Chevy didn't get the memo...

An inventory search at that link shows 2 2015 PiPs and there won't be any more arriving.

Meanwhile, a website search at John Sullivan Chevrolet just 0.4 miles down the street from that Toyota dealer shows 3 2016 Volts in their inventory with plenty more coming in the future.

Roseville CA all Vehicles | John L Sullivan Chevrolet

I suppose those Volts may not actually be on the ground at the dealership yet but they have clearly been allocated, can be purchased, and are probably already in transit or will be imminently.

 

it's the hyperbole in gm advertising that has always been bothersome. jeff n is right, advertise the merits of the volt, stop making up rubbish and putting other vehicles down.

 

Was replying to the statement that the PiP was "no longer in production or available."

Indeed, there are not 2016 Volts on the ground, but one can put in an order for one of the three $40k+ trim levels they offer.

 

Let me get this right.... You think a 300 mile EV won't be practical until it's battery cells cost less than $1,500?

 

it's the total cost of the vehicle, not the battery price. either gas costs have to go up, and not kWh costs, or alt fuel vehicle prices have to come down to gasser prices.

 

That's about right. Because you have to add the power electronics, motors and drive lines to get a total propulsion system cost, and compete that against a current standard combustion engine sub-$5,000 total propulsion system cost.

 

how you gonna compete with a $19,000 camry? it's impossible.

 

The Volt can't compete with the Camry or Prius Liftback because the median annual U.S. household income is $50-55k.

At that level, one will get little or none of the federal tax credit. It's out of the price range of most car buyers. One of the many reasons it is absurd to compare it against the Prius Liftback.

 

Gasoline prices have to go up for multiple reasons both for extraction reasons and because of future tax policies due to growing global warming concerns. Battery prices are dropping quickly. Those two trend lines will soon cross.

 

Apples to apples, MSRP on a Prius 3 (comparable to Volt base) is $26,815 vs. $33,170 (if you want to talk discounts on both, I got $7200 off MSRP on my Gen 1 Volt last year, that deal was available for months). Over half of Volts were sold or leased in California. A California buyer can get $7500 in federal tax credits and a $1500 rebate from the state, for a net price (before any dealer discounts) of $24,170, or $2,645 less than the Prius 3. The Volt buyer (or lessee) also gets green HOV lane stickers with the Volt but not the Prius, a serious incentive in California.

Most Volts, like most Leafs (Leaves?) are leased, not sold, and US Bank and Ally Bank, the two primary Volt lessors, use the credits to subvent the lease payment. I leased my Volt last year for a payment over 40% less than Dianne was offering on a less well-equipped PiP Basic at the time, and comparable to her lease rate on a Prius 3. It's in no way absurd to compare the two cars, when they can be bought (if you can use the Volt credit) or leased for a comparable price.

 

i think gm believes that they look good, comparing themselves to prius, to anyone interested in watching the commercial.

 

'soon' being the operative word, let's hope gm can wait until then.

 

The Prius Liftback seems to do a pretty good job of competing against the Camry. It's not impossible. It's doing less well now that gasoline prices have fallen but that won't last many years for multiple reasons.

 

really? i think it's terrible. but as you say, things will probably change someday 'soon'.

 

You make it sound like it's impossible for Toyota to sell hybrids even though they sell many boat loads of them every year.

An EV needs only one electric motor rather than two and it doesn't need the engine, emissions hardware or gas tank. As long as driving electric saves owners hundreds of dollars a year in fueling costs the car can cost a little more up front. That's why some people buy hybrids today.

Well before nirvana pricing levels are reached, many people will also be willing to pay a little extra for EVs for the convenience and drivability factors.

 

yes, yes, all true, but we're talking chevy advertising here.

 

That is not “apples to apples” but a moving target. We are talking about the commercial specifics. This is changing the topic.

There is no Gen 1 Volt in the commercial. As it pertains to this thread, MSRP is irrelevant, except for the Volt Gen 2 which is not yet here nor will it initially be available for less than MSRP. Then Gen 3 Prius Liftback, however, since they insist on comparing, is being currently sold for less than $20k to start.

So yes, it is absurd. And that's not even considering that when the 200,000th Volt is eventually sold, no one gets any tax credits, loopholes or not, and we are left with a bunch of overpriced vehicles with no taxpayers to subsidize the privileged.

 

Any GM is crap. They can use the latest technology out there but I think there's a culture of neglect in this organization. They can't get it right. They have a lousy pass the buck mentality and no one takes ownership. The unionized employees know how to milk the system untill it's sucked dry. Stay away.

 

Regardless whether the Prius fan base thinks comparing any Volt to any Prius is fair really doesn't make a difference...since both vehicles are marketed to and primarily purchased by the middle class on up base on price. People buy what they can afford. Now within this group that buys alternative fuel vehicles the reasons can vary from status, economy, ecology to you fill in the blank. My point is everyone has a different sight in life, different reason for buying and different perceived justification. There is no right or wrong as it applies...just choice.

 

Around 3% of the market, as I recall. Not mainstream.

But the motor needs to be much larger, the power electronics need to be larger, and it still needs a transaxle or differential.

Not $15,000-$25,000 more. If you were in the market for a $15,000 Yaris or $17,000 Corolla do you think you'd be willing to spend $35,000 on it to save a few hundred dollars a year?

Yes...3% of us, and most don't do it to save a few bucks.

But it's not "a little extra", it's enough extra to buy another car!