Moving on to a Volt

congrats, all the best!

who got the pip back? someone here might be looking for a good deal.

 

How's the 2016 Volt compared to 2016 Prius? I've heard that Volt is also more expensive - could that be reason for the 'luxury'?

 

I'll probably follow your lead in 2019 when my solo HOV decals expire. I'll hang onto this PiP until then. I know what you mean about the EV experience. The PiP is like a gateway drug. Give me more EV please! Oh and until you manually wind your windows down in a Nissan Versa or a Mitsubishi Mirage, you don't know what an economy car is. The Prius is a luxury car compared to those non contoured seats and plastic door handles that pop off in your hand.

 

I have to agree with your assessment regarding the cheap feel/economy feel of the PIP.

My 16 year old VW jetta has batter quality materials than my 2012 PIP.


iPhone ?

 

They stopped selling them in Europe in 2015. It was marketed under Opel Ampera:


It's base price was around $56,000 before any incentives - and incentives are very hard to get (only 50 or so cars per year per country in Croatia). If I did get the it would be $49,000 with incentives. Now you do get $40 bonus a year for owning a hybrid vehicle and that's about it (aka. you don't have to pay for emissions test every year). There are no charging stations, and the ones that started popping up require you (in some cases) to pay for electricity.

I paid for my Prius $12,000 and am very happy with it. We don't get any incentives for battery replacement so that one can cost you up to $27,000 in Europe for Opel Ampera. No fun.

Opel Ampera (aka. Volt) sold in total 69 cars in Europe in last 5 months before stopping the sales.
In the meantime, Toyota sold 40,000 Yaris and as much Auris hybrids (in those 5 months). Plug-ins and EVs are currently too expensive for the EU market as an average new car bought here is somewhere around $20,000 or even less in poorer countries. And cars are generally more expensive - Prius 2010 base in here costs around $33,000 due to all taxes. That means there is a heap of Renaults, Peugeots, old VW's and Fiats on the street. Btw. Fiat Punto costs $12,000 base so it's 4x cheaper than e.g. Volt. That makes Volt obsolete.

 

Love to hear these gateway drug stories. I too will never be able to drive a non-electric car going forward.

 

no question. even the thought of going back to a regular prius gives me the shivers. great car, but i hate when the engine starts, as i'm just backing out of my garage.

 

Ditto.

A change in driving routines has me rarely using gas and it's been nearly 6 weeks since I last heard the ICE on an out of town trip. I've driven my wife's (nearly new) car twice during that time frame and it feels so archaic in comparison. It also takes more mental and physical effort to stop that car since my muscle memory is now accustomed to one-pedal driving.

 

After the way I was treated by GM corporate and 2 local dealers during all the recalls on my HHR Id never buy a GM product, Id rather buy a KIA .. I had to give the used car dealer my 2009 HHR plus $2500 cash for my 2005 Prius ..The GM dealer told me they would not rent me a car because the 3 recalls would take a year to get parts for it and they offered me 1/2 of trade in value ONLY if I bought a new GM if I didn't buy one they didn't want the HHR at all..Copr said each dealer is independently owned and can handle the recalls as they see fit ..
not a GM fan, good luck with the Volt

 

I can't take credit. I think bisco said it a little while ago on another thread.

 

you'd remember better than i would.

 

Wish you the best with your Volt. I really like the way they look. I hope your maintenance and dealership experience stays good as well. I know the Prius doesn't have the "luxury" feel. Kinda miss that. But the other bells and whistles seem to satisfy me for now. I really need to see 5 years from now how many Volts and Bolts are still on the road and how little maintenance issues they had. All the best to ya!

 

I ma not surprised sales have stopped in Europe. GM, again, blew it on defining their customer or market base.

DBCassidy

 

It's the Drugs!

 

2017 Opel Ampera spied in Europe:: Holden Ampera to follow in Australia?

 

at my age, we call them meds.

 

I hear you!