We have been strongly considering the purchase of a Volt for a few months now, but given my analytic nature, I know I have to consider all options for new and slightly used cars, and balance features and costs to arrive at a decision of what truly is the "best car" for us.
Like many Volt owners, the idea of driving gas free (or nearly so) is very enticing (regardless of your reasons). Cost is also a factor, and I'm most aware of the "total operating cost" of the Volt over the long haul. The geek factor is pretty high on the Volt, and we're both total techie geek types (I'm a software engineer and she does support for computer systems), so the Volt definitely maxes out in that category!
I drive 15k to 16k miles a year currently. My daily commute is just over 40 miles round trip, but I also tend to drive about 5 miles at lunch, and we'd probably always drive my Volt (or whatever) on the weekend shopping trips. The chances of me being able to plug in at work every day are slim, so I'd probably wind up dipping into gas nearly every day on my way home, especially during the brutal Texas summers. I'm estimating about $25 in electricity and about one tank of gas every month for my driving patterns in a Volt. Obviously, a lease is NOT an option for me.
Which brings me to the competition:
A Prius of any flavor is simply not an option for me, as I find it repulsive in every way. Moving on...
I recently discovered the Ford Fusion and its forthcoming Hybrid models. To get a Fusion equipped similarly to the Volt that we've been looking for (which has an MSRP of $42,560, for reference), I think a Fusion Hybrid Titanium is required. We went to the local Ford shop yesterday, and were told that those models would not be on lots until probably February (what a bummer), but I did drive a Fusion SE with the smaller turbo and 6spd auto, which has similar power ratings to the Hybrid, but the Hybrid will have a CVT (which I personally find atrocious). To get the Fusion closer to real Volt performance, you'll have to wait for the Energi plug-in model, which from what I've found will sticker for about $39.5k, $41k for the Titanium trim level, and only get half the tax credit of the Volt at $3750.
http://www.plugincars.com/ford-prices-2013-fusion-energi-39495-125445.html
This plug-in should get me about 20 miles of electric driving, so I'd be doing real good just to get to work before the gas engine kicked on, and I'd definitely burn a lot more gas. I figure fuel cost per month, for me, would be about $15 in electricity, and easily twice the gas usage, but it would get probably 47MPG or better, based on the Hybrid's 47/47/47 EPA ratings.
It's impossible for me to know exactly what my monthly payments might be on a Fusion Energi Titanium at this point, but as far as I can tell, Ford won't be giving a $2k cash rebate at purchase, with 0% interest, or discounts off MSRP like I have already been offered at my local Chevy dealership, and the tax credit is nearly $4k less. I'd use MORE gas, have about the same car payment, get less tax back, but I'd have a larger car with 5 usable seats and a more spacious back seat and a little more trunk space (although to be honest, I much prefer hatchbacks, so the overall form factor of the Volt is a plus for me).
If you've read this far, I think you can tell which way I'm already leaning, but I still think Ford will sell a lot of Fusion Hybrids, and possibly a fair number of Energi models, if they can figure out a good way to market them. The '13 Fusion is FAR superior to the last model (which I hated to drive), and these cars will undoubtedly draw some potential Volt buyers. Then again, it may also help Volt sales by getting "normal" consumers to think more about alternative / hybrid / fully electric capable drive-trains, after Ford starts spending money on advertising them.
I personally find it a bit of a stretch to pay upper $30k's for a mid-range Ford product, but some would say that buying a compact Chevy for mid-$30k's (after tax credit) is also foolish. I'm attempting a fair, rational analysis of options for car buyers that want to minimize gas usage, even if there's a premium to pay upfront for those savings.
Ford isn't selling these cars yet, but they will be soon, and it will be a direct competitor to the Volt, IMO. For people with 3 kids, it will be the only choice other than a Prius. I just hope GM gets their Voltec platform into more models soon (and they don't all have to be halo cars!).
I'm interested in what pros and cons you all have in this comparison of a
~$43k Volt (less $7500 tax credit) with a ~40 mile electric range and ~40MPG gas rating, versus a
~$41k Fusion Energi Titanium (less $3750 tax credit) with a ~20 mile electric range and ~47MPG gas rating.
Thanks!
Like many Volt owners, the idea of driving gas free (or nearly so) is very enticing (regardless of your reasons). Cost is also a factor, and I'm most aware of the "total operating cost" of the Volt over the long haul. The geek factor is pretty high on the Volt, and we're both total techie geek types (I'm a software engineer and she does support for computer systems), so the Volt definitely maxes out in that category!
I drive 15k to 16k miles a year currently. My daily commute is just over 40 miles round trip, but I also tend to drive about 5 miles at lunch, and we'd probably always drive my Volt (or whatever) on the weekend shopping trips. The chances of me being able to plug in at work every day are slim, so I'd probably wind up dipping into gas nearly every day on my way home, especially during the brutal Texas summers. I'm estimating about $25 in electricity and about one tank of gas every month for my driving patterns in a Volt. Obviously, a lease is NOT an option for me.
Which brings me to the competition:
A Prius of any flavor is simply not an option for me, as I find it repulsive in every way. Moving on...
I recently discovered the Ford Fusion and its forthcoming Hybrid models. To get a Fusion equipped similarly to the Volt that we've been looking for (which has an MSRP of $42,560, for reference), I think a Fusion Hybrid Titanium is required. We went to the local Ford shop yesterday, and were told that those models would not be on lots until probably February (what a bummer), but I did drive a Fusion SE with the smaller turbo and 6spd auto, which has similar power ratings to the Hybrid, but the Hybrid will have a CVT (which I personally find atrocious). To get the Fusion closer to real Volt performance, you'll have to wait for the Energi plug-in model, which from what I've found will sticker for about $39.5k, $41k for the Titanium trim level, and only get half the tax credit of the Volt at $3750.
http://www.plugincars.com/ford-prices-2013-fusion-energi-39495-125445.html
This plug-in should get me about 20 miles of electric driving, so I'd be doing real good just to get to work before the gas engine kicked on, and I'd definitely burn a lot more gas. I figure fuel cost per month, for me, would be about $15 in electricity, and easily twice the gas usage, but it would get probably 47MPG or better, based on the Hybrid's 47/47/47 EPA ratings.
It's impossible for me to know exactly what my monthly payments might be on a Fusion Energi Titanium at this point, but as far as I can tell, Ford won't be giving a $2k cash rebate at purchase, with 0% interest, or discounts off MSRP like I have already been offered at my local Chevy dealership, and the tax credit is nearly $4k less. I'd use MORE gas, have about the same car payment, get less tax back, but I'd have a larger car with 5 usable seats and a more spacious back seat and a little more trunk space (although to be honest, I much prefer hatchbacks, so the overall form factor of the Volt is a plus for me).
If you've read this far, I think you can tell which way I'm already leaning, but I still think Ford will sell a lot of Fusion Hybrids, and possibly a fair number of Energi models, if they can figure out a good way to market them. The '13 Fusion is FAR superior to the last model (which I hated to drive), and these cars will undoubtedly draw some potential Volt buyers. Then again, it may also help Volt sales by getting "normal" consumers to think more about alternative / hybrid / fully electric capable drive-trains, after Ford starts spending money on advertising them.
I personally find it a bit of a stretch to pay upper $30k's for a mid-range Ford product, but some would say that buying a compact Chevy for mid-$30k's (after tax credit) is also foolish. I'm attempting a fair, rational analysis of options for car buyers that want to minimize gas usage, even if there's a premium to pay upfront for those savings.
Ford isn't selling these cars yet, but they will be soon, and it will be a direct competitor to the Volt, IMO. For people with 3 kids, it will be the only choice other than a Prius. I just hope GM gets their Voltec platform into more models soon (and they don't all have to be halo cars!).
I'm interested in what pros and cons you all have in this comparison of a
~$43k Volt (less $7500 tax credit) with a ~40 mile electric range and ~40MPG gas rating, versus a
~$41k Fusion Energi Titanium (less $3750 tax credit) with a ~20 mile electric range and ~47MPG gas rating.
Thanks!