Uses some weird English, but overall positive review.
http://driving.ca/chevrolet/bolt/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-chevrolet-bolt
http://driving.ca/chevrolet/bolt/reviews/road-test/first-drive-2017-chevrolet-bolt
Bolt EV first drive review by a Canuck
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I use some wired English..... actually another glowing review. Folks just need to stop thinking of and comparing the BOLT's long distance legs in the same vein as ANY Tesla. Tesla's SC network trumps all else. I'd probably still order one with the DCC fast charging option just to have in the off chance this totally eliminates "range anxiety" for folks that travel between two major urban areas in the dead of winter and still want to roam around when they get there.
Example I'm born and raised in Milwaukee and it was not usual for us Cheese Heads to drive the 80 miles to Chicago to spend the day shopping and seeing some of the attractions and head home that evening. That's about 200 miles R/T.
But it sure looks like GM is under promised and over delivered BIG TIME. Now let's hope the American public embraces this little jewel in the automotive kingdom.
Example I'm born and raised in Milwaukee and it was not usual for us Cheese Heads to drive the 80 miles to Chicago to spend the day shopping and seeing some of the attractions and head home that evening. That's about 200 miles R/T.
But it sure looks like GM is under promised and over delivered BIG TIME. Now let's hope the American public embraces this little jewel in the automotive kingdom.
Couple of not-so-insignificant errors in the piece, along with some barely-veiled contempt for Tesla and Musk, make this article less praiseworthy for me.
The author only quotes the ~$37,500 US price tag, completely neglecting to mention the fairly well-known fact that it's actually priced significantly lower in Canadian dollars (don't have the figures handy but it's approximately $42,000 CAD/ $33,000 USD before incentives).
He also mentions the $750 DCQC port - except that's the US version; the Canadian one has DCQC included in the sticker price.
The author only quotes the ~$37,500 US price tag, completely neglecting to mention the fairly well-known fact that it's actually priced significantly lower in Canadian dollars (don't have the figures handy but it's approximately $42,000 CAD/ $33,000 USD before incentives).
He also mentions the $750 DCQC port - except that's the US version; the Canadian one has DCQC included in the sticker price.
My favorite quote - "when I was playing silly bugger with the throttle". I just have to find a way to work that into a conversation sometime
The reviewer is dead-wrong about the price flexibility of GM vs Tesla, though. It would be "nice" if GM makes a profit on the Bolt, but it won't break the bank if they get into an EV price war. The SUV and pickup market is their bread and butter. Tesla, on the other hand, can not afford to NOT make a profit on the Model 3. They have no "bread and butter" now - the Model 3 is what they hope will become the B&B. Investors are banking on it and that is the only thing holding up their stock price. 400,000 Model 3's sold at a loss would kill them. They don't show red-ink now on their quarterlies only because of various cash and accounting tricks. The cash infusions required soon to get them to Model 3 production may be very challenging to achieve.
The reviewer is dead-wrong about the price flexibility of GM vs Tesla, though. It would be "nice" if GM makes a profit on the Bolt, but it won't break the bank if they get into an EV price war. The SUV and pickup market is their bread and butter. Tesla, on the other hand, can not afford to NOT make a profit on the Model 3. They have no "bread and butter" now - the Model 3 is what they hope will become the B&B. Investors are banking on it and that is the only thing holding up their stock price. 400,000 Model 3's sold at a loss would kill them. They don't show red-ink now on their quarterlies only because of various cash and accounting tricks. The cash infusions required soon to get them to Model 3 production may be very challenging to achieve.
That's why I think very few people will actually end up with delivered $35k Model 3's. There is no way Tesla is making money on a stripper Model 3....at least not initially. I still believe no one will end up with a true $35k Model 3 in their hands until 2019.My favorite quote - "when I was playing silly bugger with the throttle". I just have to find a way to work that into a conversation sometime
The reviewer is dead-wrong about the price flexibility of GM vs Tesla, though. It would be "nice" if GM makes a profit on the Bolt, but it won't break the bank if they get into an EV price war. The SUV and pickup market is their bread and butter. Tesla, on the other hand, can not afford to NOT make a profit on the Model 3. They have no "bread and butter" now - the Model 3 is what they hope will become the B&B. Investors are banking on it and that is the only thing holding up their stock price. 400,000 Model 3's sold at a loss would kill them. They don't show red-ink now on their quarterlies only because of various cash and accounting tricks. The cash infusions required soon to get them to Model 3 production may be very challenging to achieve.
It will be interesting to see how many people configure a base Model 3 when the order books actually open up.....and how many are enticed to upgrade to a more expensive version.
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