Hi all, new Gen-2 Volt owner from Michigan.
Just a warning - this might be a long intro, so Volt-related information is up top.
Just had my 2017 Volt delivered to the house on Thursday night, and even though I've only had it a few days, I'm definitely loving it.
It's a Summit White LT with Jet Black leather, Comfort Package and the Bose Audio System.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Now, this was not what I'd call an "expected" purchase, but it all worked out pretty well in the end, I'd say. It was a dealer loaner, so I got it with 3927 miles on the odometer - but our dealer/salesperson is fantastic and it worked out to be a fantastic deal. It really made the most sense (my other choices were custom-ordering the dealer's one allocated ZR2 as an extended cab Duramax config, or a 2017 Cruze Diesel LT sedan), and when you factor in the tax credit (which is still applicable since the car is considered "new", as it's never been sold), there was no comparison. Being able to get to work and back without using gasoline is really going to make it even more worth it. The more and more I thought about it, the more and more I knew the Volt was the right car.
As for why I needed the car...well, my previous winter beater/secondary spring, summer & fall car, my '98 Cavalier with 260k miles (which my wife bought in 2012 for $800 with 214k miles, and I have kept running ever since) had a bit of an...incident.
Driving to work at 6:20AM (so it was dark), the rain picked up to torrential levels. I couldn't see the lane markers - or the lines at the edge of the road (a 50mph road, no less). Road curved - I didn't. Hit the curb straight on, then 200 feet in the grass, then hit a hydrant and ripped it out of the ground. Tank of a car, kept my wife and I safe, but the sill took a beating and advanced the creeping rust almost instantaneously.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
If it weren't for the sill, and the extra rust I found (via my jack going through the pinch flange), I'd have fixed it (again - I already replaced the front subframe before). But alas, it's time to move on from our old girl. As crappy and ornery as the car was, it really was a good car - certainly got our 800 dollar's worth multiple times over!
As for the other cars...
My wife's car (which lead to me getting the Cavalier from her back in 2014) is a 2014 Cruze Diesel. Black Granite Metallic, Jet Black Leather, Safety Package, Convenience Package, Pioneer Audio System. Fantastic car - and absolutely kills it on the freeway. The diesel torque is a blast too (on the dyno last year, it definitely proved the 280 lb-ft overboost rating is a touch underrated). Stock except for the MSR 013 wheels (stock wheels have the Xi3s for winter) and LED interior and plate lights.
![]()
My toy car is my previous full-time DD (which I coincidentally bought after my first car, a red '86 IROC, was hit by a drunk driver the day before my high-school graduation party), and is another Summit White car, a 2007 Cobalt LT Coupe. 2.2L L61 with the 4T45E 4-speed auto.
I'm probably going to forget something, as the list is extraordinarily long, but it has a M62 superchager, 2.9" pulley, ported throttle body, SVT Cobra heat exchanger, modified SS/SC intake with a cone filter, ZZP mid-length ceramic coated header, ZZP 2.5" stainless catted downpipe, SS/TC 2.5" exhaust with Magnaflow resonator, Trifecta tune, TTR poly engine/trans mounts.
SS/TC FE5 Struts/Shocks, SSC lowering springs, SS/SC FE5 front sway bar with Moog end links, Powell "Hardcore" 1.25" rear sway bar, Hawk HPS Brake Pads, MSR 045 18" wheels with Dunlop Direzza ZII 225/40R18 tires (factory steelies and all-seasons for winter storage).
SS/SC G85 Recaro front seats, Leather rear seats, ZZP triple gauge pod (Boost/Vac, Voltmeter, Innovate LC-1 Wideband), Custom-wrapped/foamed armrest, SS/SC 160mph cluster, LED Dome/trunk lights, JL Audio 2 x 12" w1v2 subs, Alpine 500W monoblock amp, A/D/S component front and rear speakers.
Blacked out bowties, Black-painted front grilles, Black headlight buckets with Niteshaded side markers, Niteshaded and cleared taillights, 6000K High/Low HIDs, LED License Plate Light.
Whew. I think that's it.
![]()
![]()
![]()
Lastly is the newest (well, prior to the Volt) and oldest addition, my '81 Camaro Z28. My uncle bought the car new and gave it to me last year. It's a California car, has the LG4 305 ci V8 and a ST10 4-speed manual. T-tops, Deluxe Interior, Air Conditioning - it has I think nearly every option except the 350 (because that required the automatic).
It's mostly stock, but has some really cool 80's stereo equipment. Zapco Class AB Amp, Zapco Pre-Amp/Equalizer in the center console, JVC ribbon tweeters in the doors, Pyle 8" woofers and SEAS 4.5" mids in the rear deck, Kenwood tape deck.
As to why it looks that way...well, my uncle got a bit carried away with an orbital buffer back in the day, and then it sat in the baking LA sun for years and years.
All I did last year besides cleaning it was install Bilstein B6 shocks (stockers were more than gone - the fronts weren't even attached at the top!) and new BFG Radial T/A tires.
Plenty of plans for this one - currently have long tubes out for ceramic coating. Those will be going in this spring. The car dynoed at 147 whp, which for being rated at 165 HP (at the crank), 36 years ago...and not being driven regularly in 20 years at least...was pretty excellent.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
For those of you still here - I wasn't kidding when I said it would be long.
Just a warning - this might be a long intro, so Volt-related information is up top.
Just had my 2017 Volt delivered to the house on Thursday night, and even though I've only had it a few days, I'm definitely loving it.
It's a Summit White LT with Jet Black leather, Comfort Package and the Bose Audio System.
Now, this was not what I'd call an "expected" purchase, but it all worked out pretty well in the end, I'd say. It was a dealer loaner, so I got it with 3927 miles on the odometer - but our dealer/salesperson is fantastic and it worked out to be a fantastic deal. It really made the most sense (my other choices were custom-ordering the dealer's one allocated ZR2 as an extended cab Duramax config, or a 2017 Cruze Diesel LT sedan), and when you factor in the tax credit (which is still applicable since the car is considered "new", as it's never been sold), there was no comparison. Being able to get to work and back without using gasoline is really going to make it even more worth it. The more and more I thought about it, the more and more I knew the Volt was the right car.
As for why I needed the car...well, my previous winter beater/secondary spring, summer & fall car, my '98 Cavalier with 260k miles (which my wife bought in 2012 for $800 with 214k miles, and I have kept running ever since) had a bit of an...incident.
Driving to work at 6:20AM (so it was dark), the rain picked up to torrential levels. I couldn't see the lane markers - or the lines at the edge of the road (a 50mph road, no less). Road curved - I didn't. Hit the curb straight on, then 200 feet in the grass, then hit a hydrant and ripped it out of the ground. Tank of a car, kept my wife and I safe, but the sill took a beating and advanced the creeping rust almost instantaneously.
If it weren't for the sill, and the extra rust I found (via my jack going through the pinch flange), I'd have fixed it (again - I already replaced the front subframe before). But alas, it's time to move on from our old girl. As crappy and ornery as the car was, it really was a good car - certainly got our 800 dollar's worth multiple times over!
As for the other cars...
My wife's car (which lead to me getting the Cavalier from her back in 2014) is a 2014 Cruze Diesel. Black Granite Metallic, Jet Black Leather, Safety Package, Convenience Package, Pioneer Audio System. Fantastic car - and absolutely kills it on the freeway. The diesel torque is a blast too (on the dyno last year, it definitely proved the 280 lb-ft overboost rating is a touch underrated). Stock except for the MSR 013 wheels (stock wheels have the Xi3s for winter) and LED interior and plate lights.
My toy car is my previous full-time DD (which I coincidentally bought after my first car, a red '86 IROC, was hit by a drunk driver the day before my high-school graduation party), and is another Summit White car, a 2007 Cobalt LT Coupe. 2.2L L61 with the 4T45E 4-speed auto.
I'm probably going to forget something, as the list is extraordinarily long, but it has a M62 superchager, 2.9" pulley, ported throttle body, SVT Cobra heat exchanger, modified SS/SC intake with a cone filter, ZZP mid-length ceramic coated header, ZZP 2.5" stainless catted downpipe, SS/TC 2.5" exhaust with Magnaflow resonator, Trifecta tune, TTR poly engine/trans mounts.
SS/TC FE5 Struts/Shocks, SSC lowering springs, SS/SC FE5 front sway bar with Moog end links, Powell "Hardcore" 1.25" rear sway bar, Hawk HPS Brake Pads, MSR 045 18" wheels with Dunlop Direzza ZII 225/40R18 tires (factory steelies and all-seasons for winter storage).
SS/SC G85 Recaro front seats, Leather rear seats, ZZP triple gauge pod (Boost/Vac, Voltmeter, Innovate LC-1 Wideband), Custom-wrapped/foamed armrest, SS/SC 160mph cluster, LED Dome/trunk lights, JL Audio 2 x 12" w1v2 subs, Alpine 500W monoblock amp, A/D/S component front and rear speakers.
Blacked out bowties, Black-painted front grilles, Black headlight buckets with Niteshaded side markers, Niteshaded and cleared taillights, 6000K High/Low HIDs, LED License Plate Light.
Whew. I think that's it.
Lastly is the newest (well, prior to the Volt) and oldest addition, my '81 Camaro Z28. My uncle bought the car new and gave it to me last year. It's a California car, has the LG4 305 ci V8 and a ST10 4-speed manual. T-tops, Deluxe Interior, Air Conditioning - it has I think nearly every option except the 350 (because that required the automatic).
It's mostly stock, but has some really cool 80's stereo equipment. Zapco Class AB Amp, Zapco Pre-Amp/Equalizer in the center console, JVC ribbon tweeters in the doors, Pyle 8" woofers and SEAS 4.5" mids in the rear deck, Kenwood tape deck.
As to why it looks that way...well, my uncle got a bit carried away with an orbital buffer back in the day, and then it sat in the baking LA sun for years and years.
All I did last year besides cleaning it was install Bilstein B6 shocks (stockers were more than gone - the fronts weren't even attached at the top!) and new BFG Radial T/A tires.
Plenty of plans for this one - currently have long tubes out for ceramic coating. Those will be going in this spring. The car dynoed at 147 whp, which for being rated at 165 HP (at the crank), 36 years ago...and not being driven regularly in 20 years at least...was pretty excellent.
For those of you still here - I wasn't kidding when I said it would be long.
Welcome to the club.
