Additional Dealer Markups (ADMs) have been an unfortunate fact of life for much of the C8 Corvette’s time on sale. The 2020 Stingray struggled to meet demand after COVID-related production issues plagued the C8’s white-hot debut, ADMs naturally followed. While GM outwardly said it wasn’t concerned by dealers wetting their respective beaks as things were cooling off in 2021, by the time the Z06 finally hit the scene in 2023, some corporate guardrails were put in place to combat excessive MSRP inflation by dealerships and individuals looking to capitalize by quickly flipping new, in-demand ‘Vettes.
Warranties have been voided, people found lining their pockets instead of enjoying the cars as intended have been barred from buying future C8 variants, and on the dealer side, allocations were reportedly taken from stores caught slapping excessive “Market Adjustments” on their Zs. Regrettably, the efficacy of these programs has been questionable, at best. And, despite our best efforts to shed light on the worst offenders and point potential buyers to our trusted dealers (Mike Furman, Les Stanford) that always offer their wares at MSRP (or lower!) the problem persists into model year eight. Dealers have gotten creative by feigning innocence, and in the case of the extremely limited and desirable 1,250-horsepower ZR1X, some have become outright shameless, advertising allocations at more than double the sticker price with a straight face.
We obviously don’t like it, but the thing is… we get it. It’s simple economics; the entire C8 lineup is almost peerless in the automotive marketplace of 2026. When the base car hit the scene, it offered supercar looks and performance starting at $60,000 while also attracting new, wealthier customers. Of course, it was going to command a premium when external factors limited production to less than half of expected. The Z06 and its record-setting flat-plane V8 offered the acclaimed recipe that Ferrari left behind (while both upping the ante and lowering the price the Italians asked), earning the attention of even wealthier customers. And so, it continued with the ZR1 and eventually ZR1X, more competition for rarer and more powerful C8 Corvettes that had moved past common gripes from previous generations to become truly excuse-free, world-class performance cars that could also go toe-to-toe with the best grand tourers to become the best all-around sports cars on the market.
Leave GS Buyers Alone!
Again, financially, we can’t fault dealerships trying to milk people with more money than sense/patience for every last cent when they are gifted an all-too rare allocation for the latest Z-branded Corvette. But when the same thing starts happening to traditional working-class Corvette customers when they finally find themselves as the target market for a “cool” wide-body version of the C8 after seven years of watching their favorite car move further and further upmarket and out of reach, that’s when this whole ADM thing has gone too far, and that’s exactly what’s going on at Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet of Columbus, Ohio.
The flagship dealership of famed actor, entrepreneur, and former bandmate of Hector the Booty Inspector, Mark Wahlberg Chevrolet has reached a new level in lacking self-awareness with its stock “best prices guaranteed” photo banner currently outlining the most expensive 2027 Grand Sport on Cars.com, a car the dealership’s honchos have launched well into Z06 territory by adding a $25,000 market adjustment. Sure, MWChev scored one of the first GSs on the ground and it’s their right to attempt to lure a big fish with this 535-horse ode to American excellence, but when this shop already landed at #5 on our Z06 Wall of Shame, we’re also well within our rights to point a disturbing pattern of greed when we see it.
Folks, here’s some free and friendly consumer advice: unlike the 1963 variety that’ll likely become the most expensive Corvette ever sold at auction next month, the new Grand Sport isn’t going to be excessively rare. It’s a volume model that’s already accounting for 35% of 2027 Corvettes built; everyone who wants their very own 535-horespower American Dream Machine shouldn’t have any trouble getting one at MSRP now and likely at a discount later. Don’t fall for the modern trap of instant gratification. If you’re in the market for a Grand Sport, congratulations! Be sure to savor the experience, enjoy the hunt, or call up one of our guys to get it built exactly how you want it, maybe even pick it up at the Museum, but even if you’re looking to make a splash at your Corvette Club meeting next week, take a deep breath and don’t do anything hasty with your hard-earned cash – after all, how silly do the people who paid extra for an early 2020 build look today?
So, Corvette Nation, let’s band together and finally take a stand against ADM. Let’s vow to leave this ho-hum Black/Red Grand Sport build to languish in Columbus until the script eventually flips and GSs join some of the older members of the family in the land of $7,000 rebates. We don’t think the dealership’s Vegas-based owner has much say in these pricing decisions, but if we were the man who should have won a best supporting actor Oscar for his role in The Departed, we’d be getting back into character for Sargent Dignam to make a call to the dealership’s managers, demanding they stop attaching my name to bad deals. Of course, there’d be a few more words in the conversation that aren’t suitable for this family car blog, but it’d definitely end with the classic “I’m the guy who does his job, you must be the other guy,” and the passing of some walkin’ papahs (that’s “papers” with a Boston accent) if the Mahkups don’t stop!
Editor’s Note
Between the time of receiving this article on Tuesday morning to getting it posted Wednesday Afternoon, we see that the dealership has reduced the ADM to just $10,000 over MSRP instead of the original $25,000 over. While appreciated, it’s still over-priced by $10,000.
Source:
markwahlbergchevycolumbus.com
Related:
Blame the Customers: Dealer Feigns Innocence While Slapping a Huge ADM on its 2025 Corvette ZR1
[VIDEO] 2024 Corvette Stingrays Offered for Below MSRP; Z06 ADMs Coming Down
Shots Fired! GM North American President Steve Carlisle Warns Dealers Against Market Adjustments on Z06
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All about GREED! In 2020 i ordered my 1st Corvette from Love Chevrolet in Inverness, FL I waited over 16 months before it came in. During delivery they asked if i wanted the extended warranty and I said, “no i’m not driving this car out of warranty, put me on the list for another one”. So several mos later I went to check the status of my new 2023 at the dealership. While we’re talking, my salesperson says, “you do know we’re marking up the sticker $5000.00, right? I couldn’t believe it, and said, “why would I expect you to mark up the sticker when i bought the 1st one at msrp, this is total BS, I could have been on another dealers list had i known you’d pull this shit on me ?” Then I was told the owner made this decision and there was nothing they could do. I asked to have the “owner” call me and they said, he’s not going to call you. I’m really sad because Love had such a great group of guys ( both sales and service) i loved dealing with. So now another truck and a new Grand Sport coming from another dealership, I will Never do business at Love Chevrolet in Inverness, FL again! I hope they’re happy after stealing my $5grand. And for that I would highly NOT reccommend anyone buying a car from there!
The dealers are taking margin that General Motors could enjoy. Of course, General Motors would need to sell the early editions of the subject car with the price hike and then reduce it when demand went down. That seems unlikely though I’d rather see GM get the money than the rip-off dealers.
I’m about the only person who thinks 25k should be standard. The pain should be felt by those who clamored for the death of the E-Ray, and decried everything that wasn’t their beloved GS. So it could have its desiccated corpse reborn yet again in the form of the mucho-pointless C8 version.
These are acolytes to whom the ER may as well not have existed. There was only the pedestrian SR (which they would never buy) and the Z06 (which they should have bought, but “excuses”). Nevermind that the C8GS isn’t about 1300 lbs of weight savings (like the OG). Nevermind that the M/R doesn’t allow for additional traction with the widebody (vs the SR that can fit 345’s in the back–stock).
It’s all about playing barbie-dress up (including pilfering the ER’s choice wheel design). So yes, that should 100% come with an unnecessary premium. 7 years of listening to the GS fanboys has been a deafening roar; I concur with the hit to their pocketbooks.
Anyway, we’ve seen this movie before. It typically costs more money to be a “first guy” C8 poser – and that wears off quickly. Relax. People will enjoy seeing and chatting about it whenever you get it – just because it’s a new car. These are mass production cars and in manufacturing the quality of early production of anything isn’t as good as it is a year or two down the road. So using patience to get MSRP later pays off with better quality and better prices. It looks like Chevy is cranking them out pretty quickly.
I don’t know what everyone else is seeing, but I have seen so many advertised at MSRP and sitting on dealers lots already, it won’t be long until we start seeing discounts on the GS!! Just my 2 cents!!
Here’s a little salient advice. You have choices. Speak with your checkbook. It is as simple as that. Complaining doesn’t do you any good.
If i see a window sticker with an adm on it that dealership does not get my business…ever
My local chevy dealer called me and said they have a ZR1. While I am on a list at another dealer for a ZR1X I went to look at the car. I asked what they are selling it for, the response was MSRP + $150,000.00. They asked if I wanted to make an offer, I said no and walked out the door. I spoke with another dealer in Texas, who claimed to have an allocation for a 2027 ZR1X, I called them and they also wanted $150K over MSRP. Good luck with that. I own a C8 Z06. It is a 2023. When I ordered the car, the price was MSRP nothing more. When I picked it up at the NCM in June of 23 a by-stander asked me if I would sell him the car at $50K over MSRP. I said no and I am still enjoying the car today until my ZR1X comes home. I expect that as before that I will pay MSRP. I have visited the dealer and was assured this is the case. I probably will not see the car until next year some time, and that is ok with me, I am patient. I don’t need to be first, and I don’t want to flip the car I want to enjoy it. My Z06 is my 7th Vette. I have enjoyed each one over the years and while they all had their monuments of glory, the Z06 is a fantastic car and a marvel of engineering. In case you’re wondering I bought my Z06 from MacMulkin and will be getting my ZR1X from there as well. The best dealership experience I have ever had.
Marky Markup and the Furacious Bunch. Well, at this point, I’ve realized I’ll never afford a C8, so I settled for an S650 Mustang. Different vibe, but plenty of car and much cheaper than the ‘vette both in sticker, insurance, and gas consumption (mine is a Ecoboost).
The dealers are GREEDY because buyers are STUPID.
FILTH!!!!! FILTH….. of the highest order, walk away, this is NOT the only year for the Grand Sport to be built!!!! Walk away!!!!
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