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LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU CAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anyway you asked when you could buy one and I told you.
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
There are quite a few dealers that want to charge additional markup and I'd like us to have some options to go somewhere that won't place this restriction on folks.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — June 18, 2010 — Today at 11AM Eastern Daylight Time, Edmunds’ GreenCarAdvisor.com will provide access to a free live chat about the government program that will provide free home charging stations to early buyers of new electric vehicle including the Chevy Volt, Ford Transit Connect, Nissan Leaf and Smart Fortwo.
The chat can be accessed at http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/06/got-questions-about-free-ev-cha- rger-program-get-answers-here.html.
General Motors is the sponsor of the chat, which will feature representatives of charger providers Coulomb Technologies and ECOtality. Coulomb was named a co-recipient of Edmunds.com’s Green Car Breakthrough Award earlier this year.
“The grants for home chargers are worth up to $2,000 per household each and in some cases the program will also help cover the cost of installation,” reported GreenCarAdvisor.com Senior Editor John O’Dell in his story at http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2010/06/federal-grant-for-free-home-ev-- chargers-expanded-by-30-million.html. “In announcing the program yesterday, the Energy Department said that half the money would come from taxpayer funds and half from private contributions.”
General Motors plans to sell its Chevrolet Volt electric car for about $40,000, according to several news reports.
But with the average car price around $28-$29K, I'm just worried that a lot of people who could use the Volt for the best purposes ( short-to-mid-length city commutes) might be locked out of the chance to buy one due to the cost.
If a buyer could get one for $40K plus TTL, down payment of $2K, that leaves a whopping 60-month payment of about $808.
Then if they could refinance the loan in the spring after receiving the $7500 tax rebate and applying it to the loan balance, that still leaves a payment of $680.
That's a substantial payment in just about anyone's eyes.
And just how much will they actually save when all is said and done?
I predict a flop but I could be wrong...
From everything I have read about the Volt, it's very likely to perform as advertised.
Cost never hurt the Prius, but the first Prius was about 1/2 the cost of the first Volt.
How many people want to fork out the $40K will be the only question mark.
The Volt has TESTED well in the real-world testing so far. I'm a "fan" on their FB page and read their Blogs, etc.
So I know it has performed so far the way they intend it to.
BUT - Once the rubber REALLY hits the road (actual owners in the REAL world) we will more than likely get some new problems which might not have been anticipated.
But I really expect it to do very well once off the showroom floor and onto the hiways and biways.
GM executives, including former Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, had previously indicated the Volt would be priced near $40,000.
By setting a higher price and restricting Volt production, the automaker -- now majority-owned by the U.S. government -- has taken steps to limit its losses on the plug-in vehicle.
Does anyone besides me think that GM - they are owned by US after all - is in any kind of a position where it should be making vehicles that it KNOWS are going to result in red ink? Yea, that's the ticket to turn the company around
Ford is doing some great things and building some impressive much improved cars while GM is not.
Then they come out with a car they plan to lose money on?
Ordering process was extremely easy and quick.
Lengthy Payback time did not deter Prius owners - doubtful if will deter Volt buyers
Some Volt Math
Today's big news is that GM will charge $41,000 MSRP for the Volt. (Question for GM: how will you keep dealers from adding a "market adjustment"?)
Assume you can get the $7,500 tax rebate, so your actual price is $35,000, plus applicable local taxes. And suppose that a comparably equipped vehicle of similar size, in a non-hybrid flavor, can be had for $25,000 (a premium compact like a VW Jetta, Volvo C30, or a Subaru Impreza).
For $8,500 premium, you get a 40mile all electric range. That represents 80% of the 16KWh battery, or about 13kWh. At 12c/kWh, if you can drive all electric, 15,000mi/year will cost you about $585. Very nice.
If your premium compact gas car gets an average of just 30mpg, 15,000mi at $3.00/gal will cost you $1,500.
Under these assumptions, best case (all electric Volt miles), you save $915/year driving the Volt. To gain back your $10,000 price premium, you will have to drive the Volt for 9.3 years, 1.3 year longer than the battery warranty.
Now suppose you can't run your Volt 100% electric, but you need to rely on the gas generator engine for just 33% of your mileage. 10,000 miles electric will cost you $390, and 5,000 miles at 40mpg (assume) will cost you $375. Running a Volt 66/33 electric/gas will cost you $765. The payback time for your $10,000 premium is now over 11.1 years, 3 years longer than the battery warranty.
My point here is that at $41,000 MSRP, the Volt is not a great deal, except for people who are passionate about not using much gasoline. In order to even come close to making sense for the average consumer, the Volt needs to be priced for a payback of about 5 years, or about $29,000 out-the-door, or $36,500 MSRP, with the $7,500 tax credit.
Fill 'Er Up with 93 Octane please
As we're sure you've noticed by now, General Motors has been making lots and lots of waves over the past few days announcing the pricing information (finally!) of its 2011 Chevrolet Volt. And, you also likely know that the car is capable of traveling at least 40 miles per charge without using a single drop of gasoline. But hat happens when the time comes that you need to pump some good ol' crude into the tank? You'll be using premium.
Yes, you read that right. It's premium unleaded only in GM's mostly gasoline-free automobile. It seems a bit odd that The General would force its customers into using higher-priced gasoline if there wasn't a good reason for it, especially since it doesn't seem that the engine is highly stressed – 80 horsepower from 1.4 liters isn't exactly bleeding edge.
That makes about as much sense as {insert your own colorful analogy here}
The gasoline engine could pretty much be replaced by a Coleman portable generator and they require premium?
Oh yea... some REALLY sharp pencils are at work on this one
In the cities you'll see more reliable vehicles from Japan/Germany.
I'm very hopfull that the Volt is a big success and that the Dealers do all they can to not impede its success.
Apparently even the Nissan Leaf is only available as a lease.
Really? Don't you know the difference between being able to order something vs. being able to walk right in and drive a car home?
I can walk into my local Chevy dealer and drive home a new Malibu or I can leave a deposit on a Volt and place an order for delivery at some unknown time.
Do you understand the difference now?
It happens.
Then, if they make em, lease only? It DID happen, EV-1.
Volt is NOT available. When I see em on Chevy dealer lots/the street, you win, so far........dont see em!!
FWIW I was interested at the $30k-35k range but not $40k+.
What. Does. It. Matter ?
We are in the "pre-release" phase of the Volt.
What does it matter it you can order it, put down a deposit for it, or buy it sight unseen - it remains A CAR YOU CAN'T YET DRIVE OFF THE LOT BECAUSE IT'S NEW AND NOT IN THE SHOWROOM YET.
And until THAT part changes, the rest is just semantics.
To me, even 30-35,000 is WAY to much for that little car!
I would personally prefer it be styled more like a Focus hatchback (the upcoming model) and have a solar panel on the roof to help reduce battery draw and keep car cool when sitting in sun.
the main thing is to hopefully get the battery cost down and get a more attractive price point. But, one good gas shortage like the 1970s or $5+ gas prices and this car becomes much more valued.