There's a Volt on my carport.

[el ess A]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

That's a very narrow minded point of view, but to each his own.

It was more tongue-in-cheek, but since you're punching and running commenting on my personal opinion/views, could you please explain how it's narrow-minded? I'll start by providing some insight to the conclusion I made about my axiom #2...

Volts aren't flying off the lots and parked in many people's garage according to sales figures. Extrapolation makes > 99% general car buying public narrow-minded by those standards. Thus, I'd say it was a more normal view and Volt-lovers are the narrow-minded ones. I guess it depends on which side of the fence you're on.

There's a huge difference between the cost and the value. And a huge difference between supply and demand. The Volt, et al, are being forced on the buying public by- well, let's call them external forces. "Force feed it to the people and they'll develop a taste for it." Or more gently, "Build it, and they will come (once we get the government to give out huge tax breaks)."

Compared to the ZL1 or Camaro SS convertible on the other hand, I'm betting if you compare sales figures, the Camaros outsell the Volt by a wide margin, yet are priced significantly higher, if you count the price break. So it's definitely not a cost issue IMO. I think it's more of a perceived value issue than anything else. Even at $3.50 per gallon people aren't flocking to EVs.

Fire hazard potential aside, if the marketing research people did their homework, they may have figured out they'd sell <10,000 units and wouldn't have tossed the vehicle out to the buying public just yet. Highly innovative in design, from a marketing standpoint it isn't hitting any home runs (sports reference).

By no means am I anti-GM. In fact, there's no other car company on the planet that I'd want to buy my vehicles from. I simply believe in this case, the artificial demand placed on them to develop and market a vehicle that seemingly few people want is completely backwards business model than their tried/true consumer demand asking for more supply. There's not much of an argument that the Volt is a nice example of what a family EV should be. It's ahead of its time, I think.

And I wonder if these same external forces are going to artifically manipulate the fuel prices to create more artificial demand for EV's in general so the external forces can call it a "success". It's speculation, but the possibility is real as it's already been threatened.

I always reserve the right to change my mind, but so far, there isn't a thing out there at this time that makes me want to run down to the Chevy dealer and scope out the Volt. Sorry to dissapoint. But I wouldn't say it's narrow-minded. It's more of a carefully-considered conclusion for me and my family's vehicle needs.

[FenwickHockey65]

Nobody expected the car to sell 100k units in the first year. That's just delusional. Until the pricing comes down (which could be as early as next model year, according to some reports), the car will probably continue to sell at its normal pace.

You do make good points and you're more than entitled to your opinion, the part I took issue with was saying that the Volt wasn't a "real car" just because you couldn't do a cam or exhaust. That's just ridiculous.

With the way the industry is headed and the ridiculous things automakers have to comply with in regards to FE, electrification or some form of alternative fuel source is all but inevitable. And just saying, don't count the Camaro out of that process.

[djinva]

Originally Posted by el ess X

There's a couple of axioms I live by.

If you can't score a goal or a home run, it's not a real sport and it's not worth being on my TV.

If you can't cam it or put a pair of headers on it (or at least a catback), it's not a real car and not worth being in my garage.

The Volt, while a sharp looking vehicle for its class....um....no.

I disagree, racing is a sport and it happens to be my favorite.

I have an electric GEM car which is really just a golf cart and we love it. I like it better than the gas golf carts I have had.

I love gas engines as much as anyone, but I feel there is a place for electric as well.

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by lil_chef

or don't get in a serious accident

He can as long as he works for Solyndra.

[TJ91]

Originally Posted by hypurone

I had one for a couple of days as well. It is designed to run the first 40 miles on electric only. That being said and factoring in the regenerative braking and what speeds you are doing etc, I was able to go 50 miles (mostly freeway at 70mph or so) before depleting the charge... The onboard gas engine is very quiet. The car has balls even when running battery only...

Still, it is too damn expensive. :(

Thanks for the info! and yeah definitly too expensive for now. Wonder what the life span is for that car too

[cab2g]

The Volt is not a bad looking car. It is waaay to expensive to be practical for anybody looking to save money. It's more of a novelty, kind of like buying a Hybrid Escalade... You can now brag to all your friends that you drive a hybrid/EV. You are reducing your green house emissions, and that's a good thing, but the car is not a way to save money by any stretch of the imagination.

[KXRM]

I think it is silly that anyone points out the fire the car had after sitting wrecked for 3 weeks. That's just ludicrous. I will say that whenever I see these types of cars I think of them as the Brussels sprouts of cars. They aren't very good in terms of excitement and they cost too damn much initially and to maintain. It is all around a punishment to buy and own one.

I don't necessarily attribute this to the technology used to propel it. Looking at most EVs and hybrids they just don't excite me enough to even test drive one. As we all know, sex sells and this as well as others are just not as sexy as their gasoline powered brethren. Car manufacturers need to stop stereotyping the buyer here.