[Aspesi4]

Hi everyone -

I live in Massachusetts and with federal and state incentives, I can get $10,000 back if I purchase a new Chevy Volt. They sell around here for as low as $27,500 for the LT version which means a new Volt for less than $18,000. A steal! I also have solar on my house that produces excess energy in the summer months and throughout the year. A PHEV seems like a no brainer.

I drive about 60 miles a day to work and back and will use the Volt primarily as a M-F commuter to work. The Honda Odyssey is the family weekend vehicle.

For some reason I can't get passed the fact the car is a Chevrolet. Typically I buy Honda's or Toyota's for the strong reliability and resale. Convince me to accept the fact that the Chevy Volt is a car that is ideal for me. Change my opinion about Chevrolet.

Also, a second concern is the fact the car drops in value significantly. Is that really a problem when I'm getting it new for $18,000? In 5-6 years I'm assuming it'll be in the 8-10k range, which is still pretty good considering I would get it for so cheap.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

[ClarksonCote]

The car doesn't drop in value significantly unless someone uses "funny math" and starts with MSRP. You've already shown you can get a new one for $18k after incentives, etc. So if your car is only worth $14k or $16k after a couple years, that is actually very good depreciation.

As for it being a Chevy, it has been my first American made car and I love it. The first gen Volt was the most loved car under $50k by consumers. I also have personally "sold" (through telling people how much I love my Volt) 6 Volts at my employer, not including me, and they all love their car too.

Get over the name, and realize they're just as reliable as other brands, and you'll come to enjoy the Volt rather quickly, for all it offers, many of which you already hit on above.

 

[firehawk72]

Anyone still not buying a Chevy because it doesn't say Honda or Toyota is simply misinformed. Ford and Chevy are making some of the best and most reliable cars on the planet.

 

[Barry]

You can get a similar technology car with a Honda badge in the Clarity model. Another advantage of the Clarity is better rear seat room for the family, for when the Odyssey is not a necessity. Not trying to dis the Chevy, but pointing out an option that meets one of your stated preferences.

 

[linkim]

Hi everyone -

For some reason I can't get passed the fact the car is a Chevrolet. Typically I buy Honda's or Toyota's for the strong reliability and resale. Convince me to accept the fact that the Chevy Volt is a car that is ideal for me. Change my opinion about Chevrolet.

Also, a second concern is the fact the car drops in value significantly. Is that really a problem when I'm getting it new for $18,000? In 5-6 years I'm assuming it'll be in the 8-10k range, which is still pretty good considering I would get it for so cheap.

I was not a fan of GM, having some bad experiences with earlier models that I purchased. However, my experience so far with the 2016 Volt has been very positive, and I am happy that I have this car. I plan to keep the Volt for many years so I don't get too fixated on the depreciation.

 

[marcusm]

We have two volts (16s). Love them both. The volt is a triumph of engineering. The build quality on ours has been great, and aside from some minor software teething issues that were corrected long ago, they have been flawless performers. GM made some truly horrible cars in the later 70s and 80s, and lost generations of customers as a result. They have made very solid cars for the last 25 years in my opinion and ownership experience (two solid Chevy vans (93 and 2007 that we each had for more than 10 years) and a troublefree 2009 Pontiac g8 that was simply a fantastic (but gas guzzling) vehicle), but old and no longer deserved reputations die hard.


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[jcanoe]

The Volt remains a good choice as a commuter vehicle especially given the incentives. The main limitation is the Volt's rear seating is less than ideal for carrying adult passengers. A year ago there were fewer alternatives to the Volt. Now there are several including Honda Clarify PHEV, Toyota Prius Prime and the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV. Suggest you do more research, arrange to test drive the Volt and other PHEV and then decide.

 

[JRRF]

I will agree that Chevy is making very good cars these days. But are they built as well as a Honda? Probably not. As for mechanicals, Chevy is also making very reliable cars. But again, the Voltec system, for all it's achievements, is not as reliable as a Honda 4 banger. I'm very happy to drive my Volt (for all kinds of reasons), but if I was getting a car for my daughter, based on everything I've learned from this board, I'm not certain it would be a Volt.

 

[btown]

I would suggest taking some time to read through the various threads so you can make your own informed decision.

 

[marcusm]

The Volt remains a good choice as a commuter vehicle especially given the incentives. The main limitation is the Volt's rear seats is less than ideal for carrying adult passengers. A year ago there were fewer alternatives to the Volt. Now there are several including Honda Clarify PIHV, Toyota Prius Prime and the Chrysler Pacifica PHEV. Suggest you do more research, arrange to test drive the Volt and other PHEV and then decide.

I agree you should look at the clarity as well but, the volt is more of an EV first design than the clarity is, in that it is strongly defaulted to run on battery unless it is unable to do so and in very very rare cases if there is battery power will it turn the gas engine on if in electric mode. I would say that the volt at this point is a fairly proven design. I do agree however that the backseat room for adults is not great, and if you will be taking short trips around town they’re fine, but if you’re planning to take a longer trip regularly in the vehicle with adults in the backseat, you may want to consider other choices. The backseat room to me is the major flaw in the vehicle, but depending on your use case, it may not matter.


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[Edward Tyer]

How sad that you need convincing.... I am not the one to do it. They could tag a turd with Toyota or Honda and folks would say it smells so sweet. Why??? In part snob appeal. I am smarter and cooler than you because I drive a Japanese vehicle. (perception is reality) Chevy has zero snob appeal. Guys like me that are loyal to their dealer and their brand are so old school. Just get the Honda Clarity Plug -In and everyone will know how smart and cool you are. After all the service Depts. at the Japanese dealerships are really just for show. They never have to work on those cars....
But as for me....Chevy all the way!

 

[jcanoe]

Since you are interested in the Volt LT be aware that many of the Volt's advanced safety systems are currently only available as part of option packages: Driver Confidence Package (DC1) and Driver Confidence Package 2 (DC2). DC1 is available on the 2018 Volt LT while DC2 is only available on the 2018 Volt Premier. You can only get adaptive cruise control (ACC) if you buy a Volt Premier equipped with DC1, DC2 and full range Forward Automatic Braking. Honda and Toyota may offer more of the advanced safety systems as standard equipment than does Chevrolet.

 

[BAZINGA]

I suggest arranging a test drive of the vehicles you are interested in. IMHO these test drive's will answer your question.

 

[emg77]

Don't worry about depreciation unless you plan to sell it in 5-6 years. I paid $17k last year for a 3 year old one, so if I could have bought new for $18k, I certainly would have. Buy it, drive it for 8 years/100k miles (the length of the warranty on all the Voltec equipment + battery) or longer and depreciation isn't a worry. Check the warranty coverage too, it's quite good on the Volt. The Volts are great cars. Test drive it and see if you like it. Like you said, at $18k this car is a steal.

 

[marcusm]

At 18k I would not hesitate. The battery and drivetrain warranties make that a pretty safe bet.

 

[JRRF]

They could tag a turd with Toyota or Honda and folks would say it smells so sweet. Why??? In part snob appeal.

Snob appeal? Really? Honda and Toyota are still seen as inexpensive cars. They just happen to be very well made. Their entire reputation is built not on flash, but substance. The reason Acura and Lexus exist today is for Japanese snob appeal.

 

[Synovialbasher]

I was like you. I really did not want to go back to any GM product ever after my Chevy Cobalt. The negligence was comical with that car... I went with a Volt because there wasn't much out there that I could pick up used that could function as my primary car (college student here!) I take roadtrips to the other side of the state often, so I needed the ability to go farther if I wanted to. My Gen I volt has a very appliance-like vibe to it. It brings me to work, school, and home. Now that the Voltec power train has been on the market for 8 years, it's definitely refined, and I trust it to go the distance (if you're buying new, though, the warranty will have you covered should something go awry). With that being said, the Clarity is a nice car too, and in my opinion it is definitely a sharp looking car. Back in October, I was planning on buying a newer Civic, but when I added up just how much I'd save with the Volt, I decided I could have a cool car later and a practical commuter for now. I'd say sit in both and drive them around! Ultimately, if the Chevrolet emblem on the front will bother you every time you get in the car, I'd get something else. All this is just my opinion; I'm very pleased with my Volt and owning it has chipped away at my distaste for GM cars.

 

[firehawk72]

Snob appeal? Really? Honda and Toyota are still seen as inexpensive cars. They just happen to be very well made. Their entire reputation is built not on flash, but substance. The reason Acura and Lexus exist today is for Japanese snob appeal.

The point is. Ford and Chevy make very well made cars; however, the perception still lies in that a Honda is automatically better (or Toyota) than a Chevy or Ford. For some, its almost like, "You purchased a Chevy?" Why didn't you just purchase a Honda instead? That is where the "snobby" part comes in.

I have personally seen and experienced this. No big deal though. I don't purchase and worry about others opinion of my purchase.

 

[spanman]

....For some reason I can't get passed the fact the car is a Chevrolet. Typically I buy Honda's or Toyota's for the strong reliability and resale. Convince me to accept the fact that the Chevy Volt is a car that is ideal for me. Change my opinion about Chevrolet....

After a 30-year run of Japanese cars -- Nissans, Mazdas, Toyotas -- I've driven a Volt since 2014. I can honestly say, without exception, the Volt is the best engineered and most reliable automobile I've ever owned.

 

[Edward Tyer]

Just one example of the pro Japanese bias..... When the Chevy Volt could seat only 4 the media went crazy. Now that the Prius Prime seats only 4, it's no longer a major problem. That glaring drawback is swept away by the glow of the big Toyota emblem on the grill. And please....Have you looked at the Clarity and or the Prius. If GM did styling like that today, there would be unparalleled castigation of the American automobile industry from every corner. The Emperor has no clothes! How can the Silverado/Suburban/Tahoes be so good and so popular and the Volt/Malibu/Impala be so bad. It's perception....driven in part by the need to feel that in abandoning an American product you certainly were smarter because you drive a better car.