Ordered 2003 Silverado - Watch it being built?

[jsm174]

Well I finally ordered a 2003 Silverado Extended Cab Z71.

I was surprised to see this year you can finally order most

options seperately. I pretty much wanted an LT, but didn't

want the leather seats. And for some reason, you can't

remove leather on the LT. Oh well...

 

Anyway, they said it would take 6-10 weeks for delivery.

 

I was wondering, a while ago I read (don't remember where) that if you order a GM vehicle, you can watch it being built. Evidentually they have web-cameras set up in some of the facilities, and they would send you an email when it was about to happen? Does anyone know about this? Am I crazy? Or was this for another manufacturer?

 

Thanks,

-- Jason

[gmcjoe]

You can get museum delivery on a new Corvette.

They still smack you with the destination charge though  ???

[CMNTMXR81]

As well as being charged with a museum delivery fee.  However most factories, particularly truck factories don't have much like this.  I got to tour the Janesville, WI Tahoe/Suburban plant because I knew someone that worked their, otherwise, they frown upon visitors and many don't set up cameras for outside use due to proprietary construction processes.

 

As to the LT package not being able to delete leather?  That's the whole concept of ordering the LT package...LEATHER.  If you want everything BUT leather, get the LS package, that's the reason why they offer the two.

[Zane]

Sorry not possible.

Only with Corvettes can you get mus delivery, and even then you can't watch it being built.

[mcali17]

Regarging the LT and leather, this is true. For GMC the differnec is SLT or SLE. However, a lot of times there are options that are not available unless you purchase leather. For example, for my 2002 Envoy SLE if I had wanted, Driver Information Center, Mirror Turn Signals, Headlight Washers, Steering Wheel Radio, Climate Controls, Automatic Climate Controls and Bose Audio System, you would have to order the SLT as these options are not available without ordering leather. I guess it has to do with ordering patterns. So you can't always get all the options you want without taking the leather seats.

[jsm174]

Oh guys, I definitely understand why its called LT.

 

It was just, last year for example, you couldn't get OnStar in an LS. This year I was extremely worried because to get the Bose Stereo system, they hide the amp, etc. in the console. And according to the dealer, last year, you couldn't get a console in a 1500 unless you went with a LT.

 

When we started going through the '03 options, everything was seperate. OnStar, Cloth Bucket Seats, Bose Stereo, Heated turn-signal mirrors, etc.

 

Oh yeh, one funny thing, was that I picked out Red / Light Pewter Metallic two-tone. When we priced out the LT, you could not select the normal two-tone option. You had to pick out a special two-tone option. The dealer told me, that they have been having that problem for the last two years. I find it odd, b/c must LTs I have seen are two-tone. I guess maybe it takes longer for them to pick the order.

 

As for the truck I ordered, like I mentioned earlier, I chose

every single option I could get except leather.  

 

What an LT has over what I ordered:

 

1) Leather

2) Heated Seats

3) Seat Memory

3) The longer overhead console.

 

If you chose an LS and added the leather option, you still didn't get heated, memory, or the longer overhead console.

 

... Oh yeh, you can't get the Protec box in two-tone either. Why? ...

 

So with all this, why did I not spend the extra $800? Call me crazy, but I'm not a big fan of leather, and if I ever get a dog, I'd worry about sharp nails poking holes in the seats.

[mcali17]

Hey, I am with you jsm174 on not really liking the leather. Didn't mean to offend you with the LT thing. I think GM is starting to realize that there may be some of us who want the high end options without leather. I also know that one of GM's new strategies is to allow more options as stand alones and not as packages. This allows lower base prices on models and allows the consumer more flexability. I can tell you though, as the son of a GMC dealer, it makes trying to order trucks for general inventory very difficult and also increases the number of swaps the dealers must make. It was hard enough ordering what people wanted for inventory with packages, but when the break up the options it makes it even worse. Just keep this in mind if you are looking at a vehicle in inventory and it doesn't have everything you want in it. If  you can order one, and it actually gets built that is great. How long did they say it would take to come in??

[pacodiablo]

... Oh yeh, you can't get the Protec box in two-tone either. Why? ...

GM is funny about the pro-tec box.  i think its because they are kind of consumer testing it or something to see how it holds up.  i think its only available on Z71 SBs.

[jsm174]

Ahh, you didn't offend me. It was more in response to CMNTMXR81.

 

You know, I never really thought about it like you described. I guess it would be a pain ordering stock for a dealership!

 

As for the truck, they told me 6-10 weeks. The order actually processed today because they had to verify GMAC financing.

 

Not like anyone cares, but here are the option codes I picked:

 

--- FLEETSIDY BODY (STD)

Z71 OFF-ROAD SUSPENSION PKG

FE9 FEDERAL EMISSIONS

LM7 5.3L (325) SFI V8 (VORTEC) ENGINE

M30 4-SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION W/OD (STD)

G80 LOCKING DIFFERENTIAL

GT4 3.73 AXLE RATIO

1SB PREFERRED EQUIPMENT GROUP

QGD (5) P265/75R16 ALL-TERRAIN SBR OWL TIRES

A95 FRONT RECLINING BUCKET SEATS

__D CUSTOM CLOTH SEAT TRIM (STD)

ZY2 TWO-TONE PAINT

UC6 ETR AM/FM STERO W/6-DISC COMPACT DISC CHANGER

PF9 (4) BRUSHED ALUMINUM WHEELS

PDL OFF-ROAD PKG

--- OFF-ROAD PKG SAVINGS *DISCOUNT*

K47 HIGH CAPACITY AIR CLEANER

FW1 ELECTRONIC CONTROLLED RIDE/HANDLING CONTROL

CJ2 DUAL-ZONE AUTO CLIMATE CONTROL

T96 FRONT FOG LAMPS

SAF LOCKABLE SPARE TIRE CARRIER

UE1 ONSTAR COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

UK3 STEERING WHEEL-MOUNTED RADIO CONTROLS

AJ1 SOLAR-RAY DEEP TINTED GLASS

DL3 DUAL BLACK PWR FOLD AWAY HEATER PWR MIRRORS

AG1 6-WAY PWR DRIVER SEAT

NZZ OFF-ROAD SKID PLATE PKG

Z82 HD TRAILERING SPECIAL EQUIPMENT

B71 COLOR-KEYED WHEEL OPENING FLARES

NP8 AUTOTRAC ACTIVE 4WD TRANSFER CASE

 

Exterior #1 Victory Red 74

Exterior #2 Light Pewter Metallic 11

Interior Dark Charcoal 69

 

Another thing I found weird was under standard equipment:

 

* Chrome front bumper w/body-color lower section.

 

I didn't know the bottom of the bumpers were painted.

They probably are not. I haven't seen any so far. I did see a '03 Sierra with a painted bumper.

 

-- Jason

[Import Hater]

You can get museum delivery on a new Corvette.

They still smack you with the destination charge though  ???

Yeah it seems pretty silly having to pay a destination charge when all you'd think they have to do is drive it off the assembly line and park it out front for you.  But they still actually ship the car.  It goes to the local dealer, gets PDI, then they send it back to the museum.  So the destination fee is technically being used for something.  There's not much value in it, but then again...the extra charge for delivery at the museum also doesn't have alot of value.  You could just buy your 'Vette at that dealer, drive it to the plant/museum yourself, and just pay the much lesser fee for a tour through the museum and factory.

 

Rob

[gmcjoe]

Sorry not possible.

Only with Corvettes can you get mus delivery, and even then you can't watch it being built.

Not entirely true, I have a certificate for turning the key for the first time on a C5 on the assembly line back in 1998  You can watch them being built and if you're fortunate enough, your own C5.

It isn't possible to watch the whole process unfortunatly, as the car starts out on two lines then the two merge to complete the process.

 

Import Hater - I agree that the Museum Delivery doesn't add monetary value, it is more personal, sentimental value. Grant it the Corvette is just a car, but not unlike Harleys, there is a very large 'cult' like following.  

 

Personally, If I were to order a new C5, I'd opt for Museum Delivery and drive that baby home

[TxDoc]

If you get your SON-Sales Order Number and later the TPW, I may be able to tell you where it is in the process.

[jsm174]

Great! I'll check with the dealer for those #'s.

 

Thanks!

-- Jason

[jsm174]

How long does it take from GM pulling the

order to truck being built?

 

They said my order was pulled Wednesday,

August 14th.

 

-- Jason

[wolfie]

I almost pulled it off last year... I was in the plant the week my truck was supposed to be built. Only thing is it had been delayed and I never even ended up getting that truck... I had the dealer locate me one so I'd have it time to plow with. Turns out the truck I did get was probably built the week I was there though so it may have been one of the red ones I saw that day rolling down the line anyway... Never did figure out the exact day this truck was built... but it could have been that day.