Chevy and their damn Cruze loaners! When I got my recall update applied either they did something wrong, or randomly a 15A fuse for the 12v charging system blew and it was RIGHT before we up here in Eastern WA were going to get hit with like 6 or 7 inches of snow and ice. I flat out refused the Cruze but the service department would have none of it. Thankfully I know one of the sales guys and he was able to speak to a manager and get me into a Colorado as a loaner... the Cruze without winter tires (all seasons wouldn't cut it) would NOT have made it through the snow my street had on it. My Volt with dedicated winter tires would have had a tough time but I think it would have made it. In winter they really should put the loaners onto snow/winter tires or make their loaners AWD small SUVs or something. Less chance a customer gets involved in an accident because of poor tires for snow/ice, and ANYONE that has a truck or SUV and gets pushed into a small FWD loaner must go ballistic, especially if they do get stuck somewhere!
I had to pay for the gas too, about $34 worth... more then I've spent on my Volt since I got it in August. I just returned it full and am writing a letter to GM asking for a refund for all or at least the difference between the Volt's cost and the Colorado. I don't mind paying for what I would have used, as the dealership so directly put it, but I had to remind them with electricity at $0.0644/kW up here, I would have used like $3.75 total that week, not $34.
If Chevy actually plans to sell a lot of these Volts and Bolts they need to adjust their loaner agreements. We're paying a large amount for these cars (compared to a Cruze buyer) and are doing it to save on gas and the environment. It's bad enough we have to get "dirty" with a pure combustion engine powered car let alone have to pay gas for it. Maybe when it's a scheduled visit or something, but any recalls, warranty repairs, or "mistakes" that result in keeping the car overnight should result in them going out of their way, not us having too...
