Will the Chevrolet Volt be a failure or a success?

I upgraded to the Volt from a Gen I prius, theres more room in the front for me and the wife and the kids a re more comfortable in the back with the bucket seats, and I was only getting 42 mpg on the old prius.

If I went with a prius I certainly wouldn't directly compare the $27,000 version for the level of trim I want. In fact I just popped over to Toyotas site and built a $35,000 one. DO you think they'll lease it to me for $350?

 

Until the Volt comes down in price to the low 20s, the Prius will still use less total oil than the Volt. The Prius has the pricing and the sheer number of cars on the road around the world. The Volt may be nice but when it comes down to scalability, the Volt is nothing more than a toy for the semi-wealthy much like the Tesla and the offerings from BMW, Porsche etc..

Hopefully that will change and the Volt will become more affordable without massive subsidies but until then.....

 

lol, I like how you lump the Volt in with the 6 figure cars, and how you assume middle class people can't afford cars in the $30k range.

 

You figure most households fit in that sweet spot between 80 and 105?

Plenty of them are wrong.

 

I figure this at 154 miles (see above). Can you tell me where your assumptions or math differ?

 

It is applicable because at a final price of nearly $40k many less people will be purchasing them after the initial sales rush from enthusiasts. Smart middle class families will choose something else given the nearly $15,000 price difference between the VOLT and cars like the Prius or Civic. Until the price comes down it is nothing more than a cool novelty car much like a Corvette but nearly as useless to be sure.

Since it is the first first model and year I understand that pricing may come down but for now I highly doubt it will a large % of people will buy one. Same was true for the Gen I Prius and look where that went. I do not dislike the Volt. I think it is a great technology-packed car and if the price was much lower I would consider one in the future. However, its high MRSP and ridiculous incentives I don't think it is going to be a game changer or contribute to a considerable reduction in global pollution.

 

I figure most people drive less than 200 miles a day, so the Volt will be better than the prius, the leaf as the other car is constant between the two comparisons and fairly moot.

I've been getting more than 40 mpg in CS mode in my Volt, so 4 gallons would take me 160 miles past my 40 mile AER for 200 miles. A 50 mpg prius will go 200 miles on 4 gallons as well.

 

A new prius 5 costs more than $35k, a fully loaded Volt after the tax rebate is around $36,000; I'm not seeing the $15,000 price differential.

 

The typical Prius purchase at my dealer is $25,000. A consumer could pay more. (The base model is even less.) But if all they want is a standard package, they still get the high efficiency.

Where's the choice for Volt? You're stuck with that base price of $41,000.

And what's with the $36,000? If the consumer qualifies for the full tax credit, it's $37,500. That doesn't include the financing they have to pay for that amount either.
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Loaded Volt is $43,685, full tax credit is $7500, so $36,185, I rounded.

The changes that have been shown for 2012 include making a lot of the premium electronics (hard drive, Bose stereo, navigation, etc...) optional rather than standard so there will be a stripped down model if you're into that sort of thing.

 

Fair enough. And you got my drift anyway, despite the 37,500 when I meant 33,500 from base. I was still thinking the credit amount.

My ultimate question remains of the claims that Volt won't be cheapend in any way, yet the entire tax credit amount will somehow be engineered away in the next few years while at the same time providing an optimized engine and cleaner emissions... means what for price?

What is the target price intended for mainstream consumers, those who would otherwise choose to purchase a Cruze or Malibu... since this technology is intended to become their successor, right?
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btw, whats the 0-60 after batteries are depleted?

 

Fair enough. You use your Volt mileage, I will use my Prius mileage.
I get around 56 miles per gallon in my 2007.

Volt: 2.5 gallons per 100 miles + 40 miles AER.
Prius 1.8 gallons per 100 miles.

Equal gas consumption happens at 140 miles.

 

You are comparing the topic model Prius which is not what what most people purchase. I used the average model purchased which is the model II-III. The model 5 is not nearly as common. Again this is about less global impact.

 

Let's just be clear, Prius V with NAV w/o ATP (Leather, LED lights, 17" Wheels, JBL, 3Key-SKS, plus more) , the price drops down to $32,000. Since the Volt doesn't have ATP, I would call this a better comparison.

Also, I do not get a sales tax refund on the tax credit of $7,500, so in my state the Volt would cost about $600-700 more purely in sales tax alone.

The Prius V is not a high selling model. Just as the Volt currently is not a high selling vehicle.

The thing is the entry level Prius two is $23,000, and that is going to be more popular, along with the Prius three. It has the same drivetrain and fuel economy. The options are just that.

A Prius IV with Solar Roof, NAV, Leather Heated Seats, Plasmacluster, Three Key SKS, JBL Audio, Auto Dimming Mirror w/ Homelink, is also about $32,000.

A Prius does not cost more than $40,000, unless you are this guy:

http://priuschat.com/forums/dealers-pricing/93102-did-i-get-bad-deal-anything-i-can-do-now-2.html

 

The main hedge with Volt is staying within the EV range.

Still early on, but will be interesting to see what customer satisfaction is with Volt at end of year.

 

I just got my electric bill for the first month including charging the EV. I have no idea how I did it, but my consumption was only 3 kwh higher than the month before resulting in a nearly identical power bill.

I know I put a couple hundred kwh into the car, but I don't know where else I conserved to make up for it. I suppose in general I've been a little more sensitive to energy conservation since the car.

 

I will agree that is a better comparison. Still we're talking about a premium of $4-5,000 between the two fairly comparable models, not $10-15k. Someone looking for a stripped down base prius is getting a whole heck of a lot more for their money than the Voltec powertrain, things they probably don't want to pay for or they'd have been looking at higher level prius packages.

It looks like starting next year there will be options to strip out and not pay for much of those now standard items, which should allow for an even $4-5k comparison between more equivalent trim levels.

For that modest premium you get better handling and sportier drive drive characteristics as well as reduced oil consumption (for the majority of drives for the majority of drivers); and give up the ability to cram 3 people in the backseat.

 

Awesome. Yes, this is a common reaction to a bit of energy awakening of whatever form. See how much you can improve the next month.

 

It may have different in different states or even counties, but I remember seeing the hybrid Highlanders on the dealer lot. I think was test driving or picking up my Prius at the time. The were all fully loaded limited trims north of $40k.

Corporations are in it to make money. One way to maximize the profit on a new model is to initially offer it with all the bells and whistles at first. Judging by the craze when a new gaming system comes out, there are plenty of buyers out there without the ability to wait to get that new model. Plus, building the first ones with everything installed might be better training for the production teams.

Aside from the driver's seat, stearing wheel, controls, and mandated safety equipment, the manufacturer can list everything else as an option. GM just went the opposite way with the first year Volt. If the stripped out version gets as bare (which really isn't) as the Cruze, the price should drop about $9,000.