Early impressions from new owners

[JohnK]

I've had my Volt for exactly one week now. How about this thread being a good place for folks' first impressions?
My own are a bit varied.
- If you expect to be "swept off your feet" it might not happen. I now understand the rationale behind the tagline "it is more car than electric". It really is a car first and foremost.
- I suspect that the "game changer" description could be applied almost as much to the computer automation as to the electric drive system. There are times (a good percentage) where the car (read computer) correctly anticipates what you want. From a standing start it does not "jump" off the line, seems almost tentative, but it has accelleration when you want it.
- the Nav system is just marvelous. The integration with the traffic from XM radio is very well done.
- the car is quiet, but you then realize that road noise is a big component of a regular car's noise.
- I have the standard cloth upholstery - nothing standard about it. Very high quality.
- Consumer Reports is right about the heating system - it is pretty wimpy, but probably what we want for the good of the ecology (and conserving battery).
- I have the painted wheels - I think they look GREAT.
- I have the backup camera - it is GREAT.
- Don't know why, but I tend to forget to close the charge door.
- Nice to not feel bad about heavy traffic because you are enjoying your ride.
- Kind of early in the learning curve for the voice control system, but it seems to be pretty cool, but a little threatening at times.

[gwmort]

My first week in the volt is now up.

I find I love the ride, gadgets, and appointments, even the ipod-esque control panel (and I really love controlling my actual ipod on the console screen via the USB connection.

I've got just under 700 miles on it so far, including the 210 mile drive home from NY on purchase, and just under 300 of those on electric. I've refueled once for 7 gallons and according to the screen I have about 189 miles of fuel range remaining now.

My economy in CS mode has been pretty dead on the 37 mpg from the sticker, and my daily AER has been 35 miles pretty reliably (temps in the 30s-40s, higher one day this week when it was really warm).

My daily use is about 50 miles, so I was burning some fuel everyday. Yesterday I got permission to charge at work and completed the whole day with no gas (53 miles total). When I knew I'd end up burning gas I tended to drive more conservatively and avoid going to far to keep my lifetime mpg numbers in the system higher, it was freeing yesterday to be able to zip home carefree in electric (glanced down at speedometer at one point and realized I was going 87 mph and hadn't noticed).

Compared to my old prius, it is less efficient when burning gas. Even my old Gen 1 was still getting 42 mpg reliably after 8 yrs and 168,000 miles. However it (the Volt) is a lot more fun to drive and feels much classier (I have premium trim).

I think the money I am spending is worth the car I am driving and I know of many other professionals in my field that would feel the same way. I predict this tech is here to stay and the Volt as a model will be a success. Gen 2 may be more commercially successful than Gen 1, but if they sell every Gen 1 they make how do you measure that?

[Noel Park]

I grin from ear to ear every time I pass a !@#$%^ gas station!

#1756, SoCal

[dkmiller26]

I have had my Volt for exactly 2 weeks now. 155 miles so far and 0.0 gal of gas. Hadn't even noticed that Premium is up to $4.05/gal here now.

Electric range has been 35-38 miles with outside temperatures of 30-40 degrees. I am hoping to see better range when the weather warms up. I agree with the comments about the heating system. I am finding that on 30 degree days the seat heater alone isn't quite enough. I used Comfort mode one day and it was much better.

I really like the interior, leather seats, and the displays. I agree that the user interface with a large number of equally sized/spaced buttons is not the most friendly. Some better grouping/spacing of related functions would help a lot. Someone who designs good remote controls could probably help.

The build quality is excellent. The vehicle is so quiet that I drove one of the other cars yesterday and really noticed how noisy and primitive an ICE vehicle seems. Overall this is a great car, and is as much a game changer as the first VCR, PC, Mac, iPod, or iPad.

#2159, Rochester NY

[ssj4vegita2002]

- Don't know why, but I tend to forget to close the charge door.

Took me about a week to get used to it, haha. Just try to make it a habit of closing it the second you remove the cord from the car. I was always wrapping the cord up and then just hopping in and getting the "ding ding ding" when I tried to drive away, lol.

[WVhybrid]

I've had my Volt for exactly one week now. How about this thread being a good place for folks' first impressions?

- From a standing start it does not "jump" off the line, seems almost tentative, but it has accelleration when you want it.


.

Try sport mode....

[bmw323i]

Try sport mode....

Agreed. First thing i do before taking off is to set sport mode. I'm still getting 45 miles per charge while having some fun. I love my Volt. Two weeks old and haven't used a drop of gas.