[SeekAndFind]

A sign for a real estate company welcomes the new new KIA auto plant along Highway 29 in West PointSeptember 2006

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Don’t worry, 0Bambi will come to the Union thugs’ rescue with card check legislation.

[KevinDavis]

I agree. They made the mess.. They should clean it up. If declaring bankruptcy is the way to save them, so be it.

[sionnsar]

The residents of this town are learning to enjoy Korean barbecue

Learning? Took me one bite, and that was in a Korean restaurant where nobody spoke English -- we were not their target market.

[NonValueAdded]

"Let me ask you a question," [GM salesman Striblin] said leaning over a clean desk. "You ever heard of anybody braggin' on a '57 Honda?"

No, salesman Eddie, but I haven't heard them bragging on their 83 Mustang or their 1990's something Caprice Classic either.

[MarkL]

Well, I'm hoping that my 2000 Toyota Corolla will hold out for me at least another 5 years - After 160,000 miles, I've just put about $2000 into it in repairs in the last 6 months. Hopefully that will be all for a while. The last Corolla, a 1990, lasted me 10 years and 197,000 miles, with only 1 major repair.

But the way things are going, my next car will probably be a Korean make, unless I can find a really great deal on a used Toyota or Honda: They've just gotten to be too expensive to buy new. My first Corolla cost a bit below $10,000. My second was in the neighborhood of $14,000. Today, a new Corolla of the sort I drive runs nearly $20,000. And even "Toyota Certified" used ones run between $15,000 and $18,000!

It's a shame, really, but they're just pricing me out of their brand.

Mark

[Phoenix11]

Hey, this is in my backyard (almost!). LOL.

I live in the same county as the KIA plant. It’s in the southern part and I live in the northern part. Although the sign used in the story was from when it was first announced over two years ago. It looks a lot different now. I keep posting on here [the internet] to people who say that the whole industry is suffering, not just the unionized automakers. [They think there should be a bailout, me - not so much]. This story gives me another source to cite. Although, they are a little off in some of their points. There are not Korean restaurants popping up in the area. Most people only go to West Point to go fishing in the lake. And unemployment here in Troup Co. is at 7.0%, not 8.9%. They are correct about the textile market though. We’ve had a couple of major employers in that industry close over the last several years. And a lot of people are excited about having a new employer of their size in this area.

[Azzurri]

Earles, 60, said she is fed up with Detroit -- fed up with its fat labor contracts, its arrogant CEOs and even her Cadillac, which gets only 15 miles per gallon and cost her dearly when gas spiked to $4.

Did somebody put a gun to her head to buy this Cadillac?

[sickoflibs]

This UAW issue can either make or break the GA special election. Now the GWB/mcCain Republican party of pre-election 2008 would work with democrats to bailout UAW democrat voters, dis Georgia and loose that Senate Seat also. has the party learned ??

[Squantos]

The term American made car is a stretch in and of itself IMO. My Dodge Truck was made in Mexico. Jeep is made in Canookistan I think (could be wrong)..... These days the term assembled in America may be the better rant as to what is or isn’t good for USA. Not sure of the validity of the statement yet once heard that more than 90% of Toyota was made in America and assembled here yet Big 3 were using mostly foreign made parts and being assembled here......anyone know if that is true ?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Bulgogi is mashi-sao!

[pray4liberty]

I bought a KIA Sportage. I hate driving in general, but I do love driving that car. I’m proud and glad it’s made in the USA. It’s no surprise to me that it runs so well.

[JulienBenda]

I sure wish Detroit could be more like Detroit.
—Hyundai owner

[berdie]

The only thing I have to say to this is...the American auto makers make lots of fuel efficient vehicles. And they are cost competitive. And dependable. Buyers have a choice.

The unions are killing the US auto industry, not the product.

But keep in mind, if we need to ramp up production for a full scale war..Kia and Honda??? Even the “pope mobile” for Barry is a GM product.

[Izzy Dunne]

"You ever heard of anybody braggin' on a '57 Honda?"

FREE CLUE HERE.

If your first though is to go back 51 years for something to brag about, you ain't got it anymore.

END FREE CLUE.

[grellis]

If you would like to be added or dropped from the Michigan ping list, please freepmail me.

[theBuckwheat]

It is time to drive a stake through the heart of this corporation-union socialist scheme when we have the chance. It comes down to this: spread the wealth from families earning the median US income of about $54k to UAW workers earning over $100k. (and whose union “is done with concessions”).

Well, there was a day when the auto makers could give into the workers ever-growing demands and pass the cost of the whole compensation package on to the public in the form of higher new car prices. Those days are over.

[NewLand]

The locals are excited to have nonunion work that will start at about $14 per hour.

The "Big 3" can't figure out this simple formula to compete in a global market? Or they don't have the courage to do it?

Either way, it's business. No bail out. Same for the banks.

[Hot Tabasco]

If the market makes a substantial upturn, my next vehicle is going to be either a KIA or a HUNDAI............probably a used one but who can afford a new American car?

[TChad]

Striblin predicted that, despite all their troubles, the Big Three would survive somehow. Other companies may have a better business model, he argued, but no one delivers the romance of the road like the Americans.

Dean Moriarty hunched over the wheel, driving the new Hudson into the American night.

It is too sad.