Comments on: The Price of the Volt http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 03:11:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Ken Newman http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28862 Ken Newman Sun, 27 Jan 2008 06:02:35 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28862 I agree with Comment #'s 45 and 70. I consider my car a "Business tool" where I use it in my career. I need the vehicle to be reliable and very economical on gas/electricity (thus my looking into the Volt). A 100% "Bumper To Bumper" Warranty is the only way to. My previous car (Honda Insight hybrid) had TWO automatic transmissions replaced before 68,000 miles. If the increased price of the Volt INCLUDES a "Bumper to Bumper" warranty (AND) "GAP" Insurance coverage, then I would be more receptive. In regards to a rebate--I would question how easy the IRS makes it for owners (LIKE THE Volt) to actually "RECORD" the rebate discount on the tax forms. In case you aren't aware it was practically IMPOSSIBLE to know the correct method to obtain the $3,000 rebate on my taxes. (You had to write "Clean Fuel" above line 33 (AND) write "$3,000" on line 33. If you did not perform all three tasks on the correct line you did not get the rebate. Good luck in finding these instructions on the IRS tax forms, there weren't any! If GM can't get the price down to an "afforadable" level then GM needs to think "out of the box", maybe partner with Utility companies (like net metering storage), oil companies that are willing to expand in different areas (like Mesa Petroleum, in Dallas, TX), etc. Remember: Henry Ford wanted a solid block 8 cylinder engine when ALL Ford engineers said that an engine that large could not be created. 1.5 years later the Ford engineers had a "breakthrough" that realized Ford's dream. If GM REALLY wants this Volt to succeed they will make it happen. I agree with Comment #’s 45 and 70.
I consider my car a “Business tool” where I use it in my career. I need the vehicle to be reliable and very economical on gas/electricity (thus my looking into the Volt).

A 100% “Bumper To Bumper” Warranty is the only way to. My previous car (Honda Insight hybrid) had TWO automatic transmissions replaced before 68,000 miles.

If the increased price of the Volt INCLUDES a “Bumper to Bumper” warranty (AND) “GAP” Insurance coverage, then I would be more receptive.

In regards to a rebate–I would question how easy the IRS makes it for owners (LIKE THE Volt) to actually “RECORD” the rebate discount on the tax forms. In case you aren’t aware it was practically IMPOSSIBLE to know the correct method to obtain the $3,000 rebate on my taxes. (You had to write “Clean Fuel” above line 33 (AND) write “$3,000″ on line 33. If you did not perform all three tasks on the correct line you did not get the rebate. Good luck in finding these instructions on the IRS tax forms, there weren’t any!

If GM can’t get the price down to an “afforadable” level then GM needs to think “out of the box”, maybe partner with Utility companies (like net metering storage), oil companies that are willing to expand in different areas (like Mesa Petroleum, in Dallas, TX), etc.

Remember: Henry Ford wanted a solid block 8 cylinder engine when ALL Ford engineers said that an engine that large could not be created. 1.5 years later the Ford engineers had a “breakthrough” that realized Ford’s dream.

If GM REALLY wants this Volt to succeed they will make it happen.

]]> By: Kristopher Miller http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28604 Kristopher Miller Thu, 24 Jan 2008 17:22:34 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28604 I simply become ill when I research these alternatives. I have been building recycled vegetable oil burning cars for some time, but they are unreliable and still toxic to the environment; not really a viable option for reliable transportation. I was excited by the introduction of ethanol cars, but huh, they only come in giant trucks, soulsucking SUVs and 8 cylinder geriatric cruisers. Now what kind of person interested in eco-friendly cars is going to buy a 16 cylinder ethanol powered super-duty, motor-home pulling truck? And then the Prius! what a joke. I leaned down my 93 Saturn, tinkled with gear ratios, and drive slower than Prius friends and equal their gas mileage. And now the Chevy Volt. Look at that futuristic, pseudo-sports car mess. Hello Chevy! Simple poeple want simple, cheap, clean cars! Not to spend $30,000 to look like the Jetsons. Sorry, I cant continue. I simply become ill when I research these alternatives. I have been building recycled vegetable oil burning cars for some time, but they are unreliable and still toxic to the environment; not really a viable option for reliable transportation. I was excited by the introduction of ethanol cars, but huh, they only come in giant trucks, soulsucking SUVs and 8 cylinder geriatric cruisers. Now what kind of person interested in eco-friendly cars is going to buy a 16 cylinder ethanol powered super-duty, motor-home pulling truck? And then the Prius! what a joke. I leaned down my 93 Saturn, tinkled with gear ratios, and drive slower than Prius friends and equal their gas mileage. And now the Chevy Volt. Look at that futuristic, pseudo-sports car mess. Hello Chevy! Simple poeple want simple, cheap, clean cars! Not to spend $30,000 to look like the Jetsons. Sorry, I cant continue.

]]> By: Al http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28553 Al Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:21:14 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28553 #129 does Chevy math & reasoning. Cars don't go up yr over yr in retail price? Let's all wait a while when inflation (over 4 % last yr) raises wages and car prices stay the same or go down! Oh wait, the Camry increased 10K in 10 yrs but everything else went down. Hmmm but the Volt will cost less - take out word for it! My gas today is 2.84/gal reg. I will see 3.33 gas but not soon for regular, especially in a RECESSION. I disagree with the resale value of a Toyota anything in 10 yrs being 10K. Oops, I get a head start too, the Camry Hybrid is real and selling well. I can start saving the world now. My current Camry has over 200K miles and still going strong. Not too many Chevys get 200K, mine never did. Lotsa luck, I thought Chevy might be trying harder but alas, same old tricks. $3500 for a new Volt LI battery pack and every one is scheming some deal to lease them - sorry Charlie that is a little hard to believe. That's right the Volt now costs 10K more than the Camry, was that because the electric motor or controller got more expensive??? Late comer to the accounting party was the battery! Try battery costs around 15K by the time to replace if you are lucky. I like the VW TDi offerings better than this! #129 does Chevy math & reasoning. Cars don’t go up yr over yr in retail price? Let’s all wait a while when inflation (over 4 % last yr) raises wages and car prices stay the same or go down! Oh wait, the Camry increased 10K in 10 yrs but everything else went down. Hmmm but the Volt will cost less – take out word for it!
My gas today is 2.84/gal reg. I will see 3.33 gas but not soon for regular, especially in a RECESSION. I disagree with the resale value of a Toyota anything in 10 yrs being 10K. Oops, I get a head start too, the Camry Hybrid is real and selling well. I can start saving the world now. My current Camry has over 200K miles and still going strong. Not too many Chevys get 200K, mine never did. Lotsa luck, I thought Chevy might be trying harder but alas, same old tricks.
$3500 for a new Volt LI battery pack and every one is scheming some deal to lease them – sorry Charlie that is a little hard to believe. That’s right the Volt now costs 10K more than the Camry, was that because the electric motor or controller got more expensive??? Late comer to the accounting party was the battery! Try battery costs around 15K by the time to replace if you are lucky. I like the VW TDi offerings better than this!

]]> By: Donan http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28549 Donan Thu, 24 Jan 2008 00:14:01 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28549 Al, Many cars become cheaper via incentives, dealer discounts and rebates. You can still buy a Pontiac Aztek or a Pontiac GTO new today for less than they were 2 or 3 years ago for example. Cars not moving off the lots fast enough get such incentives. $10,000 does not buy 3000 gallons of gas where I live nor will it over the life of your Camry. BTW, Toyota is having problems with the transmissions on the new Camry. Now, averaging 12,000 miles a year over your projected 120,000 miles worth of gas is 10 years. Your used Camry will be worth less than $10,000 and the cost of a new one would be around $40,000, a difference of $30,000. The battery pack will cost less than $3500 not $30,000. Also, the Camry Hybrids are getting more like 37 mpg while if you drive 20 miles to work you will get there in a Volt for .02 cents per mile or .40 cents while the Camry will cost you approximately $1.65 to work. Multiply this over 10 trips to and from work per week time 52 weeks per year times 10 years. The cost for fueling the Camry over the 10 years equals $8565 while the Volt would cost you over the same distance $2080. A difference of over $6400 subtract a new battery at $3500 for the Volt and I am still ahead by almost $3000 over the Camry. Hmmm... You were saying? Al,

Many cars become cheaper via incentives, dealer discounts and rebates. You can still buy a Pontiac Aztek or a Pontiac GTO new today for less than they were 2 or 3 years ago for example. Cars not moving off the lots fast enough get such incentives. $10,000 does not buy 3000 gallons of gas where I live nor will it over the life of your Camry. BTW, Toyota is having problems with the transmissions on the new Camry. Now, averaging 12,000 miles a year over your projected 120,000 miles worth of gas is 10 years. Your used Camry will be worth less than $10,000 and the cost of a new one would be around $40,000, a difference of $30,000. The battery pack will cost less than $3500 not $30,000. Also, the Camry Hybrids are getting more like 37 mpg while if you drive 20 miles to work you will get there in a Volt for .02 cents per mile or .40 cents while the Camry will cost you approximately $1.65 to work. Multiply this over 10 trips to and from work per week time 52 weeks per year times 10 years. The cost for fueling the Camry over the 10 years equals $8565 while the Volt would cost you over the same distance $2080. A difference of over $6400 subtract a new battery at $3500 for the Volt and I am still ahead by almost $3000 over the Camry. Hmmm… You were saying?

]]> By: Al http://gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28532 Al Wed, 23 Jan 2008 19:26:52 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/17/the-price-of-the-volt/#comment-28532 Let's see if I remember a single time in my 30+ years of car-buying when a car went down in price.... NEVER! In most engineering enterprises, the engineering/development/startup costs are recovered over the life-cycle of the product - Electronics being the exception. Toyota Hybrid Camry - $30,000 & 40 mpg $10,000 buys at least 3000 gallons of gas or 120,000 Miles in the new Camry. So at < 120,000 miles I need a new BIG LI Battery for the Volt. I can still trade/sell the Camry for a Premium(good quality) and get a new one for about the same $$$s as the new Pack for the old Volt plus my trade. Can't see where an old Chevy beats a new Camry. 25% error in cost estimate fairly far into the design cycle??? Cat can't change its stripes! Let’s see if I remember a single time in my 30+ years of car-buying when a car went down in price…. NEVER!

In most engineering enterprises, the engineering/development/startup costs are recovered over the life-cycle of the product – Electronics being the exception.

Toyota Hybrid Camry – $30,000 & 40 mpg

$10,000 buys at least 3000 gallons of gas or 120,000 Miles in the new Camry. So at < 120,000 miles I need a new BIG LI Battery for the Volt. I can still trade/sell the Camry for a Premium(good quality) and get a new one for about the same $$$s as the new Pack for the old Volt plus my trade. Can’t see where an old Chevy beats a new Camry.

25% error in cost estimate fairly far into the design cycle??? Cat can’t change its stripes!

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