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... and I really liked it. I'm shopping for my first EV, and though I'm on the tesla model 3 reservation list, I'll probably get a used EV like the gen1 volt or used BMW i3 instead for about half the cost of the model 3.
(dammit I misspelled the title. "POTENTIAL used gen1 volt buyer takes first test drive." I see we can't edit the title once a thread is submitted.)
The volt's seat was very comfortable and the seat position was good. I loved how adjustable the steering column was.
The ride was smooth, quiet, and fairly quick. I really felt like I was in a lexus or some other more upscale vehicle.
I test drove a used BMW i3 last weekend and loved how responsive it was. Super quick and fun to swerve in.
I was expecting the volt to feel a lot more sluggish than the i3, but it only felt a LITTLE more sluggish. I drove it in SPORT and L modes, as others suggested, for maximum fun.
The things I didn't really like were the giant center column with all the controls. It just seems more obtrusive than it needs to be. I felt like R2D2 was sitting next to me. I think the more modern, chic, open i3 interior is better. Also the visibility wasn't great. Quite limited in the rear actually. In a car town like los angeles where I live, you really need to be able to see everything around you because of crazy drivers, pedestrians, etc and I felt like I had blinders on in the volt. The i3 had much better visibility.
I sat in 2 different gen1 volts, one with the bose stereo and one with the stock base model stereo. I'm a musician with a fairly good ear, and honestly I was expecting to be more impressed by the bose system. It sounded almost identical to the stock system. Has anyone else noticed this?
ALSO just this weekend I found out my fiance is pregnant! My first kid. So I need a vehicle that will accommodate that. I know the rear seat is big enough, but I'm more concerned about the trunk. Fellow dads - how much luck did you have squeezing a decent-sized stroller back there? Not the tiny kind that can fit anywhere, but the more sturdy kind of stroller? How easy is it for a mom to load/unload? That's another area I think the i3 might be better.
The chevy dealership was asking $19k for it, but when they could tell I wasn't going to buy today, the salesman offered it to me for $14,500! Sounded like a great deal, but it was black/black leather. I had that combo in my acura intergra long ago and it got too hot in the summer, so I'm looking for black/tan leather if I get a volt. I used to think the bose stereo was a prerequisite too, but after hearing very little difference, I'd be willing to go without it.
The model I test drive showed a lifetime MPG of 95mpg, which i think implies the driver used the gas engine fairly often, as the ones that are driven mostly electric often show MPG > 200 don't they?
In summary, I was impressed. I'm thrilled that these great cars can now be had for around 15k. I'm still deciding between the volt and i3, but whichever one I get, I'm excited to enter the world of EV driving soon.
(dammit I misspelled the title. "POTENTIAL used gen1 volt buyer takes first test drive." I see we can't edit the title once a thread is submitted.)
The volt's seat was very comfortable and the seat position was good. I loved how adjustable the steering column was.
The ride was smooth, quiet, and fairly quick. I really felt like I was in a lexus or some other more upscale vehicle.
I test drove a used BMW i3 last weekend and loved how responsive it was. Super quick and fun to swerve in.
I was expecting the volt to feel a lot more sluggish than the i3, but it only felt a LITTLE more sluggish. I drove it in SPORT and L modes, as others suggested, for maximum fun.
The things I didn't really like were the giant center column with all the controls. It just seems more obtrusive than it needs to be. I felt like R2D2 was sitting next to me. I think the more modern, chic, open i3 interior is better. Also the visibility wasn't great. Quite limited in the rear actually. In a car town like los angeles where I live, you really need to be able to see everything around you because of crazy drivers, pedestrians, etc and I felt like I had blinders on in the volt. The i3 had much better visibility.
I sat in 2 different gen1 volts, one with the bose stereo and one with the stock base model stereo. I'm a musician with a fairly good ear, and honestly I was expecting to be more impressed by the bose system. It sounded almost identical to the stock system. Has anyone else noticed this?
ALSO just this weekend I found out my fiance is pregnant! My first kid. So I need a vehicle that will accommodate that. I know the rear seat is big enough, but I'm more concerned about the trunk. Fellow dads - how much luck did you have squeezing a decent-sized stroller back there? Not the tiny kind that can fit anywhere, but the more sturdy kind of stroller? How easy is it for a mom to load/unload? That's another area I think the i3 might be better.
The chevy dealership was asking $19k for it, but when they could tell I wasn't going to buy today, the salesman offered it to me for $14,500! Sounded like a great deal, but it was black/black leather. I had that combo in my acura intergra long ago and it got too hot in the summer, so I'm looking for black/tan leather if I get a volt. I used to think the bose stereo was a prerequisite too, but after hearing very little difference, I'd be willing to go without it.
The model I test drive showed a lifetime MPG of 95mpg, which i think implies the driver used the gas engine fairly often, as the ones that are driven mostly electric often show MPG > 200 don't they?
In summary, I was impressed. I'm thrilled that these great cars can now be had for around 15k. I'm still deciding between the volt and i3, but whichever one I get, I'm excited to enter the world of EV driving soon.
