Friends are ditching their gasser for an EV (Leaf? Volt?) Update: Bolt!

[MetroMPG]

Well, my friends just ordered a Bolt, not a Volt or a Leaf.

More news to come...

[NeilBlanchard]

Very nice! We are likely to be getting a Bolt EV to replace our Leaf; though the new Leaf is in the running.

[MetroMPG]

And I know another person looking at one (Bolt).

Canadian dealers are supposedly only getting one or 2 each, since production began.

[MetroMPG]

I ran into my friends who bought the Bolt. Black. Looks neat! Spacious interior, with a funky dashboard and I went right to the energy consumption screen on the dashboard display. Looks fun.

He likes the extra regen paddle shifter.

Unfortunately I had to turn down an offer to go for a spin today, but we're going to get together in the next couple of weeks.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

And I know another person looking at one (Bolt).

Canadian dealers are supposedly only getting one or 2 each, since production began.

I still don't understand how buying new cars works. Every manufacturer has a website where you can build and price a vehicle out. I assume you can order one and have it delivered to a dealership?

I'd never buy whatever a dealer happened to have on the lot (not to mention buy a new vehicle). There is little chance they have the exact vehicle I want, with all the options I want, and without the options I don't want to pay for.

That said, my company requires I drive a vehicle less than 4 years old, and they bear the majority of the cost. I'm considering a Bolt myself.

[Fat Charlie]

You can order it, but everyone but Tesla builds them so far in advance that you're going to wait. And you'll need to pay when you order- the dealers are independent stores that buy from corporate. They stock what they think they'll sell, and if you want something else it's put up or shut up. They aren't going to buy something that only you want from the factory and get stuck with it.

[Piotrsko]

Any more cars are modular. All wiring and software is preinstalled. The trick is to know what options you want without paying for what you dont want. We installed cruise control on my son's dodge by buying a 25.00 usd steering wheel replacement switch. Same for my F250.

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Piotrsko

Any more cars are modular. All wiring and software is preinstalled. The trick is to know what options you want without paying for what you dont want. We installed cruise control on my son's dodge by buying a 25.00 usd steering wheel replacement switch. Same for my F250.

It's easy to add some things, difficult for others. I'm interested in adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking, and possibly lane keep assist, but those items aren't easy to add after the fact. I don't have any use for built in NAV, and prefer manual seats over electric (they are too slow).

I'm just sayin', if I buy something that depreciates thousands of dollars the moment I drive away, it had better be the exact vehicle I'm looking for.

[freebeard]

I'd never buy whatever a dealer happened to have on the lot (not to mention buy a new vehicle). There is little chance they have the exact vehicle I want, with all the options I want, and without the options I don't want to pay for.

If I were to do so, I'd assume a trip to Germany to pick it up, and around Europe before shipping it home.

Else, if Arcimoto ships product, I could just take a city bus to the Whittaker neighborhood in Eugene, OR. That seems more likely.

[MetroMPG]

Another couple I know that lives out in the boonies ditched their 10 year old Subaru Impreza for a 2018 Leaf, just like this:



I'm hoping to get a chance to try it out soon.

They're a 3 car family, so have gas back-up for those rare long trips.

But like so many EV owners, they're finding they're using the EV a lot more than they thought they would, and prefer driving it over the ICE cars.

That makes 5 people I know who have bought cars with plugs in the past year or so.