It is rare that I have to issue a clarification, especially in recent years, but in this case it is necessary.
In the last post I reported a New York Times piece in which the author wrote that GM had “banned” the sale of Chevrolet Volts to out-of-state buyers, based on an interview with a dealer in California.
The poll accompanying that post has already revealed that 30% of GM-Volt readers who have ordered a Volt, did so from out of state dealers. So obviously it is occurring anyway.
As readers have pointed out, GM cannot ban dealer practices, and only make suggestions. They are independent franchises.
“The dealer was misinformed,” said Volt spokesperson Rob Peterson of the dealer referenced in the Times story.
“We have not banned sales to residents outside of launch markets,” he said.
So feel free to go right out and buy a Volt from one of the launch market dealers, regardless of where you live!
It might take a little effort to go pick it up.
“To be clear, vehicles will be shipped to launch market dealers only,” said Peterson.
You can still get your shiny new Volt serviced locally as GM is currently establishing a Volt servicing network in all areas of the nation, even at stores that won’t be able to sell them yet.
“This just goes to show you the power of the Volt,” said Peterson. ”The excitement of the vehicle is drawing new customers into the Chevrolet dealership.”
We also have been graced by a visit from Chevy Customer Serivce Volt adviser Angie in the forum.
She writes:
If a customer lives in a non-launch market they can order a Volt however we would encourage customers to wait until Volt is launched in their markets. Only Participating Volt Dealers, in launch markets will receive Volts. If a customer lives in the United States, they can order a vehicle from a Participating Volt Dealer. The vehicle would be delivered to the Participating Volt Dealer and the customer would have to make arrangements to take delivery.
We appreciate the enthusiasm for Volt and the desire that so many people and municipalities have to get Volt into their communities as soon as possible. As with the launch of any new technology, the initial customer experience is critical to the ultimate adoption by the mass market. A strategic roll-out will ensure a better customer experience for our Volt owners and pave the way for electrification of the automotive industry. Consider that electric vehicle ownership involves new decisions from consumers such as making the decisions to install a home charger or a separate meter and so on. By concentrating in selected markets, developing the experience and making process improvements before distributing Volt nationally, we can ensure a better overall customer experience and ultimately better adoption of this new technology.
As a reminder, we will expand our distribution quickly. Volt will be sold in all 50 states, within 12 – 18 months of the start of initial sales. We plan to announce additional markets as we move into the 2012 model year.
This entry was posted on Friday, August 6th, 2010 at 12:51 pm and is filed under Dealers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+17
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:09 pm)I will not order a Volt until ALL facts are known on official GM Volt web site.
I will not go to a dealer to obtain this information.
GAS Tank Size.
CSM MPG.
Exact Option pricing.
Online pictures of options.
NPNS!
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:17 pm)Does anyone know what the offical Tank size is and what the MPG rated with the Gas engine generator? Hopefully it is still 6 gallons with 50mpg…300mpg + 40 Electric = 340 total. But my guess is somewhere around the low 40MPG range
+3
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:22 pm)Gas Tank Size = 9 Gallons
CSMode MPG = Still unknown
Option Pricing was listed a week or two ago
Pictures of the options are on the internet
+6
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:23 pm)Thanks Lyle, I will now return your press credentials which I took away in your previous posting! I think the headline really got the kids rambunctious today! I thought maybe one of the trolls found a way to post under your name!!
+24
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:23 pm)I can understand your frustration in finding out the details of a few minor figures, but why would you wait to place your order? Either you WANT a new 2011 VOLT, or you don’t. If you do want one, and I mean REALLY want one and not just dreaming about it, would 1-gallon difference in the gas tank size be a deal killer? Or whether the Cargo Net is $49 or $99? Or even if the CS Mode is 34 or 50 when you will probably be in all-electric mode 75% or more of the time anyway?
If those minor facts are keeping you from actually VISITING your local Chevy Dealer and placing an order, then it sounds like you are going to wait for a long time to get one.
+9
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:26 pm)I wonder where Toyota/Honda/Ford/Nissan will buy their Volts, so they can tear them apart? Will they be able to ship them back to Japan for disection?
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:31 pm)This makes sense. I was wondering how GM could legally ban a dealer from selling to out of state customers, or any particular customer for that matter.
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:46 pm)In regards to the chart shown on the previous post: Did 82 people actually ‘order’ a VOLT for more than $10,000 over MSRP, or was that just the ‘statement’ from a salesperson at the dealership?
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:48 pm)I still think the dealer said GM and meant General Manager not General Motors. The reporter got it wrong, not the dealer.
Some reporters are so careless. A simple phone call could have verified his source was incorrect or that he misunderstood.
Thanks for not being one of them.
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:50 pm)With people all over the country able to buy vehicles from just a few states, it is easy to see how dealer markups could reach several or tens of thousands of dollars.
It will be interesting to see just how high these initial Volt prices go.
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:51 pm)It was probably a bunch of trolls going click-happy. Lyle should have his programmer limit polls to people that have been here over a certain time. Like a week.
But hey, it’s the Internet. Ya can’t always believe what ya read here.
+4
Aug 6th, 2010 (1:57 pm)I would imagine they would easily pay $20,000 over MSRP in order to make sure they get their hands on one ASAP.
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (2:47 pm)BTW, if I were a dealer and someone from Edmonds.com came to me asking about price, yes, I think I would quote them quite a bit over MSRP. After all those guys have deep pockets and they want one ASAP (badly). In fact from any media.
+5
Aug 6th, 2010 (2:55 pm)I just received my order number (not a number but a lot of letters) just an hour ago. Now I need to find out the website for tracking and build progress. I will try to update everyone on MPG during my drive from VA to Miami FL. That will probably be in November or December so all that info will probably be out there already. But I will have that Volt smile all the way back.
Aug 6th, 2010 (2:57 pm)I know someone that was quoted $10K over MSRP for Volt and filled in the gm-volt.com poll. However, they laughed at the idea of paying much over MSRP and won’t be calling that dealer again!
So it was just a sales person in that case.
I doubt many, if any, will actually pay so much above MSRP. What a sales people quote in such a case is almost irrelevant other than to add to frustration. I took it as a fishing exercise by the sales man to find out what my friend would pay, but instead my friend just said to call back when it is at MSRP and hung up.
Aug 6th, 2010 (3:16 pm)Well… See! That’s my point. It does not surprise me that a lot of dealers will slap a $10,000 Addendum on a car in high demand, but I am sure there will be VERY few sales that actually close in that range. [Maybe Schwarzenegger will pay 10 OVER.] I still firmly believe that after the VOLT is all over the news this Thanksgiving, and people start seeing them ‘whirrrr’ by… or is it ‘hummmm’ by…?… then GM will bump up production in the Spring of ’11…! When there are plenty of cars to go around the price will quickly go back to MSRP.
+3
Aug 6th, 2010 (3:37 pm)“Lyle: It is rare that I have to issue a clarification, especially in recent years, but in this case it is necessary.”
—
Where is the dedicated original photography for this post? Shouldn’t there be at least be a unique youtube movie, or little flash game of some sort about it. C’mon, what else have you got to do? (=
-14
Aug 6th, 2010 (3:41 pm)(click to show comment)
+7
Aug 6th, 2010 (3:53 pm)???
[It's a high, fly ball out to left field... it's going... it's going... it's outta here!]
>>Crowd Cheering<<
+5
Aug 6th, 2010 (3:58 pm)Hey Everyone!
California has been getting a bad rap due to some rather dastardly sales practices all over the state. The attitude seems to be “I can get this much for a Volt now… so that is what I’ll sell it for!” This is a rather short sighted plan as it will ultimately backfire on the dealership as time goes on and people pass on word of the bad experience while other dealerships are praised for thinking to the future and get additional business down the road.
Now on to the example. I bring this up because I want to commend the Chevy dealership in Freemont, CA for a positive experience I had with them. I spoke to Kurt Mietz (650) 776-7777 and he was amazingly clear about how the process works and what he could do for you the buyer. There is no mark up above MSRP (the $41,000 has a built in profit for the dealer of $1,300 per car) and if you contact him now you can get a Volt of your choice for December 2010. It was so refreshing to speak plainly to Kurt that I have already decided that all my future Volt dealings will be with Freemont Chevrolet, despite being first on another dealers list. This other dealer is telling me that I may have to pay $2,500 above MSRP, but that the owner has not made up his mind yet.
If you want a Volt in Northern California… call Kurt.
Harrier1970
+12
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:26 pm)Well… I already celebrate “Union Victory Day” once a year for the ass whooping that the north handed down on the south… why not make it twice a year? Seriously, the southern states decided to leave the union because they felt it was not in their best interest to stay in. That is to say, they favored a weak central government and slavery. The legality of it is certainly open to debate but I don’t think you will like it:
“Perhaps the clearest statement is in
the case Texas v. White (74 U.S. 700). Chief Justice Chase, writing
for the court in its 1869 decision, said:
“The Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible
Union, composed of indestructible States. … Considered, therefore, as
transactions under the Constitution, the Ordinance of Secession, adopted
by the convention and ratified by a majority of the citizens of Texas, and
all the Acts of her Legislature intended to give effect to that ordinance,
were absolutely null. They were utterly without operation in law. … Our
conclusion, therefore, is, that Texas continued to be a State, and a State
of the Union, notwithstanding the transactions to which we have referred.”
The entire decision is available on the Web at
http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct/cases/historic.htm”
However, the morality behind the decision to secede from the Union is not. 650,000+ American deaths later (Union and Confederate) and we still have people like you who are willing to start this all up again. There is not a town in New England that does not have a statue dedicated to the loved and lost of that war.
We have a strong federal government so that we can meet every adversity the world throws at us in a clear and unified way as one people. President Kennedy once famously stated “United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do — for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.” I am a protector of this union and I will do it as vigorously for Massachusetts as I will for Mississippi. A weak central government (like the one you espouse) would have constant bickering between the states as to what is going to be best for MY state, rather than what is best for the Union. If you were a student of history, you would have known that this is EXACTLY what happened during the first years of the American revolution and the American Republic. Financially, militarily, and diplomatically – we nearly lost because we were not working together and nobody was in control; even Gen. Washington was struggling to get provisions for his men because he had to rely on what individual states would commit since there was no federal government authorized to tax.
As to representation, take a look at the American to your left and right and blame or laud them for electing your present government officials. If you want change then vote. If you want to see someone more to your liking in office then work with their campaign. What you should not do is make baseless arguments supported with no factual evidence of government incompetence.
Harrier1970
+5
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:36 pm)Doesn’t really matter to me. The price is still too high.
+5
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:37 pm)We appreciate the enthusiasm for Volt and the desire that so many people and municipalities have to get Volt into their communities as soon as possible. …Volt will be sold in all 50 states, within 12 – 18 months of the start of initial sales. We plan to announce additional markets as we move into the 2012 model year.
–
I take this statement to mean that gm is not in any particular rush, so customers should not be either. The general’s theme seems to be to take your time, look over Volt and the competition, get a test drive in a year or two, see how Volt does in the hands of the TV talking heads, and then if you still like Volt you can consider ordering one at that time, if we’re still making them…… It is really vintage gm.
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:43 pm)Being the copiers they are, they’ll try to be the first to get one. I hope they don’t steal GM’s patents like they did with the Prius. If they had not stolen patents from different companies, the great Prius might not exist today.
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:48 pm)And I thought I was going to be the first Volt in Florida……
Take Care,
TED
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (5:09 pm)False alarm. No big deal. Everything is straightened out. Time to move on to something more important — like refighting the Civil War. LOL
Aug 6th, 2010 (5:30 pm)JB Says
Aug 6th, 2010 (4:36 pm)
Doesn’t really matter to me. The price is still too high.
At that price, I can wait for a BEV with 150+ mile range in 2 or 3 years and have a good down payment by then too. The starting lease doesn’t even let you drive 40 miles a day without going over the mileage limit, so you would probably want to upgrade your mileage up front. I think the Volt is a fine car, but it’s not practical for my needs.
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (6:00 pm)I am not disagreeing with your thesis in general but to say that our govt is not incompetent means you are not paying attention or simply have not dealt with the Govt very much at the administration level. The military is probably the most competent organization we have and that might be because people have to obey orders. Civilians, which make the the govt as a whole are another story. From Congress to the Social Security Administration there is rampant incompetence and plenty of what is known as “waste, fraud, and abuse”.
I have worked at three major federal agencies (big name agencies) in the DC area. When someone asks me “how many people work there?”, I tell them about 20%.;
Aug 6th, 2010 (6:08 pm)As for the Civil war, I love reading and studying this stuff. I was in Gettysburg two weeks ago and just stood in Bloody lane at Antietam again as I was driving by and wanted to experience it again.
Myself and my relatives fall squarely in the Northern Camp but I wanted to point out that although the north won the war, thank goodness for that, the North took a terrible beating from the South. Total loss estimates are 360,000 for the North and about 260,000 for the South (battle and disease losses). The North’s incompetent generals prolonged the war and added to the casualties. As a Northerner, I am careful not to think we kicked the South’s but during the war given our poor performance.
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (6:40 pm)Sorry Harrier1970, gave you -1 because I was so caught up in kent’s rant that I lost track of who I was dissing. Your discussion is quite thoughtful.
I grew up in PA/NY and joined the Navy to move around a bit. I had no idea the ‘War of Northern Agression’ was still being fought until I was stationed in Charleston, SC when Ken Burn’s PBS documentary was first aired. My wife, in dental school at the time, came home with nearly unbelievable stories of her (highly educated in SC schools) classmates utterly denying the facts presented in the work. I am so glad Ken Burns got Shelby Foote to add his ‘suth’n stahl obsehVAYshuns’ (if I can do that phonetically). Honestly, I believe some of those people would have had better things to say about Osama bin Laden than they would about Abe Lincoln. Viewing things through emotion, whether they be one hundred year old historical events, or GM’s motivation for choosing Volt’s selling price, normally leads to some really skewed perspective. As Joe Friday, said, ‘Just the facts, ma’am.”
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (6:48 pm)It would be great if Lyle started a “Prices Quoted and Experience” section in the forums so people could share information about dealer pricing. That way the free market, which depends on information flows, can work and the better dealers will be rewarded. (It would contribute to traffic on the site as well … ).
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (6:56 pm)you might say, The military is probably the most competent organization we have and that might be because people
have to obey ordersdie if they are not competent.Though I have been in the military, government and the private sector, I find that people are people wherever they work. We all have our biases. And as many have said before me here, incompetence can be found any where.
Could be your bias as a technologist is towards the technocratic, and when people go off in their own directions, ignoring the advice of technologists at their own peril, and foolishly trying to overrule the judgement of technocrats, then you see their incompetence for what it is.
The other side of the story is of course that people act on different sets of values. In my old field, at one time it was obvious that to cure traffic problems and spur economic revitalization, that technocrats should be allowed to have technologists engineer freeways and ram them through established neighborhoods. People with different values had different objectives. And some may have actually been incompetent. Though seen from one bias or the other, complete incompetence would have been assumed.
In a democracy you need to be able to see common ground. Or you get one of two results. 1)Gridlock, or 2)one group imposing it’s view myopically, oblivious to new problems being created.
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (7:09 pm)Wow, the high pressure sales pitch is already starting. Next he’s going to “misplace” the keys to your trade in so you can’t leave.
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (7:38 pm)I line in Houston and am working with a dealer in Austin to order my Volt. I just today emailed them my color, trim, and accessories order form. They have indicated that they are told to sell to Austin residents for the launch, but since I have a family member living there that I can use that address.
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (7:49 pm)I just want to be able to see the final production car in person and take it for a test drive before I plunk down $41,000+. Is that too much to ask?
I’ve contacted a total of three Chevrolet dealers and told them to let me know when I can see and test drive a Volt. The first dealer that called me back about reserving a Volt put me on their wait list at number nine, and told me most likely they’d get a Volt in the showroom before my number comes up. Sure hope so!
GM, gets those VOLTs to the showrooms ASAP!
Aug 6th, 2010 (7:49 pm)If CSM is 34 instead of 50 I’ll be looking at the Leaf more closely.
Where can I see a picture of Forged aluminum painted rims vs. forged polished aluminum rims?
And what’s the price for the forged polished aluminum rims.
I’d like GM to give me that info not some BS from a dealer that just found out about the Volt.
NPNS!
+2
Aug 6th, 2010 (7:50 pm)And someone could list every dealer selling Volts and what the pricing policy is.
Aug 6th, 2010 (8:04 pm)Yep, except for the part about taking a billion dollar fast moving gamble like a nimble start-up on technology that no major OEM has their sights set on to this day. Sure is. Vintage, out of left field, conventional, revolutionary all in the same product. GM looks a bit like it has Multiple Personality Disorder … according to current punditology.
Aug 6th, 2010 (8:27 pm)That would be a ton of work, but with so many people, just giving their experience with one or two dealers would fill in most of the blanks fairly quickly. Or at least tell you where to go or where not to go.
Edmunds has a forum devoted to prices paid, nothing very formal, and I’ve found it very helpful in getting a good overview of the market for a vehicle.
+1
Aug 6th, 2010 (8:47 pm)The big picture is the 40 AER and back gas back up if needed. All signs are pointing to a 34 mpg in CS mode. But that is not a big deal if you are the typical driver. 75% will be in EV mode and the rest at a respectable 34 mpg so as not to be range limited for the other 25% of the miles.
People should look at the Leaf and judge for themselves if the BEV fits their needs. There are two older couples in my neighborhood which the Leaf or MiEV will definitely meet their needs better than a VOLT. If you can live with alleged 100 mile range, go for it. Remember the power management in the VOLT is higher tech and more predictable. I suspect a lot of Leafs will be out of juice around 70 miles. People like you that do not get out and about much are the perfect customers for Nissan technology. People like me that easily run 40 miles or less daily during the week, but on the weekend have a social life and will put on 300 miles (220 gas) will be the perfect customers for the VOLT technology. That extra 2 gallons of gas (34 vs 50 mpg) is not significant for me. Stuck on the side of the road, out of juice would be for me.
Aug 6th, 2010 (8:53 pm)That’s the best thing I’ve read on this site for days!
Aug 6th, 2010 (9:03 pm)Good for GM that they’re not going to ban out of state sales of the Volt, because if they were going to do that, I had every intention of suing them.
-5
Aug 6th, 2010 (9:07 pm)Good luck with your Leaf! Of course, your mpg will be 0 and I’m betting you will wish it wasn’t. What will be the mpg of your second car you are going to have to have to go past 100 km?
If you need 50 mpg for those highway miles, get a diesel. Far cheaper and appropriate for your needs. Leave the few Volts for those that understand it better.
Aug 6th, 2010 (9:11 pm)This person makes good sense. Just having that gas on-board to burn is very valuable. Liquid fuel holds more than 40 times the energy density of a modern lithium battery. Stay hot in the winder and cool in the desert. Drive across the country if you like. Volt don’t need no stinking infrastructure.
Aug 6th, 2010 (9:40 pm)Two Questions.
Can a Volt be leased from out of state?
Is factory pick up available?
Aug 6th, 2010 (10:02 pm)Like I said, more wild rumors and speculation instead of facts.
Aug 6th, 2010 (11:03 pm)Where exactly is “Freemont”? Do you mean “Fremont” and the Chevy dealership at the Automall?
+3
Aug 6th, 2010 (11:04 pm)Um, gas stations?
Early adopters of gas cars had range anxiety, but many bought them anyway.
+5
Aug 6th, 2010 (11:07 pm)“Up to 40″, not 40. And that is without HVAC, passengers, etc. The AER is 32 as per the EPA.
I agree about the mid 30s MPG on ICE. But I disagree that it doesn’t matter.
One point I want to make about you being the “ideal” customer for the Volt is that while you may be the “ideal” customer for the Volt, the Volt still probably isn’t the “ideal” car for you given the small gains and the price premium.
Let’s say you do drive 32 miles/day (all elec) and 300 on the weekend (64 of which is elec and the 236 is gas). You are driving 11,648 miles elec and 12,272 miles gas. That is ~$290 for elec and ~350 gallons (@35MPG) x $3/gallon = $1,340/year.
Compare to a Prius which gets 50MPG for the full 23,920miles. That is 478 gallons x$3/gallon = $1,435.
So for all the extra cost and hassle of the volt you are saving only ~130 gallons/year and less than $100/year.
I would argue you are doing too much highway driving to be considered ideal.
Interestingly, the “sweet spot” for the Volt is someone who drives exactly 32 miles/day (multiple charges/day aside). Such a driver would save ~232gallons/year over a Prius and ~$400/year. That is best case. Drive more or less and the gap shrinks.
But somewhat ironically, the person who hits the sweet spot for the Volt would be better off with a Leaf as they would save the $8,000 price difference and have a car that costs less to maintain.
-6
Aug 6th, 2010 (11:20 pm)Haha, did Kurt pay you to write this here…?
Aug 7th, 2010 (2:10 am)Well… That’s it for me. Nissan just lost the battle!
I can’t get a Leaf till winter of 2011, and GM says I CAN get a Volt from California!
Thank you GM. I am already number four on the waiting list at a dealer in Redding.
Yee-haw!
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (3:02 am)A basic military maxim is that you need three times the force you are fighting if you want to attack them and be victorious. The Union was not going to win the war by sitting on its hands and waiting the south out. The Generals of the south knew they had to just pick good defensive terrain, be able to withdraw and hold out and make it so that the north would just give up and stop. When that didn’t happen, the southern government insisted that Lee go on the offensive. What happened after that was Gettysburg. Nobody talks about the navy battles or the blockade because it was so one sided (Union) with the exception of the two ironclads.
Were the early northern generals not as good as their southern counterparts? Absolutely! However, after the middle of 1863 onward, just about every major battle was a Union victory.
Aug 7th, 2010 (3:04 am)Ummmm…. yes. Typo there :*)
+2
Aug 7th, 2010 (3:20 am)No problem. We had 60 officers in my officer basic course… only 2 were born in New England and I was one of them. There was one friend of mine who just loved the civil war (“the war of northern aggression” as you kindly noted the popular southern reference to those events). He brought it up a lot but I would never get dragged into the conversation. One day he finally asked me why northerners just didn’t have the same enthusiasm for that time as southerners. I had to think about it for a moment and eventually mentioned about the statues in every New England town. He became quiet and never brought up the war with me after that. Since he was from Texas and we were closer to Massachusetts, I invited him to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with my family.
+4
Aug 7th, 2010 (4:59 am)WoHooo!! I just visited Ourisman Chevrolet in Bowie, Maryland and ordered my Volt!! Lew Galinski, my sales guy, was very open and straight forward. Ourisman has an allocation of 11 for 2011. Lew explained how their techs are getting special training and that Ourisman is investing in special equipment to support the Volt. All of the tasks Lyle has been listing here on GM-VOLT.com. (Thanks Lyle!) We sat at his computer and worked directly from the GM Dealer ordering website. Ourisman is taking orders for the Volt at MSRP. Lew said that I was tied for number 1 on delivery!! There were some computer glitches in the ordering process, but eventually the order got through and I got my order in. I put $500 down and Lew said I should have my Volt by Thanksgiving. WAY Cool!!!
Lew said that they are interviewing potential buyers just make sure that the volt is “right” for them. Chevrolet doesn’t want to sell to folks that can’t support the charging system. (High rise condo’s, apartment complexes, etc.) GM will be contacting me soon to help me with the 220 in my garage. I’ve got 110 in there now, but I’d like to get their specs before I install it.
To sum up, Ourisman was very open and easy to work with. (so far!!)
I am quite bothered by the negative news reports on the Volt. The Tesla costs 2-1/2 times the cost of the Volt and there are very few bad reports on it. GM needs to get a good PR program going explaining range extender benefits and the high tech instrumentation. DO NOT bring back the dancers!!
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (5:49 am)I very rarely re-post prior posts, but Tagamet & a few others here have asked me to “keep them posted on my adventure” ordering a Volt ~1,000 miles from home and this post was almost “buried” in yesterday’s 1st thread. So to be sure Tag & others see it, here’s the story…
First, other than the inconveniences associated with the 2,000 mile round trip distance involved in closing the deal, I got far enough into the deal to clearly establish the following:
1 – There are absolutely NO restrictions imposed on GM dealers against selling or leasing Volts out-of-state.
2 – Second, any dealer anywhere in the US who EVER wants to sell/lease Volts must complete all GM-required Volt sales & service training (& acquire all needed equipment) to do so by no later than the end of THIS summer. Any Chevy dealer who’ll eventually sell or lease Volts with therefore be able to fully service a car acquired THIS YEAR, even including accident repairs, anywhere in the USA.
That’s the good news. Now to the very disappointing (for me) news…
Over the last 10 days I’ve exchanged several phone calls & emails with a large Chevy & Saturn dealer in Sterling, VA in the DC area (a Volt-approved dealer). I was #2 on his Volt list —until late yesterday. Their Gen Mgr is fully “up to speed” on 2011 Volt deals now, having spent much of the day this Thursday with a GM rep about it. I live in east central Florida very close to I-95 (which extends from Miami to Maine on the eastern seaboard) and I’ve previously bought a car in NY state & driven it home on I-95 —it made sense because that deal was so good— and it worked out very well for me. I selected this Sterling dealership because they also still accept Saturns as favorable trade-ins.
Unfortunately, while the fact I’m about 1,000 miles from this (closest) dealer isn’t really a problem, the deal I’d be able to get isn’t justifiable even if I leased. My problem is that I’d need to trade my 2008 VUE, which has a very depressed blue book value because of Saturn’s demise. This means I’d wind up way, way too far “under water” (to use home mortgage lingo) after payoff of my VUE. So I’ve decided to wait until Florida dealers near me get some cars and pray that the $7.5K rebate will still be available at that time and hope to pay off the loan on the VUE in the interim. It’s a bummer! —but it’s not actually so terrible to have to wait since my VUE is a real joy to drive & has most of the creature comforts the Volt itself would have (including leather, OnStar, etc, etc) …plus, it can tow my boat (which would present a problem for me if I traded).
BTW, for anyone else on the eastern seaboard, this dealer is near I-95, sells/leases at MSRP and is very responsive. They should have several 2011 Volts still unclaimed. His web site is…
http://www.sterlingchevrolet.com/AboutSpecials?promo=chevy_volt_form&cs:a:i=gm_cic_chevy_volt
and the phone is 703-450-7500. Ask for Stan Hale (the Gen Mgr) or for Brandon Coble (who orders the cars from GM).
/Sorry for the long sob story! …’scuse me while I go get another hanky :>(
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (5:59 am)PS: Congrats to John M in Miami for successfully ordering a Volt from a Virginia dealer!
+2
Aug 7th, 2010 (6:27 am)Guess you must be a teen that doesn’t own a car, or maybe a one car leaser.
I own a 2009 Malibu, 2007 Civic Hybrid and a 2004 Saturn ION.
If I buy a Leaf for my daily commute I’ll probably use the Civic or Malibu for long week-end trips.
NPNS!
Aug 7th, 2010 (7:02 am)I don’t know where you got the 32 AER from the EPA as there are no government rating out yet. That said, the VOLT thermal management and power management should keep it closer to 40 than the Leaf will be to 100.
As for me I am closer to the 20-30 miles per day during the week, so no matter how you cut it I will be OK. On the weekends, my max weekend distance is 150 miles out and 150 back in the winter to various cross country skiing locations probably 6 times I hit max. Most weekend trips in winter/summer are 50-100 miles out and back. And yes I have about one trip a year when I drive about 900 miles over the week. Probably 200 miles can be battery maybe more.
The point is I am not handcuffed. And I will save much more gas than if I had a Prius. I have done the math.
The next point would be, well ok you save gas, but money wise you lose. I agree. My whole “Skeptic” name and posts have revolved around the point that this technology is great for reducing oil usage, but don’t sell it on saving money, because it won’t. I am an energy independence hawk. That said, I will not be buying my VOLT until cost goes down in about 3-4 years.
Aug 7th, 2010 (7:09 am)I drove around with GM volt on my car for a few years. Hate OPEC , wanted a volt more than anything. I think GM and their wise executives have spoiled this for me in the last month. I will not be an idiot and run right out and buy one. I believe they are going to use our patriotism and sucker as many buyers as they can for as much money as they can. This is a complete reversal for me.
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (7:33 am)If you are feeling uneasy about the deal, just let a little time pass and see how things play out but don’t lose hope. Most people who want a Volt will not get one right away anyway.
Frankly, if you don’t have to be an early adopter, you will benefit from waiting a little. The cars are tweaked occasionally and as we move into 2012, the Volt should be in even better shape than it is now. In addition, the demand will not be so high since the initial pent up excitement will be over and they are increasing production from 10K to 45K cars.
If you need a Volt right away, you should be able to find a dealer that is fair and who will let you order one with the right of first refusal (and once you test drive it.
Aug 7th, 2010 (7:50 am)Thanks for that comment, Loboc. You saved me time stating the same.
It always amazes me that individuals come here and make inaccurate statements about the Volt even though there has been a steady flow of information at this website answering the questions they pose. A simple internet search would have given them a correct answer to those questions.
It even seems that the some of the same individuals (The Trolls ) make the same statements and questions over and over again. Thanks to Lyle, this particular misunderstanding by the reporter has been addressed immediately. Although I am one of those individuals that will have to wait for a later generation of the Volt, I am glad for those out-of-state buyers who have already gone through the process of ordering one.
<Happy trails to you 'til we meet again.
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (8:29 am)Hi All~~
I’m filling out the paperwork now for a Volt at MSRP, from a great dealer in VA. Two days ago I cancelled my order from another dealer who decided to mark up.
Perhaps early Volt adopters are inclined to “take the high road” and are not willing to pay a mark-up. We may be different than, say, muscle-car enthusiasts.
A Defenseman
+2
Aug 7th, 2010 (8:50 am)Careful CorvetteGuy…next, you will be making an argument that a test drive is a waste of time. Then the auto industry only needs a service network…not a dealer network.
You should be directing them to your website which has posted the Volt CS mpg before everyone else. With so much so called accurate info from the dealers on the Volt (or any new vehicle), why would anybody need to confirm features?
http://www.allnewchevyvolt.com/
On everything else, I’m sure that buyers can trust your dealership.
+2
Aug 7th, 2010 (8:52 am)I don’t consider it a bias but more of a mathematical certainty.
I totally agree, great hardworking people are everywhere and every organization has people that well… are not.
Why is it a certainty that govt organizations are more incompetent than the general population? Simply because they have identifiable factors that push them in that direction.
Consider a private company where you are an owner or a manger with real responsibilities and your job depends on doing a good job. Compare this to a large govt bureaucracy (where most of our govt lives). The govt agency grows no matter what. there is no profit motive and if they do something very poorly then they should go to congress and ask for more money so they can do it better in the future. Both pull employees from the same general population (a bell curve) that runs the full gamut from hard working intelligent people to less competent types.
Private companies have the flexibility to pay more for a college graduate so they can immediately attract the brightest and the best. The Govt has fixed pay scales and mandated starting maximums. This puts a bias into the work force right from the start. The Govt bell curve is shifted down.
Next, it is difficult to fire a govt worker. If they don’t kill anyone and generally try to stay at work for most of the hours they are supposed to work, they will not be fired. If you had a lazy person at your private company, you would look for the next downsizing event to purge them. (PS, these people then try to get govt jobs).
Again, this factor tends to shift the private company bell curve up compared to the govt.
Next, the govt has pay limits. Once you reach the senior executive service or the top of the GS scale for others, you are stuck. Bright people reach this in their late 30s or 40s. They have no further promotion potential. Employees with little or no skills cannot leave because no one else would take them so they stay forever. These factors tend to drain the govt of the best talent and ensure that the least talented are retained. Again, this shifts the govt bell curve down.
There are other factors too that shift things in the same direction like hiring quotas and rampant nepotism.
My point is, after decades of working and observing the federal workforce, I think it could be proven mathematically (by developing models with the above factors and more) that the govt workforce is heavily biased towards incompetence.
If you really try to work hard and change things for the better in the govt, you will find that they will play a zone defense against you. The agencies as a whole have a vested interest (i.e. mortgages and kids in college) in keeping things the way they are.
Aug 7th, 2010 (10:30 am)The range will be dependent on energy demands.
I would like to see the math, particularly since you earlier stated that saving 2 gallons a week is insignificant to you.
I always find these positions curious, from people who also state they will not let petrol use get in the way of filling personal desires. And so long as I am being intrusive, I wonder why your hawkishness was not acted on for the past 10 years when oil savings cars became available.
I have read enough of your earlier posts to know you are pretty level headed, so I ask you and not others.
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (1:01 pm)Actually, it’s “you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave” which is more likely what would happen to a state trying to quit the federation, I believe. But it was never tried so my guess is as good as anybody’s.
There is no point in leaving a federation these days when it’s all about global economy. Examples : the ALENA, the European Union and so on.
+1
Aug 7th, 2010 (1:12 pm)Please enlighten us about those stolen patents. That’s news to me.
Aug 7th, 2010 (1:15 pm)Being first doesn’t mean much. GM will need our help to ramp up production at one point. Being well informed about the Volt, you can still make a difference, Ted.
Keep smiling.
Aug 8th, 2010 (11:21 am)Sorry, haven’t read the replies.
In an age where newspapers find themselves minimized as sources of actual information, many are increasingly falling back on their old standby: manufacturing opinion.
Aug 14th, 2010 (9:01 am)Is this another favor from GM? Gee, I wonder what would happen if you happened to live on the state line closer to the neighbor state big town. What a concept, selling to people out of your state. Wow! our union really works!!!!