 12/18/13.
Ken kept me informed of the situation throughout the process. His finance manager Dennis got me financing through Well Fargo with a loan rate 1% lower than the best my credit union could do. He also got me a GMPP plan for less than half what the California dealers are charging. Bob in their parts department got me the splash guards so I could install them in BG for the trip home. All transaction paperwork was sent to me timely and all costs were as agreed to in advance. I am completely satisfied with Fichtner, would use them again, and I recommend them to anyone contemplating an out-of-state Corvette purchase.
Here is the final order detail:
Model: 1YX07 – Corvette Stingray Coupe with Z51
Vehicle Specifications
PEG: 3LT - Package: 3LT
Trim: 556 - Trim, Suede, Jet Black / Brownstone
Primary Color: G7H - Laguna Blue Tint
Engine: LT1 - Engine Gas, 8 Cyl, 6.2L, DI, AFM, VVT, HO, Alum, GMNA
Transmission: MEL - Trans, 7-Speed Manual with Z51
Ordered Options:
AE4: Seat, Competition Sport Bucket
DD0: Mirrors, O/S heated, power, LH auto dimming
FE4: Magnetic Selective Ride Control
J6F: Caliper: Red
NPP: Exhaust: Dual Mode, Performance
R8C: Corvette Museum Delivery
UY4: Navigation System
Z51: Z51 Performance Package
C2Z: Roof Panel, Visible Carbon Fiber Removable Roof Panels
FAY: Trim Interior, Carbon Fiber
IWE: Suede-Wrapped Upper Interior Trim Package
NC7: Override: Federal Emission
Q7T: Wheels, Black Aluminum 19" FRT 20" RR
TTV: Spoiler, Rear and ORV Mirror, Carbon Flash Painted
YF5: Emission: California
Now for the R8C and CA specific logistics:
Once the car has a VIN, Ken registers it with a temporary 30 day registration in Montana. This works well since Montana has no sales or use tax and allows the temp registration without titling for the car. Fichtner then sends the temp paper Montana plate to the customer so they can pick the car up in BG. I paid Fichtner the balance due via wire transfer, but could have done it by check if desired. Ken sent me the Manufacturers Certificate of Origin so I could title the car in CA.
I purchased the GMPP with the car as required by CA law. CA will not let you purchase an extended warranty/protection plan outside of California after the original purchase.
I also added the new Corvette to my insurance so I would have proof of insurance for the lender and DMV, as well as coverage from the time I took delivery.
Once back in CA you have 20 days from the date the car enters the state to pay the tax and registration. While there is no logical reason for it, the CA Motor Vehicle Code requires a Smog Check and verification inspection to title and register a car previously registered out of state. Note, this car was ordered with YF5: Emission: California. If I had ordered the same car from a dealer in CA and picked it up R8C these extra steps would ne be necessary. I would love to complain about it some more, but that does no good so I just tried to make it as efficient as possible. Here are the steps:
This is one agency that has really turned around in the last 10 years.
Overall everything went much smoother than the first time I did this in 2008. The pre-work I did of getting the smog cert and filling out the form in advance made it easy. No one should be afraid of this process if you follow these steps.
Chip asked me to post these reports I made on another forum. There are three altogether.
This is the third of my 2014 Corvette Stingray acquisition reports. I have covered the NCM delivery and trip and 3000 mile review of the car in other threads. This one is to detail the out of state purchase and CA registration process for anyone contemplating the same.
This is my second purchase from Ken at Fichtner Chevrolet. Ken is always responsive, great to deal with, and I believe capable of making things happen many other dealers cannot. He seems to have a close relationship with the Chevrolet folks coordinating the orders and passes everything he can onto the customer. I first contacted Ken in May 2013 and reserved one of his allocations. I wanted the Competition seats so Ken was not able to enter my order until August when AE4 became available in the GM OrderWORKBENCH system. I was at event code 1100 on 8/8/13. Without getting into all of the detail the next two months were very unpredictable. My order went from likely production in spring 2014 to possible production in November 2013, to Ken might run out of allocations before the Z51, AE4, and carbon constraints were lifted. While waiting I also had a chance to go to Spring Mountain and see all of the color combinations. My original order was 2LT Laguna Blue with Jet Black/Medium Gray interior. Once I saw how light the gray was (and that the carpet was also gray) and how rich the Brownstone looked, I changed my order to 3LT Brownstone on 10/1/2013. Then the constraints got really bad and I began to think I would be waiting until spring after all. On 10/24/13 I got an early morning email that Ken could order my car with everything I wanted except the dual roof. I don’t know how Ken did it, but in the middle of all the worst constraints he got my order to Code 2000 with Z51, AE4, C2Z, and FAY. Production was 12/5/13 and museum delivery on 12/18/13.
Ken kept me informed of the situation throughout the process. His finance manager Dennis got me financing through Well Fargo with a loan rate 1% lower than the best my credit union could do. He also got me a GMPP plan for less than half what the California dealers are charging. Bob in their parts department got me the splash guards so I could install them in BG for the trip home. All transaction paperwork was sent to me timely and all costs were as agreed to in advance. I am completely satisfied with Fichtner, would use them again, and I recommend them to anyone contemplating an out-of-state Corvette purchase.
Here is the final order detail:
Model: 1YX07 – Corvette Stingray Coupe with Z51
Vehicle Specifications
PEG: 3LT - Package: 3LT
Trim: 556 - Trim, Suede, Jet Black / Brownstone
Primary Color: G7H - Laguna Blue Tint
Engine: LT1 - Engine Gas, 8 Cyl, 6.2L, DI, AFM, VVT, HO, Alum, GMNA
Transmission: MEL - Trans, 7-Speed Manual with Z51
Ordered Options:
AE4: Seat, Competition Sport Bucket
DD0: Mirrors, O/S heated, power, LH auto dimming
FE4: Magnetic Selective Ride Control
J6F: Caliper: Red
NPP: Exhaust: Dual Mode, Performance
R8C: Corvette Museum Delivery
UY4: Navigation System
Z51: Z51 Performance Package
C2Z: Roof Panel, Visible Carbon Fiber Removable Roof Panels
FAY: Trim Interior, Carbon Fiber
IWE: Suede-Wrapped Upper Interior Trim Package
NC7: Override: Federal Emission
Q7T: Wheels, Black Aluminum 19" FRT 20" RR
TTV: Spoiler, Rear and ORV Mirror, Carbon Flash Painted
YF5: Emission: California
Now for the R8C and CA specific logistics:
Once the car has a VIN, Ken registers it with a temporary 30 day registration in Montana. This works well since Montana has no sales or use tax and allows the temp registration without titling for the car. Fichtner then sends the temp paper Montana plate to the customer so they can pick the car up in BG. I paid Fichtner the balance due via wire transfer, but could have done it by check if desired. Ken sent me the Manufacturers Certificate of Origin so I could title the car in CA.
I purchased the GMPP with the car as required by CA law. CA will not let you purchase an extended warranty/protection plan outside of California after the original purchase.
I also added the new Corvette to my insurance so I would have proof of insurance for the lender and DMV, as well as coverage from the time I took delivery.
Once back in CA you have 20 days from the date the car enters the state to pay the tax and registration. While there is no logical reason for it, the CA Motor Vehicle Code requires a Smog Check and verification inspection to title and register a car previously registered out of state. Note, this car was ordered with YF5: Emission: California. If I had ordered the same car from a dealer in CA and picked it up R8C these extra steps would ne be necessary. I would love to complain about it some more, but that does no good so I just tried to make it as efficient as possible. Here are the steps:
- I took the car to a local “test only” Smog Check station and got the CA Smog Certificate
- I downloaded and filled out form REG 343 from the dmv.ca.gov website and filled it out
- I made an appointment with the CA DMV. (Check around to see which office has the earliest appointment date, this should get you the lowest wait time)
- On the day/time of the appointment I went to the Fullerton DMV, got the verification inspection, paid the tax, title, and registration fees, and walked out with a validated registration card and new license plates. Total time at the DMV was less than 45 minutes.
Overall everything went much smoother than the first time I did this in 2008. The pre-work I did of getting the smog cert and filling out the form in advance made it easy. No one should be afraid of this process if you follow these steps.