Chevy Volt Commercial (Comical)

[2N10S]

I love the commercial where the lady talks about buying a Chevy Volt and how she doesn't have to spend much money on gas and can save money to go to Hawaii. The reality her electric bill will go up from charging the car everyday at home and if she had just bought a normal car for $20K instead of a Volt which costs $40K she could already be in Hawaii and still have about $14K left over for gas. $14K buys about 4200 gallons of gas which would run a normal car for 8 years...

So for the price of one Chevy Volt you could have a normal new car (like a Sonic or Cruze), a trip to Hawaii, and enough gas for 8 years and your electric bill wouldn't go up. Not to mention the battery in the Volt will eventually need to be replaced so whatever money she is saving up is probably gonna end up paying for that.

 

[Eric Smit]

Volts are going for 50k where I'm at. hahaha. So you could get an Impala or Malibu, hit Hawaii, and still have gas money.


-Eric Smit

 

[srose815]

lol yeah, I laughed at that commercial too. I work in the same building as EVSE, they handle the charging stations for the Volt. It's not looking very good for them. I know I'd never buy one.

 

[Eric Smit]

I would drive one if it was given to me, but not ever think of spending a dime to purchase it.

Honestly, I think the extent I would pay is registration and insurance. that's it.


-Eric Smit

 

[srose815]

I wonder what insurance would be on one. Considering they had a habit of catching on fire. The issue is fixed, but the reputation is screwed.

 

[Eric Smit]

I just got a quote for insurance, and I'd be looking at roughly $40 a month more for the same coverage as my Sonic.


-Eric Smit

 

[omniman]

No reports of fire in cust owned vehicals. Only after the vehicle sat for sevral days and the battery sulfated. They didnt follow GMs recomendation to disable battery could have happend to any vehicle.I could see if it burst into flames right after the impact but it didn't. I would also love to own one when the price comes down. They are fun to drive and people that own them love them.Im one of the few techs that is Volt trained its an amazon vehical.

 

[omniman]

I would recommend leasing one.

 

[Eric Smit]

I don't want to spend more than registration and insurance on one. ;P so no leasing.


-Eric Smit

 

[RichieRocket]

I really wish I could have bought a Volt, but I can't afford it :sadbanana:
My commute would be good for the Volt, 12 miles with 13 stop lights and 8 stop signs, going each way. Recharge in the middle of the night when power plants are under-utilized and get more than double the thermal efficiency of a gasoline engine.
So my second choice was the Sonic

As others have stated, the fire was not a real issue. Anyone who still believes in volts exploding in flames should read a reliable source like one of the big car magazines and don't listen to the radio show pundits with political agendas...

 

[2N10S]

Leasing is a painful ordeal IMO. Especially in TX where you have to pay the full TT&L when leasing. Full TT&L along with additional up front money down and all those payments then have nothing to show for it after 3 years? I'll pass.

 

[Aldakoopa]

Extension cords are not that expensive, and I'm sure your neighbor has a spare outlet you could borrow.

 

[mitdr774]

A talk with a GM engineer that drove a Volt every day left me dissapointed. His commute was very similar to mine for work. The result was that the generator had to run a fair bit and he was averaging 54 MPG with the car. I never considered a Volt to begin with, but for me it would be very impractical compared to what it is.

I also dont like the idea of a 360V battery pack (what I recall from the label on the pack in the VEC I saw a few years ago) next to me. 24v DC hurts enough.

 

[Aldakoopa]

A talk with a GM engineer that drove a Volt every day left me dissapointed. His commute was very similar to mine for work. The result was that the generator had to run a fair bit and he was averaging 54 MPG with the car. I never considered a Volt to begin with, but for me it would be very impractical compared to what it is.

I also dont like the idea of a 360V battery pack (what I recall from the label on the pack in the VEC I saw a few years ago) next to me. 24v DC hurts enough.

The static electricity created from the friction between your bum and the seat is anywhere from 1000V to 10,000V. It's not the voltage that kills you.

 

[Eric Smit]

The static electricity created from the friction between your bum and the seat is anywhere from 1000V to 10,000V. It's not the voltage that kills you.

All about the amps!


-Eric Smit

 

[mitdr774]

I know its not the voltage that kills you. The battery pack in the Volt has more than enough amperage to kill you many times over.

I kinda work with electricity every day.

 

[lambertsonic]

if i was looking for 50 + mpg id get a prius

 

[Aldakoopa]

if i was looking for 50 + mpg id get a prius

If I was looking for 50+ mpg I'd get a bike before I would even consider a Prius, and then I'd drink a gallon of gas every 60 miles I ride.

 

[oldertech]

I just love the Volt. When the first ones out are 2 years old, I may consider trading my Sonic for one. Have you actually driven one? Amazing cars.

 

[mitdr774]

Drove one, not impressed. A $40k electric Cruze is not my idea of a car I want to drive. To spend that kind of money for a car, plus another $500-2000 for a charging station (depending on how fancy you get and who installs it), and then have to charge it every night is not a very good way to save money or the environment. Just wait till someone has to pay out of pocket to replace the battery pack.