41K* for the Volt

[TraumaRN]

Or $33,500 after the tax credit. GM you are nucking futs. No way this thing will sell at that price point. I mean maybe it will but no wonder they are forecasting so low on sales. For me as a middle class kinda guy 10K too expensive.

http://wot.motortrend.com/6669316/a...41000-dealers-now-accepting-orders/index.html

 

[punjabiplaya]

How much did you pay for your fusion hybrid?

 

[SearchMaster]

I could see the lease option as being attractive for some drivers. For $350/month, you basically eliminate your monthly fuel bill for three years, and you get to be "trendy". It won't be a smash hit but it will move some units.

 

[evident]

all i can say is no thanks

 

[KIAman]

But don't forget, it's "the top of its class.... a class of 1"

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Wonder what the monthly electric cost would be for a 40mi round trip commute?

I bet the savings vs. a gas economy car would be minimal and probably not enough to cover the higher cost.

 

[TechAZ]

You will be spending more money throughout 10 years with that car than you would buying any sub $25k car.

I don't see the appeal, unless all you care about is sticking it to the oil companies.

 

[punjabiplaya]

Wonder what the monthly electric cost would be for a 40mi round trip commute?

I bet the savings vs. a gas economy car would be minimal and probably not enough to cover the higher cost.

Inside Line ran their Electric Mini for ~8k miles. Their total electricity cost came out to $25.50.

http://www.insideline.com/mini/cooper/2009/long-term-test-2009-mini-e.html

As far as fuel economy goes, the 2009 Mini E did quite well or very poorly, since it averaged some 0 mpg. Insofar as electricity cost, well, the Mini E traveled 7,683 miles and, using the data from our mandatory Mini-specific battery-charger (there is an SAE-specification charger on the production horizon, which will stop this proprietary nonsense), we spent $25.50 refueling from our office, which was the default charging spot. Only a handful of drivers dared use the 110-volt slow-charge option.

 

[PricklyPete]

You guys are all making practical arguments for a car that is clearly a PR proof of concept. The volt won't make practical sense for 99% of the customers who buy it until generation 2 or 3 at best. This car is meant to show it can be done and start moving the technology forward while giving GM some "green credentials" the way the Prius has for Toyota. This is not meant to replace the economy car from a practical standpoint.

 

[StageLeft]

Wonder what the monthly electric cost would be for a 40mi round trip commute?

I bet the savings vs. a gas economy car would be minimal and probably not enough to cover the higher cost.

I can't remember but it's still pretty significant. Maybe a buck or two in electricity for most people rings a bell, it's that kind of ballpark.

This is the bottom of the estimated prices (other being $48k) so not bad. The $350 lease could be attractive to some. A Prius is a superior purchase from a pure economics one, though. $32k is a lot but some people pay thousands and thousands for extra options and this seems well appointed stock.

I'm going to say it's reasonably competitive, based on your driving habits; if you can do most of your driving on electric it seems to be a contender vs gas competitors. I do hope they do well with it anyway.

 

[ViviTheMage]

I could see the lease option as being attractive for some drivers. For $350/month, you basically eliminate your monthly fuel bill for three years, and you get to be "trendy". It won't be a smash hit but it will move some units.

Just like the Prius.

 

[halik]

I could see the lease option as being attractive for some drivers. For $350/month, you basically eliminate your monthly fuel bill for three years, and you get to be "trendy". It won't be a smash hit but it will move some units.

Because the electricity that it uses up is free...

The problem is still that energy density for batteries is crap.

 

[BassBomb]

its the new green status car like the prius was

 

[MotF Bane]

If you see one, just take the keys and drive it. You've already paid enough for it. :awe:

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

GM. Damned if they do. Damned if they don't.
GM had an all electric car over a decade ago and back then the projected cost to consumers was $33K. Some estimates showed the car cost more like $80-$100K in 1996-1998 dollars.
Back then, no one wanted the things because of price vs cost of oil didn't make sense.
Now no one wants the GM one because it's GM and it's expensive. People wanted an alternative to an oil using vehicle. GM made one. Now faced with the actual costs associated with it, hippies don't want to put their money where their mouth is.

 

[StageLeft]

GM. Damned if they do. Damned if they don't.
GM had an all electric car over a decade ago and back then the projected cost to consumers was $33K. Some estimates showed the car cost more like $80-$100K in 1996-1998 dollars.
Back then, no one wanted the things because of price vs cost of oil didn't make sense.
Now no one wants the GM one because it's GM and it's expensive. People wanted an alternative to an oil using vehicle. GM made one. Now faced with the actual costs associated with it, hippies don't want to put their money where their mouth is.

Some will. Only recently has a Prius begun to make economic sense (in some cases and even then barely). Previously it was more expensive and hippies and celebs liked them.

The question is whether a car from GM will have the same kind of soul-crushing pomposity to it that a san franciscan prius owner can have. Is that guy going to want to be seen in a GM? Is it as "cool"?

 

[Imp]

Some will. Only recently has a Prius begun to make economic sense (in some cases and even then barely). Previously it was more expensive and hippies and celebs liked them.

The question is whether a car from GM will have the same kind of soul-crushing pomposity to it that a san franciscan prius owner can have. Is that guy going to want to be seen in a GM? Is it as "cool"?

Probably not. I'll admit, I want a hybrid for it being a hybrid, fuck financial sense.

The Prius is "cute" and has a quirky, very distinct and identifiable look for people to notice. The GM looks like a regular full-sized sedan, like a Camry, Fusion, Accord, etc. The Chevy plaque up front isn't that attractive; they should have made it a Caddy. The Leaf may have that effect.

 

[Imported]

If the lease was $250/mo and there was a charging station at work, I'd be in line.

I'll just keep using $250 in gas a month instead.

 

[Miramonti]

What a joke!

In the very least it's an effort to steal the $7,500 government tax credit incentive away from the consumer, which is obviously incorporated into the overpricing of this vehicle.

 

[boomhower]

The tax credit is nice but they are still pricing a lot of people out. Qualifying for a 34K loan is one thing, a 41k loan is a pretty big difference.

 

[zerocool84]

Just like the Prius.

Exactly

People seem to forget that 99.9% of people will never recoup the higher cost of a Prius. It's the beginning and it has to start somewhere.

 

[XZeroII]

You are all missing the big picture. GM doesn't intend to sell a lot of them at first. They probably won't even be able to produce very many for another year or two so they want to recoup some costs. Having a waiting list may be good PR, but it means you're leaving money on the table. I think the price point is about right. They can always lower the price once production ramps up but until then they should price it at a point where they can sell their inventory but still keep people interested.

 

[KIAman]

Another obvious is that GM engineers should have realized the gas engine is simply a generator and shouldn't have stuck in a car engine with car engine crap on it.

How many years did it take for them to build this again?!?

 

[Zargon]

Wonder what the monthly electric cost would be for a 40mi round trip commute?

I bet the savings vs. a gas economy car would be minimal and probably not enough to cover the higher cost.

which makes it no different than any other hybrid car, which are all similarily priced. except this one


as for other posters baulking at the price, you just werent paying any attention....

That figure is close to the $40,000 figure previously (and repeatedly) touted by GM officials over the course of the development.

Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/6669316/a...ting-orders/page2.html#comments#ixzz0uvWwR7OK

gm still has/had the best green car ever, too bad they harpooned it and wont say why

 

[TraumaRN]

Another obvious is that GM engineers should have realized the gas engine is simply a generator and shouldn't have stuck in a car engine with car engine crap on it.

How many years did it take for them to build this again?!?

Well funny thing is, that motor as takes premium grade gasoline. I'm sure it'll probably run on 87 octane but I think it's just as goofy as the price that it needs premium fuel.