Chevy Volt - will anyone buy it?

[gascort]

So will anyone actually buy it? I think it's (economically) a disaster that GM has created, pumped up to make themselves look good, and they're going to blame America for not buying it. Why?
It's about the same size car as their Cruze, which I will use for this comparison. Both cars can be appointed with nice safety/creature comforts, and the volt and Cruze achieve about exactly equal MPGs once the volt's battery has been spent.

Case 1: Volt drives up to ~35miles per charge gas free, costing ~$1.50 average. Use this every day (to its max) every day per year, assuming you just charge at home. You will spend $550.
Case 2: Use the Cruze to do the same driving, 35 miles per day, 365 days. You use about 350 gallons of fuel, for a cost of $1050 annually.

We all know there are some environmental gains from using electric (made from fossil fuels or nuclear, etc.) over gas. We also know there are some environmental penalties associated with mining, transporting, creating, and recycling the Lithium batteries... These are probably equaled out in this car.

So you get a car that's a techno-toy, don't do much total good for the environment, and have spent about $15K extra on a car that saves you $500 per year in gas. That's a 30 year payback. Fewer than 1% of cars last this long, and most of them didn't have an expensive battery with an 8 year warranty.
** If you charge at work and at home, and use the 35 miles each way, you save $1000 each year and you only need 15 years to pay back your additional purchase cost.**

Just getting steamed with all the Volt propaganda. I hope I'm wrong about GM's intentions with the car, and if so, I believe they have tried to do the impossible and failed; it's not a $37k car.

[KITT222]

GM CAN'T give up on this one. They have done way too much work on it, into to, and around it. They WANT it to succeed. This is their biggest car in a long time, and many are calling it the most influential car of 2011. But no way the volt can exist long term before it goes full electric. It's just not practical.

Did you factor in the $7500 gov't rebate? What about other rebates, like those you'd get from California? Personally, I love the Volt. I'm a big supporter of it. I find it funny the first buyer of the Volt traded his Prius for it. But the Volt idea isn't a good long term plan. GM needs a full electric car, and fast/cheap enough that the rivals won't get ahead of them.

But in the end, it is us, the car buyer, who wins, because we have such a variety of EVs coming that you'll find the one you want easily. Volt and Leaf doesn't work for you? Fine. Take a look at the Focus EV, or Rav4 EV.

(Honestly, for some reason, I like to stay away from GM-related articles, because it seems this site is really anti-GM, yet I love GM. I feel alone. I may be wrong, but it's just the impression I get.)

[Frank Lee]

Early adopters of new tech don't care about the bottom line- their motivation is to be the first to have something new. I think the Volt is for early adopters.

Another point about new tech and early adopters is that oftentimes, as time goes on and the product shows promise of success in the marketplace, the price goes down.

A third point I'd like to make is that I think Volt is a good thing if for no other reason than to get such a hybrid system out of the lab and into the hands of the public out in the real world. Valuable things will be learned, regardless of how YOU feel about Volt.

[dcb]

I like GM when they provide me with what I want, which is predominantly small cost effective stick shifts of high utility. I've had several with GM badges on them over the years, including my current saturn wagon(well, that took a swap) and my recently sold 98 metro (had chevrolet badge on the back). Also had a chevette and a few vegas as well and a sprint, and a late 70s malibu wagon with a stock three speed (I upgraded it to 4) that was kinda cool too, plus a few I'm sure I'm forgetting. It is just that detroit seems to get in a rut with the humongo pricey slopomatic cars and tells everyone that is what they want on the TV.

[euromodder]

There are already a few threads about the Volt in which points like these are already mentioned.
It's a very complex car (promises expensive maintenance), and it has next to nothing going for it once it gets beyond its very short EV range (think home-made conversion range). It's a long way from GM's 230mpg claim.
I really don't get this car. (And won't get one as a result )

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by euromodder

There are already a few threads about the Volt in which points like these are already mentioned.

True.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...olt-12805.html

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=volt

http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...highlight=volt

PS - gascort, hope you don't mind I edited the word "rant" out of the thread title. Don't want to encourage ranting! Already locked one Volt thread that degraded into ranting.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by gascort

So will anyone actually buy it?

According to the articles I've seen, there's a waiting list, which ought to pretty conclusively answer the question :-)

[dcb]

Can I get a clarification?

Are we talking about the old GM which was renamed to Motors Liquidation Company where all those GM stocks are now worthless? or the new GM with the IPO offering funded by the public and still no obligation to shareholders and car buyers?

[senormechanico]

Before the gummint took over GM, I liked the possibility of buying a Volt.
Now with all the shenanigans previously posted, I'll stick with my $1,000 (including new tires and wheels) Geo Metro 1.0/5sp. which gets 48 mpg.

[JasonG]

Lots of good people will buy it.
I'm afraid it will become an EV2.

Just like then, wheres all the advertisements ?

Leaf, advertised. Volt, the what?

Eh, just my 2 cents.