Thoughts on purchasing a Chevy Volt?

[Kitcat]

My wife is 75% sure she wants to buy a Volt this Spring. Some folks here may have one (Lucky Dawg?). So anything owners or folks who have driven them like/dislike?

 

Owners any regrets, about the purchase? It gets mediocre scores by Consumers Reports, but is loved by its owners. So...?

 

My wife will use it primarily for errands around town. When we take trips it's in my Touareg. So it looks like she will rarely exceed its 30-40 mile range on electric.

[turboeric]

My wife is 75% sure she wants to buy a Volt this Spring. Some folks here may have one (Lucky Dawg?). So anything owners or folks who have driven them like/dislike?

 

Owners any regrets, about the purchase? It gets mediocre scores by Consumers Reports, but is loved by its owners. So...?

 

My wife will use it primarily for errands around town. When we take trips it's in my Touareg. So it looks like she will rarely exceed its 30-40 mile range on electric.

I don't own one, but I looked at them carefully in 2011 when looking for a new commuter car. I'd be able to do my daily commute (15 miles highway each way) purely electric, so it made sense and appealed to my geeky love of efficiency. However, I just couldn't justify the price. Here in Canada, they're 2.5 x as much as a base Honda Fit (which I ended up buying and love). I know cars like that aren't just about the money, but damn.... I've got other things to blow my car money on that are 'way more fun.

[NVP66S]

A friend of mine in Atlanta has one. Mostly his wife drives it around town and they put 4 tanks of gas in it last year. They love it. Volts are heavily subsidized and the lease price is in line with similar non-battery cars. Their question now is to buy it or let the lease run out. He's not a 7 guy, but I figure his Panoz is enough to get your ears. .... well, OK, he sold the Panoz and bought a Mini.

[lucky dawg]

My wife is 75% sure she wants to buy a Volt this Spring. Some folks here may have one (Lucky Dawg?). So anything owners or folks who have driven them like/dislike?

 

Owners any regrets, about the purchase? It gets mediocre scores by Consumers Reports, but is loved by its owners. So...?

 

My wife will use it primarily for errands around town. When we take trips it's in my Touareg. So it looks like she will rarely exceed its 30-40 mile range on electric.

 

I have had mine for 18 months and have about 14,000 milles. I love the car and the prices dropped by $5000 this year (thanks a lot GM for messing up my resale value). It acts like a real car and driving it you would not know it is primarily electric. When the gas engine (actually a gnerator to the electric motor) kicks in it is close to invisible and will take you another 250-300 miles.

 

I usually get about 35 miles per charge, with my lowest being 25 and highest 51. It varies by outside temprature, with the batteries happiest at 60-75 degrees. I am averaging over 300mpg, but would be better if my daughter did not take it on a 250 mile trip. I will go months between gas station visits.

I was surprised how many of my trips are less than 30 miles round trip. There are also a fair amount of free or cheap public charging locations and phone apps to find them. A full recharge takes under four hours from a 240v charger.

 

PM me if you would like further info.

Edited March 14, 2014 by lucky dawg
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