Comments on: GM-Volt Exclusive: Inside the Chevy Volt/E-Flex Design Studio

By: Kevin R

Kevin R — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:14:54 +0000

#77 Victor;

I truly hope it turns out that you are completely wrong. I want the Volt. It’s the only car I’ve every truly wanted. I’ve always seen cars as simply transportation. I never thought much about cars except when I needed to buy one and then it was only to fill a void.

The Volt is one that I think about daily. Not obessively but I am indeed hooked. I’ve never thought about an impending car purchase like I think about the Volt. If it were available this fall I’d be buying one.

If it turns out to be smoke and mirrors on GM’s part, I will be turning to a foreign manufacturer that can supply me with an electric car, whomever it turns out to be.

I want to support GM because it’s domestic and in my home state. Whether they ever receive my purchase dollars again depends on the Volt coming out in 2010. It’s that simple.

By: Victor

Victor — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 04:43:21 +0000

Very interesting debate and speculation here about the Chevy Volt.

It is fun to dream and fantasize about glass roofs, LCD intrument panels, heads up displays, magic finger massaging seats and launching nuclear tipped missiles from Navy submarines in the Pacific with one touch of the OnStar button.

But let us all be realistic.

The cold hard reality comes down to dollars and what the average American is willing to and can pay.

If GM is serious and wants to sell this car to the general public, The Volt can not cost 30K, 35K, 40K or up. For Christ sake the car is the size of the Chevy Cobalt,

I not convinced that GM is at all serious about selling these vehicles, There is alot of hype, but from personal experience, GM sure does not seem committed in selling their current crop of Hybrids.

Where are the targeted TV advertisements? There are none. When I go to local dealers in the Raleigh/Durham area, whether Saturn, Chevy or GMC, there are none of these cars available. Also when you look at their websites in the small print it says Limited availability. At the Saturn dealer I was actively discouraged not to purchase the Aura Hybrid by the sales agent.

I can already hear some of the people here try to compare the Audi A4, or the Mecedes C Class as examples of similar sized cars that cost just as much. Hell, even the Cadillac CTS is in that range.

But let us be serious about that as well. If they cost the same… Chevy or Audi? I would choose the Audi. Chevy or Merecedes? I would choose the C-class. If the choice was between the Chevy and the Cadillac CTS, give me the Crested Wreath.

In reality, it makes more sense to make it a Cadillac at that price point. I think that is what the Cadillac Provoq show car built on the E-Flex platform was all about. The Provoq was a surprizingly well thought out, well finished and well excecuted car for being just a concept.

GM knows they can not make the Volt at a reasonable price for the average American. But they can get away with it at $ 40K under the Cadillac nameplate.

By: noel park

noel park — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:55:17 +0000

Jake, #75:

Right.

I freaked out over the price and I absolutely DO NOT want all these gizmos and fancy things.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:00:49 +0000

I’m 21-year-old engineering major who has lived with computers and similar technology his entire life. But I will GLADLY be labeled “behind the times” if it means I can buy a Volt WITHOUT a glass roof, fully computerized display, and who knows what other mumbo jumbo. I do not mind cool technological things, like a Prius-style LCD screen. But I don’t need or want much more than that. When it comes to controlling my car, give me hardware over software any day. Adjustable-tint glass roof? Are you kidding me? Interesting idea, but I would NOT want to pay for one. I hope the same people who freaked out about the Volt’s price are not also demanding all these gizmos and fancy things.

To be clear, these would all be cool options to have. I just don’t want to be forced to pay for them if I ever buy a Volt.

By: Rich Rosenthal

Rich Rosenthal — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 23:12:32 +0000

Wants and desires: I want an ejector seat on the passenger side. I want the car to act like a submarine. When I am in a traffic jam, I want to push a button and the car turns into a flying machine. I want a 1000 miles on a single charge of battery.
And I want this in the Volt 1.0 and I want it all for less than $10,000 total.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Why not? If this was just an EV (lose the engine) and maybe had motors/suspension in the wheels and no drive train then all types of snap on alterations are possible and many of them could come from Best Buy or PEP boys. Of course a eestor ultracap/battery would be necessary for range and quick recharges. All you would need to buy is a iCAB (think apple with seats, body work and airbags) and lease different types of suspensions and power paks. Don’t need GM for this and you could lease dozens of vehicle configurations depending on your needs for the weekend and stock for commuting.
I want the aquatic kit for fishing!