Michigan Volts

[JohnK]

Don't know why I did not propose this thread earlier, but now is good:
- The Michigan "initial market" seems to be kind of a second tier market, initial market wave 2. That said, one forum poster has his order transitioned from 1100 to 2000 - a MAJOR step for a Michigan customer.
- My dealership in Sterling Heights (Buff Whelan) has their first car (the dealer demo) with a TPW of 3/07. My own car is #2 and I keep holding out hope to see a status change any day (well it can only happen on Wednesday morning, but I still check daily).
- Another Michigan fellow from Lansing ordered out of state I believe and his car is well along (compared the vast unwashed).

So, how about folks from Michigan gathering around this thread to exchange ideas/issues of local concern.
For instance, the Detroit auto show is just around the corner. I've got to believe that there will be test drive opportunities there. Also a chance to meet up if anyone is so minded. There is already a move to have a meetup of the local MEAA at the auto show.
Anybody have any luck with SPX getting a charging station installed (or even purchased)?

[Fluke]

JohnK,
I've got my michigan volt ordered from Buff Whelan, but it will be headed to the KC area. I wonder if mine will be the first Kansas volt. I think I'm number 5 on the dealer's list unless someone has dropped off since I placed my order. I'm still at 1100/2030 status.

I saw this thread started by you and was hopeful that you had moved off of 1100/2030 status since I'll be following you.

[PatsVolt]

Hi I have a deposit down at Hamilton Chevrolet and I am No. 6 on there list. It is good to see that things are beginning to move on the order from Mich. I think I am going to call my dealer and see what the situation is at there dealer ship. Thanks for starting this thread and wonder if there are others that have ordered from Hamilton which is also in Sterling Heights.

P

[J in MN]

I'm supposedly #2 at Heritage Chevrolet, but my Volt will be heading west to Minnesota. I'm very excited to see some movement on the MI orders!

[maynard]

Thanks for starting this thread. It should get very busy by April, (I hope). I ordered our Volt on 11/29 from Mike Savoie Chevrolet in Troy. The general manager, Chuck Martin, is one of my sister's sons. We talk a lot about these cars. Mine stayed at 1100 until 1/3/2011 when it went to 2000. Yesterday it became 3000. I am probably the only person that has a Volt ordered that wants it to slow down. My wife and I are heading to Miami next Monday. We live on our boat there in winter. We don't plan on coming back to Detroit until mid April. I guess we might need to do a quick flight to take delivery before mid April. We are looking forward to getting our Volt though. I do wonder who will be the first to get their Volt from a MIchigan dealer. I am only counting those that also live in Michigan, not the out of state buyers or the fellow in Lansing that already has his car from a New York dealer.

[maynard]

I did buy a Voltec charger from SPX before Jan 1. (Smart eh?) I wired my garage for 50 amp 240 volt power a few years ago, so it only took me about 2 hours to add the extra circuit for the Voltec. It is now up and running. Many of us are DTE customers and they have a sweet deal for the first so many buyers in their service area. I will have them install a seperate meter and maybe even a seperate drop from the pole in my yard to my detached garage. They tell me that you must have taken delivery of your Volt before they will come out to your house and plan that install. This is one of those 3 tiered deals where charging at night saves a bunch of money. Go to their site, dteenergy.com and look on the left for "electric cars section". I entered our planned usage and that we would charge late night. Their calculations show a $159.00 savings for a 10,000 mile per year usage. The total charge on peak time would be $690.00 per year, so $159.00 is a big savings.

[JohnK]

Maynard, The first dealership that I went to was yours about this time last year. They suggested that I go to the auto show and ask lots of questions and come back and fill them in. I made them take my name, but nothing ever came of it. The Sterling Heights dealer was the first that gave a positive response that I could take action on. I'm glad though that you are getting good attention. BTW, any suggestion on getting a charger from SPX? The last time I called them they simply said no they would not sell me one until GM showed that my car was approved for production. Note that I only wanted the 240 Volt Voltec station, not a "free" one installed by SPX. I figure that the minute I go to status 2000 I should pester them.

[maynard]

Maynard, The first dealership that I went to was yours about this time last year. They suggested that I go to the auto show and ask lots of questions and come back and fill them in. I made them take my name, but nothing ever came of it. The Sterling Heights dealer was the first that gave a positive response that I could take action on. I'm glad though that you are getting good attention. BTW, any suggestion on getting a charger from SPX? The last time I called them they simply said no they would not sell me one until GM showed that my car was approved for production. Note that I only wanted the 240 Volt Voltec station, not a "free" one installed by SPX. I figure that the minute I go to status 2000 I should pester them.

No John, they sold me one the first time I called. $490.00 + 4% sales tax for Michigan buyers + shipping. They never asked if I had a Volt on order. At that time I was 1100.

[JohnK]

Dang. Can you give me a number and someone to ask for? I'd love to do exactly what you did.

[jimcking]

Country Chevrolet here in Virginia said they just delivered a car to a person from Michigan who was going to drive it back to Michigan. Just curius if that person is on the forum here?

Jim K.