Test Drove a Volt Today - BMW M5 Owner

[jbfalaska]

You sound like a Tesla man. Look at the Youtube of the BMW trying to catch a Tesla S. You can hear the BMW straining to keep pace while the electric Tesla almost seemed playing with the chaser.

[jbfalaska]

You can try Fisker Karma too, but let's face it, Elon Musk has it together on the Tesla for sleek, elegant, FAST, stylish, and a pleasure to wield. No one is touching Tesla right now.

[Fulgerite]

First, no one is going to confuse the Volt with a 3 series (or used 5 series) BMW in terms of solidity, ride/handling balance, steering feel, etc. This car simply isn't in that same league.

Um... So how does your BMW drive without any gas in the tank?

[Fulgerite]

I would also like to point out that a new BMW M5 costs about $100,000 fully equipped. So we are comparing a $40,000 Chevrolet with a $100,000 super car? Really? Really?

[jbfalaska]

$100,000??? That's insane for a gas car. The Tesla Model X would be in my driveway which would blow the doors off the utility of a BMW 5. I still love the Youtube on the BMW 3 trying to catch the Tesla S. Not taking anything away from the BMW other than to say, gas, little explosions tucked inside an engine from a depleted, foreign resource is not anyone's long term future any more. The electrics are here to stay. When gas hits $7 a gallon, anyone trading now will look like a genius.

[stuart22]

I would also like to point out that a new BMW M5 costs about $100,000 fully equipped. So we are comparing a $40,000 Chevrolet with a $100,000 super car? Really? Really?

Yeah, but he bought it used for a lot less and does a lot of DIY service to it. Which he could pretty much abandon having to do should he ever plug in a Volt.

[cab]

The Caddy probably isn't an option as I've come to appreciate 4 doors in my old age. I had an '05 GTO (another controversial GM product...hmmm, I see a pattern here) and decided big, heavy coupes aren't for me. They give up the practicality of a 4 door, but don't have the tossable nimbleness of a lightweight coupe or 2 seater sports car. A shame they aren't making that in a 4 door option.

As you guys (and I ) noted, I picked up my '02 M5 used. It was a $70K car new, but I paid less than $30K for it 2 years ago with only 47K miles on it. I tend to compare at price point as opposed to new vs. new. Sure there are downsides to buying pre-owned and each of us has to decide if he/she can live with those downsides (no "new" factor, less or no warranty, etc.) and/or prioritize them accordingly. In my case, I look at the Volt in the $35-$37K (after rebate) price range and ask "What else can I get for that kind of money?".

As others have said, the fact that I am even considering a Volt is a testament to the car. And here on day 2...I stopped by one of the local Chevy Dealers (here in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area there are more than a few) to see a better selection of interior/exterior colors. I tend to like bright colors with some "interest" (and frankly HATE that BMW's color palette these days seems to consist of black, white and 10 shades they create by mixing those two) - my last three cars were a bright red, bright yellow and the current Lemans Blue of my M5 - and also like interiors with some interest. The black leather is sharp on the Volt for sure, but I really like the black with white accents and the neutral/tan. The black with white accents probably has the most "interest" - it is the "that looks cool" interior, but am not 100% on the white console (I could do it though). I do see the neutral/tan is discontinued (as is the perforated leather) for 2013 which is unfortunate. I snapped a bunch of photos all at similar angles (note: these are just Blackberry photos, but aren't horrible) so I could remember what the heck they really looked like:

https://picasaweb.google.com/cblandi...tFriendlyChevy (note: tossed a couple of other cars in at the end for fun ;>)

In person the colors with the most interest here were probably the White Diamond tricoat, Viridian Joule, and Blue Topaz. If I had to pick one it would probably be the blue (I'm on a blue kick lately) since there is no bright yellow, orange or bright red (note: crystal red looks good, but isn't a classic bright red for me). I do recognize all of the black accents really POP against the lighter colors however. The side "stripe in particular. I did see a cyber grey at the other dealer and while not my usual preference, it looked good on the Volt.

Fun to look at them all together.

[saghost]

I went with the white diamond and black/white seats. It makes the car a charming study of contrasts - the yin-yang coloration perfectly reflecting the dual nature of the car. Or some such clever excuse. The white center console grows on you.

[Dan & Nan]

Yeah, but he bought it used for a lot less ...

Yes, but it was still the top of the line, a $76K car, was $25K more than the standard 5 series and was their flagship. Just because the car has depreciated and aged doesn't mean that it didn't/doesn't have great features. That said, I wouldn't go back to my old M3 for the Volt, nor would I trade for any comparable ICE. EV is so smooth.

cab,
If you're interested in those colors, you should find the painting threads. Several owners have had their lower panels painted to match and they look great. Just something to consider. If I was buying a 2nd Volt I'd buy blue and would get them painted.

[stuart22]

Yes, but it was still the top of the line, a $76K car, was $25K more than the standard 5 series and was their flagship. Just because the car has depreciated and aged doesn't mean that it didn't/doesn't have great features.

??? I never said nor thought I even implied in my statement you responded to that his M5 was less than great, sorry if it seemed that way. In fact, in my earlier post I expressed my thumbs up amazement that people would use such a high standard of car to measure up the Volt to. It makes me happy to see this happen; I've long felt GM should target upscale brands like BMW, M-B, Lexus, Audi, etc. in marketing the Volt and all this simply justifies my feeling.