Since receiving federally underwritten help through bankruptcy, and developing the extended-range electric Chevy Volt, GM has for the most part turned the other cheek to a cottage industry of critics, but that may be changing somewhat.
The company’s head of communications, Selim Bingol has launched a new blog which attempts to correct erroneous critical commentators GM has said are politically motivated.
The blog is called “btw,” and by the way, we learned of this story from Fox News which has famously played good cop/bad cop with GM – alternately covering news with a degree of “fair and balanced” reporting and on other occasions mercilessly roasting it as “Government Motors,” and for its Chevy Volt, among other topics.
“Critics and pundits beware: General Motors is listening to what you say,” FoxNews.com wrote, perhaps speaking to its own employees, “and now it has its own soapbox to talk back.”
Fox’s pretty straight news report about GM’s new “soapbox” gave balance to btw’s raison d’être, and quoted the site saying it “is here to provide our perspectives during those times when the debate creates more heat than light.”
We say “pretty straight news report” because Fox somehow managed to call the site a “soapbox” despite the fact that Bingol had pointedly stated, “It won’t be a soapbox for ranting (no matter how therapeutic a good rant can be). It’s just meant to provide our point of view, when the collective view gets a little clouded.”
Could it be that Bingol is being vindicated even as one of GM’s most outspoken critics attempts to report – and inverts the subject’s stated position apparently in spite of its attempt this time to just tell the story?
At any rate, Fox goes on to report an initial example of a critic needing correction. Under the entry quoting GM CEO Dan Akerson’s response to the Republican-led House subcommittee hearing last month – “We Did Not Engineer the Volt to Be a Political Punching Bag” – btw contemplates Newt Gingrich’s statement that, “You can’t put a gun rack in a Volt.”
To this, btw replied, “That’s like saying ‘You can’t put training wheels on a Harley.’ Actually, you can. But the real question is “Why would you?”
Bingol’s post continues with standard marketing explanations about the extended-range electric vehicle while quipping, “if you are looking for a vehicle for your next hunting trip, it may not be your first choice.”
Despite weaker than expected sales of the limited-production Volt, General Motors is now the world’s largest automaker, financially solvent, and working on a “fortress balance sheet.” It has over 200,000 employees worldwide, indirectly keeps many hundred thousand more in their jobs, but the company has been catching constant heat for being a detriment to the American economy.
And it is true that the federal government is still on the hook for tens of millions in GM stock which is now trading below its IPO price. And in the aftermath of its restructuring, GM prompted a number of people who – if not considered outright enemies – at least could be said to have no love for the company.
GM’s latest multi-tiered communications campaign attempting to re-align its public image with its improving financial reports and product line appears to mix humor with facts, and poses as an off beat, but ready to go toe-to-toe venue.
The company is also running commercials for the Volt, and has said it is having to “relaunch” the gas-electric plug-in car after so much misinformation has been disseminated about it.
Initial development for the Volt was estimated at around $1 billion and the vehicle is now the proud carrier of the name “halo” car for Chevrolet products. Its future is still being questioned by a variety of commentators, and last year every foible along its deliberately slow roll out was closely analyzed.
You can be sure GM is none too pleased at how some people portray it, and it is starting to present its counter views as well as it can with politically correct rebuttals aimed at separating fact from fiction.
This entry was posted on Monday, February 27th, 2012 at 5:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+28
Feb 27th, 2012 (6:01 am)This is exactly what General Motors (and its customers need). You have got to stand up for yourself when you are in a tough neighborhood.
+15
Feb 27th, 2012 (6:29 am)Good news today.
GM must continue to support the Chevy Volt, and announce its future Voltec vehicles. That will prove GM’s commitment to continue the Volt as a mainline model, and to show what it will do for the other models. Everything that GM has for it (Voltec, EV, eAssist, and hybrid) must be made public to attract market interest in the line, and help boost GM’ image as a “new GM” which will sell more vehicles, increase its share value, and allow the government to finally sell off its shares at a profit.
Raymond
+12
Feb 27th, 2012 (7:00 am)This is good news. And a visible demonstration that the new GM is not going to be passive about incorrect reporting on its products. I think we, as VOLT owners, have been great ambassadors for the car, now the car also gets added support thru social means.
+10
Feb 27th, 2012 (7:35 am)Interesting story about new lithium ion technology today
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/a-battery-breakthrough-that-could-bring-electric-cars-to-the-masses/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OmMalik+%28GigaOM%3A+Tech%29
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (7:38 am)Hopefully the news from Envia pans out.
+19
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:14 am)Stare the bullies straight in the eye. They will usually back down, once their ridiculous positions are given a factual rebuttal. So IMHO, this GM site is long overdue.
I agree with Raymondjram. Post release dates for the MPV5, and Caddy ELR ASAP. Get a less expensive model out, to finally shut up the “it is too expensive” critics.
Start pushing the fuel savings of this now established vehicle! And get ready to ramp up production, because when, not if, gas goes to $5.00 per gallon, people will be looking at ways to stop wasting their money on fuel.
People that look at my Volt are really impressed by it, but the clincher is when I tell them that my gasoline consumption has been reduced by 90%, with no changes in my driving patterns…
C-5277 – Proudly Purchased on 10-04-2011 In Youngstown, Ohio
+8
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:23 am)One way to help is to stop electing the anti EV crowd in or at the very least elect in the ones who give us the least amount of grief.
I hope when my battery needs changing in 9 or 10 years, GM will have the good will to make a battery that will fit the first generation Volt’s
+11
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:51 am)$4+ gas should bring them(naysayers)around to our point of view.
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:01 am)I would like to see GM do the MPV and expand the Voltec platform…….but not sure they are going to do so at this time. Soon there will be: Ford’s C Max Energy plug in, Fusion energi plug in. and their all electric Focus. Toyota will have it’s piP, GM will have the Spark electric. Tesla will have the Model S and Model X. Nissan has the Leaf.
I am concerned that there may already be more electrics in the pipe than there is demand. Hopefully gas prices will keep going up and we can get the electric movement to self sustain.
+12
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:07 am)BTW….Premium gas at $5.06 /usg , Regular at $4.76 in Ottawa Canada
Lots of Volt ads on CNN….good !
GM……….let the battle begin….fire back at the naysayers !!!!
HaroldC
+8
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:11 am)Bar none, the very best thing GM could and should do is to pay back every last penny of government money given to them. This includes the bailout from the TARP funds under Bush’s term. Every last penny. In my eyes, that is the only thing that will make this all go away. The good news, a complete payback is completely possible. It can be done. Bear down, bite the bullet, and pay it back, GM. A nice counterpoint website is good to clear up some mis-perceptions, but alone isn’t going to cut it. By and large, money will do far more talking than a couple of nicely worded columns on a website like they are proposing. I’m not being negative, I’m not bashing, I’m just saying point blank what they need to do to make the rain stop.
+4
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:35 am)Good story BTW. While I personally I though the reply to Newt was a weak analogy, its good to seem some official bite-back.
BTW, I though that GM did pay back the TARP loan
(http://abcnews.go.com/WN/general-motors-repays-81-billion-government-loans/story?id=10437944)
However the investment via equity is hard to “pay back” because it depends on stock price which GM cannot control.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:36 am)Thanks for the story Jeff and I agree GM should pay back the loans and make a big deal about that and that they are once again the biggest car company in the world. And I am also hopeful that GM will take pity on us first generation Volt owners and help us out when some unbelievable new battery technology emerges!
+11
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:52 am)I totally have to give my wife credit for this one – She brainstormed a device that would increase Volt ( or any EV-PHEV ) sales sevenfold: A small LED readout placed near the license plate that gives a constant real-time readout of current gas mileage!
Think about it – not hard at all to implement, and today in my city, top news lead story is gas prices up 18 cents per gallon just this weekend. Last week, GasBuddy.com reported mean prices here at $3.95/gal and this morning’s news reported $4.18/gal at the airport! News reporter interviewed man heading to the gym this morning, and he said, “I’m considering a fuel efficient car” – Um….can anyone say, “duh”? Seattle is in the nation’s top 3 highest per gallon price due to a strong price fixing scheme here.
Back to the LED readout: GM-Ford-Tesla-Fisker-Toyota take notice. The first company to implement this will see huge results! Imagine you’re stuck in gridlock on the way to work on the freeway. Suddenly you are behind a Volt with a small one X four inch readout on the trunk that says: “Current mileage – 118 mpg”!!! YOU WILL BEAT A PATH TO THE CHEVY DEALER!
I’m sure many very intelligent people will comment on this – but my 2 cents: I placed a red LED scrolling license plate frame on my Prius after I bought it. It was programmable so you could hit a remote and change msgs.. One said, “EVs and HYBRIDS GET MORE SMILES PER GALLON”, one other said, “THIS CAR PASSES GAS……………STATIONS!” I got a lot of smiles and thumbs up on the freeway. When I researched the legality of the plate frame, the facts were muddy. I called the State Patrol where they said it was not legal due to distraction of drivers – but the State DOT website suggested it could be legal as long as it didn’t flash, or was yellow. A scan of the web proved more confusing saying Nevada, for instance, allowed scrolling LED frames as long as they were blue or green , but not red! So different for each state, obviously. I cringed each time a county cop, city cop or state trooper would pull up behind me, expecting blue lights and a traffic stop, but each time my fears were allayed and they’d just pass me by!
I believe if the MPG METER on the rear of Volts was small and not moving – Just updated every five minutes or so by the onboard computer with a steady “CURRENT MILEAGE: 96″ and in a color approved by all 50 states as non-distracting, I believe it would be an incredible move to get people in the car. Far more effective than tens of millions in TV ads.
My LED finally pooped out in rainy Seattle after 1 year. The water got to it and I failed to silicone seal it when I installed it. I’ll probably install another, it was a great way to communicate on the road. GM take note.*
RECHARGE!
James
* one other option is to program these lights only to appear when a foot is on the brake pedal for 3 seconds, or only when the car is at rest at a stoplight. Volt owners: put one of these LED plate frames on at once! It’s a great idea! Get creative with the msgs.: “NOPEC”, “Don’t buy a sheik a Rolls, buy a Volt!”, ” I love getting 123 mpg! “, “Neil Cavuto never drove a Volt!”, ” Chevy Runs Deep …. GAS PRICES ARE STEEP! “, etc.
+11
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:53 am)Fox news is anything but balanced.
GM really needs to put these fires out and educate people more.
Just last week, my boss said she would never own a Volt because it only has
a 40 mile range and doesn’t want to get stranded. Of course I educated her on the spot.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (10:04 am)I continue to be a full-throated Volt supporter. I do however, continue to differ with the government’s tax support of $7500. The president’s proposed budget increases that to $10,000/vehicle. I believe that the Volt is able to survive on its own merits. I consider all the Volt fans here (and I include myself) to be “Volt-hearts”. Just drive one and you’ll be hooked. Why don’t we all just trust the Volt enough to know that it doesn’t need government support to sell?
At least 50% of Fox news reports on the Volt are inaccurate. Unfortunately, they are 100% accurate when they complain about its apparent need for taxpayer support. Some will say that it’s just our tax money we’re getting back and that’s correct, but unless spending goes down by the same dollars, we’re just deeper in the deficit hole by a like amount.
I’m not posting to get into a back and forth discussion, I just felt the need to reiterate my view.
Be well,
Tagamet
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (10:27 am)Another not-so-on-topic bit –
I sat in a Tesla Model S this weekend. WOW! Now I have to say that backwards: WOW! The car is a pre-production display model, and it was pointed out to me that several interior touches ( like the huge center console that was not fully operational ) were still in final development.
To say inside and out that the car is stunning is a large understatement. Gloss black with 19″ Wheels ( Top-line trims get 22″ turbine wheels ). Beige interior – and huge sunroof operable by the humongous fully functional center touchscreen larger than my 17″ laptop’s! I played with the center screen and it functions as well as an iPad with L/R HVAC, Web, Current News and every function imaginable. I got lots of inside info from the knowledgeable product rep and I am highly enthused to test drive one ASAP. There is a small toggle in back of the steering wheel that adjusts the steering wheel electronically in-out-up-down, and it’s instrument binnacle is a clear, crisp LED flat panel with configurable data and it too is very nice indeed. The binnacle had an animated album cover of the song playing on the sound system to the left – on the right hand side was battery temp and use information on a graph! Steering wheel finger buttons are user-programmable.
I have to say that the Tesla story is one for the ages. The fact they’re still here and actually coming to market with product this summer with 8,000 Model S preorders is astonishing. The rep said he met with Elon Musk once and that he comes across as a sort of savant-genius. I notice in his product demo introductions he stutters a bit, but in the documentary “Revenge Of The Electric Car” he seems like a normal family guy and casual.Just a casual family guy with a Rocket Company with NASA contracts and a pioneering EV company! What really struck was Bob Lutz’s look of admiration and respect and you can anticipate perhaps major scandal ( ala “car fires and dubious NTHSA investigations” ) surrounding Tesla in the future, IMO. Remember the Tucker story? Tesla is a company that makes oil companies and major car corporations shudder at the possibilities.
I continue to watch the Tesla story with fascination, and I truly want to work for them whether they fly or die.
RECHARGE! ,
James
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (10:32 am)We’re still in the ‘car replaces horse’ stage it seems.
Dealers on the web are quoting 35/40 mpg rather than 95/93 mpge (or both). This is technically not a mis-representation, but, it only applies if you never charge the car! In the real world, Volts are averaging 111mpg.
Plus, the two Volt people (2012 MY) reporting on fueleconomydotgov are showing 39mpg. The problem with the website is that you can only show mpg, not mpge. Still, I would report my actual miles per gallon from the console rather than some calculation.
Somebody with Volts should go over there and level the playing field.
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (10:34 am)I agree with you Tag. EV’s need to stand on their own. And I believe they will too.
Nice to see you BTW.
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:05 am)Exactly. This blog really doesn’t do much to reach the masses. What does reach the masses is mass-media advertising. Even in GM’s Fox “Just The Facts” ad, they still insist on using the verbiage: “extended range Chevy Volt” which indeed means ZERO, ZILCH, NADA to most people ( like your boss ). “Extended Range What?!” – “Extended Range How?!”. They just don’t get it.
Sorry for redundency, but a simple: ” We’ve owned our Volt for four months and used $4.00 worth of gas!” , and ” The Volt has a gas engine so you can fuel it anywhere and not get stranded like with a regular electric car”.
It’s that simple GM. Can the aliens, drive-up windows and convenience store bathroom nonsense.
RECHARGE! ,
James
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:26 am)James,
James,
Do you have a link for this LED license plate frame??
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:36 am)James,
I’m pretty sure that would be illegal in MI. What about just a sign in your back window that says “12,000 miles 20 gallons, you do the math”. Update it once a month.
+12
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:39 am)“General Motors is listening to what you say,”
But they are slow to ACT on what you say. Long before the first VOLT arrived in a showroom, some ad executive used the phrase “Extended Range Electric Vehicle”, or EREV for short and during the years of development that is how the VOLT drive system was described: EREV. A simple, elegant and easy to understand statement of what the VOLT is and how it works.
Then when the VOLT arrived, some clown decided that phrase was too technical. We want Hillbilly Bob to know, “It’s more car than electric.” Which for over a year has confused people even more. If it’s more car than electric, why does it get government subsidies? Why does it cost more than the Cruze… It’s the same size? Is it using gas or electricity?
To make up for that marketing blunder, GM had to put out commercials with ignorant gas station patrons and 3D aliens from outer space to explain what we here knew all along: The VOLT is the Extended Range Electric Car. Period.
Many here at GM-VOLT.com have complained about this for over 2 years. And only in the last 60 days has the General listened… or at least acted on it. And finally, we get to here Tim Allen say, “The Extended Range Electric Chevy VOLT.”
+8
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:41 am)CorvetteGuy, you have competition to be the #1 seller
Metro D.C. dealer finds a Volt sales formula
Criswell Chevrolet in suburban Washington has been selling Chevrolet Volts as fast as dealer Harry Criswell can lay his hands on them.
The Gaithersburg, Md., store on the capital’s northern edge has been one of the two top-selling dealerships in the plug-in hybrid’s first 14 months on the market.
“We have affluent buyers looking to make a statement,” Criswell says. “They can buy a Bentley but they buy a Volt instead.”
Criswell Chevrolet has sold 80 Volts since December 2010, which Chevrolet says is the second-highest for any dealership.Of course, 80 Volts aren’t much for a store that averages 200 new-vehicle sales a month. But Chevrolet’s total Volt volume for 2010 and 2011 was 7,997 units spread among about 3,200 U.S. dealerships.
Criswell credits his success with the Volt in part to a sales region filled with high-income, highly educated and environmentally aware consumers. But he also cites a motivated sales staff, certified on the Volt, and a marketing push to stimulate demand for the car.
The 54-year-old dealer, who manages his 14-franchise, six-rooftop group out of the same Chevrolet building his grandfather Harry Criswell Sr. built in 1972, says local Volt demand was generated by an unconventional, multimedia campaign.
Neil Kopit, the group marketing manager who devised the campaign, says, “We embraced the Volt.”
Starting in late 2010 when the first production Volts were shipped, Criswell Chevrolet launched marketing.
“We ran events and lots of ride-and-drives,” Kopit says. “We made sure local disc jockeys and their staffs had Volts to test drive and we worked social media.”
Kopit also ran a heavy schedule of traditional newspaper advertising and direct mail. The mailers went to both “hand-raisers” — consumers who registered online with Chevrolet — and purchased lists tailored to Kopit’s “psychographic” criteria: early adopters, green-leaning consumers and the techno-savvy.
Kopit says the campaign works because the Volt’s two-stage performance — about 40 miles of electric-only running and hundreds more miles as a gasoline-electric hybrid — gives commuters flexibility in a sprawling metropolis.
“This is Volt country. It’s the perfect car,” he says. “It’s a lot easier to interest buyers if they’re going to be interested anyhow.”
During the first 11 months the car was on sale, Criswell says he could not meet demand because of limited Volt production.
“But about Thanksgiving for the first time we could order what we wanted, so I ordered a dozen,” he says.
With improved availability of the Volt has come the first factory sales
program.
“I’ve got to sell 18 in two months, but I only have four Volts on the lot,” Criswell frets. “I think I can do it, but I need units.”
Chevrolet also just sweetened a 36-month Volt leasing offer. Criswell says about half his Volt customers took the lease when it was $399 a month with $2,899 due at signing. This month’s new offer is for $349 a month with $2,499 due at signing.
“Half leasing is a pretty high take rate in this town,” Criswell says. “Most people have a long commute, which discourages leases with 12,000-mile allowances.”
Criswell thinks the Volt is a terrific halo car for the rest of the brand because it demonstrates the automaker’s technical prowess.
“Volt put Chevy on the map on technology,” he says. “It flows into the other cars in different ways.”
Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120227/RETAIL07/302279993#ixzz1nbLkVFAv
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:42 am)I wondered how how the Volt-hating crazies found the GM blog so quickly. Fox pointed them there.
I was thinking along the same line this weekend, but lower tech: vinyl lettering on the the small rear window that reads “115 MPGe”. Cheap, legal, and I can remove it without damaging the car.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:53 am)If GM execs are really listening, I suggest:
“Go beyond ordinary hybrids with the Extended Range Electric Chevy VOLT.”
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:57 am)There’s several videos on YouTube, but unfortunately most don’t have a handle on exposure so the LEDs look blurred. Also the scroll rate is adjustable and theirs scroll too fast IMO. I set mine to scroll slower. I bought mine at Frye’s Electronics but I’ve seen them on Amazon and other specialty websites. There’s different ways to wire them – I wired mine to the license plate light, but you can also wire them to your brake light so as to only come on when stopped. Seriously, I loved this thing! A couple times a Hummer pulled up behind my Prius and several times I sat there at a stoplight with a big Suburban or Tahoe SUV behind me and I would just smiiiiile….while they read my message. One I had on was “Terrorists Hate This Car”.
I Googled a couple to see if I could find a good one for you, here’s what I came up with.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNmILzQ35ic
https://www.google.com/#hl=en&gs_nf=1&tok=g-LdbTkU-qyTJnQFboKE6w&cp=19&gs_id=2&xhr=t&q=Roadmaster+RLPF100&pf=p&output=search&sclient=psy-ab&pbx=1&oq=Roadmaster+RLPF100+&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&fp=ef54279322efc2f5&biw=960&bih=512
I believe mine was a Roadmaster RLPF100 . Others I’ve read about were cheaper or hard to read in daylight. I have seen some advertised with blue LEDs or green. So those may be legal in your particular state.
Tip: Silicone the edges where rain might eventually seep. Also the included remote is infrared not rf so you have to get out of the car to change your message unless, like me, you got creative and backed up to a glass storefront and just bounced the signal out the rear hatch : ) . Mine was black with red LEDs and med scroll speed worked best. Don’t use Caps but mixed upper and lower case as not to appear SHOUTING at others. I believe it has 5 or 6 message capacity.
RECHARGE! ,
James
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:59 am)Sadly, the ‘Inland Empire’ part of SoCal has mostly 15% unemployment, (20% if you count the enormous illegal immigrant population), and if anyone here has a Bentley, it’s probably stolen.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:01 pm)Good idea, James. But why not try this first?….
A ~3×18″ poster-board sign (made by your local sign maker) inside the Volt’s rear window?*
=================
| My Avg MPG =117mi/gal | …e.g. use BOLD high-vis YELL letters and a dark BLUE background**
=================
/*Inexpensive, weatherproof, highly-visible and in the rear car driver’s line-of-sight
//**490 Volt owners currently report an average 117.71 mpg (see http://www.voltstats.net/)
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:03 pm)Good to see GM sticking up for themselves…they’ve been playing on a very uneven playing field for many years.. and it is not right.
I think Volt Owners are showing that the Volt is the best vehicle on the road right now… with their reports of getting in the hundreds of miles per gallon. When the Prius came out it only got a 10 mpg increase over the highest MPG car of the time… the Volt is getting hundreds of MPG over the Prius routinely and with vastly superior performance.
The Yellow journalists will say anything to get “hits” or “ratings” they really don’t care if it is true or fair to say. You have a car that has gotten more awards than any car … yellow journalists know that if you say something negative about it they will get what they want… a lot of people love to hate…especially success.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:06 pm)Great article. I think he did a great job of marketing. For the Volt to succeed in a big way there will have to be more like him. I have been amazed that as a PV owner I have never seen a mailer for the Volt. Anyone with a residential solar system should be a natural Volt customer. And it’s not like there aren’t many of us: http://sd.solarmap.org/solar/index.php
To some extent most dealers just want to sell on price to whomever walks through the door (then the salesperson congratulates themselves on how great they are). That may work eventually but for a new product you need something more.
+4
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:06 pm)Fox News; Hardly Fair and Rarely Balanced. Nothing more needs to be said.
+8
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:14 pm)Well I differ with the government’s support of home loans and employer health care and charities. Why should I pay for your house or your medical insurance or your church?
Fox News LOVES every tax break in the world. In fact all these unnecessary tax breaks can’t be repealed — ever — because that would be a TAX INCREASE. Until it comes to EVs. Then a tax break is terrible, constitutes government meddling in the market place (as if the capital gains isn’t the biggest meddling in the history of the world), and can’t be repealed soon enough.
Because the EV tax credit is accorded a completely different treatment than every other tax break, I call out the whole attack on the EV tax credit as just a disingenuous and thinly veiled attack on EVs. Nothing more.
-1
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:15 pm)I wonder how many Tesla S models will become expensive “bricks”? Is the blogger in the link below overstating the issue(s) and/or has it been fixed (and has warranty from Tesla) in the S model? This press is not exactly great news for “plugin” vehicles.
http://theunderstatement.com/post/18030062041/its-a-brick-tesla-motors-devastating-design
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/02/is-your-electric-vehicle-at-risk-of-bricking-know-the-facts.html
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:29 pm)You do know that I’m anti-tax break for all the things you mentioned. No farm subsidies, oil companies, mortgage, ethanol, solar.. Name it and I don’t want it subsidized So what was your point again? (g)
Why exactly don’t you trust the Volt to sell itself?
Be well,
Tagamet
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:31 pm)Sad but true. I had to explain to someone recently that is was not the Volt that was bricking and that it uses different battery chemistry and is babied much more than the Tesla Roadster. I don’t know how much Tesla changed their battery for the S (other than the shape is completely different).
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:34 pm)How do you feed about tax credits for dependents? Why am I paying for people that have 10 kids? What about married people? Why am I paying for someone’s spouse who doesn’t work?
+4
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:52 pm)As I said, expect these types of stories to flourish. EVs have a battle on their hands for people’s minds and the media will be the battleground.
Tesla jumped on the EV Bricking story immediately and here are the facts:
Two older model Tesla Roadsters were said to have “bricked” because they had been stored and not charged in a long period of time. One Roadster’s battery pack “bricked” because the owner used the wrong type of extension cord to charge the vehicle. This is not a rash, or even a case of several Roadsters bricking. It’s the media taking a jab at a non-issue. Tesla says that, in order for a Model S battery to “brick”, it would have to sit for over one year without a charge – and their information used the example of a Model S which started that year with a pack that was half charged!
Funny how the brick story travels at light speed and has a flash fire effect through stories and word-of-mouth. I remember picking up the phone and my sister who lives in the country calls me and says ” Hey James, did’ja hear about all the Volts catching fire?!!”
Be Watchful and Informed ,
James
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:54 pm)I get your point but I, for one, would remove that thing. It doesn’t say “luxury” as the other features of the Volt do.
Feb 27th, 2012 (12:55 pm)In Washington State you’d be pulled over for obstructing your rearward view. The beauty of a small electronic display is night view and configurability. I had a small flourescent FOR SALE sign in the rear window of a car I once owned ( Honda CRX hatch with large rear glass )and was pulled over.
One concern I had about my LED license frame was ogglers tailgating me on the freeway to see my message. This only happed twice in 12 months and both times they pulled up rather quickly, read the message, then backed off or changed lanes.
RECHARGE! ,
James
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:01 pm)The way it is now, Oil is getting taxpayer support and agriculture too. How surprising is it that alternative cars are needing a little push to succeed in this market ?
In time they will. The tax break is a temporary measure to help them get to that point. It’s nothing unusual if you want to accelerate the adoption of the technology.
One other way to do it would be to tax gas at the pump more but it seems impossible to do at this time.
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:01 pm)Let me ask this question: How many times have you gone to church and told members of the congregation that you think the tax break for charitable deductions is wrong as a matter of policy?
My guess is that you’d never do that. Even if you didn’t approve of the tax break — and I’m not completely sure that you don’t approve — you probably wouldn’t mention it. I’ve never mentioned it and I think the charitable deduction is complete BS. (One of my employees is becoming an Episcopal priest and I wouldn’t think of starting this conversation). The serious question is why do you feel that it’s OK to criticize the EV subsidy here but not the church subsidy there? What’s different?
On the substance of the EV tax credit, what I’d say is that it’s one of the more important credits. Unlike most tax breaks which are counter-productive, this one actually furthers an important goal, namely, continued economic growth, which simply can’t occur with oil at $100/bbl. (I’d like to see credits expanded to natural gas). It also has a sunset provision, which helps because the realty is that most of the tax breaks served a legitimate purpose at one point in time, but that time is long in the past.
+4
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:08 pm)Why not : “Go where no other Electric car can go : the Extended Range Electric Chevy VOLT. “
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:12 pm)As a sales-minded car guy I gave you a +1 but I have to emphasize that GM did have Tim Allen say that in their Fox News “Just Facts” 30 second ad spot. Think about it though, this is not enough. “Extended Range” rings with us here on gm-volt.com. “Extended Range” means something to people in-the-know. Fact is, most people don’t have an idea what “extended range” on it’s own means. As I said – they think: “Extended from what – how, when, why”? They hear “VOLT” – They think: “THAT ELECTRIC CAR”. Extended-range to all I’ve asked means, ” it goes an extended range – but Fox news and my neighbor told me it goes 40 miles then you get stranded – what a rip off for 40 grand!.”
GM has to go further and as simply as possible explain what “extended range” means. They tried the cutesy approach with the security guards and drive-thru flunkies where the Volt owner says things like ” I can fill up when I want to “, etc. But if you play the ad three times, you can see through the eyes of the general public ( Rashiid’s boss ) that they need a more direct message. Surely not a boring engineering lesson, but a simple: “It’s got a gas engine and it comes on when the electricity has taken you up to 40 miles so you never get stranded”. The Chevy ads nicely now say in white print: “Electric When You Want It – Gas When You Need It”, which is fine, but it isn’t enough. Seriously – as a sales rep you know people just still don’t get it – how Volt works.
My experience is that BS walks MILEAGE TALKS. Show people the mileage our beloved Volt owner friends are getting and they’ll listen – and go to the dealership. Kdawg’s article is fantastic! This is a dealer who gets it. Volt’s pricepoint thus far appeals to mainly liberal ( I’m conservative ) – environmentally aware, affluent folk. This is changing however, and Corvetteguy and other salesteams can succeed if they have their finger on the pulse. Today, and I mean TODAY, Feb 27, 2012 and through Summer it is about GAS PRICES – HOV Access and what can you do for me.
CHEVY RUNS DEEP – GAS PRICES ARE STEEP! ,
James
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:13 pm)Well, It’s About G– D– Time.
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:14 pm)#8
Yup. $4.21 for regular at my local ARCO this morning. Interestingly, $4.39 for premium. So the % gap between regular and premium is actually less. Good news for Volt owners, LOL.
I filled up my tow vehicle in Banning on the way home from the races last Sunday. 32 gallons = $128. OUCH! A real shocker for a Volt driver who hadn’t bought gas since Christmas Eve!
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:16 pm)No need for me to preach in church – our minister does it for all of us. We should give because it’s the right thing to do – not to benefit ourselves.
I’m still waiting to hear why you don’t trust the Volt to sell itself?
Be well,
Tagamet
+13
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:23 pm)People are willing to spend 500$ on a new cell phone technology, say the first iPhone, because it is cool and not ‘that’ much. The life span of a phone is around 3 years.
People will hesitate to spend 42,000$ on a new tech car because it’s unproven technology and the ‘risk’ is much greater.
You can lose 500$ and not suffer much. 42 grand is a different thing.
In 5 or 7 years, when the Volt will have proven itself, it will be a different story.
To me, that’s one main reason why the Prius has better sales than the Volt so far. After > 10 years, it is considered proven technology.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:25 pm)To be true : they should look on building cars/ trucks than these kind of websites. If they want to do , support it with third party ( ex: volt stuff : gm-volt.com ) channels.
GM is very bad in maintaining the websites. There were really good websites which got closed in GM
ex:
http://thelab.gmblogs.com/
fastlane.gmblogs.com ( this was worth read before and now , ghost /shadow updates on it only )
so it better to put these energy wasted from these project to products and let the products answer.
+9
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:26 pm)#33
And by extension a disingenuous and thinly veiled attack on the President IMHO. Even though the whole thing was put in place under the Bush administration. Go figure? +1
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:27 pm)kdawg,
Thanks, kdawg. I have a Chevy dealership two miles from my house in Northern Virginia but I ended up buying from Criswell despite it being 55 miles away. Part of the reason that I bought from them is that they invited Tony Posawatz on July 4th, 2010 for a question and answer session and that was really cool. It also helped that they honored MSRP. So I ordered mine in October 2010 and had to wait 5 months or so to finally get mine in March 2011.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:28 pm)Agreed. So it therefore makes sense that the taxpayer should subsidize the Volt to the tune of thousands? Even when early cell phones COST thousands, the govt didn’t subsidize their purchase. When the price came down and the value went up, they became ubiquitous.
Be well,
Tagamet
+8
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:32 pm)#48
Yeah, and it had a very nice tax incentive for the first few years to encourage the acceptance of that technology. And I never heard anyone complaining about that. +1
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:34 pm)#47
I thought that you weren’t going to get into a back and forth, LOL.
“Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in”
Michael Corleone/Al Pacino
Nice to see you here old friend, even if we don’t always agree. Ditto to Rashiid.
-13
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:36 pm)(click to show comment)
+5
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:45 pm)That’s a good idea DonC.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:51 pm)Good to “see” you too. Now if we just had that $4 artificial price floor, your $4 price would seem more normal (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
+6
Feb 27th, 2012 (1:55 pm)My response as a fellow Washingtonian who also drove a distance to drive a Volt in Lynnwood during the Unplugged Tour: So long, don’t let the door hit your tush on the way out!
I’d say you’re welcome back anytime, but if you’re swayed by misinformation on Fox, and I am not – as another conservative independent I realize politics has NEARLY EVERYTHING to do with Volt.
Volt would not even exist if not for the government-mandated C.A.F.E. requirements which are escalating under this administration. Why must they escalate? Because auto manufacturers will not make such vehicles ON THEIR OWN. I’m as opposed to government nannying as you are, and folks here such as my friends Noel and DonC will label me a Tea Party flunkie ( LOL – just kidding ), but we agree mainly on Volt issues in D.C. because we understand the current lay of the land. G.O.P. candidates now have a new catch phrase: “Energy Independence”. But if you listen to them five minutes this is another form of McCain/Palin “Drill Baby Drill”. On Obama’s part he’s ushering in higher Ethanol levels in our gas, making your current car less efficient, and also opening up our emergency oil reserves to make our country less secure. It’s all B.S. and it’s all political – What rock are you hiding under?
I’m not happy either that I can’t trade my paid-for Prius in for a Volt without leasing it. Otherwise I don’t qualify for the tax credit because I’m not wealthy enough. It is all messed up. On gm-volt.com we talk about such things. Seperating EVs and hybrids from government and politics would be shamelessly naive and short-sighted.
If you pay attention, there are many opinions here that don’t always/often agree. What we mostly all agree upon is that we need to reduce consumption of oil and mainly foriegn oil, and that the Volt is an amazing piece of engineering that the world needs.
CHEVY RUNS DEEP — GAS AINT CHEAP! ,
James
P.S. – I can’t vote this fall. Romney is a complete loss, who stands for nothing, and Santorum is the current poll streaker and flavor-of-the-week. Since Santorum is getting buzz, he’s sure startin’ to sound like a Texas oilman…I wonder why… I wonder who’se gonna fund his campaign ads and Super Pacs? I’ll give you a hint-and it rhymes with BOIL. Every single G.O.P. candidate who’se gotten press has suddenly started towing the oil company line.
I was hiking the other day to look up in the sky to see 2 very loud black helicopters overhead. Obama was in one – visiting Seattle and Boeing Aircraft Company, then jetting off to a fund-raiser for his campaign – isn’t he supposed to be running our country? As of last week he had raised over 39 million dollars in 2011, over twice that of Romney, the wealthiest Right Runner. Who is getting screwed? You n’ me – folks. When Obama is in town he never relents on visiting Bill Gates and Paul Allen. It’s sickening, really.
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:01 pm)We should resist making this thread a diatribe against Fox News and the Right. We have, on this very site, seen a lot of misinformation and criticism from the pure EV crowd; who reject the Volt for carrying an engine.
I doubt that many of these (mostly greenboi fanatics) voted for McCain in 2008.
Never forget that George W Bush was for Hydrogen cars, and signed TARP; which saved GM’s bacon long enough for “Government Sponsored Bankruptcy” under Obama. He also failed to stop the Volt, as many of his Republican successors seem bent on doing today. The Volt is George Bush’s Fault as much as it is anyone’s.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:11 pm)Re: LED signs on mpg
While I thought of this concept driving my hybrids, my wife confirmed that no LED signs will ever be scrolling with her at the helm. It is much safer and classier to get a vanity plate to give a message (albeit brief and static). Of course, I got my own choice http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?11604-SUN-FUEL-New-Eco-Plate. But think of your possibilities (and go ahead and use mine if you live outside FL):
GAS H8R
SOLR CAR
120 MPG
IONIZED
PAST GAS
Lots and lots of possibilities to get our message out there while driving this wonderful automobile around
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:13 pm)A nice attempt at finding the much needed ‘hook’ to draw interest to the Volt, but I’d say it still is too abstract for the average person who won’t likely take a moment to think it out (just what does ‘go beyond ordinary hybrids’ mean?) and understand the point of it.
I’ve been critical of Volt advertising for a long while, unhappy with the fuzzy messages which fail to create an excitement for the car, which fail to justify its high price due to a lack of effective communication of its unique values.
I don’t think GM really knows what they have on their hands, nor how the heck it needs to be presented to the public.
So – here’s my advice…..
Sell it as the most gasoline efficient automobile on the planet.
Forget about trying to define it as an electric car that has a gas engine on board that kicks in after the battery charge drops down to a certain level so that it can continue driving for several hundred miles after which…….STOP! This is too abstract for the average person to not only take in but to figure out what the benefits are!
It’s electric, but it has a gas engine on board to……. STOP! Too complicated to understand!
Sell it as the most gasoline efficient automobile on the planet.
People understand miles per gallon, MPG. Especially now that gas prices are $4/gal. and climbing. A Volt ad that would make an impact is one that would leave people with the knowledge that this car is EPA rated at 94mpge but as many owners can testify, it has the capability of getting 150, 250, 500, 1000+ mpg!
An ad with brief clips of owners saying, “my lifetime average is 258mpg”, “I fill up once a month”, “Last time I filled up was three months ago”, etc. with Tim Allen’s ending statement, “Chevy Volt. Designed to be the most gasoline efficient automobile on the planet.”
And that’s how people will immediately come to define the Volt – ‘the most gasoline efficient automobile on the planet.” Of course it is much more than that, but its fuel efficiency is what will draw people’s attention, once drawn in the Volt’s other values will help seal the deal.
NOTE that I use ‘gasoline efficient’ instead of ‘fuel efficient’ which I would prefer to use, but owners of pure EVs such as the LEAF are bound to raise a ruckus with the argument that by drawing its ‘fuel’ entirely from centralized power plants, it should be considered more ‘fuel efficient’ than the Volt.
Since the LEAF and any BEV does NOT use gasoline, the most they could say would be to make the point that they do not use gasoline at all…… but that would open the door for comments as to their limitations in range and glacially long refueling (recharging) time, both problems which would not keep a Volt or Prius or any standard car off the road.
The Volt needs to separate away from the LEAFs and other EVs which are exotic and quirky and therefore not on many buyer’s lists. The idea is not to market the Volt as ‘different’ but to market it as ‘familiar’ but with super powers – in other words, not as an ‘alien’ but as a human like you and me but with out-of-this-world capability.
+11
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:28 pm)I think there’s a definitive distiction between picking a “company” and picking an “energy strategy”. I have no problem with an energy strategy, and for too long our’s has been oil, oil, and more oil. We are finally having a push towards renewables, and there’s a huge cry about a measly $7500. Where were these people during the last decade where 1/2 of our GDP is spent defending oil? What about all the tax breaks for exploring for more oil? Everyone knows it’s a fossil fuel right, and that it has better uses right? I don’t want to hear how expensive-oil will destroy the economy. I want to hear how everyone stops using it to just burn in their automobiles. You may view it as “Government Motors”, but the $7500 tax break is for all EV’s. Yes, it so happens, GM does make an EV. If you don’t like the Government “giving money away”, the other option is to make those who need the “product” pay for it. I think EXXON, BP, and all the others should form their own army and defend the wells/peace in the middle east. They should also pay for all the cleanup in the oceans. They should also pay for the potholes all their trucks cause. They should also pay for the health issues caused by breathing in smog. Oh wait, they are a private corporation, and they need to worry about their profits. Let’s give them a tax break and let society pay for all their woes. Heaven forbid we give $7500 to someone who is trying to make a difference.
+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:38 pm)stuart22: ‘Since the LEAF and any BEV does NOT use gasoline…’
And this is something else we need to get across in our PR campaign:
If a BEV forced you to use another vehicle because it could not do the job, YOU STILL USE GAS WITH A BEV!!!!
Yes, there are a few where the Leaf does the entire job, but I would imagine that if we grilled most Leaf owners, whether by RENTING or BORROWING or OWNING, they’d have to admit that the inability of their vehicles to get them through that 100 mile trip makes them burn gas- and no hyprocrisy is allowed when you make the statement. I like the idea of burning no gas, but it is not practical for now (and the current Tesla offering is limited to TWO SEATS WITH LITTLE STOWAGE, even though the range may be greater- no Home Depot Trips in this thing). When you consider the ENTIRE LIFESTYLE AND HOUSEHOLD, I bet the Volt beats them all in gas elimination.
And to add another (unrelated) thought, we are all used to saying ‘fill up’. Stop saying that. Even if you do ‘fill up’, it’s a SINGLE DIGIT amount. I myself put in just THREE GALLONS, as I know that gas just sits there for weeks without a drop being used. If you remind people of the quantitative, not qualitative, replenishment, you’d make your point better.
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:45 pm)Re: LED signs on mpg
There are plenty LED-type signs available, but they’re expensive and may fail due to rain on a car’s exterior. The one below is $498.00 at Sam’s Club… http://scene7.samsclub.com/is/image/samsclub/0001073603527_A?wid=206&hei=200&op_sharpen=1
http://scene7.samsclub.com/is/image/samsclub/0001073603527_A?wid=206&hei=200&op_sharpen=1
In addition, I designed quite a bit of the space hardware for Apollo to get men to the moon (& back), but I’d definitely try a stationary hi-visibility poster in the Volt back window 1st — the sign/Volt electrical interface would likely be a pretty daunting job (and btw, the LED signs I could find all run on 120V, not 12V).
Feb 27th, 2012 (2:54 pm)nasaman: ‘the LED signs I could find all run on 120V, not 12V’
there are some 12v out there:
http://www.kustomxpress.com/Vehicle-Window-LED-Sign-p/ns-100-er-r.htm
+7
Feb 27th, 2012 (3:18 pm)There was no need for the government to see cell phones proliferate fast. Nothing at stake really. Same for the iPod or the iPhone.
For EVs in general, and the Volt more specifically, the faster they become mainstream, the faster the country lowers its dependance to foreign oil. Now that’s an issue that concerns the government, or ‘us the people’.
As for the CO2 footprint America has, in the eyes of foreign countries, lowering that footprint is desirable. So it’s also a matter of good foreign policy to help EVs develop as fast they can.
As a side effect, the country gets a chance to beat the competition in this new market through an american car company and create a new market for american products. The intellectual property you get from this effort is worth a lot.
It’s definitely worth subsidizing, in my opinion.
-11
Feb 27th, 2012 (3:18 pm)(click to show comment)
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (3:31 pm)Exactly! GM should clearly state the factual advantages instead of trying to be cute or “green”. This additional fact (which most people don’t know) is also needed:
“Electricity costs much less … with Volt a dollar of electricity replaces $6 of gas.”
As backup data, their Volt web site would show the current cost-per-mile gas/electricity ratio in all fifty states. This seems like Marketing-101. I don’t see how their ad group can be blowing it so badly.
It’s also sad that GM does not have a 4-second electric concept Vette. As a marketing tool, it would be worth its weight in gold.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (4:30 pm)>
$498.00?!! Wow.
I bought a larger, scrolling, remote-controlled LED scrolling banner ( also from Frye’s ) to place in the back “slit window” under the spoiler of my Prius. Volt and Honda Insight also have this little window in the “tailgate” area of the hatch. This unit is about 3/4 the length of a Windows keyboard. I paid $35.00 with remote. The window is highly tinted, but the LED shows brightly through. The unit you showed is much more expensive than the little unit I bought. I believe it has 1 1/2 in. letters which fit perfectly in that application. It came with both AC and 12v lighter plug. My mounting idea was to use higher strength suction cups ( the ones with the levers ). You find them at some bath supplies to attach handles, etc. to your glass shower doors and I think you can find them online here and there for other applications.
The LED bar was great, but I felt a sure cop attractor as it was much more bright and distracting than my little LED scroll msg. under the license plate. Strangely, in soggy Seattle, I got through an entire winter ( most snow in history ) and one full year of storms and such before the LED gave up the ghost. Like a numbskull, I was so excited to install it I didn’t silicone seal it up which surely would have made it last much longer. The big LED bar inside the car could also be clamped directly to the +,- terminals of the small 12v battery which is mere inches from the hatch and tailight fixtures. I have two solar panels in my Prius. The little 2 watt ones you buy at RV and sporting goods stores. One is on the spacious dash on non-slip rubber and the other suction cupped to the large hatch glass. They only measure 5″ x 11″ and provide a constant trickle charge. This would probably transfer to the Volt too – as the 12v battery needs special care on hybrids. I’m still determined to find a use for my larger LED bar – it needs no special waterproofing since it’s inside. I thought perhaps I’ll use it when I join the NW EV club or for the future Volt when it is parked for a conversation starter. I’ll try to do a video of the install when I buy my next one. I’m not much on electronics DIY but I know some simple tweaking would make it possible to use the remote from inside the car to change msgs. or shut down the unit.
My wife was very cool about the frame since it was on all the time. It’s entertaining while stuck at a light to watch people’s reactions. Most people smile or you can see them pointing it out. Short msgs. work best since most are read in stop-and-go traffic or at the stoplight. The one msg. she made me remove was: ” My Mama Didn’t Vote For Obama!:) ” – she didn’t vote for Obama either, but she was afraid that since we live in such a Democratic city and state, we’d surely get vandalized or worse.
CHEVY RUNS DEEP – GAS IS STEEP! ,
James
Feb 27th, 2012 (4:39 pm)I’m in total agreement. We’ve covered this topic so many times on this site. My point was that it took GM 18 months just to acknowledge “Extended Range”, which is the significant difference between the VOLT and any other ‘All-Electric’ car. Another one of today’s posters mentioned that people STILL THINK the VOLT has a max range of 40 miles, hence the need for acknowledging ‘Extended Range’, in my opinion.
But a commercial with a variety of VOLT owners holding up a snapshot photo of their “Lifetime Average” screen on their VOLT would be outstanding… ending with Jay Leno and his 11,000 miles and still on his original 9 gallons of gas.
But paying Leno to do a commercial would probably wipe out what little profit the VOLT makes for GM in the first place. He’s probably very expensive.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (4:52 pm)Tagamet,
Thanks for dropping by. I miss your ceaselessly positive, moderating influence. Things are going to get really bumpy here by this time next year, and we are sure to need you again.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:12 pm)Lol. (I dunno if Anton Wahlman reads this blog, but his article made me chuckle)
[Chevy Volt] The Official Car of the Republican Party
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11434371/1/the-official-car-of-the-republican-party.html
+4
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:16 pm)They could just give him the FIRST Cadillac ELR. That way he can keep his jet-pack suit.
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:21 pm)You and I know Volt is a more luxurious drive, silent and smooth – planted and settled. Thing is, luxury is not what can sell Volt to the masses. GAS MILEAGE is what sells Volts and Prii to the masses. When I get my Volt one of my scrolling license plate messages will be something like: ” 117 mpg + never stranded like a pure electric car!” Because that’s what people do not know.
If I were purely interested in my luxury appearance or coolness – I wouldn’t put a msg. on my car of any kind, clean is beautiful – but as an activist and proponent I have to get the word out while not looking like an uber geek or dork.
Luxury car buyers go to luxury brands. Chevrolet is not known as a lux car buyer destination. Buick is for upward leather cushies, and GM has lawyers and doctors covered with Cadillac. BMW and Lexus drivers may not seek out Volt for it’s cushie comforts, but when they buy one to be eco-conscious and tech-forward they’ll be amazed at it’s appointments and silent ride advantage.
CHEVY RUNS DEEP – GAS IS STEEP! ,
James
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:51 pm)#57
Works for me. +1
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:53 pm)#58
You took the words right out of my mouth, LOL. +1
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (5:55 pm)#62
Well said! +1
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (6:01 pm)#72
Beautiful! +1
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (7:46 pm)#45
Well, I was about to say “It’s about f…..g time”, but you beat me to it with this.
Your version is a little understated and restrained for my taste, but +1 anyway, LOL.
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (7:53 pm)#58
Naaaahh, never. Sorry pal, but you’re just too reasonable and polite for those guys, even if I don’t always agree with you, LOL. I actually gave you a +1 right from the get-go because you beat me to it on the “tush” comment.
Although I was thinking more along the lines of “azzz”, to steal a word from the great CaptJackSparrow. I wonder what ever became of the Captain? I really miss him here in “BrokeazzzCa. Oh well, Rashiid and Tagamet made welcome reappearances here today. maybe CaptJack is next. One can hope anyway.
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:07 pm)Be careful what you wish for, George. High gas prices had a staring role in the housing meltdown.
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:30 pm)Sure, that’s why Canada & Europe have been melting down for the last 20 years right? And Venezuela with its 15cent/gal gas is doing so well.
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:40 pm)+3
Feb 27th, 2012 (8:58 pm)It’s good to feel needed, but what do you know about this time next year that I don’t? (wink)
Sure looks like I got a few juices flowing (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:16 pm)“Stay tuned.”
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (9:29 pm)God willing, I will. Tomorrow is my (mumbles unintelligible number)th birthday.
Be well,
Tagamet
Feb 27th, 2012 (10:10 pm)Speaking of gas prices James here in Renton,WA twenty miles east of Seattle our starting price up in the Highlands area of Renton is at $3.85 a gallon.
Only 40 cents to go to $4.25 cents a gallon!
+2
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:23 pm)Various sales phrases
Chevy Volt … the EV that actually gets you there…wherever there is.
Chevy Volt … miles made in America, taking you to all of America.
For electric commute or weekend escape … Chevy Volt takes you there.
+1
Feb 27th, 2012 (11:35 pm)Please understand that nothing will stop these angry/low IQ right wingers from whining about VOLT. They are fed the BS from propaganda chaneel like Fix (Fox) news and the likes of Rush etc. Just listen sometimes to their show full of hate/anger/and BS that they spit out. Their is war on hands against O no matter what he does. Sad part is that even educated folks fall for this kind of hatred. These are the same folks who want to demolish Govt but whine about why Govt does not do anything regarding the Gas prices. What a bunch of idiots they are.
The only hope is that EV fever catches on as gas prices rise and once the critical mass is achieved its inertia will lead to more folks buying EV etc which will lead to lower prices of EV over time.
Feb 28th, 2012 (12:06 am)Tagamet,
Please have as good a birthday as possible, under the circumstances.
I’ve always regretted missing you in New York.
Jackson
+3
Feb 28th, 2012 (12:08 am)Tagamet,
As much as I love my volt, I could not have sold my wife on the purchase without the rebate. New tech takes time for the costs to come down. If no one can afford it, it will never come Down, it will be shelved.
+2
Feb 28th, 2012 (12:14 am)Tagamet,
Cell phones do not get us off foreign oil.
Feb 28th, 2012 (1:36 am)flmark,
Great ideas for liscence plates !
I added my entry (and hope the link works!) :
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?11604-SUN-FUEL-New-Eco-Plate&referrerid=3511
2046 miles driven, 1874 miles [=91.6%] on electricity (=633 kWh)
172 miles on gas (=4.65 Gal) =>> Best car ever !
[I added comments to that extend - with additional details - some weeks ago to the various car review sites]
I read the entries here often – very interesting subjects ! – but I do not have time for posting that often