Considering that the average person probably thinks that an all electric car should be cheaper than a gas burning car since most all of their electrical appliances in their home were bought for under a $1000.00.

If you ask the average person on the street if they would want an electric car they would most likely and without hesitation say "SURE!", but than ask if are they willing to pay nearly $40,000 for an electric Chevrolet and I bet you would get a different answer.

Even a few months back at the LA auto show the Chevy Volt wasn't attracting as many people as I would have previous thought and this was surprising since SoCal appears to be the Prius capital of the world.

 

seems like it will not do as good as they think it will.......

esp. since gas came down.....

 

Just cause gas came down doesn't mean its not time to move on.

 

the average person is not going to buy it...simple.

I would never buy it... I don't know anyone that would buy it.

 

Gas prices usually bottom out in Dec/Jan and peak in July/Aug so I would anticipate that gas prices will be creeping back up over the next 7 months, but I doubt they will come close to the record high prices set back in July of last year.

 

If the Volt was wearing a Toyota badge, it would be all the rage...even at 40K. I think the sterotype of good gas milage / Quality = imports is going to be a bigger problem selling this car.

 

 

it's sad to say that I think most of you are right... the Volt will probably not do too good.. but some will make it out to the market... and if they do good..they will help change the image of GM... and now a days everything is about image....

i am also sure that GM doesn't want to sell a ton of them since they are losing money on each one... so... sell a few.. change your image...

 

Well... isn't the government giving out tax CREDITS to the tune of something like 8 grand for a car with the Volt's battery size?

So 40 grand minus maybe a little haggling or discounting minus 8 grand = 30 grand. I'd probably buy one for 30 grand so long as I liked the way the car drove and felt it was well-made. If it drove like an insubstantial econobox for 30 grand then I still wouldn't buy it.

Of course if I had a looking glass into the next year or two and saw gas prices in the 4-5 dollar range I'd probably buy it even if it drove like an econobox at 30 grand... maybe even 35 grand. Probably not 40 though.

Is it loaded by default? I have to assume it already has nav standard.

 

***IF*** you could live with a car the Volt's size and fuction, and assuming you like it's styling, comfort, etc.... it boils down to how long until you break even?

This is why Hybrids are a nice idea, but you are a fool if you buy one and think you are saving money.

If you're buying it to "save the planet", go ahead and knock yourself out Captain Greenie.

 

I personally wouldn't buy one for years, until the technology is more proven. My wife wants her next car to be a hybrid...but she's driven the Comp G 20k miles in 2 years and 1 month...

You do the math...apparently she hasn't

 

I'd buy one for $40,000-$7500 credt, if I had the money. I also very pessimistic about the dollar and future oil supply and prices, although 2009 will hopefully be another year of sub $2 gas. Park it next my CTS-V coupe in case I'm wrong

 

I bet this car will be available for lease when it comes out as well. Given the tax credits and lease rates, it could be pretty good. I bet it comes loaded for that price.

I think this car will help with image, but the real question is how does it drive and how reliable is that 40 mile charge. If gas gets expensive again, this car will fly off the shelves.

 

If I needed a small 4 door car, AND if the price was more in line with a traditional car of that size, AND if businesses and employers put charging outlets in their parking lots, then I would CERTAINLY consider a Volt.

 

Good luck with parameters 2 and 3.