GM ups production at Lordstown plant

[patrickbec]

GM ups production at Lordstown plant
By LARRY RINGLER Tribune Chronicle POSTED: January 31, 2008 Save | Print | Email | Read comments | Post a comment
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LORDSTOWN — Expected high demand for the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5 is prompting GM to schedule extra production at the General Motors Corp. Lordstown Complex, a union leader said Wednesday.

Workers are scheduled to build cars on overtime Saturday shifts Feb. 16 and Feb. 23, along with two more Saturday shifts in March and April, according to Jim Graham, president of Local 1112 that represents 2,400 workers at the Lordstown assembly plant.

Three Saturday overtime shifts are expected in May, he added.

For now, workers also are scheduled to work the second week of the annual shutdown in the first two weeks of July, although GM can change that schedule anytime in February, Graham said.

The complex worked the second week of the July shutdown last year for the first time in the many years since it began the annual down weeks for model changeover.

Another 1,000 hourly employees work at the next-door Metal Center plant, which makes and assembles steel body parts for the cars. Hundreds more work at nearby supplier plants.

Graham called the extra production good news because it shows strong demand for the fuel-efficient small cars during a time of high gasoline prices.

Cobalt sales dragged through the first half of the year before catching fire in the last five months as gasoline prices surged past $3 a gallon.

http://www.tribune-chronicle.com/pag...id/500812.html

[zabolots]

Originally Posted by patrickbec

Expected high demand for the Chevrolet Cobalt and Pontiac G5

Never though I'd see those words in print...

[joemac]

Where's the d@mn Colbalt SS Turbo!!?!?!?! Hopefully they'll start cranking those out.

[CmicasatheGreat]

Originally Posted by zabolots

Never though I'd see those words in print...

Why??? The Cobalts that I have been in (LS Sedan, SSsc Coupe, LS Coupe, nonSC SS Coupe) have all been excellent runners.

The Ecotec is one of the best engines on the market. The Cobalt misses in only two areas... the Interior, which is IMO less attractive than the Aveo's.. and the Sedan's boring styling. The only cars that seem to actually better them are the Civic and Mazda3, and I mean in styling. Both do pretty much what Chevy should have done and that is extend the look of the Coupe with out making it look like a completely different car. I think only GM does this. The G6 is another example. Their coupe versions ALWAYS look waaaaay better than their sedan versions, when they should essentially look the same minus two doors. The Astra may show signs of this changing...

What always pisses me off is that people Dog Out the Cobalt yet praise the Corolla... What a POS that thing is.

[CrunkedRL]

Well this is a great win for the home team. I know several who work at the Lordstown plant so I'm glad demand has increase some for the G5/Cobalt.

[69Firebird400]

I agree that the old Corolla is a POS (a pretty reliable POS, but not a comfortable, attractive, or appealing vehicle). The new one at least looks better, but when I tried to check it out in Detroit, the doors were locked.

Maybe the Cobalt/G5 are getting some of the same end-of-life sales mojo that the Corolla saw the past year or two. I look forward to the SS Turbo and the next Cobalt.

[jkennedy293]

Originally Posted by joemac

Where's the d@mn Colbalt SS Turbo!!?!?!?! Hopefully they'll start cranking those out.

Its supposed to be coming out Q2

[K-1]

Originally Posted by 69Firebird400

I agree that the old Corolla is a POS (a pretty reliable POS, but not a comfortable, attractive, or appealing vehicle).

Tell that to my dad-in-law. He just got a new head gasket on his '07 CE at 10,000 miles. Though, he still insists Toyota is the better buy.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

...
What always pisses me off is that people Laud the Cobalt yet praise the Corolla... What a POS that thing is.

Why does it bother you that people laud the Cobalt? You just said yourself you think it's a good car. Wouldn't you want others to agree?

[CmicasatheGreat]

Originally Posted by K-1

Tell that to my dad-in-law. He just got a new head gasket on his '07 CE at 10,000 miles. Though, he still insists Toyota is the better buy.

Amazing isn't it? IMO the Cavalier was no worse than a current Corolla when it came to reliability... it certainly looked better.

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

What always pisses me off is that people Laud the Cobalt yet praise the Corolla... What a POS that thing is.

laud [lawd] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–verb (used with object)
1. to praise; extol.
–noun
2. a song or hymn of praise.
3. lauds, (used with a singular or plural verb) Ecclesiastical. a canonical hour, marked esp. by psalms of praise, usually recited with matins.

[geozinger]

Originally Posted by CrunkedRL

Well this is a great win for the home team. I know several who work at the Lordstown plant so I'm glad demand has increase some for the G5/Cobalt.

I'm with you, I've got friends and family there, too. Good news (for once) for the Valley...

[bcjohnso99]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

Why??? The Cobalts that I have been in (LS Sedan, SSsc Coupe, LS Coupe, nonSC SS Coupe) have all been excellent runners.

The Ecotec is one of the best engines on the market. The Cobalt misses in only two areas... the Interior, which is IMO less attractive than the Aveo's.. and the Sedan's boring styling. The only cars that seem to actually better them are the Civic and Mazda3, and I mean in styling. Both do pretty much what Chevy should have done and that is extend the look of the Coupe with out making it look like a completely different car. I think only GM does this. The G6 is another example. Their coupe versions ALWAYS look waaaaay better than their sedan versions, when they should essentially look the same minus two doors. The Astra may show signs of this changing...

What always pisses me off is that people Laud the Cobalt yet praise the Corolla... What a POS that thing is.

Agree with most of what you say except the first statement. The Ecotec 2.2 (or at least the application of it in the cobalt sedan) is not even close to competitive in terms of NVH.

I speak from experience because I drive one every day. When I get a ride in a Civic, Mazda3 or Corolla owned by a friend, it is very clear that they have better NHV. When the engine is hot, it is fairly good but it is down right nasty when it is cold - loud, harsh and lethargic. It is also too loud when pushed hard.

I'm sure a little tweaking to intake and exhaust would go along way to making it sound better.

[Josenez11]

Originally Posted by joemac

Where's the d@mn Colbalt SS Turbo!!?!?!?! Hopefully they'll start cranking those out.

We are running pilot jobs now. Production will start in the second quarter.

[skylark68]

Originally Posted by CmicasatheGreat

Amazing isn't it? IMO the Cavalier was no worse than a current Corolla when it came to reliability... it certainly looked better.

My wife's grandfather has had no problems from his '04 Cavalier coupe. It's a good running car. The interior lacks some style and feels a little cheap, but it's a nice car that returns some good numbers. He likes it a lot better than his old '98 Corolla.