Traded in the PIP for a new 2014 Volt...

amazed they're asking over 24k for the used PiP
I just saw one listed around here for 22k with half those miles and its an advanced version !

Good luck on the Volt - a buddy who also needed more range bought and is happy with it

 

Congratulations. With the Prius PIP, I could understand wanting more EV range. The current Volt is a quick, immediate fix. Good price with incentives and trade. I must ask, any previous thoughts of waiting for the second generation Volt? It will be interesting to see what it offers new. With the recent release of the $80,000 Cadillac ELR this past December, getting 37 miles on a charge, how do you keep those early adopter owners happy if the new generation Volt has more EV range? Enjoy your Volt.

 

gonna miss you man, all the best!

 

The next decade is going to be really exciting overall for the state of hybrids, plug in hybrids and EVs. It is starting to look like alternative energy vehicles are finally becoming a more common reality. I've seen quite a few Teslas around town now, too. Combine that with the new parking systems and Google's driverless technology, it looks like the next time I trade my car in there will be some fun options to consider.

 

I want my flying car that folds up into a briefcase Jetsons style. Weren't we all told that by 1999-2000 we'd have flying cars?

 

Rob...is that screenshot you took of MyVolt from an app or from a browser window?

 

Don't worry -- the Volt keeps track of things and will automatically start the engine in "Maintenance Mode" if the engine doesn't otherwise start up within 6 weeks. I believe it will burn at least .03 gallons to bring the engine up to full operating temperature and then reverts back to EV driving. It's never happened to me. The PiP does something similar but based it on miles driven since last engine startup, I think.

The Volt also keeps track of the average age of the gas in the tank. If it gets to be a year old it will switch to Fuel Maintenance Mode and force you to drive in charge sustaining (hybrid) mode for awhile to burn off the old gas and coerce you into adding some new gas.

Congrats on the new car.

 

Congrats on the new volt! Unfortunately my "range doubler" for the PIP is not ready, I'm starting to order the parts for the prototype and actual performance remains TBD. FWIW I'll be adding a 5 KW lifepo4 pack that'll be tucked into the voids under the charger and around the stock battery. Cost, using the stock charger, will be between $3000 and $4000. Anyone curious about other details of this project, my email is lieblerjatwindstream.net

 

"Congrats on the new volt! Unfortunately my "range doubler" for the PIP is not ready, I'm starting to order the parts for the prototype and actual performance remains TBD. FWIW I'll be adding a 5 KW lifepo4 pack that'll be tucked into the voids under the charger and around the stock battery. Cost, using the stock charger, will be between $3000 and $4000. Anyone curious about other details of this project, my email is lieblerjatwindstream.net"

wow, good luck ! just hoping nothing blows up

but stupid question - I'm a huge PiP fan
BUT
if putting 3-4k into it to double the range to 26miles - wouldn't buying the Volt then make sense ?

 

Welcome to the Volt family.. It really is ashame Toyota did not do more with the PiP. As the one major downside with the Volt you will come to notice is its 38-42mpg it gets on extended road trips. Granted after 2 and half years and 19,843 miles I have 14,580 EV miles, and a lifetime average of 141mpg. Still I hope for Generation 2 of the Volt and PiP that both automakers do more as both cars have tons of potential. Hope your Volt serves you well though, and looks like it will with your commute.

 

OMG! Me too, two weeks ago, and I was wondering how to break it to the community I've enjoyed being a part of for two years.

There were a number of factors, but the main one was that my range neurosis, first posted 5 months ago, had become disfunctional.

Exactly. I have a deposit down on a BMW i3 REx, which my wife might wind up buying. But BMW's high-handed introductory configuration and the likelihood it'll be here too late for California's HOV stickers made it less attractive. So I nailed down the Volt (and hopefully the green sticker). We'll hang onto the PiP for a few months, so my wife can sell her 16 year old car and then hoping it will be worth more when the green stickers run out.

I don't necessarily expect to own the Volt for too many years. But now I can relax, stop micromanaging 11 EV miles, and see what fantastic new EVs and plug-ins come on the market. Let the window-shopping begin!

I did a comparison between the Volt and my PiP (view here). My take is that the PiP is a better vehicle, while the Volt is a better EV and a neater toy. And I'm afraid Toyota needs to sharpen up its plug-in offering real quick for the PiP to retain much appeal beyond the large community of devotees to the fantastic Prius car family.

Hopefully I've piled up enough cred on this group not to be considered a troll, but whack away.

 

"but stupid question - I'm a huge PiP fan
BUT
if putting 3-4k into it to double the range to 26miles - wouldn't buying the Volt then make sense ?"

To some a Volt may make more sense, not to me because: 1. I want to maintain the 53 MPG highway mileage I get on long trips, using no EV. 2. I often carry 3 in the back seat. 3. My PIP's resale value is dubious (see My recycled PIP in the newbies forum) & I plan to "drive it till the wheels fall off" 4. While I've called it a "range doubler" the predicted gain in EV miles is 150%.

 

Aren't you concerned about GM reliability versus Toyota when buying a Volt?


iPad ? HD