General Motors Scaling Back Sonic Production, Moving 500 Workers

The Orion Assembly workers also built your Verano. As a Michigander, I will apologize on behalf of our state*. *apology does not imply any wrongdoing. Orion Assembly is owned by GM, a publically traded company, which is not affiliated with the state of Michigan. Please any correspondence regarding manufacturing defects to GM.

@bball40dtw Apology not valid in HI and AK. See official rules for details.

@bball40dtw Negotiation with said publicly traded company is complete. I have a 4 year lease. They have extended my bumper to bumper warranty to 4 years, 120k kms, and are providing the OnStar Guidance package for the remainder of the lease. This way, at least if it craps out again, far from home or otherwise, towing, lodging, courtesy vehicle/rentals, and repairs wont cost me, and hopefully the cars bigger antenna will allow us to call for help in remote locals. We can both work remotely for a day or two, so we just bring our laptops on road trips now. So I am keeping the car, and though I can't be sure it won't crap out again, we decided as long as GM would take on the repair costs, and we have the warranty's trip cancellation coverage, we will take our chances. Its certainly not my first choice of resolution, but GM was absolutely unwilling to budge on the issue of the massive residuals, so my only options on getting out of the car would take a massive hit, or try and sell it privately and make enough to buy out the lease. So, in the end, I am ok with this outcome, its better than nothing, and we can make it fit. I've never had a car that I knew I was returning in 2.5 years before, its a different feeling. Originally, my lease was just a different shaped finance package, and I intended to keep the car, now, its going back for sure. No way I'm owning that shiny blue turd off warranty. I wasn't really keen on the idea of returning a lease, but since this one has been such an unmitigated disaster, at least I know I wont have to try and sell it. It will be time for a truck by then anyways (travel trailer) so, its going to work out. (Just looking for the silver lining) In the meantime, we are utilizing my GF's car more now, to keep the mileage down on the Buick. I could easily do 120k kms in 4 years, and at 120k I'd be well over my lease mileage. We pretty much use hers in town now for errands and socializing, the Buick just goes to work and back, and we use it for road trips, because that's its sweet spot, and her car is a beater.

@davefromcalgary You know I was checking out the glorious city of Calgary, in which parts of the city does one want to hang out or stay?

@28-Cars-Later Well, I personally spend a lot of time at Southgate Chev. Its pretty happening. Also, Im kind of sad CoreyDL wont get to see my comment about the Verano resolution. I don't think he could bring himself to click on an article about the Sonic! sarc

@davefromcalgary So you are going to buy another GM product? I know you will. You are going to buy a Silverado when your Verano lease is up.

@bball40dtw No, we will have an intervention before that happens.

@bball40dtw Speaking of trucks... Well, if I was going to order a truck RIGHT NOW, I'd want a 2015 RAM Sport. Best looking trucks around, and alot more options available in a middling package than its competitors. Also, I like the 2015 Sierra, but the 2016 is ruined, looks wise. I've always preferred the Sierra to the Silverado. Its really hard to say because the 2016 RAMS have been beat with an ugly stick (the big logo ones), the 2016 Sierra has been beat with an ugly stick, the F-150 doesnt call to me, the Tundra was spawned from an ugly stick, Nissan doesnt make any trucks... and I dont know whats going to change between now and April 2018. I really wanted to like the Canyon, but its just horribly executed IMO. They should have used the 4.3L, its stupidly tall looking, its small on the inside, and the rising beltline can die and never come back. Hopefully in 2.5 years, the ride quality and refinement that Ford and GM are baking into their current platforms will have proliferated, and the Taco might be on the radar. Or I might go used, who knows. Or a JGC. Speaking in general... I'm a GM guy, its like some kind of disease, but already I've been looking and appreciating many cars of other stripes. I'm always looking, reading, window shopping, etc, new and used because it amuses me. As a few examples, I think the G37x is a hell of a car, I think the new Forte5 MT 1.6T is actually a really appealing package, that I would consider spending my own shekels on (first ever H/K I've said this about). The current Accord Sport is very cool, too bad Honda beaked it for 2016. Anyways, I have no idea. Likely, we will be replacing my GF's car at the same time or sooner. Just like me, shes into sedans, and is a competent driver but not a car enthusiast, so something like a non-predator V6 Camry, or an Accord might be on the radar.

@bball40dtw I'm driving an F150 today through Monday, and I want to keep it. I'd say that about any domestic full sized truck though. The 2.7TT is way better than I thought it would be. It needs to go in the Fusion/MKZ.

@bball40dtw Thats kind of the thing... Domestic trucks are pretty good. If I was to bring up buying another GM car to her, she gives me this look o_O (regardless of the fact the GM literally has no other vehicle outside of trucks that interest me besides the SS). But when I bring up trucks, she's fine with it, because she knows about mad truck profits yo. And, my brothers 2014 Sierra SLT is really, really nice... The annoying thing is, had I bought an auto Verano T, I bet none of this would be happening. It strongly looks like GM's fancy @$$ dual mass flywheel has caused alot of my issues. But I don't want an automatic. I still dont like the looks of the current Fusion, but I agree that a Fusion ST would be very interesting. I really like the 2012 Fusion Sport. I bookmarked a few on kijiji when I was hoping GM might buyback my car.

@bball40dtw "I’m a GM guy, its like some kind of disease" The cure is the simple realization the vast majority of their products are inferior to the ones produced by "Old GM" in their respective time periods (the only one which sticks out as an obvious improvement is J-body vs Ep II).

@28-Cars-Later Well 28, I guess that depends on what you're going to be getting up to. Hockey? I'd stay near the stampede grounds, which is also close to downtown. Hard to put myself in the tourist mode, but I think near stampede/downtown is your best bet. Outdoors stuff? Heck, I'd try and find a place in Canmore, or the west end of town. TTAC pizza and beer? Heritage/Southland area. The military museums and aerospace museums are pretty great, but not centrally located. Our mainstay activities aren't really touristy things, except for we enjoy museums.

@28-Cars-Later I also enjoy things like museums.

@bball40dtw By the time you want a truck, the GM and Ford trucks will have the slick new 10 speed, with kinks worked out. I know transmissions are getting ridiculous, but the 10R is a great design. That, paired with any available powertrains that GM or Ford has on offer would be sweet. Also, I am hoping the next gen Navi/Expedition tanks the values of the current versions. Old a$$ Ford platform getting money thrown at it for 2015-2017 makes for a great used buy.

@28-Cars-Later We go to the Rockies and hike and drink. If it's summer, play golf. If it's winter, ski or watch hockey.

@28-Cars-Later bball, 28, the Rockies await.

@bball40dtw Its frustrating with the 2014 and 2015 Sierras though. As I've mentioned, my brother has a 2015 Sierra SLT, its a beautiful truck. I've driven it a few times, and it has the 5.3L, which has more than enough oomph on paper. But the throttle and transmission tune just kill it. I've read that it has a computer program called "Torque Management" that is meant to prevent wheel spin on heavy throttle applications, which is why its so lackluster feeling. You can remove it with a $500 tuner, at the expense of your warranty... A 2015 Denali in pearl white or metallic blue, with the 6.2 calls me strongly. The 2015 3.5TT Navigator seems like an absolute beast. That being said, I dont want a big BOF SUV, I think a truck is more versatile. I'll never need a third row, and a hard tonneau cover is all I need for cargo space. This is why the Canyon is so disappointing. 7K lbs is more than enough towing capacity. A crew cab midsize truck with a box cover is all I need. In fact, I guess that means I cant say the Canyon is absolutely off my list. We will see whats what in 2.5 years.

@bball40dtw Canyon would be nicer with better motor choices.

@bball40dtw Seriously, if the jammed the 4.3L in there and flattened the damn beltine, I'd be all over it.

The GJC is a very strong contender!

@davefromcalgary I highly recommend the WK2 JGC. We owned a 2012 JGC (bought Nov 2011) for four years and ~80K miles. It was trouble-free for us, albeit a bit underpowered in mountain country with the V6. So my recommendation would be to test drive a JGC with the 5.7L. Better yet, a 6.4L SRT8.

@highdesertcat If we go with an SUV instead of a pickup, it will definitely be JGC (based of course on the current market). The 5.7 and the 3.0 TD would be on my "to-try" list. Our other car will remain a sedan, we like sedans.