Cost vs other Efficent Vehicles

[sjerseydevil]

It seems to me that the VOLT is priced a bit high. It's about $7000 more than a $23000 Diesel that can get 40 MPG highway. The price of going GREEN is a bit more than most people can afford.
I can't understand why GM can't build a small clean burning diesel capable of 60 MPG that can be sold for$23000 or less.

[GearheadGeek]

It seems to me that the VOLT is priced a bit high. It's about $7000 more than a $23000 Diesel that can get 40 MPG highway. The price of going GREEN is a bit more than most people can afford.
I can't understand why GM can't build a small clean burning diesel capable of 60 MPG that can be sold for$23000 or less.

They can, and they do. They sell them as Vauxhalls and Opels in Europe, but they've decided that diesel isn't their favored technology here for several reasons (price of fuel, American memories of the last automotive diesels GM foisted upon us, etc.)

I think you're right that at the announced prices, the Volt isn't a price play. Interesting that you are assuming $30k, when Lutz has been mouthing off about $40k+. *IF* the rumored $7500 tax credit for hybrids with over 6 kWh of battery capacity comes to pass, I think the Volt has to be priced around $34k (assuming a high level of equipment) in order to be competitive. Lots of people would rather have a Prius that's less efficient than the Volt if they're priced the same, just because it has that fat rounded T on it, so GM has to price the car right around a comparably equipped Prius after all incentives are considered if they want the Volt to be a sales success. That might mean they won't profit on the Volt right away, or perhaps it'll take them longer to pay off the e-flex investment than they'd like.

[electrobot]

The Prius is just plain ugly. With the exception of the front "grill", this Volt looks sweet. I think GM dealers should include the tax break as part of the sales package. This doesn't seem so far off. Bear in mind we'll have a new administration running the country. The price could then be competitive with the beloved Camry. Clean up the front grill a bit and you've got a winner here. The rear section looks tight. Much better than a lot of monstrousities GM has come up with in the past. You know what I'm talking about, the red plastic wall to wall tailight section on the Impalas. GM almost out-did the Saab's rear windshield with that one.
The Volt is a long time overdue. Great for those who don't commute long distances every day. Makes a lot more since than driving a monster truck SUV to the 7-11 for a carton of milk.
Thumbs up GM! Your off the road to nowhere and headed in the right direction.

[LampCord]

It seems to me that the VOLT is priced a bit high. It's about $7000 more than a $23000 Diesel that can get 40 MPG highway. The price of going GREEN is a bit more than most people can afford.
I can't understand why GM can't build a small clean burning diesel capable of 60 MPG that can be sold for$23000 or less.

Diesel is nice but its only an incremental change. We still have to buy the oil from people who want to kill us and it still pollutes.

The Volt is changing the paradigm altogether. Oil is no longer the primary fuel but instead an occasional emergency backup to abundant , cheap, clean, DOMESTIC electricity.

That's why the Volt is a revolutionary car and a 60 mpg diesel is just a car that delays the inevitable a little longer.

[Altazi]

The Prius is just plain ugly. With the exception of the front "grill", this Volt looks sweet. . . Clean up the front grill a bit and you've got a winner here. The rear section looks tight. Much better than a lot of monstrousities GM has come up with in the past. You know what I'm talking about, the red plastic wall to wall tailight section on the Impalas. GM almost out-did the Saab's rear windshield with that one.

All of this - your opinions. I don't mind the way the Prius looks, and I don't mind the way the production Volt looks. My opinions, this time.

You are correct - the Volt is a long time overdue. Ditto on driving the SUV to pick-up some milk. I do believe that GM is headed in a better direction.

Lampcord nailed it as well. For me, the Volt will be a NO-GAS car for more than 80% of its use.

[darthvader420]

Diesel is nice but its only an incremental change. We still have to buy the oil from people who want to kill us and it still pollutes.

The Volt is changing the paradigm altogether. Oil is no longer the primary fuel but instead an occasional emergency backup to abundant , cheap, clean, DOMESTIC electricity.

That's why the Volt is a revolutionary car and a 60 mpg diesel is just a car that delays the inevitable a little longer.

We're not all going to be driving electric cars in 5 years, not even ten years I bet. Super efficient diesels would go a long way in reducing total oil consumption.