DaveFelice
New member
I am Dave Felice, owner of a "stock" 2LT HB, 1.8, 15s. I live in Denver, Colorado. Here's a version of the story I wrote about going to Orion Township to get my car at a dealership down the road from the assembly plant.
New car purchase becomes adventure
By Dave Felice
Traveling from Denver to the town where Sonic is made, I found that people who build the car are as pleased to be producing Sonic as I am to own one.
“That’s what we do; we build quality cars,” says Tony Hufford of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 5960.
When production started, Sonic wasn't immediately available in Denver. Since I would have ordered the car anyway, I went to Michigan.
I ordered a crystal-red 2LT hatchback. I got my car at the dealership near the plant, then drove 1550 miles back to Denver.
Using advanced techniques and huge robotics, members of Local 5960 produce Sonic hatchbacks and sedans, and a new Buick small car, at the General Motors Orion Assembly Center. The huge plant is set amid rolling hills between Detroit and Flint, in the town of Lake Orion (OR-ee-uhn).
People are surprised, and pleased, that Sonic is the only subcompact built in the United States. GM and the UAW have a new two-tier pay structure to make it profitable to produce the cars domestically. It was important for me to purchase a car from an American company, made in the U.S. by union workers.
Modern production in “car country”
Orion Assembly Center has “the latest and greatest techniques,” according to Hufford, Communications Director for Local 5960. Orion workers can build a Sonic sedan, followed by a Buick Verano and a Sonic hatchback in the same assembly run.
Hufford says there are 1,750 GM employees at Orion. Another 300 third party employees work in the plant on processes formerly performed outside. The facility produces about 40 cars per hour. All Sonic and Verano vehicles made for North America are produced at Orion.
Pride in production
Hufford says members of UAW 5960 are proud of making cars at Orion: “Sonic is a significant improvement over small cars of the past. We are pleased to be building this car in the U.S.”
Having rented many subcompacts, including some only available overseas, I agree with Hufford’s assessment of improvements.
He tells me Orion workers are also gratified to be part of GM’s recovery. “The company is really on the mend and the cars we are building are truly state of the art. We’re continuing the great history of this plant for high quality, health, safety, and environmental considerations.”
Workers built my car on November 15. Jeff “Weebie” Webb of UAW 5960 and Quality Operations Manager Carter Sperry did the final inspection before arranging delivery of the car to Wally Edgar Chevrolet, just down the road.
Plant approaches three decades
General Motors opened Orion Assembly in 1983. Except for occasionally heavy truck traffic, it’s hard to tell there’s a major industrial complex in the Oakland County countryside.
Located on 5,000 acres, Orion Assembly is 80 acres under one roof. An acre is approximately the size of a football field.
Every aspect of the sparkling-clean Orion Assembly was re-built by UAW Skilled Trades for highest efficiency and environmental standards.
Innovative processes
Like a kit, each car has assembly specifications. On-site suppliers use large bins, guided by electric floor tracks, to deliver parts and sub-assemblies when required.
Orion is the first U.S plant to use the innovative technique of applying three coats of wet paint before a single trip through the baking oven. Rust-proofing is thinner, while retaining high quality.
There’s much less solid waste. The plant uses less water than older facilities, and powers some operations by methane gas from landfills. New lighting saves money and energy.
Auto work part of community
Orion Assembly has a close relation with historic automobiles. Hufford says the plant has produced several models of Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Cadillac cars.
There are numerous auto production facilities in the area. Almost everyone in the community has some connection with the automobile business.
Brand expansion in GM revival
Sonic is a major component in Chevrolet’s worldwide brand expansion. The company even sells Sonic in Japan. With right hand drive, Sonic becomes a Holden Barina in Australia and New Zealand.
People describe my Sonic as “sporty,” “jaunty,” and even “cute.” Almost everyone likes the round headlights, the crystal red color, and the solid way the doors close.
Getting to Lake Orion unusual
Denver-based Frontier Airlines has a daily flight from Denver to Flint, with a change of planes in Milwaukee. Flint is a smaller airport, and Chautauqua Airlines operates the commuter jet from Milwaukee.
Since a single Frontier-Chautauqua employee at Flint does everything except fly the plane, passengers get their bags when leaving the aircraft. I didn’t know this and had to wait at the ticket counter for my suitcase.
A driver from the Chevrolet dealership took me to Lake Orion, 45-minutes southeast of Flint.
In Lake Orion, I had lunch with Buick historian Larry Gustin. He had just completed work on the Second Edition of his book David Buick’s Marvelous Motor Car.
Easy deal
Sales consultant Tom Blythe at Wally Edgar Chevrolet gave me an attractive price offer in the first of numerous phone calls and e-mails. Every aspect of the process went about as smoothly as possible.
I had to pay extra for a front license plate mounting bracket.
The biggest shock of the deal was Colorado sales tax and fees.
Returning to Denver
The route from Lake Orion goes westerly through Flint and Lansing, then south to Indianapolis and west across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.
I stopped the first night in Indianapolis, the second in Columbia, Missouri, and the final night in Salina, Kansas.
“Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry was on satellite radio in Wentzville, Missouri. But I saw no signage recognizing one of the town’s most famous residents. General Motors has a truck assembly plant in Wentzville, a suburb of St. Louis.
In downtown Kansas City, Kansas, the Interstate splits without much warning. I ended up going southward before getting westbound again. Ford has a plant in Kansas City, Missouri, while GM has a factory in Kansas City, Kansas.
Even passing some Chevrolet dealerships, I saw no other Sonics. A few people asked about my “little red car”.
I left Lake Orion at mid-day on Wednesday and arrived in Denver at mid-afternoon on Saturday.
More details posted at: Denver Direct: New American car purchase becomes adventure
Dave Felice (gelato321@aol.com) lives in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Before getting the new Sonic, he owned a 1990 Buick Reatta built in Lansing, Michigan.
New car purchase becomes adventure
By Dave Felice
Traveling from Denver to the town where Sonic is made, I found that people who build the car are as pleased to be producing Sonic as I am to own one.
“That’s what we do; we build quality cars,” says Tony Hufford of United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 5960.
When production started, Sonic wasn't immediately available in Denver. Since I would have ordered the car anyway, I went to Michigan.
I ordered a crystal-red 2LT hatchback. I got my car at the dealership near the plant, then drove 1550 miles back to Denver.
Using advanced techniques and huge robotics, members of Local 5960 produce Sonic hatchbacks and sedans, and a new Buick small car, at the General Motors Orion Assembly Center. The huge plant is set amid rolling hills between Detroit and Flint, in the town of Lake Orion (OR-ee-uhn).
People are surprised, and pleased, that Sonic is the only subcompact built in the United States. GM and the UAW have a new two-tier pay structure to make it profitable to produce the cars domestically. It was important for me to purchase a car from an American company, made in the U.S. by union workers.
Modern production in “car country”
Orion Assembly Center has “the latest and greatest techniques,” according to Hufford, Communications Director for Local 5960. Orion workers can build a Sonic sedan, followed by a Buick Verano and a Sonic hatchback in the same assembly run.
Hufford says there are 1,750 GM employees at Orion. Another 300 third party employees work in the plant on processes formerly performed outside. The facility produces about 40 cars per hour. All Sonic and Verano vehicles made for North America are produced at Orion.
Pride in production
Hufford says members of UAW 5960 are proud of making cars at Orion: “Sonic is a significant improvement over small cars of the past. We are pleased to be building this car in the U.S.”
Having rented many subcompacts, including some only available overseas, I agree with Hufford’s assessment of improvements.
He tells me Orion workers are also gratified to be part of GM’s recovery. “The company is really on the mend and the cars we are building are truly state of the art. We’re continuing the great history of this plant for high quality, health, safety, and environmental considerations.”
Workers built my car on November 15. Jeff “Weebie” Webb of UAW 5960 and Quality Operations Manager Carter Sperry did the final inspection before arranging delivery of the car to Wally Edgar Chevrolet, just down the road.
Plant approaches three decades
General Motors opened Orion Assembly in 1983. Except for occasionally heavy truck traffic, it’s hard to tell there’s a major industrial complex in the Oakland County countryside.
Located on 5,000 acres, Orion Assembly is 80 acres under one roof. An acre is approximately the size of a football field.
Every aspect of the sparkling-clean Orion Assembly was re-built by UAW Skilled Trades for highest efficiency and environmental standards.
Innovative processes
Like a kit, each car has assembly specifications. On-site suppliers use large bins, guided by electric floor tracks, to deliver parts and sub-assemblies when required.
Orion is the first U.S plant to use the innovative technique of applying three coats of wet paint before a single trip through the baking oven. Rust-proofing is thinner, while retaining high quality.
There’s much less solid waste. The plant uses less water than older facilities, and powers some operations by methane gas from landfills. New lighting saves money and energy.
Auto work part of community
Orion Assembly has a close relation with historic automobiles. Hufford says the plant has produced several models of Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, and Cadillac cars.
There are numerous auto production facilities in the area. Almost everyone in the community has some connection with the automobile business.
Brand expansion in GM revival
Sonic is a major component in Chevrolet’s worldwide brand expansion. The company even sells Sonic in Japan. With right hand drive, Sonic becomes a Holden Barina in Australia and New Zealand.
People describe my Sonic as “sporty,” “jaunty,” and even “cute.” Almost everyone likes the round headlights, the crystal red color, and the solid way the doors close.
Getting to Lake Orion unusual
Denver-based Frontier Airlines has a daily flight from Denver to Flint, with a change of planes in Milwaukee. Flint is a smaller airport, and Chautauqua Airlines operates the commuter jet from Milwaukee.
Since a single Frontier-Chautauqua employee at Flint does everything except fly the plane, passengers get their bags when leaving the aircraft. I didn’t know this and had to wait at the ticket counter for my suitcase.
A driver from the Chevrolet dealership took me to Lake Orion, 45-minutes southeast of Flint.
In Lake Orion, I had lunch with Buick historian Larry Gustin. He had just completed work on the Second Edition of his book David Buick’s Marvelous Motor Car.
Easy deal
Sales consultant Tom Blythe at Wally Edgar Chevrolet gave me an attractive price offer in the first of numerous phone calls and e-mails. Every aspect of the process went about as smoothly as possible.
I had to pay extra for a front license plate mounting bracket.
The biggest shock of the deal was Colorado sales tax and fees.
Returning to Denver
The route from Lake Orion goes westerly through Flint and Lansing, then south to Indianapolis and west across Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado.
I stopped the first night in Indianapolis, the second in Columbia, Missouri, and the final night in Salina, Kansas.
“Roll Over Beethoven” by Chuck Berry was on satellite radio in Wentzville, Missouri. But I saw no signage recognizing one of the town’s most famous residents. General Motors has a truck assembly plant in Wentzville, a suburb of St. Louis.
In downtown Kansas City, Kansas, the Interstate splits without much warning. I ended up going southward before getting westbound again. Ford has a plant in Kansas City, Missouri, while GM has a factory in Kansas City, Kansas.
Even passing some Chevrolet dealerships, I saw no other Sonics. A few people asked about my “little red car”.
I left Lake Orion at mid-day on Wednesday and arrived in Denver at mid-afternoon on Saturday.
More details posted at: Denver Direct: New American car purchase becomes adventure
Dave Felice (gelato321@aol.com) lives in the Park Hill neighborhood of Denver, Colorado. Before getting the new Sonic, he owned a 1990 Buick Reatta built in Lansing, Michigan.
Attachments
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1 Off the Line.jpg -
2 Final Inspection-Weebie and Carter.jpg -
3 Dave 1st Touch 2-2.jpg -
4 Dave Sitting at Plant.jpg -
5 L-R Dave, Weebie, Carter.jpg
