I'll wait for the new Ohm, by burrick

5/22/2012 11:53:30 AM

I didnt make it clear, I guess. I had a coworker with a Leaf. We agreed to swap cars for a day so we could see what the other's ride was like.

He thought the car is way better looking and much better handling than the Leaf, and would strongly consider it for the next car.

^ Make no mistake, there are only 2 real car companies that are committed to making electric vehicles in any major way, and that is Nissan and GM. Chrysler and Ford are only going to be building compliance cars in the next 3 years (very limited availability and only sold in limited markets), and I don't count the Prius Plug in as an electric car, so its electric range is so limited and Toyota has come out against plugins in the recent past.

[Edited on May 22, 2012 at 12:37 PM. Reason : .]

5/22/2012 12:34:59 PM

In other news, Tesla model S passed crash testing and Model S can start shipping to the cutromers who pre-ordered it. Miking Tesla that much closer to becoming a "real" car company.

5/23/2012 10:53:48 AM

i just want the cadillac version

5/23/2012 12:31:44 PM

^^^what about Mitsubishi? In fact they've been screaming from the rooftops that they might switch (sooner than most) to an all EV fleet. They're also talking about killing off the Evo, which has infuriated the auto enthusiast masses.

5/23/2012 2:08:46 PM

they don't sell enough...

everyone says the evo is a better car but no one actually buys it.

5/23/2012 2:13:17 PM

maybe if they stopped adding lead bricks with every new generation?

5/23/2012 2:13:56 PM

or if it wasn't a shitty mitsubishi priced around 30k with far better built options available at similar price points

5/23/2012 3:46:55 PM

? At that price you can't buy a better handling car. Thanks for playing though

5/23/2012 4:11:45 PM

Just got this email from Sir Walter over the weekend. While Stingray in Florida can beat this deal, its a great local deal for lease. The 2013 is coming out in August. It will have some minor changes, and adds about 3 miles of range to the car (EPA is now 38 instead of 35). That would likely mean I'd see more days in the 45-50 range than I do now. Summer has been solidly in the 40-45 everyday. A few paint changes on the 2013, adding collision avoidance and lane departure.

Dear CarZin,

you've inquired about our best deal on the Chevy Volt in the past so I thought I would provide an update. Due to a special allocation we are able to offer substantial discounts on 5 of our new Volt's. It does not matter which 5 we sell just that the first five out of inventory will have this pricing structure only at Sir Walter Chevrolet...

$0.00 net dealer gross profit and you still get 0.0% financing for up to 72 months with GM.

Stock # 1835 below has an MSRP of $42,680. With our pricing and GM's 0.0% for 72 months you can OWN a new Volt for $585 per month with absolutely nothing due at signing. This includes all tax, tag & fees

OR Lease for only $355.00 per month for 36 months with nothing due at signing. This includes all tax, tag & fees.

[Edited on June 26, 2012 at 10:08 AM. Reason : .]

[Edited on June 26, 2012 at 10:10 AM. Reason : .]

6/26/2012 10:08:19 AM

Not bad!

on an unrelated note I've been seeing more and more Volts on the road in my day to day driving routine. Not sure if they're the same ones that I keep seeing over and over but I see them far more often than the Nissan Leaf (which, other than one owned by someone in my business park I almost never see).

6/26/2012 1:01:56 PM

I'm starting to see more. We've been hinted by GM execs that this month could come close to the record sales of ~2,300. I still so more Leaf's however. I normally pass one every other day.

6/26/2012 4:28:25 PM

I also see a lot more Volts than Leafs to the factor of 10:1 at least

6/27/2012 11:33:42 AM

Autoblog just recently drove the Honda Fit EV and absolutely loved it: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/06/29/2013-honda-fit-ev-first-drive-review-video/

Has a range of 132 city miles, which easily beats the Nissan Leaf. But it's only available as a 3 year lease, and Honda is only releasing 1100 into the US in limited markets. That makes me think that Honda is still playing catch up technologically.

6/29/2012 1:00:10 PM

The Honda Fit is just a compliance car (they are only doing it because of CARB) . Don't expect Honda to put it outside the California market, not for years. But I did read that review. It still has the huge issue with not having a thermal management system for the batteries, and from what is happening to some Leaf owners in Arizona, I'd want a TMS.

BTW... For your enjoyment




[Edited on June 29, 2012 at 4:20 PM. Reason : .]

6/29/2012 4:18:32 PM

I kinda want to think that Honda would be better off continuing to put the bulk of their R&D into their fuel cell car. And tell CARB to go fuck themselves.

[Edited on June 29, 2012 at 9:03 PM. Reason : but honestly I encourage anyone to tell CARB to go fuck themselves ]

6/29/2012 9:02:48 PM

Ironically nowadays all I see are Leafs...haven't seen a Volt all week

7/6/2012 10:12:20 AM

Ouch.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/seton-motley/2012/07/17/media-fail-chevy-volt-makes-gm-no-money-costs-taxpayers-hundreds-thous

7/17/2012 5:01:30 PM

Quote :

"Newsbusters.org, EXPOSING AND COMBATING LIBERAL MEDIA BIAS"

Yep. That appears to be a truly trustworthy source.


[Edited on July 17, 2012 at 5:16 PM. Reason : And or course, that article is completely fucked, but I'll let someone more knowledgeable respond.]

7/17/2012 5:13:32 PM

But if its front page on Drudge, then it must be true!

7/17/2012 5:14:58 PM

Yes, this is an blog by the biggest asshat douchebag sub 100 IQ moron on the internet. Its not a surprise he also is on Fox every now and then. It is the worst kind of misinformation based on false claims, unsubstanciated claims, and exaggerated connections, not to mention outdated and usurped material. It isnt worth my time to debunk it on this forum, because I suspect the vast majority of people here, even the ones that arent sold on electric cars, are smart enough to see through that bag of ass.

Matt Drudge HATES the Volt. The fact that he continues to link with articles like this, takes whatever credit he has and pushes it further down the shitter.

Fuck Matt Drudge. And a double Fuck Seton Motley.

[Edited on July 17, 2012 at 7:46 PM. Reason : ,]

7/17/2012 7:39:33 PM

Comments on that site are hilarious and sad at the same time. So much hatred, ignorance, and near-sightedness

7/18/2012 1:12:50 AM

^^I thought you would get a kick out of that and it really did open my eyes more to what you previously told me about the level of disdain that Drudge has for the Volt that he is posting this drivel from some lunatics blog as front page top level material. He obviously appears to be grasping at straws on this matter to grind his ax against the "Obama Car".

I agree Igor that the comments are almost as funny/sad as the original blog post.

7/18/2012 11:30:31 AM

This is all you need to see what a toolbag Matt Drudge is:

http://www.drudgereportarchives.com/dsp/search.htm?maxrows_old=&searchFor=volt&StartRow=1&maxrows=100

7/18/2012 12:57:48 PM

I drove a co-worker's volt recently.

I was actually impressed.

handled better than i thought it would, the interior was an upgrade from what i'm used to from GM, and it's got great pickup.

7/18/2012 3:21:54 PM

i think they should make a light truck version of it.. el camino or ford transit style, I think you could sell some to service companies

7/18/2012 7:42:33 PM

Current Numbers:

7/26/2012 1:48:45 PM

Incredible.

Thanks for the update.

7/26/2012 9:56:14 PM

when the '14 impala comes out the volt will be no more.

9/13/2012 5:13:04 PM

^^^that chart made my chuckle b/c just the other day I tallied up my gas expenses so far in 2012 and it was right around $1800

9/14/2012 8:18:47 AM

Quote :

"when the '14 impala comes out the volt will be no more."

What???

^ What is your MPG on your current car?

Here are my new numbers. Gas is up quite a bit.



[Edited on September 14, 2012 at 12:14 PM. Reason : .]

9/14/2012 12:05:54 PM

my S2000 averages around 23 in town, 28 pure highway
the Integra gets 27 around town, 30 pure highway

both require premium...

9/14/2012 12:30:04 PM

pfff my soul gets 30 around town and 30-35 highway on reg...

my roo does... 18-23 mixed 27 pure highway on as much octane as you can give her.

9/14/2012 1:14:38 PM

Quote :

"when the '14 impala comes out the volt will be no more "

I think this was a reference to the fact that the Volt production line is getting shut down to make the Impala. However, shutdown is only temporary and the line was built so it could quickly re-tool from one model to another.

^,^^ you guys still don't get it. Most people don't buy Volt to save money on gas, they buy it to save our future.

9/14/2012 1:47:48 PM

^wtf are you talking to me about? CarZin ASKED me what gas mileage my car gets.

9/14/2012 2:10:51 PM

^^ Yeah, I obviously know about the Impala retooling, but I was curious if he some stupid conspiracy theory to go along with it.

9/14/2012 2:18:55 PM

cheap, carbon nano tubes will save our future...

That or the borg... but that's not saving the future.

9/14/2012 2:19:43 PM

^^^ my bad I thought you were arguing the cost-effectiveness again vs conventional cars

^energy conservation and energy source diversification will save our future. And this car became an icon for the "cost of innovation" fight and a litmus test for whether American public is ready to accept the alternative propulsion in their main mode of transportation.

9/14/2012 3:18:09 PM

The used-market price on these things is finally getting down to the point that they're worth considering...

I wish there was a good place at work for me to plug one in during the day. I ought to look around and see what I can find...i doubt there's anything available, though.

9/14/2012 3:26:52 PM

Most places of work are just starting to discuss the charging at work thing. I wouldnt suggest looking for available outlets, and assuming you can charge out of them. Looked upon really badly, even though it is done. Better way to to discuss with management your intentions, and see if they can accomodate you in any way. Easiest thing is to allow for a few 120V circuits for EV owners, and let them EV owners pay back the electricity, although its normally next to nothing, so a donation to charity will often suffice.

[Edited on September 14, 2012 at 4:03 PM. Reason : .]

9/14/2012 3:49:45 PM

Depends on where you work. I see two Volts at my work parking lot (huge corporate building), and they never plug in. However, at the same time some large companies in our building pay people incentive money to bike and carpool to work, so I assume they would be open to the idea of letting people charge (assuming there are outlets). Also, if you work for a small enough business, I'm sure that be pretty easily worked out between the big boss and yourself.

[Edited on September 14, 2012 at 4:02 PM. Reason : I'd definitely consult building management firs though]

9/14/2012 4:01:16 PM

I couldn't have gotten more lucky. Orange County opened up 4 FREE level stations directly across from where I work. I turned in my parking pass, that I pay nearly $1000 a year for, and park and charge for free Eventually they are going to charge for the electricity, but not the parking. Love it.

9/14/2012 4:04:16 PM

Quote :

"^^^ my bad I thought you were arguing the cost-effectiveness again vs conventional cars"

No problem. And if I was going to argue that I would NOT use my S2000 as an example, lol.

9/14/2012 4:07:24 PM

Do you work for UNC or something? Where the hell does parking in Orange Country cost $1,000?

9/14/2012 4:07:51 PM

In 2014 the 83hp gasoline engine in the volt will be swapped for a turbo 2.0L good for 250hp. Meanwhile, the body will still look like a rolling turd.

9/14/2012 5:02:27 PM

Wrong engine they shoudl keep the backup alone and instead swap out the 111kw electric motor for a a 222kw (or just throw another identical 111kw onto the rear axle and call it a day)

9/14/2012 5:05:55 PM

That back seat is pretty worthless, might as well put a motor there.

9/14/2012 5:09:57 PM

Not any more worthless than the back seat of H1 (I am not gonna pick on the coupes )

9/14/2012 5:18:33 PM

Igor: yes

The back seat ain't great, but it's ok. I have 2 adult passengers in the car, twice a week. With the front seat moved up a bit, it works.

9/14/2012 9:55:56 PM

The back seat is not bad at all. I am 6' tall and the guy that had shotgun was pretty tall as well, and I had good leg room.

And since you turned in your permit, I guess you are buying on our next run.

9/19/2012 9:02:47 PM