Audi America President calls Volt a car for 'idiots'

[MCPOAJ]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

This car is the first step in the right direction for passenger cars, and it's a big step. And I agree with Angry Amish...he's scared. Toyota did the same thing when this was announced: "they can't do it. The batteries don't exist, they're crazy." HMF!! There's numerous pre-production cars rolling around GM's testing facilites right now, this isn't a joke or a dream!

For the first few years, the car will only cost around $32,500 with the gov't rebate. And with all the features and luxury ameneties, that's only a few thousand more expensive than a high-end Impala or Camry. The difference? This thing uses next to no gasoline, and is the most practical electric vehicle out of the industry to date.

Not everyone who buys a Hybrid/EV fits into any one category. I wouldn't be caught dead in an Insight, or a Prius...I'm nonplussed about the Tahoe hybrid, and I think the taurus Hybrid is neat...but how about I tell you that I'm as excited about this car as I am about a hypothetical Z28 Camaro or a C7 Vette? And that when the Cobalt dies, I expect this car to replace it?!

lol isn't the crudze supposed to replace the balt??

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by MCPOAJ

lol isn't the crudze supposed to replace the balt??

Yes. And the Cruze is a far better car than the Cobalt can ever dream of being.

And what Taurus Hybrid?

[MCPOAJ]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Yes. And the Cruze is a far better car than the Cobalt can ever dream of being.

lol isn't the "ss" supposed to be 140 hp turbo'd if it even happens doesn't seem that great to me

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by MCPOAJ

lol isn't the crudze supposed to replace the balt??

Yes it is...but I meant for me, personally, I will replace my Cobalt with a Volt.

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

And what Taurus Hybrid?

Oh, did I mess that up? Damn...yes I did, sorry. I meant Fusion Hybrid.

Originally Posted by MCPOAJ

lol isn't the "ss" supposed to be 140 hp turbo'd if it even happens doesn't seem that great to me

There's been no mention of a Cruze SS, except for the possibility of there eventually being one. The 140hp turbo engine you speak of is the base motor which will return at least 40mpg on the highway...

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Very well said!

I never really understood the point of the Hybrid Tahoe...that one seemingly defies logic. I did on the other hand, own a Prius for 16 months when my commute was extremely long and gas here in SoCal was approaching the $4 a gallon mark. I actually sold the car for $232 more than I paid for it after using it for 16 months. I guess that makes me an idiot???

Correct me if I'm wrong, but my understanding of the Volt is that it can travel 40ish miles completely on electric power? That being said, my wife who commutes round trip 32 miles a day could use no to very, very minimal gas all together? My only real concern with this car is how much energy it will use while being plugged in for a recharge; i.e. how much will my home electric bill increase by plugging this thing in every night? I'm sure this has been addressed, but I haven't found any concrete data as of yet.

by plugging in at night and using electricity during off-peak hours, it will save you some. I dont have an actual amount for you personally, but I remember most "plug-in"s only paying like $0.05 a night or something like that? maybe an hour while it was plugged in. wasnt much. plus, you could buy your wife an extension cord to "fill-up while she's at work"

or utilize the gasoline engine in the car to recharge the batteries

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

I'm sure this has been addressed, but I haven't found any concrete data as of yet.

What is the cost of electricity in your area? Multiply that by roughly 8 or 9, and that's the cost per charge.

They say that the cost of powering this car will be equvilant to operating a refrigerator.

[MCPOAJ]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Yes it is...but I meant for me, personally, I will replace my Cobalt with a Volt.


Oh, did I mess that up? Damn...yes I did, sorry. I meant Fusion Hybrid.


There's been no mention of a Cruze SS, except for the possibility of there eventually being one. The 140hp turbo engine you speak of is the base motor which will return at least 40mpg on the highway...

oh yea just read that my bad and how exactly is the cruze better then the cobalt performance wise

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by MCPOAJ

oh yea just read that my bad and how exactly is the cruze better then the cobalt performance wise

Well, I don't know. The Cobalt SS wasn't released in 2005 when the Cobalt was -- it was sold later on, so keep that in mind...

But the car is already sold in Europe to high acclaim. However, the US-spec model will have it's own specific engine. I expect performance of it will remain similar to that of a base Cobalt (which...owning one, I think is actually pretty fun, though clearly not up to the level of the Cobalt SS or even V6 Camaro.). The Cruze is better looking (imo), and is supposed to be lighter, vastly more fuel efficient, better built, and have a kick-ass interior that eclipses the likes of the Corolla, etc. I believe that's what fenwick meant when he made that comment. Comprehensively (not just performance), the Cruze will be a far and away better car than the Cobalt.

[Sketti]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Two types of people make blanket stereotypical statements like this

1. The ignorant

2. The person so preoccupied with spouting nonsensical rhetoric they haven’t the time to read the forum rules; i.e. rule #1….

1) Respect. By far the most important rule here. Through the generations of Camaros, enthusiasts have come together for the love of the car and the community (in fact, the name "Camaro" means "friend, pal, or comrade"). So, the basic rules of real life apply here, show each other respect and you will get respect as well. Don't bash someone else here because you feel like it. Personally insulting other members will not be tolerated.

Please, show some class.

[MCPOAJ]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Well, I don't know. The Cobalt SS wasn't released in 2005 when the Cobalt was -- it was sold later on, so keep that in mind...

But the car is already sold in Europe to high acclaim. However, the US-spec model will have it's own specific engine. I expect performance of it will remain similar to that of a base Cobalt (which...owning one, I think is actually pretty fun, though clearly not up to the level of the Cobalt SS or even V6 Camaro.). The Cruze is better looking (imo), and is supposed to be lighter, vastly more fuel efficient, better built, and have a kick-ass interior that eclipses the likes of the Corolla, etc. I believe that's what fenwick meant when he made that comment. Comprehensively (not just performance), the Cruze will be a far and away better car than the Cobalt.

it wasn't?? http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=104953 the best way to tell an 05 from all the other is the badges on the door are half way up the door (i'm not sure it it came out halfway through 2005 like the ss/tc did in 08)

but looks are opinion's i don't like the looks of the new cruze but verses a base model balt yea it's better, but the ss looks 100x better in person verses a base model yes the interior is better... if it can hold my cups better then the balt. imo they just made another malibu if there was not an ss cobalt and i was on the budget i'm on i can't afford a 2ss camaro let alone a base camaro... and i want something with "performance" in mind what do i have to buy? it's not just the cruze but chevy is turning into toyota and that's not bad for competition to get chevy back on top that's what they need but i would have a nsrt4 if there was no ss balt (but hey what's losing one customer for 100 potential new ones) btw my uncle owns a dealership so i've been chevy biased since birth so buying an srt would be like cutting an arm off

and i wouldn't pay the audi guy any mind anyone that bought one of those gawd awful priuses they're gonna feel ashamed they wasted their money when they see a volt on the road and any potential buyers toyota had for the prius they just lost to the volt

[Supermans]

Audi: The car for the idiots idiot.

[MrIcky]

I don't know how I feel about this whole article. I completely agree when he says that pure electrics are for people who want to show others how enlightened they are. Argh.

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

buy your wife an extension cord to "fill-up while she's at work"

ding ding ding...we have a winner!

Actually, it sounds like it wouldn't be much at all to charge it at home...I really like this car "on paper" so far.

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by MrIcky

I don't know how I feel about this whole article. I completely agree when he says that pure electrics are for people who want to show others how enlightened they are. Argh.

I can certainly appreciate why this may be a popular opinion, but I would respectfully disagree. I'm just red neck trailor trash from podunk MI; far from enlightened, but if the opportunity was there to have a reasonably priced pure electric car I think I would jump on it.