Talk me in to/out of Chevy Volt
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 11,950
Likes: 475
From: MAHT-O-MEDI
Talk me in to/out of Chevy Volt
Ok here is the deal. I have my 328i as my daily driver. I have had it for 3.5 years and I like the car, it has been trouble free and has only 30,000 miles. The warranty is good until September, but I really don't worry about it's reliability for many more thousand miles at least. I am like most of you though, after owning a car for a few years my attention turns to something else. I will keep the Cayman for a lonnnnnnng time as a weekend car/toy. I have been thinking of being a three car guy and getting another fun, very depreciated car with a stick as a "fun" daily good weather car, and the other daily will be year round, more practical. Something like a well used 370z, BMW, TT or something like that to just beat on that won't cost that much for the fun daily beater, and then another as the more practical car.
Now here is the wrinkle: I have spent 22 years at my place of employment and probably spend another ten years there until I retire. The first twenty or so were in a crappy reserved space and my cars being dinged on either side by douchebag coworkers who did not do it on purpose but were just too oblivious to care. I lucked into one of only three good spaces in the whole lot with a person only on one side and plenty of room to put space between us. Then......my employer installed level 2 chargers in two of the only three good parking spaces including mine, the last good parking space will probably get one in the next few years. If I get a plug in car, I get to keep the space and get free juice. My commute is such that I could commute back and forth twice before needing a charge so I would almost never even need gas. The engine might not even kick on until winter months when keeping the batteries topped off in below zero and heating the car come into play.
Basically, with GM trying desperately to sell them and giving them giant "red tags", the tax credit, my trade value, and the fact my wife's company will give us an incentive netting $1,500 to buy one, I could trade in the 328i, and drive off with a new Volt, warranty and pocket $1,500 and free charging at work. Putting maybe 7,000 or fewer miles per year on the car, would keep the parking space and free commuting juice until I fade into retirement 10 years from now, at which time I could drop it like its hot. There is no possibility of getting a Tesla model 3 in time to keep the space because someone else will claim it, and without getting a Tesla in time for the tax credit and without GM discounts, it would cost twice as much. No other current plugs ins even move the needle because of range, looks or price. The Bolt is kind of cool, but GM is really pushing Volts with incentives, no Bolts even in the state for sale.
I drove a Volt and the power of the car was surprising. It is not the BMW, but under 50 it was surprisingly quick and the torque was kind of fun. I don't like the looks with the ugly chrome nose, the interior is a serious step down, I lose AWD but can get snow tires, but it was decent. It has some serious body roll and rides more like a Buick but was certainly comfortable over lousy pavement. I did not find a decent seating position but was only on the one quick drive and did not mess with the seat much. It is hard touch plastics everywhere, but this would be a less than 7,000 miles per year A to B car. It would have leather, heated seats and your standard accoutrements.
So I lose:
AWD
Bimmer good looks
Sporty handling
Much nicer interior
More comfortable seats
and generally a better class of vehicle
But stand to gain:
keeping my space
warranty
free fuel savings of about $60-$70 a month at current low prices, and more if the price goes up.
being entertained by "something new" for about a year
$1,500 cash which I could put towards my third car which would get about half the daily use and limit my need to drive the Volt
The Volt was not a bad car, it is pretty neat actually and great for most people. I don't find it particularly good looking with a mass of plastic chrome on the front and the interior is pretty cheap, but it has a geeky cool factor.
I really could go either way. My other option is to lose the space and buy a GTI in about a year with the DSG, and still get the third fun "beater" with a manual, but they would both probably sit and get dinged up in a crappy space and I have to pay to fuel.
I could actually go either way.
Now here is the wrinkle: I have spent 22 years at my place of employment and probably spend another ten years there until I retire. The first twenty or so were in a crappy reserved space and my cars being dinged on either side by douchebag coworkers who did not do it on purpose but were just too oblivious to care. I lucked into one of only three good spaces in the whole lot with a person only on one side and plenty of room to put space between us. Then......my employer installed level 2 chargers in two of the only three good parking spaces including mine, the last good parking space will probably get one in the next few years. If I get a plug in car, I get to keep the space and get free juice. My commute is such that I could commute back and forth twice before needing a charge so I would almost never even need gas. The engine might not even kick on until winter months when keeping the batteries topped off in below zero and heating the car come into play.
Basically, with GM trying desperately to sell them and giving them giant "red tags", the tax credit, my trade value, and the fact my wife's company will give us an incentive netting $1,500 to buy one, I could trade in the 328i, and drive off with a new Volt, warranty and pocket $1,500 and free charging at work. Putting maybe 7,000 or fewer miles per year on the car, would keep the parking space and free commuting juice until I fade into retirement 10 years from now, at which time I could drop it like its hot. There is no possibility of getting a Tesla model 3 in time to keep the space because someone else will claim it, and without getting a Tesla in time for the tax credit and without GM discounts, it would cost twice as much. No other current plugs ins even move the needle because of range, looks or price. The Bolt is kind of cool, but GM is really pushing Volts with incentives, no Bolts even in the state for sale.
I drove a Volt and the power of the car was surprising. It is not the BMW, but under 50 it was surprisingly quick and the torque was kind of fun. I don't like the looks with the ugly chrome nose, the interior is a serious step down, I lose AWD but can get snow tires, but it was decent. It has some serious body roll and rides more like a Buick but was certainly comfortable over lousy pavement. I did not find a decent seating position but was only on the one quick drive and did not mess with the seat much. It is hard touch plastics everywhere, but this would be a less than 7,000 miles per year A to B car. It would have leather, heated seats and your standard accoutrements.
So I lose:
AWD
Bimmer good looks
Sporty handling
Much nicer interior
More comfortable seats
and generally a better class of vehicle
But stand to gain:
keeping my space
warranty
free fuel savings of about $60-$70 a month at current low prices, and more if the price goes up.
being entertained by "something new" for about a year
$1,500 cash which I could put towards my third car which would get about half the daily use and limit my need to drive the Volt
The Volt was not a bad car, it is pretty neat actually and great for most people. I don't find it particularly good looking with a mass of plastic chrome on the front and the interior is pretty cheap, but it has a geeky cool factor.
I really could go either way. My other option is to lose the space and buy a GTI in about a year with the DSG, and still get the third fun "beater" with a manual, but they would both probably sit and get dinged up in a crappy space and I have to pay to fuel.
I could actually go either way.
Last edited by vader1; Apr 15, 2017 at 06:58 AM.
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,171
Likes: 119
From: Long Island, NY
I have one.... I am sooooooooo bored with it. Lol but I'll probably just keep it.
i drive in NYC a lot and park outside. The volt is perfect as car u don't care about at all. I park wherever, don't care when people inevitably sing my car, etc etc.
maintenance is insanely cheap. Brakes last forever(ish), tires were cheap, oil changes I do once a year (even tho it's once every 2 ears), and it literally barely needs anything else.
my gas expenses went from $300-$400/month down to $40/month.
But u will be sooooo bored lol. The only thing that keeps me sane is that I drive the s2000 or exige on the weekends. But winter months when those are in storage, I'm dying to drive anything decent lol.
i have heard the new ones are better in every single way compared to mine. Faster, quieter, better handling, quieter engine; etc.
i drive in NYC a lot and park outside. The volt is perfect as car u don't care about at all. I park wherever, don't care when people inevitably sing my car, etc etc.
maintenance is insanely cheap. Brakes last forever(ish), tires were cheap, oil changes I do once a year (even tho it's once every 2 ears), and it literally barely needs anything else.
my gas expenses went from $300-$400/month down to $40/month.
But u will be sooooo bored lol. The only thing that keeps me sane is that I drive the s2000 or exige on the weekends. But winter months when those are in storage, I'm dying to drive anything decent lol.
i have heard the new ones are better in every single way compared to mine. Faster, quieter, better handling, quieter engine; etc.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 490
Similar situation, but different. I have a solar array on the house, and my kwh grid plan is free between 9pm - 6am. Three years ago I leased a Leaf. I would have written a lengthy review here at some point but due to the nature of the car and hating, skipped out on it. My last lease payment was to be Monday but I got lease buyout offer of under 7k. Mine is the SL w/bose. So leather, heated wheel and seats, bose premium audio, surround cameras (great for parking, allows you to park millimeters from the curb), DC fast charging. Pains me to say, but it's the best DD I've ever owned and like you I've had many. No fuel cost. Nissan for the first 2 years gives a card to use local charging infrastructure that's on them. I used the 480v DC fast chargers a lot in that time but ultimately quit after installing a $500 L2 charger in my garage. In three years it's only been to the dealer once, for the in car ail filter replacement for the HVAC system, and had the car inspected at the same time. Other than tire rotations no maintenance whatsoever. Nissan, being its' first EV to market, overbuilt it, so it's damn near bulletproof. Only issue is range, but I'm very close to work, my gym, the grocers I use, basically all my need stuff is within a 10 mile radius, so the range has never been an issue. I've driven all over the metroplex, and due to having a pretty good 480v charger allocation here, well it works quite well for me. It's actually somewhat fun to drive. 100% torque from 0 rpm basically. It's no sports car by any means but for what it is, quite fun, and it has been fun taking damn near anything off the line. It's an awful looking car, but that has its' benefits. Nobody pays it any attention, not cops, not anyone. No one glances at me twice, totally under the radar. I speed everywhere in it too. V1 hard wired. (highway speeding, not residential)
Used Leafs coming off Lease are dirt cheap, look on ebay, look on autotrader. You'll want the SL. They can be had, easily under 10k. If it's not your cup, then find a cheap lease on the Volt or another EV. How can I say this? Commuting to work, driving to the gym, the grocery store, etc, man I do not care. Getting old I guess, just don't give 2 f's. They are boring as hell, straight line drives, with no fun turns, and mostly no speeding possibilities. So DD turf. The damn thing taught me to toss my vehicle ego in the trash, and I'm all the better for it. For me, that was quite easy, as I just don't care what strangers think, they don't pay my bills. Once you get used to the EV, get over range anxiety, etc, I'm never going back. I park the Leaf, and like many with a beater DD, I still park in the boonies but generally not concerned with a new nick, ding, or scratch. No engine to maintain, just plug the thing in at night. It's been drama free.
I've got high hp bikes that I ride every weekend April/May - November, and they are all felony rides in the country. Last track day I did was COTA. Most weekends I generally ride one day or the other, but sometimes both if I can swing it. My point is even with all that, in 3 years I don't think I've ever spent more than $75-85 a month in gasoline. Even with the RS added $100 a month will be around the max. It's quite nice using the electric toaster for mundane stuff and leaving your nice, long term ownership, parked at home in the the garage. We've had 20mph winds here steady for the past month and it's nice to leave the nicer stuff parked. So much crap, rocks, and such, getting flung around, at highway speed that's a busted windshield or right through the clear coat and paint. You could say that about any DD beater, but with the EV you ditch fuel costs and maintenance so it's the best if all worlds. Like I said, mine is ugly as sin, range is only 84 miles, but it's the best DD I've ever owned. I put a 6 year 80k Nissan factory warranty on it a few weeks ago when I purchased it. I've had 3 years to decide, and the EV has proved itself to me. YMMV, but as one enthusiast to another I'd do it. I had a Model 3 on deposit as soon as online ordering went live, and I cancelled it and got my money back the day I decided to purchase mine off lease. Why spend 40-50k when I can do the same for $9k, with a bumper to bumper 6 year warranty? Between the panels on the house and severely cutting my oil use I save a few k's per year which allows me to stock up on M/C tires, and ammo. I'd like to say I save it all but that would be a lie. What I quite enjoy, is being somewhat insulated from oil barrel swings and kwh/grid changes. For 3 years and going forward I use gasoline for fun, and I've never had more fun in my vehicles in my life. Winter my gasoline use goes down to virtually nothing.
Go for it. One of the best things I've ever done.
Used Leafs coming off Lease are dirt cheap, look on ebay, look on autotrader. You'll want the SL. They can be had, easily under 10k. If it's not your cup, then find a cheap lease on the Volt or another EV. How can I say this? Commuting to work, driving to the gym, the grocery store, etc, man I do not care. Getting old I guess, just don't give 2 f's. They are boring as hell, straight line drives, with no fun turns, and mostly no speeding possibilities. So DD turf. The damn thing taught me to toss my vehicle ego in the trash, and I'm all the better for it. For me, that was quite easy, as I just don't care what strangers think, they don't pay my bills. Once you get used to the EV, get over range anxiety, etc, I'm never going back. I park the Leaf, and like many with a beater DD, I still park in the boonies but generally not concerned with a new nick, ding, or scratch. No engine to maintain, just plug the thing in at night. It's been drama free.
I've got high hp bikes that I ride every weekend April/May - November, and they are all felony rides in the country. Last track day I did was COTA. Most weekends I generally ride one day or the other, but sometimes both if I can swing it. My point is even with all that, in 3 years I don't think I've ever spent more than $75-85 a month in gasoline. Even with the RS added $100 a month will be around the max. It's quite nice using the electric toaster for mundane stuff and leaving your nice, long term ownership, parked at home in the the garage. We've had 20mph winds here steady for the past month and it's nice to leave the nicer stuff parked. So much crap, rocks, and such, getting flung around, at highway speed that's a busted windshield or right through the clear coat and paint. You could say that about any DD beater, but with the EV you ditch fuel costs and maintenance so it's the best if all worlds. Like I said, mine is ugly as sin, range is only 84 miles, but it's the best DD I've ever owned. I put a 6 year 80k Nissan factory warranty on it a few weeks ago when I purchased it. I've had 3 years to decide, and the EV has proved itself to me. YMMV, but as one enthusiast to another I'd do it. I had a Model 3 on deposit as soon as online ordering went live, and I cancelled it and got my money back the day I decided to purchase mine off lease. Why spend 40-50k when I can do the same for $9k, with a bumper to bumper 6 year warranty? Between the panels on the house and severely cutting my oil use I save a few k's per year which allows me to stock up on M/C tires, and ammo. I'd like to say I save it all but that would be a lie. What I quite enjoy, is being somewhat insulated from oil barrel swings and kwh/grid changes. For 3 years and going forward I use gasoline for fun, and I've never had more fun in my vehicles in my life. Winter my gasoline use goes down to virtually nothing.
Go for it. One of the best things I've ever done.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 490
Good luck. Go test driving. The old dogs can still learn a trick or two.
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 8,365
Likes: 636
Similar situation, but different. I have a solar array on the house, and my kwh grid plan is free between 9pm - 6am. Three years ago I leased a Leaf. I would have written a lengthy review here at some point but due to the nature of the car and hating, skipped out on it. My last lease payment was to be Monday but I got lease buyout offer of under 7k. Mine is the SL w/bose. So leather, heated wheel and seats, bose premium audio, surround cameras (great for parking, allows you to park millimeters from the curb), DC fast charging. Pains me to say, but it's the best DD I've ever owned and like you I've had many. No fuel cost. Nissan for the first 2 years gives a card to use local charging infrastructure that's on them. I used the 480v DC fast chargers a lot in that time but ultimately quit after installing a $500 L2 charger in my garage. In three years it's only been to the dealer once, for the in car ail filter replacement for the HVAC system, and had the car inspected at the same time. Other than tire rotations no maintenance whatsoever. Nissan, being its' first EV to market, overbuilt it, so it's damn near bulletproof. Only issue is range, but I'm very close to work, my gym, the grocers I use, basically all my need stuff is within a 10 mile radius, so the range has never been an issue. I've driven all over the metroplex, and due to having a pretty good 480v charger allocation here, well it works quite well for me. It's actually somewhat fun to drive. 100% torque from 0 rpm basically. It's no sports car by any means but for what it is, quite fun, and it has been fun taking damn near anything off the line. It's an awful looking car, but that has its' benefits. Nobody pays it any attention, not cops, not anyone. No one glances at me twice, totally under the radar. I speed everywhere in it too. V1 hard wired. (highway speeding, not residential)
Used Leafs coming off Lease are dirt cheap, look on ebay, look on autotrader. You'll want the SL. They can be had, easily under 10k. If it's not your cup, then find a cheap lease on the Volt or another EV. How can I say this? Commuting to work, driving to the gym, the grocery store, etc, man I do not care. Getting old I guess, just don't give 2 f's. They are boring as hell, straight line drives, with no fun turns, and mostly no speeding possibilities. So DD turf. The damn thing taught me to toss my vehicle ego in the trash, and I'm all the better for it. For me, that was quite easy, as I just don't care what strangers think, they don't pay my bills. Once you get used to the EV, get over range anxiety, etc, I'm never going back. I park the Leaf, and like many with a beater DD, I still park in the boonies but generally not concerned with a new nick, ding, or scratch. No engine to maintain, just plug the thing in at night. It's been drama free.
I've got high hp bikes that I ride every weekend April/May - November, and they are all felony rides in the country. Last track day I did was COTA. Most weekends I generally ride one day or the other, but sometimes both if I can swing it. My point is even with all that, in 3 years I don't think I've ever spent more than $75-85 a month in gasoline. Even with the RS added $100 a month will be around the max. It's quite nice using the electric toaster for mundane stuff and leaving your nice, long term ownership, parked at home in the the garage. We've had 20mph winds here steady for the past month and it's nice to leave the nicer stuff parked. So much crap, rocks, and such, getting flung around, at highway speed that's a busted windshield or right through the clear coat and paint. You could say that about any DD beater, but with the EV you ditch fuel costs and maintenance so it's the best if all worlds. Like I said, mine is ugly as sin, range is only 84 miles, but it's the best DD I've ever owned. I put a 6 year 80k Nissan factory warranty on it a few weeks ago when I purchased it. I've had 3 years to decide, and the EV has proved itself to me. YMMV, but as one enthusiast to another I'd do it. I had a Model 3 on deposit as soon as online ordering went live, and I cancelled it and got my money back the day I decided to purchase mine off lease. Why spend 40-50k when I can do the same for $9k, with a bumper to bumper 6 year warranty? Between the panels on the house and severely cutting my oil use I save a few k's per year which allows me to stock up on M/C tires, and ammo. I'd like to say I save it all but that would be a lie. What I quite enjoy, is being somewhat insulated from oil barrel swings and kwh/grid changes. For 3 years and going forward I use gasoline for fun, and I've never had more fun in my vehicles in my life. Winter my gasoline use goes down to virtually nothing.
Go for it. One of the best things I've ever done.
Used Leafs coming off Lease are dirt cheap, look on ebay, look on autotrader. You'll want the SL. They can be had, easily under 10k. If it's not your cup, then find a cheap lease on the Volt or another EV. How can I say this? Commuting to work, driving to the gym, the grocery store, etc, man I do not care. Getting old I guess, just don't give 2 f's. They are boring as hell, straight line drives, with no fun turns, and mostly no speeding possibilities. So DD turf. The damn thing taught me to toss my vehicle ego in the trash, and I'm all the better for it. For me, that was quite easy, as I just don't care what strangers think, they don't pay my bills. Once you get used to the EV, get over range anxiety, etc, I'm never going back. I park the Leaf, and like many with a beater DD, I still park in the boonies but generally not concerned with a new nick, ding, or scratch. No engine to maintain, just plug the thing in at night. It's been drama free.
I've got high hp bikes that I ride every weekend April/May - November, and they are all felony rides in the country. Last track day I did was COTA. Most weekends I generally ride one day or the other, but sometimes both if I can swing it. My point is even with all that, in 3 years I don't think I've ever spent more than $75-85 a month in gasoline. Even with the RS added $100 a month will be around the max. It's quite nice using the electric toaster for mundane stuff and leaving your nice, long term ownership, parked at home in the the garage. We've had 20mph winds here steady for the past month and it's nice to leave the nicer stuff parked. So much crap, rocks, and such, getting flung around, at highway speed that's a busted windshield or right through the clear coat and paint. You could say that about any DD beater, but with the EV you ditch fuel costs and maintenance so it's the best if all worlds. Like I said, mine is ugly as sin, range is only 84 miles, but it's the best DD I've ever owned. I put a 6 year 80k Nissan factory warranty on it a few weeks ago when I purchased it. I've had 3 years to decide, and the EV has proved itself to me. YMMV, but as one enthusiast to another I'd do it. I had a Model 3 on deposit as soon as online ordering went live, and I cancelled it and got my money back the day I decided to purchase mine off lease. Why spend 40-50k when I can do the same for $9k, with a bumper to bumper 6 year warranty? Between the panels on the house and severely cutting my oil use I save a few k's per year which allows me to stock up on M/C tires, and ammo. I'd like to say I save it all but that would be a lie. What I quite enjoy, is being somewhat insulated from oil barrel swings and kwh/grid changes. For 3 years and going forward I use gasoline for fun, and I've never had more fun in my vehicles in my life. Winter my gasoline use goes down to virtually nothing.
Go for it. One of the best things I've ever done.
