[notaguru]

For those thinking of upgrading from GEN1, and for new Volters, here's a guide. The dealer is not in business to lose money, so despite the sales guy pointing to "-$2000" on the sheet somewhere, this deal surely was profitable and should be replicable.

Venue: California
Car: Premier
Color: Summit White
Purch date: June 2017
Mfg date: May 2017
Miles: 12
GM options: Both confidence packs, ACC, leather, Bose (essentially everything possible)
Dealer inst: Ambient lighting, wheel locks, rubber mats (for when it snows in San Diego)
Car price: About $35,000
Tax/fees: About 10%, or $3,500
Down payment: zero/nada/zilch/rien
Total: $38,500 including tax, fees, license, a full tank and a full charge
Financing: Zero down, zero interest, 60 months
Rebates: Fed @ $7,500, CA @ $1,500
NET COST: $29,500 including everything

 

[Tomt]

Everybody gets the fed and state rebates so effectively the price of the car was $38,500... It looks like a reasonable but not exceptional deal...

 

[JoeMap]

Thanks for the deal review. Despite Tom's comment above, no, not everyone gets the federal and state tax credit. It depends on individual tax situation and state of residence.

One question for you. As I've been looking at new and used Volts, specifically, the 2016 and 2017 models, I can't seem to find a way to filter the various sites for the ACC. Even on Chevrolet's website, when looking through local dealer inventory, that is not one of the options to filter. Can you tell me how that is shown on the window sticker, or similar? There are two new Volts within 50 miles of me but both are the LT version, so I don't think they will have ACC. Someone correct me if that is wrong, though.

I'm thinking about spending Saturday doing some test drives.

Thanks,

Joe

 

[BAZINGA]

IL has NO EV credit, so you work your best deal and hope you get the FULL $7500 when you file your taxes. In my example my 2017 Premier sticker for $40,920 (DC1/2, ACC, Nav and paint) minus dealer discount of $3700 = $37,200 minus $7500 (full tax credit) and my 2017 cost me $29,720. I had $14K equity in my trade and borrowed $16K at 1.94% from my military CU.

I'm a happy camper. So for me anything more than $3700 off MSRP is an excellent deal.

 

[notaguru]

Everybody gets the fed and state rebates so effectively the price of the car was $38,500... It looks like a reasonable but not exceptional deal...

I apologize for the lack of clarity in my original post, which I have tried to rectify. CAR PRICE was $35k. With taxes/fees, etc. the TOTAL went to $38,500, the principal that was financed at zero down, zero interest, 60 months.

Further, I get to keep my $38.5k, and my portfolio currently averages >6%, so that zero interest loan adds $2,310/year to the deal minus lost income on monthly payments. Not just a good deal, but to me it's an exceptional one. Since I drive 30-40 miles a day, free because of paid-for solar, owning my loaded Premier Volt ends up costing less than a new Toyota minicar.

 

[thetoad]

The TrueCar average price for a loaded Volt Premier appears to be $34,940

 

[thetoad]

The TrueCar average price for a loaded Volt Premier appears to be $34,940

Here's an advertised price for just over $35K http://www.yourchevy.com/VehicleDetails/new-2017-Chevrolet-Volt-5dr_HB_Premier-Burbank-CA/3006996903 with both driver confidence packages

and here's one for just under $35K http://www.dublinchevrolet.com/Vehi...olet-Volt-5dr_HB_Premier-Dublin-CA/3007088063

$35K is the stanard deal for a volt premier with driver confidence package 2.

 

[llninja]

Everybody gets the fed and state rebates so effectively the price of the car was $38,500... It looks like a reasonable but not exceptional deal...

I applaud the OP for not paying MSRP as so many people who had to be first to get a gen2 did. Yes, they could have gotten a better deal, or they could have gotten a worse one. The nothing down is a bit weird. That means as soon as you drive the car off the lot, you are upside down. The good news is if the OP totals the car (knock on wood that he doesn't), there's enough in investment accounts to cover any difference and go get another car until the insurance check arrives. I personally would tug the money out of retirement and just buy the car outright, but at this point, it's just a big game of monopoly.

When I bought my Volt (heavily discounted) I could have gotten 0%, but to do so I would have had to give up some of the sweet discounts at that time. Now if you could get 0% AND those discounts and incentives, then go for it.

@Notaguru, welcome to the G2 club. I'd love to join you, but I hate the idea of giving away a perfectly good g1 volt and paying good money for a second one. My plan is to upgrade in a major way (tesla, CT6 PHEV, volvo hybrid, or whatever else arrives that fits what we need or want). Until then the G1 will have to do (oh, please, someone Tbone me so I can go shopping).

 

[Sheldon]

Here's an advertised price for just over $35K http://www.yourchevy.com/VehicleDetails/new-2017-Chevrolet-Volt-5dr_HB_Premier-Burbank-CA/3006996903 with both driver confidence packages

and here's one for just under $35K http://www.dublinchevrolet.com/Vehi...olet-Volt-5dr_HB_Premier-Dublin-CA/3007088063

$35K is the stanard deal for a volt premier with driver confidence package 2.

Seems like a great deal to me; Volt's should be flying off the shelves at that price especially considering the federal and local rebates. I'm really enjoying my 2017 Premier.

 

[notaguru]

It's difficult to get a true apples-to-apples comparison. There's a finite number of possible configurations and options of which some are important and others are silly, but that number is large and dealers are not motivated to help achieve clarity.

On my first Volt (Jan 2012) I had no guidance and met a rigid dealer. I paid almost MSRP, yet enjoyed that car for five and a half years. The new car, I'm sure, will provide at least as much satisfaction - augmented by the reality that it cost LESS and does [far] MORE than my 2012.

Comparable Toyota Camry and Honda Accord models cost MORE than a Volt! Hard to understand, isn't it?

 

[alfon]

Bought our 2016 Volt Premier in July 2016 at Wilsonville Chevrolet about 20 miles or so south of Portland Oregon. The price was $11,000 off MSRP as GM offered 20% off MSRP and the dealership offered another $3,000. With the Federal Tax Credit, $7,500, the price was below $22,000. Now that was a deal and a steal. I don't think anything could match that.

I can see GM offering the same deal this July as well.

 

[llninja]

Bought our 2016 Volt Premier in July 2016 at Wilsonville Chevrolet about 20 miles or so south of Portland Oregon. The price was $11,000 off MSRP as GM offered 20% off MSRP and the dealership offered another $3,000. With the Federal Tax Credit, $7,500, the price was below $22,000. Now that was a deal and a steal. I don't think anything could match that.

I can see GM offering the same deal this July as well.

Yup, awesome deal. The only suggestion is to go get a GM buypower card, put everything you buy on it, pay the balances off so you don't get tattooed with interest, and sweetened the rebate pot.

 

[eric_n_dfw]

...As I've been looking at new and used Volts, specifically, the 2016 and 2017 models, I can't seem to find a way to filter the various sites for the ACC. ...

Cars.com allows you to filter for ACC in the "features" menu on the left after you get your initial list, example search: https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...ice-highest&yrId=30031936&yrId=58487&zc=76262

 

[JoeMap]

Cars.com allows you to filter for ACC in the "features" menu on the left after you get your initial list, example search: https://www.cars.com/for-sale/searc...ice-highest&yrId=30031936&yrId=58487&zc=76262

Ahh, thank you. I just realized that my 100 mile radius wasn't far enough. If no cars have the feature in your current search radius, then it doesn't show up. Once I expanded it to 250 and 500 mile radius, that option to filter for it became available as a filter option.

Life in the sticks...

Joe

 

[Rickoshay]

It's difficult to get a true apples-to-apples comparison. There's a finite number of possible configurations and options of which some are important and others are silly, but that number is large and dealers are not motivated to help achieve clarity.

On my first Volt (Jan 2012) I had no guidance and met a rigid dealer. I paid almost MSRP, yet enjoyed that car for five and a half years. The new car, I'm sure, will provide at least as much satisfaction - augmented by the reality that it cost LESS and does [far] MORE than my 2012.

Comparable Toyota Camry and Honda Accord models cost MORE than a Volt! Hard to understand, isn't it?

I often wonder how anybody could buy anything but a Volt. I am an "average" driver in most every way and it is absolutely the perfect choice. Well, we are empty nesters so there there are no chillins to lug around.

2014 Volt Premium - Safety pkg 1 and 2, Navigation

 

[llninja]

I often wonder how anybody could buy anything but a Volt. I am an "average" driver in most every way and it is absolutely the perfect choice. Well, we are empty nesters so there there are no chillins to lug around.

2014 Volt Premium - Safety pkg 1 and 2, Navigation

Lots of people are stupid.... I mean uninformed/unenlightened. Prius owners keep going back for more punishment. Why a Prius owner would buy a new Prius is beyond me.

 

[JoeMap]

I often wonder how anybody could buy anything but a Volt. I am an "average" driver in most every way and it is absolutely the perfect choice. Well, we are empty nesters so there there are no chillins to lug around.

2014 Volt Premium - Safety pkg 1 and 2, Navigation

We are also empty nesters but do have 1 8/9 grandchildren. Still young/small enough to fit in the back seat of the Volt, though! Test drove my first Volt today but I'll use a separate thread for that.

Joe

 

[ackattacker]

I often wonder how anybody could buy anything but a Volt. I am an "average" driver in most every way and it is absolutely the perfect choice. Well, we are empty nesters so there there are no chillins to lug around.

2014 Volt Premium - Safety pkg 1 and 2, Navigation

I think it's a great car, but it's not the car for everyone. Some people need more cargo/leg room, 5 or more real seats, AWD, or a more upright seating position. Some people don't have a convenient place to charge. Gas is cheap at the moment so the economics of electric vs gas is more of a future-proofing than a huge savings right now. Anyway, obviously not everybody wants a Volt, because they are sitting on dealers' lots, which is good for us getting a good deal, so I'm not complaining!

 

[srmarti]

Can't just assume everyone is going to get a $7500. federal tax credit.

 

[llninja]

Can't just assume everyone is going to get a $7500. federal tax credit.

If someone doesn't qualify for the tax credit because of income, then they shouldn't be looking at new cars anyway. If you are rich and retired but take enough enough to have that big of a tax burden, then just withdraw more or do a Roth conversion to generate that tax burden. Other situations like a solar energy or adoption credit might bump you up against your tax burden, but those are more unusual events that don't happen every year.

it will get really interesting when the tax credits go away for GM when they hit 200k vehicles made for the US market. If the MSRP doesn't drop accordingly, gm is going to have trouble moving electric vehicles without the tax credit. Meanwhile Others like Ford and Vw will reap the benefits as battery capacity and technology has improved, and their offerings coming in the next few years might be really compelling if you can get something like a Jetta EV for less than a regular Jetta because of the fed tax credit.

I predict a situation where first to market doesn't win overall. The iPod wasn't the first MP3 player (RIP Rio) and the iPhone wasn't the first smartphone (RIP Blackberry). Tesla and GM EVs are still niche vehicles that require people who see the value and are will gen to pay a little (or a lot) more to become electric. That's about to change....