[Rosenkavalier]

Hey there - been away for a while, living the Volt dream. Almost exactly 3 weeks ago, I got into a wreck where I ran into the back of a rather large pickup with a low-hanging tow hitch (the pickup didn't even get a scratch). The hitch shoved my radiator back into the engine compartment, and for some time now it wasn't clear if the damage was reparable - the initial estimate from the adjuster was obviously incomplete, but I was still hopeful.

Earlier this evening, I got the word that when the body shop (at the dealer where I bought the Volt) completed the teardown, there was too much damage to the high voltage systems. The repair costs exceeded the book value of the car, even before including a possible crack in the transmission that they hadn't even started examining in detail. So they are going to total the car.

Now I'm looking at the 2017 Gen2 Volt. Back when I first had the wreck, I did a short test drive of a 2017 at the local dealer, and was pleased - but I'm looking for some thoughts/feedback/warnings as I make a final decision in the next week or so. I've started working my way through the recent forum posts, so I'm getting up to speed as quickly as possible - but I'd appreciate any pointers folks can provide. Thanks.

 

[16513]

You will like Gen 2. Buy one.

 

[audguy]

Don't run into anything with this one? /s

 

[bro1999]

Pretty much if you liked Gen 1, you will like Gen 2. The styling of the Gen 2 is what seems to be the biggest "issue" with some people. But the guts are the same (well, actually improved across the board).

 

[dutch husky]

Sorry to hear about your Volt.

I just bought a Gen 2 myself, and while I've never owned a Gen 1, I struggle, based on what I know, to find anything that is a downgrade from Gen 1. The only thing that I can honestly think of is the lack of Homelink on Gen 2.

Better EV range, more spacious interior, sportier appearance (IMHO), better ICE mileage, better infotainment, quieter ICE, etc.

Unless you really had mixed feelings about your previous Volt (which seems a rarity at least on this forum), I think you'll find everything on Gen 2 to be a nice improvement.

And by the way, there are some really good deals to be had on used 2016's and 2017's out there. Might make sense depending on your tax situation. Good luck!

 

[audguy]

Gen 2s don't have the garage door opener and are also missing the ped horn. but other than that they are so much better! I had a 13 now I have a 17.

 

[firehawk72]

Try ACC to be Accident Free

Hey there - been away for a while, living the Volt dream. Almost exactly 3 weeks ago, I got into a wreck where I ran into the back of a rather large pickup with a low-hanging tow hitch (the pickup didn't even get a scratch). The hitch shoved my radiator back into the engine compartment, and for some time now it wasn't clear if the damage was reparable - the initial estimate from the adjuster was obviously incomplete, but I was still hopeful.

Earlier this evening, I got the word that when the body shop (at the dealer where I bought the Volt) completed the teardown, there was too much damage to the high voltage systems. The repair costs exceeded the book value of the car, even before including a possible crack in the transmission that they hadn't even started examining in detail. So they are going to total the car.

Now I'm looking at the 2017 Gen2 Volt. Back when I first had the wreck, I did a short test drive of a 2017 at the local dealer, and was pleased - but I'm looking for some thoughts/feedback/warnings as I make a final decision in the next week or so. I've started working my way through the recent forum posts, so I'm getting up to speed as quickly as possible - but I'd appreciate any pointers folks can provide. Thanks.

Make absolutely sure you get a Gen 2 Volt with ACC (or at the very least Driver Confidence 2) as they may prevent the next rear end collision

 

[BillG]

Make sure you get a Premier with Driver Confidence II Package (includes Low-speed Front Automatic Braking).

 

[jbakerjonathan]

My son is leasing a 2016. Both he and I agree that the seats are not as supportive in the lumbar region as in the Gen1 (I own a 2014). Apparently someone else concurs: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?267241

That said, he loves the car. You might want to consider tax credits I wrote about in http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?267265-After-9k-in-repairs-what-s-my-poor-Volt-s-future - post #8.

 

[Rosenkavalier]

Thanks for the feedback. The 2017 Volt that's currently at the dealer (that I took for that test drive, which is the color and trim level I'm looking for) does have both driver packages from the factory, so I'd get that from day one. I've read some of the 'user mod' posts about Homelink for the Gen 2's, so I'll have to decide if I want to go that route later on.

In terms of the wreck - my 2013/Gen 1 Volt did have one odd behavior that occasionally popped up from time to time, and I have wondered if it played some factor in the wreck.

[Tinfoil Hat Mode On] The traction control always seemed...a little off. Sometimes when I'd drive over a tiny patch of gravel, the entire car would suddenly feel like I was driving on the largest sheet of ice in the world for about 3-4 seconds, and then the car would right itself. This wasn't consistent, but it seemed like the sensors that determined how and when to engage the ABS in harmony with the transmission would get - well, confused.

The night of the wreck, two opposing things were going on: it had been raining, so the road was slick (but not covered in water to the level of aquaplaning). But, about 1 hour before, I had just purchased four brand-new high quality tires, so I had the maximum traction that would be available under those circumstances. I wasn't tailgating the truck in front of me, and when I hit the brakes, it kinda felt like the car went into neutral.

Given the state of the car, I'll never know for sure, but I still have this doubt in the back of my mind about that traction control system. I'm thinking of trying to sneak in a traction test when I do my follow-up test drive of the 2017 Volt before I definitely make up my mind. [Tinfoil Hat Mode Off]

 

[Rosenkavalier]

I was at the dealer, getting the last few things out of the crashed Volt, so I took a few pictures and thought I'd share in case anyone was interested.

This is what it looked like on the night of the wreck - the damage didn't seem that bad on the surface, but there were some bad signs in terms of the behavior of the car within a few minutes afterwards. Later, when I went to the body shop to get a few things out of the car, I powered it up to reset the auto-locking to make life easier on the techs - and even though the power reserve indicated it had about 50% charge, the engine immediately started running (and sounded dreadful).

The following pictures are after the body shop did their teardown - getting the front bumper and the damaged radiator out of the way. You can see a lot more of the key systems exposed in this view.

This is with the hood raised, and looking down into the engine compartment. What the body shop guy told me was that virtually every high-voltage line was damaged in some way, the A/C lines were pierced, and that the transmission control box was cracked. By the time they tallied up the damage - without digging any further - they had already blown past the book value of the car.

So I decided to pick up the 2017 Volt that the dealer had in stock (that I was mentioning in this thread: http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?267401-ACC-Availability-in-Late-2016-Impacting-Best-Deal) that had the features I wanted. After everything we did tonight - another test drive, more paperwork, finding data online - it was dark when I left. I'll be back tomorrow to complete the payment process, but this is what I should be driving home tomorrow:

 

[twoheeldrive]

Sorry to hear about that. At least no one was hurt. Those new tires might have done you in. It takes about 500 miles for the mold release oil to wear off. Until then, new tires can be really slippery.

 

[Fourdoor]

As long as you can get used to putting your left foot somewhere other than that torture device they used to replace the dead pedal you will be fine

Options to look for:

I think that the optional heated seats and steering wheel are more useful in a warm climate than a cold climate, if your area of Texas has mild winter weather you can drive with zero use of climate control by using the heated seats and wheel. Doing that up north is a recipe for hypothermia.

The safety packages are just that, safety package driver aids... lane keep assist is NOT Tesla auto-pilot. But it does help if you are looking away from the road and start to drift out of a lane. They really help compensate for the poor rear visibility.

ACC and auto high beam headlights. If you do a bunch of commuting in heavy traffic highway conditions you will probably love ACC and find the "intelibeam" headlights useless. My commute is 90% at a steady 55 mph with no real traffic on curvy rural 2 lane blacktop so I am the opposite, ACC would have done nothing for me, but the intelibeam headlights are fantastic.

Brandy and Black (Black and Tan) interior is fantastic looking but the light color does reflect in the windshield really bad. If you are easily distracted or OCD it will drive you mad... most of us get used to it really quickly.

Keith