No big shocker; Volt dealers may add $20,000 markup

Wake me up when it is happening and there are people actually paying.

 

So ~3/4ths didn't even speak with a dealer . . . Ok. But the curious rumors of jacking up of the price for a vehicle that can not yet be bought reveals that a decade of hybrid abuse by GM has unexpected consequences. Their own sales critters are planning to ensure the Volt is priced high enough to ensure failure. Sounds like a great plan . . . or perhaps GM needs to close a few more dealerships.

At least the Toyota dealerships had a waiting list. With demand outstripping supply, some dealers made a little extra . . . until supply caught up. But in the case of GM, it is silly.

This really smells of a faux demand story . . . trying to show something that isn't possible to know if it exists. I would have more trust in something like a Tesla IPO.

Ok, here's the ideal response:

Just hold an auction when a Volt arrives.

Bob Wilson

 

Funny thing is GM did sell some cars on Ebay. Per eBay Motors | GM Program Our best cars. Your Best Offer., the program ended.

Here are some old news stories on this:
GM hopes to sell cars on eBay - Jul. 10, 2009
General Motors to sell used cars on eBay - Business - Autos - msnbc.com

 

I doubt GM will really allow markups like that to happen, bad publicity is one thing they would want to avoid right now!

 

I would think with the price of the vehicle that leasing would be what GM wants to do, this way they can get vehicles off the road if it does not prove popular, most people wouldn't have a problem with a monthly payment.

 

They said there will be an option to buy it at the end of the lease.

Judging from the $350 per month lease rate, I would guess they will be charging you arm and leg that no one will want to buy.

 

Leasing is the best option for both the Volt and Leaf, considering the new unproven technology. But there's just something about leasing a GM EV that makes me cringe!

 

Well you can wait ... or you can call one of the handfull of dealers that are schedueled to get 2 or 3 cars, if they're lucky. One dealer in LA county has already told their customers that they're tacking on $10,000. And what'd you expect? The dealers are wholely independent of manufacturing, & dealerships have lost their shirts now for quite some time. They gotta get it however they can

 

This is all real interesting ... but the big news is ..... we now know the range of the Volt. Obama drove the Volt 10 feet amid much celebrating; that even was worthy of a lot of press coverage.

 

Please don't be so harsh folks. For that $20,000 they aren't paying additional dealer markup, they're getting the following:
1- Pinstriping
2- Undercoating
3- Lifetime wax
4- VIN etching

So folks, please stop picking on GM. They offer fantastic products and I'm looking forward to getting that new Chevy Cruze that gets over 40mpg!!!

 

$20,000 over an overpriced $42,000 POS car? hmm, i can't wait to laugh menacingly when i find out the Volt sold less than 1,000 cars in the US.

 

chevy volt will have a special $349 lease at launch, find a dealer advertising that lease and you know your paying sticker. that said leasing is smart not nowing if this car is a crapbox.

 

Another trick to force people lease.

 

I am under the impression that if the purchase price is over msrp, the lease price will rise. In short, it will be vulnerable to the same dealer mark-up as a buy would be. One interesting detail I read on GM-volt.com was that GM financing places a 120% of msrp limit on leases and loans, even to well qualified buyers. This puts a $49.2k upper limit on dealer pricing before extra cash on the table has to be fronted by the customer.

 

Chevy Volt is a 4 seat car - 2 buckets seats in the rear.

Just read that in yesterday's paper, a driving review of the Volt vs. Leaf.

That's a minus.

 

The seating isn't a minus for us.
The BIG minus for us is the 40 mile range and the gas 'generator'

 

Ok, but I think turning any family sedan into a 4 seatbelt vehicle is a bad move. Cannot legally seat even 3 children in back seat.

I believe the Volt is a hatchback, so I wonder what the cargo hold will look like folding down 2 bucket seats. Not that I care that much, but, will it be a practical car?

 

Oh I agree with you as far as general market appeal goes. I was just saying for me personally the 4 vs 5 seating isn't a big deal.
I thought the Volt was a sedan, not a hatchback?

 

Wiki says it's a 5-door liftback / hatchback. No mention of trunk.

 

Courtesy of ALS