Volt

[Havok]

Originally Posted by Cbrenthus

I'm not "against" electric, I just think that it is the result of propaganda rather than actual facts. The issues I have with electric cars are:

1. How much energy does it take to charge? I really haven't been able to find this out, but wouldn't want to replace $200 in gas with $300 in electric bills

2. Electricity comes from energy, just like gas. Except for a few wind, solar, nuclear, or water plants, most electricity still comes from carbon based energy, so even though the car may be clean during use, its still creating pollution.

3. What do replacement batteries cost?

4. For the Volt in particular, whatever happened to it being an electric vehicle? I heard all along that it was all electric, but at the last minute, it turns out its a hybrid all along.

~$45 a month for electricity to charge it, and its electric up to 40 miles then the gas kicks in so that you don't just stall out in the middle of the highway. I think the average commute to work is like 40 miles so they wanted to make sure the average person would be fully electric. The tesla I believe is fully electric and they got them going up to 300 miles.

Volt is definitly not a long distance car, but if you are just going to the grocery store or commuting inside the city it wouldn't be a bad car to get. Might be able to push 1 charge 2-3 days.

Tesla sedan is going to sell for ~$50k also. I don't get how you guys can't find these things. Have you ever heard of Google? It's not that new of a site.

[CC Performance]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

I sat in one. Pretty freaking cool. Like the all touch sensitive center console.

Which one are you talking about? Volt or Tesla


Wait for a bit on the Volt, they will come down in price

You can order your Tesla online:

Reservation Payment: $5,000
Base Price: $49,900*
*Reservation payment is fully refundable. Base price includes $7,500 federal tax credit.
Model S - Reservation Payment: $5,000
Model S Signature - Reservation Payment: $40,000

Spendy car !

[Milk 1027]

Originally Posted by CC Performance

Which one are you talking about? Volt or Tesla

Volt

[nards444]

need to start doing something here because regardless if you think oil is running out or not. Paying 4-5 bucks at the pump can not and will not be cool to last forever. Simple math lets say the average fuel take out there is probably 20 gallons and probably safe to say on average somebody goes through probably 1.5 tanks a week. thats $120 a week for about $6700 a year for $4 a gallon, and $5 a gallon would run you $8400 a year. I dont now who wants to spend that kind of money

[CC Performance]

Originally Posted by Milk 1027

Volt

Ah, I want to get my wife into one... she puts 360 miles/week on her car and it gets 28 mpg.. we could use some savings there the 03 Impala is still running great.. she doesn't like changing cars very often.. but if gas is going to shoot through the roof we might need to look at the actual numbers and see what it really looks like. We'll buy Chevy, I always do... I know there are other options but I'm true

[upflying]

Originally Posted by nards444

need to start doing something here because regardless if you think oil is running out or not. Paying 4-5 bucks at the pump can not and will not be cool to last forever. Simple math lets say the average fuel take out there is probably 20 gallons and probably safe to say on average somebody goes through probably 1.5 tanks a week. thats $120 a week for about $6700 a year for $4 a gallon, and $5 a gallon would run you $8400 a year. I dont now who wants to spend that kind of money

Is pouring oil and natural gas into electric power plants to charge the Volt a better alternative?
Nuclear energy is the best thing for a future of electric vehicles. But we have that little incident in Japan that could put the kabash on those plans.
I don't want to have a brownout at 5pm when every electric car owner arrives home from work and plugs into the grid.

[Enator]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

GM just sold 608 units last month. Compare that to Nissan's 300 Leafs, an EV that costs less.

You get what you pay for. We can debate whether or not EVs are worth the money all we want, but for people who want an EV now, Volt is the only logical answer.

[upflying]

slight hijack M.afaqanjum228. I see you drive a 2007 Camaro. Since Camaro's were not made between 2002 and 2010 would you show us what yours looks like?
Agree though, dealer markup in Ca for a Volt is crazy high.

[RPO_Z28]

Responding to the original question at hand:

I would not replace the Camaro with a Volt. Two different vehicles for different types of driving. Unless your Camaro is a DD and your overall commute is maybe 40 miles per day.

I had the chance to drive a Volt this Saturday and Sunday.

It almost had a full tank of fuel and a full charge when I started. I drove to Manahttan from home and back. I was able to drive 39.7 miles on all electric. I then drove an additional 22 miles while the gas generator kicked in. When the whole trip was done, I had driven 61.7 miles and used .553 gallons of gas. Be reminded, the generator only serves to charge the battery. The car runs on the electric motor all the time.

It was nice not having to fill up a fuel tank and I felt quite "green" about not having to buy gas. It has plenty of power and was doing 60 MPH on the LIE and getting looks the whole way.

Not a Camaro replacement but certainly a neat commuter car that's environmentally friendly.

[PatsRS]

I saw a Volt the opther day but they really need to extend the range. 35 miles as on the sticker is just not enought to warrant the price tag. If this is a car for driving around town 40 grand is a lot of money for that.
Love the idea I just don't think it is there yet.

[Fogey]

Yesterday my granola neighbor came over. He's seen me messing with cars for years so assumes I know something about them (Big mistake, LOL). Anyway, his Prius had crapped out on him and he had to have it towed to the dealer. The dealer told him him his intake manifold was all gunked up. I told hime he needed a catch can which lead to further discussions. Anyway, even the vaunted Prius is not immune to mechanical failure.

[Cbrenthus]

I did actually do the math with my actual electric rates and was surprised at how cheap it would be to operate. I basically came out to about $30 a month for just commuting 15 miles each way to work 20 days a month. Considering that should be all electric. The only other assumption I made was 100% energy conversion in charging, I don't know what the actual rate would be.

I'm still skeptical though, and will continue with my current method of conserving fuel by riding my motorcycle as much as possible. I get 40mpg on my HD and 60mpg on my DRZ-400

I really can't wait to see what happens, though, when Volt drivers drive around awhile without using the gas engine, and then when they need it, it doesn't work. The biggest issues I have had with engines have been caused by lack of usage. Lines dry out, fuel evaporates and goes bad, etc.

[DarkObsession]

Originally Posted by Cbrenthus

I really can't wait to see what happens, though, when Volt drivers drive around awhile without using the gas engine, and then when they need it, it doesn't work. The biggest issues I have had with engines have been caused by lack of usage. Lines dry out, fuel evaporates and goes bad, etc.

The Volt computer will actually make sure it runs through at least one tank of gas per year (I think that is the ratio, I could be wrong) regardless of whether you need it or not to prevent that sort of scenario that you just described.

[CC Performance]

Just talked to my wife.. she is spending $300 month on gas.. I wonder what the same would be in the Volt. She commutes 30-35 miles one way and then back.... I need to seriously crunch some numbers.. can this freaking car actually pay for itself in her case? They have one about 30 miles way as well at Tonkin?