Tiny Chevrolet Sonic helps Detroit shake off rust

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By TOM KRISHER and DEE-ANN DURBIN

DETROIT (AP) - When the word reached the Orion Assembly Plant, it spread along the serpentine assembly line like news of a death or natural disaster: General Motors, the biggest automaker in the world, had filed for bankruptcy protection.

On that grim day in 2009, Chevrolet and Pontiac sedans kept rolling down the line. And 1,700 worried workers stayed at their stations even as GM announced it would close the plant in a desperate bid to survive.

"The unknown was the scariest part," recalled Gerald Lang, who had worked at Orion for two years installing dashboards and doors. "We really had no clue what was going to happen."

There was something else that the workers didn't know: They were witnessing the opening act of one of the greatest recovery stories in American business.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20130104/DA3JKQTO1.html

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Remind me how saved Detroit? Who wanted to let it die?

[Purveyor]

1. So goes the auto industry...so goes the nation!!!

[putitinD]

2. Mitt Robme: Let Detroit go bankrupt!!!

[calimary]

8. Spoken like a true vampire capitalist.

MAN I am thanking God every day and every night that we're not all bracing at this time for an impending wrongney presidency.

[alfredo]

3. I'm so glad we were able to save the auto industry.

[FarCenter]

4. Nissan Versa Obliterates Subcompact Sales Competition in 2012, Sonic and Accent on Podium

When it comes to subcompact and minicar sales, the Nissan Versa has no competition. In 2012, the Versa again took first place in the subcompact and minicar sales race. Only the Versa, currently offered as a redesigned sedan and an outgoing four-door hatchback, broke the 100,000-unit sales barrier in 2012, and was followed by the Chevrolet Sonic and Hyundai Accent.

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/nissan-versa-obliterates-subcompact-sales-competition-in-2012-sonic-and-accent-on-podium-310407.html

[kiva]

5. Bought my Sonic last summer

and really like it. It's the first stick shift I've owned in over ten year, but smooth and easy.

[happyslug]

7. But My Cruze Eco gets better fuel economy

I wanted a larger car then a subcompact, thus the Cruz Eco. The Sonic and the Cruze Eco uses the same engine and transmission. The Sonic gets a little better mileage in the city, the Cruze highway. Sonic is 29 City 40Highway, Cruze Eco 28 City 42 Highway.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=32052&id=31377&id=31372

The Cruze itself get lower mileage, thus I opted for the Eco. Most of my driving is highway, few stops. Thus I get close to the EPA highway number. Given that I also have to go up and down Allegheny Mountain in Pennsylvania that is very good for a six speed 1.4 liter turbo charged engine.

[ellie]

6. I love Detroit

I miss it.

[Omaha Steve]

9. Kick

[roamer65]

10. I love my Made in Michigan Sonic.

It is actually the best riding, best performing and most roomy small car I've owned yet.

[amandabeech]

11. As much as I complain here about Obama's policies toward the banks and finance industry,

I give him oodles of credit for keeping GM and Chrysler going.

It's good to see the resuscitated GM putting out popular, good cars.

I drive a Taurus from the Chicago plant, myself. It has a few years on it,but low miles. Love that car.

[sendero]

12. If you can't beat em.

... join em. the Sonic even LOOKS like a Honda Fit/Jazz

[joshcryer]

13. An alarming number of DUers.

[tabasco]

14. It's only tiny by American standards

Where people feel the need to drive gigantic gas-guzzling behemoth SUVs to "feel safe," or overpowered redneck pickup trucks to feel like "real men."

[Xithras]

15. I have to admit that I was impressed.

The original Aveo was garbage, but the new Sonic (they renamed the Aveo for the American market when they did the redesign a couple years ago) is a pretty good car. We're going to help my son get a car in a few months, and I was dubious when he said that he wanted a Sonic and I discovered that it was actually an Aveo. When I took one for a test drive a few weeks ago, it was everything the original Aveo wasn't. Where the original Aveo had an engine that sounded like it had rocks in the crankcase, the Sonic was quiet. Where the Aveo rode like a skateboard, the Sonic was smooth and crisp. Where the Aveo had a cheap plasticky interior that screamed "low quality", the Sonic's interior actually felt well built, modern, and sleek.

Not a bad car at all. I was very impressed.

[flvegan]

16. I was very happy to see American jobs come back to America.

It is truly a Daewoo no more.