New Volt Owner in NC

[kao]

I've been lurking here for severe months reading what people had to say about their Volt as well as learning all about the Volt. We're not early adopters or "gear heads" for example my wife and my cars were nearly 20 years old. She had a 93 Mazda and I had a 94 Volvo. But we've been thinking about electric cars every since we saw the documentary "Who killed the electric car". I remember seeing the Nissan Leaf polar bear commerical shortly after the BP Oil spill thinking we have to get one of those. Early this year we got the Leaf and we love it. But driving an EV made me want more -- we couldn't get another pure electric because we'd still need an ICE for longer trips. But the Volt is perfect because we have the backup gas engine for longer trips -- my round trip to work is 20 miles so I can drive mostly on electricity. We were also lucky to get into Progress Energy pilot charging program and got the Charging Station and installation for free. So last week, thanks to GMs 0% financing, we drove off the Chevy lot with a 2012 White Diamond Volt. It's really great to be nearly gas free and it's loads of fun to drive.

I remember talking to a collegue at work and they said that we'd never save enough in gas to pay for the difference we spent in price. I told him it wasn't about saving money it was about not using oil. He was very impressed with that -- that we put our money where our beliefs were.

Anyway we fell really good about owning these cars -- but I tell you both of them are a blast to drive!

[Cheezmo]

Welcome to the Leaf + Volt family!

I give the Volt the edge in the "blast to drive" category, but I really like the control layout and displays better in the Leaf.

Bottom line I'm happy in either.

[Steverino]

We're not early adopters or "gear heads" for example my wife and my cars were nearly 20 years old. She had a 93 Mazda and I had a 94 Volvo. But we've been thinking about electric cars every since we saw the documentary "Who killed the electric car".

Here too. I replaced a 1990 car with the Volt. We still have a 1997 wagon that has many years left on it (as well as a roof rack!), but when we replace it it won't be with an ICE car. It will be either a BEV or EREV. When that time comes, I'm sure there will be a lot more cars to choose from. Welcome and enjoy your new flying car(s).

[DonC]

Congrats on the car and welcome to the forum. As you can see from Steve we have a number of Volt + Leaf owners here, so you'll have plenty of company. I'll just say that for not being early adopters you and your wife are doing a good imitation! LOL

[Dan & Nan]

Congrats and welcome to the forum Kerry. These cars really go well together and I plan to buy a Leaf 2013 with the 6.6 when they arrive next year (unless the draw of the FFE is too strong ).

[Koz]

Congratulations and welcome!

I hear the "length of payback" comments all too often and it is a pet peeve of mine. It is certainly valid to say it's not about the money and rather about not using gas. This is true and important but I don't like conceding the value proposition of the Volt since I think this sells it short. Doubters get in the car and can't help be impressed. They lose their golf cart and/or "Fox news" preconceptions in a hurry. The most common reaction is "wow, this is really nice".

Why do the luxurious characteristics of the Volt and EV's in general get discounted as a non-value? Does a Buick or Lexus, Acura, BMW need to justify the cost differential from a comparable size class econo ride? No, they need to justify their cost with their value. Their ride, style, finish, performance, and other characteristics are all considered together. The same should be true for the Volt. My response to the "payback" shills is, "payback as compared to what?" A Yaris? A Prius? Anybody with anything close to an open mind would and does see the Volt as a $26-35K value without even considering the electric range cost benefits. Then if all the other benefits are added in such as little gas, insurance against future gas prices, low maintenance, reduced pollution, etc; the Value proposition looks pretty good from all angles.

[tboult]

Congrats and welcome. Love the reply to those at work.. THere is a poll on here about why people bought the volt. Saving $$ was number three..
(see http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread....a-plug-in-Volt)

[Fulgerite]

Congratulations and welcome to the Volt family.

[EZ Volt]

I agree with Koz. I traded in an Acura TL for the Volt. I spent over 110,000 miles in the Acura, and really enjoyed it. But I definitely feel like I've traded up to the Volt. I spent about the same (after tax credit) for the Volt as I did for the TL. But now my car is exceptionally quiet, and I've gone from $150/month in gas to about $18/month gas + $30/month electricity. Tomorrow I'll roll over 10,000 miles in my Volt, and it's my favorite car I've ever owned.

[agggilli]

I agree with Koz as well. I hear all the time, "You spent a lot of money to save gas" or, "You could buy a lot of gas for what that costs". Well, if I am going to spend $40K for a vehicle anyway, what the heck difference does it make what I buy? It just happens that I chose to buy a car that is electric and uses just a sip of gasoline every now and then vs. one that uses 100% gasoline. Just because they want to spend $25K or less for a new vehicle doesn't mean everyone does. Most of the vehicles around my area are $40K and up.
I guess their comments are based on complete ignorance, as they think the car is a Hybrid Cruse or something and not a completely different format that shares nothing with anything else that GM makes.

By the way, welcome to the forum Kao, I'm only about an hour or so east of you.