Sad day
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 247
Likes: 1
Sad day
It was a sad day last week as vail chevrolet was closed down. I wont forget the look on thier faces.they were prepping a yellow zr-1. This post will probably be moved to off topic i wish i had the answer to this american car downturn,good people with families out of work. Vail chevrolet was in harrison new york,very nice people who didnt deserve this,weve got to crank up the american factorys again,lets try and stop outsourcing our work.i dont know how to reclaim our position as the #1 mfr. In the world. Is buying american the answer??????
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 764
Likes: 0
From: Arden NC
It was a sad day last week as vail chevrolet was closed down. I wont forget the look on thier faces.they were prepping a yellow zr-1. This post will probably be moved to off topic i wish i had the answer to this american car downturn,good people with families out of work. Vail chevrolet was in harrison new york,very nice people who didnt deserve this,weve got to crank up the american factorys again,lets try and stop outsourcing our work.i dont know how to reclaim our position as the #1 mfr. In the world. Is buying american the answer??????
Right now is a good time to position yourself if you're a business to form a very tight relationship with your customers. When the economy straightens out your loyal customers will be beating on your door.
There's a lot of opinions on this subject....
I buy American when I can.
Last edited by Black04Z06; May 15, 2009 at 12:51 PM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
From: Northridge CA
It's a global market and GM did it, outsourcing to cheaper countries for parts and labor. This is the same company that built and leased the first production electric car and recalled the lease and destroyed the cars. GM could have been the world leader in hybrid and electric but they chose their short term profit path rather than the future. Toyota, Honda etc. filled a missing gap in the market. So long and good bye - lesson learned the hard way. 
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,953
Likes: 0
From: Probably talking that police officer out of giving you a summons! ========== The Beautiful Lower Hudson Valley, NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I bought my first Corvette from Vail in 1986. A sad day indeed! 
Charlie
Charlie
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,948
Likes: 0
From: Hudson Valley Region, NY The "sonoma/napa" of the Northeast~~~~~ Are we there yet?
St. Jude Donor '08
very sad indeed.. the only answer is like some others have posted... to position yourself for the future. While I am a die hard bowtie girl at heart.. the writing was on the wall for sometime..
its no wonder other corporations with stricter management were able to surpass us. The unfortunate thing in all of this is the end user.. the salesman or shop worker who longer has a job. I pray for those people and thier families and trust in the mantra that god helps those who help themselves.
the legacy benefits that GM was paying out were obscene
its no wonder other corporations with stricter management were able to surpass us. The unfortunate thing in all of this is the end user.. the salesman or shop worker who longer has a job. I pray for those people and thier families and trust in the mantra that god helps those who help themselves.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 9,380
Likes: 0
From: E.C.S 402 Stroker, Who wants To Taste It! 3:73'S 520 RWH 496 TQ in Los pantolones
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,681
Likes: 47
From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,325
Likes: 0
From: You can't get there from here NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
It's a global market and GM did it, outsourcing to cheaper countries for parts and labor. This is the same company that built and leased the first production electric car and recalled the lease and destroyed the cars. GM could have been the world leader in hybrid and electric but they chose their short term profit path rather than the future. Toyota, Honda etc. filled a missing gap in the market. So long and good bye - lesson learned the hard way.
As far as the unions are concerned, GM gave into them and allowed all this to happen. Now its a mess. Don't blame every union though. My union is very different, and I've said it before.The UAW has benefits, and perks very few other unions have. Their pay scale isn't a whole lot different for other foreign car companies in the US, but it's the stupid benefits and long term give aways to the members that is the killer. It is sad though because these losses hurt not only the individual worker, but the community as a whole.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 12,953
Likes: 0
From: Probably talking that police officer out of giving you a summons! ========== The Beautiful Lower Hudson Valley, NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
Blame Bill Clinton for NAFTA. That really put the screws to US manufacturing. Mexico and China have no DEP to worry about polluting their rivers and atmosphere so it's cheaper to make everything. Hell for $2.00 an hour with no benefits for employees you can't blame companies for moving out of this countryl. Every company in the US got a bonus for moving their companies out of the US. Face it, we screwed ourselves. My company, Osram Sylvania is about to close due to Al Gores green theory and the death of the incandesant light bulb. I'll be out of work within the next year. Yeah Bill and Al.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 12,982
Likes: 15
From: Westchester New York
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
My brother- in -law was an electrical engineer for GM/Hughes Aircraft in El Segundo Ca. years ago. He drove the GM electric car prototypes. He said they was amazing. The only problem was creating a charging system that would last as long as required.When GM shut down the whole thing, they mothballed the cars. Pieces started missing off them in that junkyard. One day, all of a sudden they were all gone. Truly a waste of technology.
As far as the unions are concerned, GM gave into them and allowed all this to happen. Now its a mess. Don't blame every union though. My union is very different, and I've said it before.The UAW has benefits, and perks very few other unions have. Their pay scale isn't a whole lot different for other foreign car companies in the US, but it's the stupid benefits and long term give aways to the members that is the killer. It is sad though because these losses hurt not only the individual worker, but the community as a whole.
As far as the unions are concerned, GM gave into them and allowed all this to happen. Now its a mess. Don't blame every union though. My union is very different, and I've said it before.The UAW has benefits, and perks very few other unions have. Their pay scale isn't a whole lot different for other foreign car companies in the US, but it's the stupid benefits and long term give aways to the members that is the killer. It is sad though because these losses hurt not only the individual worker, but the community as a whole.
I am sure that you would want someone to protect your salary and your benefits. Make sure you got paid accordingly for your time. I am sure that after 10 -15 - 20+ years you wouldn't still be wanting to make $10.00 an hour. Don't always blame the union. Blame the CEO's and the huge salaries they make while the people who actually do the work get screwed. That is why there is a Union. Blame those that do not buy American cars. Blame those that do not stand behind their country's products. Why do you think these companies went overseas or across the borders? Everyone wanted Toyotas and Hondas. No production no money no employees. They lost business. How many American cars do you see in Japan? When GM and Chrysler go, so do the other companies that supply to them and so do the towns that have the plant. Its not just the union's fault. Its everyone's fault.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,664
Likes: 15
From: Wellsboro Pa
You say that the Union put out too much for the employees? I am sure that you would want someone to protect your salary and your benefits. Make sure you got paid accordingly for your time. I am sure that after 10 -15 - 20+ years you wouldn't still be wanting to make $10.00 an hour. Don't always blame the union. Blame the CEO's and the huge salaries they make while the people who actually do the work get screwed. That is why there is a Union. Blame those that do not buy American cars. Blame those that do not stand behind their country's products. Why do you think these companies went overseas or across the borders? Everyone wanted Toyotas and Hondas. No production no money no employees. They lost business. How many American cars do you see in Japan? When GM and Chrysler go, so do the other companies that supply to them and so do the towns that have the plant. Its not just the union's fault. Its everyone's fault.
I am sure that you would want someone to protect your salary and your benefits. Make sure you got paid accordingly for your time. I am sure that after 10 -15 - 20+ years you wouldn't still be wanting to make $10.00 an hour. Don't always blame the union. Blame the CEO's and the huge salaries they make while the people who actually do the work get screwed. That is why there is a Union. Blame those that do not buy American cars. Blame those that do not stand behind their country's products. Why do you think these companies went overseas or across the borders? Everyone wanted Toyotas and Hondas. No production no money no employees. They lost business. How many American cars do you see in Japan? When GM and Chrysler go, so do the other companies that supply to them and so do the towns that have the plant. Its not just the union's fault. Its everyone's fault.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,917
Likes: 1
From: Where are we?
Cruise-In IX Veteran
You say that the Union put out too much for the employees? I am sure that you would want someone to protect your salary and your benefits. Make sure you got paid accordingly for your time. I am sure that after 10 -15 - 20+ years you wouldn't still be wanting to make $10.00 an hour. Don't always blame the union. Blame the CEO's and the huge salaries they make while the people who actually do the work get screwed. That is why there is a Union. Blame those that do not buy American cars. Blame those that do not stand behind their country's products. Why do you think these companies went overseas or across the borders? Everyone wanted Toyotas and Hondas. No production no money no employees. They lost business. How many American cars do you see in Japan? When GM and Chrysler go, so do the other companies that supply to them and so do the towns that have the plant. Its not just the union's fault. Its everyone's fault.
I am sure that you would want someone to protect your salary and your benefits. Make sure you got paid accordingly for your time. I am sure that after 10 -15 - 20+ years you wouldn't still be wanting to make $10.00 an hour. Don't always blame the union. Blame the CEO's and the huge salaries they make while the people who actually do the work get screwed. That is why there is a Union. Blame those that do not buy American cars. Blame those that do not stand behind their country's products. Why do you think these companies went overseas or across the borders? Everyone wanted Toyotas and Hondas. No production no money no employees. They lost business. How many American cars do you see in Japan? When GM and Chrysler go, so do the other companies that supply to them and so do the towns that have the plant. Its not just the union's fault. Its everyone's fault.