MotorTrend drives the Volt

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by garagelogic

Although i do not hope it is the case, I have a nagging fear that the Volt will become GM's Edsel. There is just not enough demand for that type of car...yet.

Edsel's failure wasn't due to the technology of the car.

If the EV1 wasn't and "Edsel", the Volt sure won't be.

[garagelogic]

Originally Posted by Number 3

Edsel's failure wasn't due to the technology of the car.

If the EV1 wasn't and "Edsel", the Volt sure won't be.

Correct, the Edsel did not fail due to any technology issues, it was considered one of the biggest automobile failures because Ford invested a ton of money into its development but, in the end, nobody bought them. Relatively speaking.

I have been wrong manyy times before, so it would be no big deal if i was again, but despite all the hype the Volt has received, I still don't think there is a demand for an all-electric car at this time. No matter how nicely packaged it is. Heck, look at some of the posts in this thread about the car.

[garagelogic]

Originally Posted by Number 3

There is a $7,500 tax credit for buying a Volt so whatever the price is the government will kick in $7,500 toward the purchase.

As I'm sure you are aware, a tax credit is not the same as a rebate. Buyers will still have to pay whatever full price is agreed upon at the time of purchase. Only later can the include the $7500 credit when filing their income taxes. Also, it will be you and I kicking in that $7500, as the govenrment has no money other than our tax dollars.

[Captain Vlad]

Originally Posted by omegaman

Below are some pics of the interiors of the Volt, Insight, and Prius. All photos are directly from the manaufacturers commercial websites.

Actually like all three of those examples. The Toyota and the Chevy have the edge over the Honda, though. The Honda is a little too 'busy'.

[Ninjak]

The volts looks a lot like a Fusion in the front now...I liked the original styling.

[Bullitt]

Originally Posted by Number 3

... There is a $7,500 tax credit for buying a Volt so whatever the price is the government will kick in $7,500 toward the purchase.

A Malibu starts at $21800 and gets a combined 25 mpg. The numbers I've heard in the past for the Volt is somewhere around $40000. Even if the $7500 tax credit was a rebate, that would bring you down to $32500. That's still $10000 more than a Malibu. With gas at $2.50 a gallon and the Malibu getting 25 mpg, you could drive the Malibu 100,000 miles before any kind of savings would be realized. If fuel savings isn't the objective with an electic car, then what is? Oil dependency? The environment? So basically you're targeting the tree-huggers with the money, and the people with money that need to have the latest and greatest, not the masses. Joe average isn't going to give it a second look for that kind of money and Joe average is who you target to sell in volume. Sure, they'll sell, but not in any amount to mean anything.

[omegaman]

Originally Posted by Bullitt

A Malibu starts at $21800 and gets a combined 25 mpg. The numbers I've heard in the past for the Volt is somewhere around $40000. Even if the $7500 tax credit was a rebate, that would bring you down to $32500. That's still $10000 more than a Malibu. With gas at $2.50 a gallon and the Malibu getting 25 mpg, you could drive the Malibu 100,000 miles before any kind of savings would be realized. If fuel savings isn't the objective with an electic car, then what is? Oil dependency? The environment? So basically you're targeting the tree-huggers with the money, and the people with money that need to have the latest and greatest, not the masses. Joe average isn't going to give it a second look for that kind of money and Joe average is who you target to sell in volume. Sure, they'll sell, but not in any amount to mean anything.

Ditto. My reasoning exactly.

I'm not 100% certain, but Toyota and Honda are essentially breaking even on their hybrids. They're not making bank on these models.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by Supermans

You have a strange concept of "So Cool" lol. A tutorial mode...lol..

I like gadgets. I'm also not so narrow-minded as some when they see a hybrid and want to yack. This efficiency stuff can be just a neat as our performance stuff...it's just different.

Originally Posted by Bullitt

A Malibu starts at $21800 and gets a combined 25 mpg. The numbers I've heard in the past for the Volt is somewhere around $40000. Even if the $7500 tax credit was a rebate, that would bring you down to $32500. That's still $10000 more than a Malibu. With gas at $2.50 a gallon and the Malibu getting 25 mpg, you could drive the Malibu 100,000 miles before any kind of savings would be realized. If fuel savings isn't the objective with an electic car, then what is? Oil dependency? The environment?

You're getting ahead of yourself, a little. The Gen 1 Volt is a first step down a long path to the electrification of the automobile. Future Generations (and they're already working on the next gen Volt) will be less expensive. Think of it along the same lines as new TVs. They're expensive when they first came out, but over time the prices came down.

It's also equipped relatively luxuriously, justifying a price increase over a Malibu. All those screens and fancy UIs on the IP are new and cool...people will pay for them. Maybe not you or I, but some will.

But anyways, you're right -- at $2.50/gal, the Volt will not provide the consumer with any financial benefits...First thing to realize is that efficiency is not cheap: just as we're willing to pay to go fast, others will be willing to pay to save gas. Second thing to consider is what if gas goes back up to $4.00/gal? $5.00?

Originally Posted by Bullitt

...not the masses. Joe average isn't going to give it a second look for that kind of money and Joe average is who you target to sell in volume. Sure, they'll sell, but not in any amount to mean anything.

Not yet. Not until the price comes down.

And they know that. That's why they only intend to sell about 10,000 the first year...and then more the next, etc, etc. Don't worry.

[Number 3]

Originally Posted by garagelogic

Correct, the Edsel did not fail due to any technology issues, it was considered one of the biggest automobile failures because Ford invested a ton of money into its development but, in the end, nobody bought them. Relatively speaking.

I have been wrong manyy times before, so it would be no big deal if i was again, but despite all the hype the Volt has received, I still don't think there is a demand for an all-electric car at this time. No matter how nicely packaged it is. Heck, look at some of the posts in this thread about the car.

You are correct, I don't think the demand will be huge and I don't think GM is planning on it to be huge. But I don't believe GM has said anywhere they plan to make money on the Volt intially. It will take continued development of battery technology to bring the costs down. So yes, there may not be 100s of thousands of Volts sold right away, and it may not make money right away. But you have to start someplace and build from it. So from the Edsel standpoint, I don't think the Volt fits the bill.

[FxsX24]

the main things i dislike on the volt is the charge port door being on the front of the car, and the while controls on the interior, if the controls were black i think i would like them better.
i would like to see the charge port in the license plate box, but rear end accidents will be the end all of that idea

[Supermans]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I like gadgets. I'm also not so narrow-minded as some when they see a hybrid and want to yack. This efficiency stuff can be just a neat as our performance stuff...it's just different.


You're getting ahead of yourself, a little. The Gen 1 Volt is a first step down a long path to the electrification of the automobile. Future Generations (and they're already working on the next gen Volt) will be less expensive. Think of it along the same lines as new TVs. They're expensive when they first came out, but over time the prices came down.

It's also equipped relatively luxuriously, justifying a price increase over a Malibu. All those screens and fancy UIs on the IP are new and cool...people will pay for them. Maybe not you or I, but some will.

But anyways, you're right -- at $2.50/gal, the Volt will not provide the consumer with any financial benefits...First thing to realize is that efficiency is not cheap: just as we're willing to pay to go fast, others will be willing to pay to save gas. Second thing to consider is what if gas goes back up to $4.00/gal? $5.00?

Not yet. Not until the price comes down.

And they know that. That's why they only intend to sell about 10,000 the first year...and then more the next, etc, etc. Don't worry.

Dragoneye,

No offense I'm not narrow minded either. I hope we get a performance hybrid someday and hope the Volt is a hit. I just don't like the looks of the interior and exterior of it. A tutorial just sounded funny to me. OK, now press on the gas, not too much, slowly....I can picture a driver trying to follow the tutorial on how to drive it around a parking lot. If they have KITT's voice doing the tutorial, then it will be cool. Anything else and it might make me laugh..

[coolman]

E FOR ELECTRICITY V FOR CHEVY VOLT AND ME!

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by coolman

E FOR ELECTRICITY V FOR CHEVY VOLT AND ME!

DAMMIT IT'S STUCK IN MY HEAD AGAIN!

[coolman]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

DAMMIT IT'S STUCK IN MY HEAD AGAIN!

GOT YA!