What would it have taken for the Chevy Volt to be "worth it"?

[soccerballtux]

Of course it costs too much. Aside from that...

For example, if it had any of these:
-Turbo Diesel-- >45mpg on highway
-no hybrid drivetrain, just the original plan, engine powers generator which provides power to wheels...perhaps this isn't needed because hybrid drivetrain on highway is simply more efficient?
-a $15k tax credit
I think it would have been worth owning.

I can even see the motivation behind the much larger tax credit-- even if we don't have renewable [nuclear] energy sources NOW, when we do have them, the carbon footprint of the car immediately falls to nearly nothing for work+shopping commutes.

 

[halik]

Price is on between the regular and plug in prius. Problem solved.

 

[RavenSEAL]

No one is going to be willing to put up with all the bullshit when the car cost 41K out the door.

First off, if you're spending 41K ALONE on a car, I REALLY doubt money for gas is a problem.

 

[LTC8K6]

The car is costing way too much to make. Adding a turbo diesel increases the cost of the car and the fuel.

 

[soccerballtux]

The car is costing way too much to make. Adding a turbo diesel increases the cost of the car and the fuel.

don't you already have to put premium into it?
At least you'd get way better mileage out of it.

 

[LTC8K6]

don't you already have to put premium into it?
At least you'd get way better mileage out of it.

Right now, diesel and premium are close in price, but that's only a recent thing.

 

[JulesMaximus]

-20,000 dollars.

 

[RichieZ]

i thought about getting one to get into the carpool lane by myself in CA. 7,500 federal tax credit + I think 1,500 CA tax credit brings down the cost. the only other comparable car (gets into HOV lane) is the Leaf and or Tesla Model S (which I have a deposit on)

Now the first model year that couldn't get into the carpool lane, that was a piece of crap b/c as you stated the milage is dismal for a small car once you run down the battery

 

[Don Karnage]

Car should have been 30K tops plus a 5K credit. This 40K BS is ludicrous. I'd rather buy a Prius for 15K cheaper and get better fuel economy

 

[boomhower]

I love the idea, it would be perfect for my driving but the price is just way way to high.

 

[Ferzerp]

It's simple.

No one wants alternate fuel vehicles unless they save money.

You can't save money by doubling the cost of the vehicle.

Until these things cost the same or only slightly more than traditional vehicles, they will be status symbols for the wealthy (who also have other cars for long trips). The whole "green" movement is a luxury of the wealthy. The very outspoken wealthy (e.g. actors). The common man just can't afford to increase the cost of nearly everything he does. "Save the planet" or support himself and/or his family. Gee, that one is a hard choice.

edit: and *no* no more tax credits. The federal government has no business funding what, in effect, is a luxury. Stop with that line of thinking. Our taxes can be much better spent.

 

[BoberFett]

It would not have to look hideous from the rear. I saw my first one in the wild today. The back end was far uglier than i realized.

 

[brainhulk]

how long before I can buy one for 15k used?

 

[LTC8K6]

It should have looked like the Ampera, for a start.

 

[NutBucket]

Right now, diesel and premium are close in price, but that's only a recent thing.

Amazingly I drove by a gas station yesterday with this pricing:

Diesel: $4.45
Premium: $4.55

I was shocked. And that price for premium isn't high for the area.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

The VOLT does not mean HOV/Carpool lane sticker qualifications in California.

There biggest issue of why it did not sell more units at $41K.

 

[Arkaign]

Right now, diesel and premium are close in price, but that's only a recent thing.

Diesel is usually 25-50 cents more a gallon here than premium (north DFW), so diesel cars here are nearly pointless. Availability is also spotty. Every station has gasoline, diesel is here and there.

 

[NutBucket]

The VOLT does not mean HOV/Carpool lane sticker qualifications in California.

There biggest issue of why it did not sell more units at $41K.

There's a new version coming out that does qualify for the HOV sticker. Why didn't they make it this way in the first place? Seems like typical GM to cut a corner somewhere. Had it qualified for the HOV sticker from the get-go it would have guaranteed a lot more sales in CA.

 

[ElFenix]

better styling and a slightly lower price tag. they are really inexpensive to run if you don't go off battery much. but i was alongside one for a bit in traffic today and the black plastic lower skirt, black plastic window sills, and rear light/spoiler treatment is terrible.

also, dealers don't know how to sell them and gm doesn't know how to market them.

 

[Corporate Thug]

25k range and some device that would conveniently allow me to charge at my condo (don't have a house, where am I supposed to install the station?)

 

[Railgun]

-no hybrid drivetrain, just the original plan, engine powers generator which provides power to wheels...

That's what it is. It's not a hybrid like a Prius.

 

[amish]

There were a few things for me that just turned me off.

1. styling: the concept styling was really appealing to the eye (to me at least). the end product was just so drastically different that it immediately turned me off. the end result looks like a mash up between a civic, a cruze, and an aztec (ugly ass end).

2. drive train: diesel hybrid. people scream for it but no car company cares. first one to market will sell big because people will think that they are getting the best of both worlds.

3. cost: for what they did and what you get the car is about $10K too high.

4. CA HOV: seems stupid that they designed a car without hitting something that the prius, its main competition, does already.

 

[NutBucket]

Prius no longer qualifies for HOV. Currently only CNG and pure electrics qualify. Not sure if the Fisker Karma qualifies but I doubt it.

Chevy announced they are releasing a Volt that will qualify but it'll cost an extra $1500 or so for the option. Stupid.

 

[Imp]

If not a lower price, then some better styling and slapping on a Caddy badge - less complaint about price.

 

[Aikouka]

-a $15k tax credit

Ugh, I would definitely not be pleased if something like that were implemented. What we need to do is stop "subsidizing" the end product and start working on the components or the infrastructure to makes them viable! The best part about working on the components is that things such as battery technology will not only benefit electric-based automobiles, but possibly things such as our cellphones and other electronic items.

I'm getting a little P&N-ish with this, but I was rather disappointed to see that Obama wanted to push the subsidy to $10k and make it a rebate rather than a tax credit. I was slightly pleased to see that there are plans to provide electric infrastructure to some cities, but any positive outlook from that fades when you realize that such a thing creates way too small of an impact on a country-wide scale.

This is what usually irks me about all this green crap that everyone spews out. They usually don't care about how useful their alternative fuel plans are, but rather that they appear environmentally friendly. CAFE standards to 50+ MPG by 2025? Sure! Even if Obama gets elected again, there will be nearly a decade by the time he's out of office and that actually goes into effect.

Sorry for the rant, but this stuff usually gets me going. I'm just tired of some stuffy suit in Washington wanting to ram his green-loving opinion down my throat and expecting me to sit by and humbly choke on it. I like my car. I may not like my gas mileage (~20MPG), but until I can get a viable alternative that meets the same performance that I want, I don't care.