That's right, $40k.

 

are you really buying it or?

i am being obtuse, but it is one thing to say that you like the car, and another to pay 40k for it, for which you can buy a dozen of assorted luxury cars.

not to mention that 13mile prius will be at least 10k cheaper, and get 30% better mpg outside the range.

 

the whole class is an epic failure. it might be interesting at 200 miles on a charge, but even then i can barely make it to orlando and back without using gas.

and as has been said, in cities it might make sense but then few have garages and i can see 'public' charging points getting vandalized. outside of cities the range and cramped quarters make it pretty worthless and enormously expensive.

make that very few.

fixed.

i'm still awaiting tesla to declare bankruptcy, but perhaps that's unlikely with google and toyota backing.

 

What would that do to the life-expectancy of the gas-engine, though? Piston-engines need to be run enough to keep the fluids warm and circulating and the interal parts lubed. Let them sit too much and they die an early death from corrosion and deterioration.

 

Even over and above the great gas-mileage and any questions of its gas-engine life-expectancy, I still think the Volt, price-wise, is rip-off (I stated that in the Volt review I did a few months ago). For a car the size of its compact-sized/priced Cruze brother, It starts at a whopping 41K, then usually adds several-thousand more in options and an almost-inevitable dealer 4-5K retail mark-up. So, even with the Federal $7500 tax-credit (and whatever credit the state may or may not give you), you still are looking at a likely 40K or more for a purchase.......an absurd price, IMO, even for a compact car with this level of technology. In addition, the low-contrast dash-ergonomics, IMO, are horrendous, with white buttons on a white center-dash section that is almost impossible to read quickly, and big hole that you have to reach your hand down into to pull the shift-lever out. No thanks.

 

That interior looks like it was designed by a Board of Directors with the intention of making it "hip and cool"...except that none of the board members are now...or ever have been...hip or cool.

 

GM says that they selected the 30-mile electric range because many American commuters drive less than that per day. It could be a nice suburban car to commute to/from work or the commuter transit station. And if you never use the extended range gas engine, it will automatically switch itself on every once in a while to keep fluids free-flowing and the engine from seizing.

 

The dash in the one that I drove was silver. I have no complaints about it. And yes, the Volt is an expensive car, just as the LS600hL is, and the 335d. The first Prius was $20k at a time when the Corolla cost $12,000.

 

Saw one on the road today again, looked pretty good. Makes no noise besides the tires like I expected. Owner was getting a kick out of everyone slowing down and checking it out! lol

 

Should sell ads on the side.