Buy now or later?

[haddman]

What makes it tough, is when I think about I could basically have the same payment I have now, and be saving an extra $250-300 a month in gas. With the discounts, interest savings and money down, I wouldn't be financing more than the volts MSRP sticker. My heart says buy now but my head says WAIT!! LOL!

[bonaire]

I waited. About 4+ years after first finding out about it in late 2007. The Lyle Dennis (this) web site timeline. The battery OEM choice. Then saw the mule testing, the press events, the initial CAB group of 10 get theirs, the 2011s and 2012's hit the road. My 2011 is really nice and it was worth the wait and savings that came with planning and waiting. Just showed my wife how to work the controls so that when I'm away a few days a week, she can benefit from the gas savings and get the fun-value out of it.

I thought I researched my 2004 Mazda6 a lot back in 2004... I didn't bring up the Volt much at home at all, even my interest in buying one until a few days before putting in the order after making sure the rebates were still available in PA and the full GM Card earning bonus was good to use. I know some had bought full MSRP with no rebates or earnings to apply but I did want to work a good deal.

The Volt is an important car for our automotive future (more so than the Tesla Roadster, EV1 and IMO - the Prius). Cars of the future should all be plug-in with range extenders. Maybe not a full sized engine as the Volt has, but something more specialized. And, as batteries get better, it all gets better.

[Bob G]

Every day that you wait, you waste even more money on gasoline.

[haddman]

Every day that you wait, you waste even more money on gasoline.

Your like the devil on my shoulder

I would easily be saving $4-5k in fuel savings.

[haddman]

Cost over 16 mo buying now vs standing pat.

Volt now = $598.46 payment
$598.46 x 16 = $9,575.36
+ $5,000 down
= $14,575.36
-4,000 fuel savings = $10,475.36
-$7500 tax rebate = $3,075.36 total cost over 16 mo

Keep Infiniti = $612x16 = $9,792
+$4000 in fuel = $13,792 total cost

Obviously the farther out you take it the gap would close. But just over the life remaining on my lease it would potentially save quite a bit according to my math.

$13,792 - $3,075.36 = $10,716.64 in total savings over 16 mo.

[saghost]

Cost over 16 mo buying now vs standing pat.

Volt now = $598.46 payment
$598.46 x 16 = $9,575.36
+ $5,000 down
= $14,575.36
-4,000 fuel savings = $10,475.36
-$7500 tax rebate = $3,075.36 total cost over 16 mo

Keep Infiniti = $612x16 = $9,792
+$4000 in fuel = $13,792 total cost

Obviously the farther out you take it the gap would close. But just over the life remaining on my lease it would potentially save quite a bit according to my math.

$13,792 - $3,075.36 = $10,716.64 in total savings over 16 mo.

Unless you think there won't be a rebate later or it matters for your finances which year you get the rebate in, I'm not sure you can claim the rebate in your assessment. Actually, if both Romney and a hardline republican congress get elected, there might not be a rebate in the near future. It also looks like you're counting the fuel against the current car in both sides of the equation.

If you're sure you're buying a Volt and it's just a question of when, then you should be comparing the potential savings of the lower payments against the potential savings of fuel... And then buying the Volt now anyway because it's such an awesome car.

[Voltastic]

Cost over 16 mo buying now vs standing pat.

Volt now = $598.46 payment
$598.46 x 16 = $9,575.36
+ $5,000 down
= $14,575.36
-4,000 fuel savings = $10,475.36
-$7500 tax rebate = $3,075.36 total cost over 16 mo

Keep Infiniti = $612x16 = $9,792
+$4000 in fuel = $13,792 total cost

Obviously the farther out you take it the gap would close. But just over the life remaining on my lease it would potentially save quite a bit according to my math.

$13,792 - $3,075.36 = $10,716.64 in total savings over 16 mo.

I don't see the $$ for getting out of your current lease listed in the Volt side of the equation? You could always try a service like leasebusters and see if someone will take over your current lease.