WGN-TV Reporter Nancy Loo Likes the Chevy Volt

[Paul Slazas]

Nancy Loo of WGN- Chicago, reports on her week with the Chevy Volt

http://www.wgntv.com/blogs/nancyloo/...,4857810.story



Paul S.
Red Volt# 2169

[Slapshot28]

Um. Couldn't figure out how to plug it in? Excuse me? (Not going to give this reporter much credit...)

[stephent]

Um. Couldn't figure out how to plug it in? Excuse me? (Not going to give this reporter much credit...)

I think you're being way too harsh. The story says that the first time she tried to charge the car it failed to charge, not that she "couldn't figure out how to plug it in", possibly due to faulty outlet, although she assumed user error, that she'd plugged it in improperly somehow . She probably hadn't yet read the manual to figure out how to read the charging status indicators. She obviously was able to charge it later.

[Slapshot28]

I think you're being way too harsh.

Maybe. But did this deserve to be near the top of her article?

"I returned to learn that the car hadn't been charging during the 10 hours I was away (a full charge usually takes 8 hours). I must not have plugged everything in properly."

It sounds like any normal person (without an advanced degree) should think twice before buying a Volt.

Then there was this:

"But all week, I was stressed out about numbers."

To a quick skim of the sound bites, her article is pretty negative.

Honestly, I think she was too harsh. Just my 2 cents.

Chris

[stephent]

To a quick skim of the sound bites, her article is pretty negative.

I think you are reading in a connotation that simply isn't there. She just reported what happened, she didn't say that it's hard to figure out how to plug it in or anything like that. As for the "number" thing, that's mostly a comment about her own personality, not a negative comment about the car. She just fell into the same thing a ton of owners on this board do, obsessing about maximizing range, efficiency, MPG etc., saying that the dash number feedback makes you want to play the maximum mileage game. I don't see that as a criticism of the car, it's simply a fact that a number of reviews and owner reports have noted, feedback can affect your driving style.

"For the right person, the Volt makes a lot of sense"
"It makes you proud of the American innovation that went into the car. And driving it is enjoyable. The Volt feels solid and the ride is smooth."
"It is super cool but there are things to tweak and it's expensive"

This sounds pretty positive to me, not "pretty negative".
To me you are are being hyper-sensitive to supposed criticism, and the criticism isn't really even there. The only truly negative thing she said is that it's expensive, which is true.

There are plenty of inane comments on other news stories (mainly the stupid ones now saying that Leaf sales are crushing Volt sales, without pointing out that it's still merely a production+delivery race, not one based on actual demand for the cars), that I don't think you should be bashing this reporter's rather positive review.

[Steverino]

"I have to compare the Chevy Volt to a first generation iPhone. It is super cool but there are things to tweak and it's expensive. I love owning and using my iPhone4. It's much improved from the 3GS. And nowadays, the original version can be had for less than fifty bucks. I'm sure the Volt will never be that cheap. But battery improvements and lower prices are likely coming down the road."

Translation: Apple-like cool factor (I agree), expensive (a relative term, but OK), future versions will be even cooler, better, and cheaper (I expect the same). I think she got the gist of where this car fits in the marketplace. A first gen Apple iPhone is a fine comparison in every way. Innovative, ground-breaking, a leap ahead, game changing, superior design all come to mind.

[Slapshot28]

"I have to compare the Chevy Volt to a first generation iPhone. It is super cool but there are things to tweak and it's expensive. I love owning and using my iPhone4. It's much improved from the 3GS. And nowadays, the original version can be had for less than fifty bucks. I'm sure the Volt will never be that cheap. But battery improvements and lower prices are likely coming down the road."

Translation: Apple-like cool factor (I agree), expensive (a relative term, but OK), future versions will be even cooler, better, and cheaper (I expect the same). I think she got the gist of where this car fits in the marketplace. A first gen Apple iPhone is a fine comparison in every way. Innovative, ground-breaking, a leap ahead, game changing, superior design all come to mind.

Why did you leave out the begining of the quote: "But for now, I have to compare the Chevy Volt to a first generation iPhone."

I read it again. She never really says that she likes the car. The best words she says are, "And driving it is enjoyable. The Volt feels solid and the ride is smooth." Everything else is faint praise.

Other reviewers are much more positive, saying things like, "I love this car." or "I just placed an order for one." (Okay, Consumer Reports and Edmunds aside!)

Anyway, no worries. I admit that I bashed her, and that was uncalled for. :-)

[voltage692]

A lot of reviewers like to talk all positive about the car, and then find some way to dig at it that puts off the general public. The theme is repeated over and over, "The car is great, but..."

Our little Nancy is no different.

I love the one where they make it sound like it's a beta and not ready for prime time. Huh? After 5 months of driving it, the Volt is not a beta version and it doesn't need any tweaking to excel. Can it be improved? Pointless to bring that up. Show me a car that can't be improved. If you think that way, you would never buy anything because you'll always be waiting for the next version.

[stephent]

I don't understand you guys. A review that mentions anything remotely negative is totally unacceptable? Everything has to be described as perfect, fantastic, flawless or you think it's trashing the car? Mentioning a minor complaint in an otherwise positive review negates everything else?

I don't think mentioning something negative puts off the public. If anything, I'm suspicious of any review that doesn't mention anything negative whatsoever, I'd suspect the reviewer of being a shill, being nice to an advertiser or something. To me an honest review that accurately describes positives and negatives is great and welcome, I can decide for myself how serious the cons are for my personal usage, whether they are insignificant compared to the pros or not.

I think a review like the one discussed here are quite positive and fine, I don't see anything wrong with it at all, given its brevity. The test to me is not whether anything negative is mentioned about the car. It's whether the criticisms are actually valid, or if are they severely factually-challenged, or exaggerated & blown out of proportion, like they are on those Rush Limbaugh dittohead type forums. Or the Edmunds reviews using worst-case electric rates which would be unrealistic for anyone who would actually be buying & using the car.

[Slapshot28]

I'm going to be as candid as I can be (and I'm allowed to have my opinion just as you're allowed to have yours).

Nancy Loo came off as a complete air-head. What owner here needed to read the manual before first plugging in? Come on, it's just an extension cord! And who here failed to charge their Volt the first time they plugged in? Most importantly, is that even newsworthy? Most of what she says is just a joke. It was as much about her (and her apparent ineptitude), as it was about the car.

"But all week, I was stressed out about numbers. I HATE math and there are numbers everywhere on the Volt's dash - number of miles left with electricity, number of miles left with gas, speed, total mileage, etc. - all vividly displayed on two LCD screens. I got used to it by the end of the week. Though I still had a bit of Asian test anxiety whenever I drove, always aware of performance and mileage and afraid of bringing down the tank average. What if I don't get an "A"?!?!"

In her final analysis (last paragragh starting: "But for now..") she recommends, like the first iPhone, wait for the new and improved version (the iPhone4, which she loves).

To me it was one of the lamest reviews that I've read--not necessarily negative, just lame. That's my opinoin.