Chevy Cruze rolls off assembly line in red, white and blue

[DainBramaged]

GM today celebrated the domestic production launch of its much-anticipated 2011 Chevrolet Cruze in Lordstown, Ohio. GM, which is 61 percent owned by the U.S. government, made a patriotic display out of the event -- producing red, white and blue models of the Cruze, which replaced the Cobalt at the Ohio plant.

In fact, Chevrolet already plans to have models of the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla available on dealer lots to give customers a firsthand comparison when test-driving the Cruze. Chevrolet hopes to provide customers the amenities of a mid-sized car in the form of a fuel-efficient, safe and reliable compact. The Cruze comes in four models: LS, LT/2LT, LTZ and Eco.

All models will offer 10 airbags, StabiliTrak electronic stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, a collapsible pedal system and power rear-door child safety locks. The LS model will be priced at $16,995, including transportation charges. The Eco version is expected to get up to 40 mpg on the highway. The Lordstown plant expects to begin shipping the Cruze to U.S. dealerships next week. GM employs about 4,500 workers in Lordstown, according to the company's Web site.



http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100908/OEM01/100909900/1261

[Brickbat]

1. K&R.

[roguevalley]

25. even Optimus Prime wouldn't drive that.

[gater]

2. Yeah, but Fiesta gets better mpg, has SYNC, and looks better...

[HughBeaumont]

3. You couldn't PAY me to buy a Ford product.

Not after the mucho-costly nightmare Escrap that almost killed me thanks to an engine malfunction in mid drive . . . among the many, MANY other problems I had with it. Timing belt replaced twice, engine failure, coolant failure, brake issues out the yin-yang, worn belts, alignment issues, cracked hoses, almost constant repairs nearly every MONTH after it hit 90,000 miles . . . NEVER again.

Chevrolet products have almost never given me any major issues in the 20 years I've been driving them. My next car will be the Cruze Eco.

[safeinOhio]

5. I have a 1992 ford E350

that just keeps going and going. I have a 1950 buick that keeps going and going. I won't buy a foreign built car as I want to support our economy. If your Escape is pre-2008, there were a lot of problems with the Mazda design and it's brakes.

[HughBeaumont]

14. Escort.

From what I'm hearing, if you got 100,000 miles out of those, you were either extremely lucky or a mechanic.

[alarimer]

34. Me neither, not after the problems with our Ford trucks at work.

A 2008 F250 with worn out ball joints on one side. Fixed under warranty, but still. And some other pretty major problem also fixed under warranty.

My Mazda, on the other hand, not a single warranty repair. It does have a crack in the dashboard which happened after the warranty expired, but that is only cosmetic.

I would never buy a Dodge anything because they are giant pieces of shit. We've had several trucks at work with serious, serious problems long before they should. So much so that, when my employer ran the numbers, they discovered Dodges had more frequent and more expensive repairs, so they no longer buy them.

As for GM, I did own a Saturn, which was a good car. But they got rid of that brand.

But I like fun cars and I don't see a lot of GM cars being fun exactly. But that is the only American brand I think I would buy after my negative experiences with the others.

[NNN0LHI]

42. I've noticed the folks giving these anti-American car testimonials never give their own line of work

So the rest of us here can assess the quality of whatever goods or services they provide.

Wonder why that is?

Don

[reformedrethug]

44. We have had the exact opposite experience with Dodge

My Father in law a 86 Pickup, we own a 99 Durango that we bought with 33,000 miles and now has 130K with only ONE major issue. I drive a 98 Concord that is just a dream, only issue with that car was needed to replace the fan module.

We have also owned 3 accords with one getting over 345K before being totaled by a deer.

My issue with the OP's article is that it seemed PROUD that the Govt OWNS 61% of a once private corporation. Is the OP advocating govt ownership of companies now?

[DainBramaged]

6. Right, SYNC is the reason you'll buy it over anything else

Jesus help us.

[thereismore]

9. According to Wiki, Fiesta is not even made in the US. Try Germany, Mexico, Venezuela. nt

[jpljr77]

13. Nah, the Cruze looks better, however....

The price is going to be the real killer. While Chevy is touting that the ECO version of the car will get 40 mpg, and then mentioning that the MSRP starts at <$17K, they don't mention that the ECO has not been priced yet. The high-end version of the Cruze, the LTZ, starts at $22K, so it's a good bet that the ECO will be at a higher point.

So, to get 40 mpg, you can pay $24K for a Cruze ECO, or $14K for a Fiesta.

[DainBramaged]

16. Your logic is FAIL

@ $17,000 base, the Cruise offers WAY more content than it's competition. I guess you skipped the standard equipment list:


http://www.chevrolet.com/tools/comparator/compareVehicle.do?year=2011&pvc=12238&comparisonVehicles=321544~309339~315776&snType=model


And it isn't a direct competitor of the Fiesta, the Aveo is.


Give me a break.

[jpljr77]

18. OK, I was comparing gas mileage, not features, but whatever.

Yeah, Cruze (compact) is not in the same class as Fiesta (sub-compact), so it should be significantly more.

However, it's disingenuous for GM to lead with $17k and 40 MPG, when those two numbers have absolutely nothing to do with one another.

[DainBramaged]

20. You just do not know the pricing, why assume?

When they tell us we can reveal it, we will. Being that a 6 speed auto OR stick is standard (first in it's class WORLD WIDE) it's simply a matter of de-contenting it for weight, gas saving tires, and then finishing testing for the Gooberment (which it is still doing apparently).

[Codeine]

35. Made in Mexico.

Fuck that union-busting shit.

[david13]

4. You couldn't pay me to buy a ford or a gm. You couldn't put a gun

to my head and get me to buy either one.
I don't care if they wrap the thing in 100 flags, I never go for the flag waving crap anyway.
dc

[DainBramaged]

29. Flag waving crap.

my my. How sad.

[DainBramaged]

31. Well, the mods wouldn't delete your offensive crap

Many of us who respect the flag, have IMMEDIATE Family members who served and were wounded or died fighting for YOU and in spite of being Liberals slash Democrats (my self since the DAY I turned 18) ARE patriots, and think you are what you think the flag is. You may enjoy buying imported or transplanted crap, but your statement is out of line and offensive. you enjoy your freedoms here, but an awful lot of people have died so you can say that offensive crap.

[Redstone]

7. The car magazines say it's a great little car.

Redstone

[Historic NY]

8. I'd bet the 4500 Union workers @ Lordstown are happy...they have jobs.

[HughBeaumont]

19. I used to live in the Trumbull/Mahoning county area.

Believe me, that area got shellacked in the 1990s/2000s. Great news all around for those workers.

[Codeine]

36. Hell yeah. Union jobs.

Too many on DU hate the UAW.

[gophates]

10. Jeebus. Can't we keep friggiin Jingoism out of anything?

Does it have to be friggin flag colors.

[DainBramaged]

11. (sigh) it's American made, get it? Oh wait, friggin jingoism, I get it

you'd rather see a japanese flag on it?

[gophates]

23. I'd rather just see a great car released on its own merits without nationalist crap around it.

[FredStembottom]

12. In this case.....

... the flags represent to me an American car actually made in America.
That makes me want to wave a flag myself!

Americans building for Americans - you could sustain an entire country on an idea like that!

[blue_onyx]

15. Great!

The Cruze will definitely be at the top of my list when I purchase a new vehicle.

[JNelson6563]

17. Awesome!

:toast:

[Jack_DeLeon]

21. Not a very interested car and pricy for what it is. I would rather have a Ford or Toyota.

If I wanted a small car I would get a Ford Fiesta.

As it is I got my '07 Camry LE in 2007 for $18k which is a roomier and better car for just slightly more expensive than the bottom of the line Cruze.

[tammywammy]

22. My dad has a Fusion

It's really nice and drives nice too. He loves it.

[upstandingcitizens]

24. yep

My dad does too. He loves it. I've driven it and it's a decent little car. I like my Hondas better though.

[DainBramaged]

28. Of course you do, thanks for visiting!

:eyes:

[DainBramaged]

27. (sigh) I love these apples to horses comparisons

The yota Camry isn't even in the same neighborhood as a Cruze, why would you compare the two? Oh you'd buy the Fiesta, of course, AMERICAN built manufactured made created. PFFFT, NO WAY.


JESUS ON A TRAILER HITCH :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :banghead:

[Jack_DeLeon]

30. They all do about the same job, why settle for one that isnt anything special....

When for just a little more can get a Camry which is the midrange model ,which is made in America, it has more room for passenger and trunk space, good for road trips I know I use mine alot. I'm sure in a few years it the Camry will resell for alot more than the Cruze.

Now if you are more concerned about price or fuel economy then go the other direction and the Fiesta. I think they are neat cars, albeit I prefer larger vehicles but they certainly cost a couple grand less and get better fuel economy. They apparently can perform amphibious landings as shown on Top Gear. lol.

Why settle for something that is just middle of the road.

[DainBramaged]

32. Sure, vanilla, the choice of champions

:eyes:

[Jack_DeLeon]

33. Aswell as the Aztecs...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanilla

You seem to be frustrated that I'm pointing out this car that you are interested is really is just mediocre and doesnt do anything particularly special.

There are reasons Toyota and Ford are doing pretty well and GM almost went bankrupt except for the help of the government.

[DainBramaged]

38. That's not the point and you know it

And speaking of mediocre, the last yota that had a point was the Supra, long gone. Toyota's are the white bread of the car industry.


There is a seat for every ass. Yours happens to like cars not made by GM, and we're done.

[PBS Poll-435]

26. Chevy is running out of "C" names for its compact sedan & coupe

How many product cycles until they call it the Condor?

[Electric Monk]

43. I think it'd be fun to name the next one Chase

[PBS Poll-435]

45. !!!

Yes Yes Yes


:rofl:

[flvegan]

37. Certified petrolhead checking in.

I'm thrilled to death to see the Cruze get launched. I really like the comparos with the Civic and Corolla available on site.

I hope the Cruze kicks them all in the ass. I love what GM (and Ford) are doing these days. Keep it up.

And yeah, this comes from someone with a Mazdaspeed 3 built by Japanese hands in a Japanese factory.

[LostinVA]

39. I get almost 50 mpg with my VW Golf TDI

But, I am very glad to see the Cruze. We need many more cars like this, including allowing the higher-milegae European diesels to be allowed in the US (they aren't, thanks to Big Oil lobbying). I would like to buy a 100% Made in America car next time around, around that won't be for at least 200,000 miles.

I wish thw Government would subsidize electric and hybrid cars, so that people could afford to buy them. It would also help create jobs.

[Obamanaut]

40. This link shows unfavorable price comparison

http://www.motorauthority.com/blog/1022781_2011-chevy-cruze-will-cost-more-than-rivals-says-gm

"2011 Chevy Cruze will cost more than rivals, says GM"


<snip> Edmunds reports that currently car purchasers pay an average of $19,184 for a Honda Civic and $18,232 for a Toyota Corolla, both in similar segments to the upcoming Cruze. Whether or not the Cruze's price will come under $20,000 is still uncertain, however it will certainly get close to this important psychological barrier when it arrives in 2010. Tipping over that hurdle may mean customers won't be as willing to cross-shop the Cruze with its Japanese rivals, and it's not likely that the GM car will carry the cachet necessary to compete with premium small-sedan offerings from the more luxury-oriented brands, potentially leaving it in a marketing no-mans land.


More at link

[SidDithers]

41. Hope they don't have the same steering problems as the Cobalt they're replacing...

Edit: GM recalls 1.3 million compact cars for steering

Sid