Quick Volt questions if you don't mind

3924 Views 58 Replies 21 Participants Last post by photonburst, Aug 19, 2017

bcsteeve

Discussion Starter · Jul 29, 2017

I'm sorry I haven't read through to see where the appropriate place to post might be. I feel in "crisis mode" - although I have to laugh at myself (first world problems).

I had my heart set on a Tesla Model 3. So much so that I pretty much ignored or dismissed other possibilities. The big 'reveal' was tonight and I was sorely disappointed. I remember the Volt was probably my #2 choice (although distant). I'm wondering if you wouldn't mind providing some insight that I can't really look up with facts and figures.

#1 - I live in a mountainous region. Long steep grades (8.5% - so not insane, but significant) and high speeds (120kph / 75mph). When the electric range is used up, how is this thing in the hills? I drive a Honda Fit now and it is woefully underpowered and I often can't hold the speed limit. More bothersome, however, is how bloody loud it is from the engine noise. That's a main reason I wanted a BEV.

#2 - It is listed as having a tiny 10.5 cubic foot cargo space... surely it isn't really that little, is it? When the seats are folded, etc... can you make a trip to Costco of any significance? Or is it as useless in that regard as the specs indicate?

#3 - How is it for tall guys? I'm 6'4, mostly in the legs. For anyone that's driven a Honda Fit... that's about as tight as I can go. I wouldn't call it comfortable, but I manage.

#4 - One problem with the Fit is that my kid... er... no longer "fits" (pun avoided as best as I could). He's 5 and still in a child seat and he's getting cramped. Again, can anyone relate to the Fit?

I'm really hoping someone's got experience with both the Volt and the Fit and can advise if I'm looking at a significant upgrade or not.

Thanks so much.

See less See more

21 - 40 of 59 Posts

bcsteeve

Discussion Starter · #21 · Jul 29, 2017

llninja said:
I think it's moderated until you have 10 posts. But don't try any tricks like one guy who posted 10 times with 1, 2, 3... in an attempt to het to 20. Think he got a wrist slapping for that. But if you look at my number of posts, I really need to find a different hobby

I already seem to be cleared to go, so either its only 3 posts or else the moderator just determines I'm not a bot and removes my leash. Either way... I'm here now

llninja

· #22 · Jul 29, 2017

bcsteeve said:
I hadn't thought about the hand-down. Though, given the point in EV history we are (just a few years away from tons of options I think), I'm wondering if this isn't the time to lease. I've never leased before, but maybe looking at this as a monthly payment instead of an ownership thing might be better this time.

I don't know.

I just drew out a spreadsheet comparing the 3, S, X, Volt and my current Honda. It further rules out the 3 for me, and virtually dismisses the idea of standing pat. It highlights the things lacking in the Volt compared to Tesla - and they are considerable - but the price + things that really count = pretty good.

Test drive time.

Cheers.

Bob, don't lease. It is often the most expensive way to operate a vehicle. Others in this forum will disagree with me, but I'm against anything that gets you into a vehicle before you can afford it.

BillG

· #23 · Jul 29, 2017

Then there's the 1% where I go north... maybe 1 trip every 5 years or so... no EV can go there. But then for that we'll either keep the Honda (probably not) or rent something.

The Volt won't have any problem with the 1%.

Coppersnowboarder

· #24 · Jul 29, 2017

I drive a Volt in the highest mountain region of the United States on passes at 10,000 to 11,000 feet. In Mountain Mode, the Volt has no problem climbing Vail Pass at 70 MPH. If I go entirely off the battery bank and run-out of electricity, the generator range extender has trouble climbing Vail Pass at greater than 45 MPH.

I finished a three-week vacation through the Pacific Northwest this week and had no problem fitting three tents, two sleeping bags, a car camping stove, a backpack, a bag of clothes, a water cooler, an ice chest, and two food boxes into the cargo area with the seats folded-down.

I am 6'2" and have no problem fitting into the Volt.

The rear seats are worthless for adult passengers. No leg room.

My fuel economy on the 4,000-mile trip at high-speed freeway speeds with full air-conditioning to fight 100-degree heat across the deserts was 38 MPG. Last year, a 4,000-mile trip through the northern Rockies gave me 42 MPG. My lifetime average is 80 MPG.

See less See more

Random

· #25 · Jul 29, 2017 (Edited)

If you don't fall in love with either of the Volt or Bolt, I would hold off a year or two. While bigger than the FIT, or at least a more conventional form factor, the Volt is certainly not a "large" car.

EVs and PHEVs are evolving quickly. Another approach might be to wait.

Why did you say it would not work up north? I think there have been posts from Volt drivers in the very harshest of climates, including Alaska. The battery range is winter reduced, but it works normally with the range extender. The lowest we get here is -25 F to -30 F, no problems so far.

hellsop

· #26 · Jul 30, 2017

madmike said:
Agree the volt is a nice car to hand down. Very safe, efficient and dependable

As far as I know, we're still at "Nobody's ever died inside a Gen 1 Volt".

obermd

· #27 · Jul 30, 2017

BillG said:
The Volt won't have any problem with the 1%.

My thought as well. There are still large parts of North America where you can get liquid recharges (gasoline) but not electric. The Volt can go where no EV, including Tesla, can go.

bcsteeve

Discussion Starter · #28 · Jul 30, 2017

llninja said:
Bob, don't lease. It is often the most expensive way to operate a vehicle. Others in this forum will disagree with me, but I'm against anything that gets you into a vehicle before you can afford it.

I'm Steve, not Bob

I've never leased and I agree about affording it. I always save up and buy my vehicles outright, and this next one would be no different... except that I think we're on a precipice of having a ton of options in 3 years, so leasing may be a better option knowing I probably won't want to keep it (other than to pass on to my son, but that's premature). So that's really my only reason to consider leasing... timing.

BillG said:
The Volt won't have any problem with the 1%.

Yep, I know. I was referring to EVs with the 1% statement. The Volt will have that advantage over EV no matter what the range is... until we get to the inevitable point in the future where gas stations are rarities. But that's a long time out (I hope I'm wrong! I'd love to see EV take over that completely quickly)

Random said:
If you don't fall in love with either of the Volt or Bolt, I would hold off a year or two.

I don't want to wait, to be honest. I don't feel safe for my family in the winter in the Fit. I'm a little ashamed that I've risked it this many winters. It isn't very stable and it is horrible in the snow. We already got very lucky in a crash once when my kid was just a baby. That thing just slips out without warning even with top of the line winter tires. Until a couple of years ago I couldn't do anything about it, but then I wanted to wait for the Model 3. Now - honestly - I wish I would have gotten a Volt then.

Random said:
Why did you say it would not work up north?

Sorry I wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to weather. I just meant that North of me there is zero charging infrastructure for an EV.

See less See more

bcsteeve

Discussion Starter · #29 · Jul 30, 2017

Hmm... I was talking with a friend about the Volt today and he asked me a good question I didn't have an answer to:

What about if you never/rarely use the gas motor? What if, for example, you go a year or two never driving more than the pure-electric range allows for. Is the car smart enough to ensure it doesn't seize up from disuse? Is this a valid concern?

marcusm

· #30 · Jul 30, 2017

bcsteeve said:
Hmm... I was talking with a friend about the Volt today and he asked me a good question I didn't have an answer to:

What about if you never/rarely use the gas motor? What if, for example, you go a year or two never driving more than the pure-electric range allows for. Is the car smart enough to ensure it doesn't seize up from disuse? Is this a valid concern?

No concern. The car is smart and will run the combustion engine in what is called Engine Maintenance Mode every 3 months I think to keep everything flowing and lubricated. We hardly ever use the gas engine other than in the dead of winter when the electric range drops and the motor is useful to get the car heated. So EMM runs on ours every few months the rest of the year for us. The car also has a fuel maintenance mode to burn up old gas before it gets too stale. They programmed a lot of self maintenance features in the combustion engine as they know for many it will be rarely used.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

llninja

· #31 · Jul 30, 2017

The Chevy website has downloadable user manuals which are an awesome read for those who like to geek out on the volt. I read mine the night before picking up my white diamond tricoat as I had to move some money around to get a big check together after we took our test drive and decided to buy it. Most user manuals are pretty useless because a lot of things are common sense, but this one has all sorts of tidbits that you'll never find in an ICEr owner's manual. I skimmed mine cover to cover that night - it was the only way to get through the night without going crazy thinking about the car .... oh wait, that was going crazy thinking about the car.

The 2013 manual also has some interesting typos. For example, it talks about motorized retractable side mirrors which don't exist.

wizard_of-ahs

· #32 · Jul 30, 2017

llninja said:
The Chevy website has downloadable user manuals which are an awesome read for those who like to geek out on the volt. I read mine the night before picking up my white diamond tricoat as I had to move some money around to get a big check together after we took our test drive and decided to buy it. Most user manuals are pretty useless because a lot of things are common sense, but this one has all sorts of tidbits that you'll never find in an ICEr owner's manual. I skimmed mine cover to cover that night - it was the only way to get through the night without going crazy thinking about the car .... oh wait, that was going crazy thinking about the car.

The 2013 manual also has some interesting typos. For example, it talks about motorized retractable side mirrors which don't exist.

My 14 manual talks about "folding" side mirrors ???

hellsop

· #33 · Jul 30, 2017

marcusm said:
No concern. The car is smart and will run the combustion engine in what is called Engine Maintenance Mode every 3 months I think to keep everything flowing and lubricated.

Six weeks.

The car also has a fuel maintenance mode to burn up old gas before it gets too stale. They programmed a lot of self maintenance features in the combustion engine as they know for many it will be rarely used.

Yup. Fuel maintenance will kick on when the average age of the fuel in the tank is a year, and the engine will run until you've added enough fuel to bring that average back below a year with a small minimum add (like a gallon and a half).

llninja

· #34 · Jul 31, 2017

wizard_of-ahs said:
My 14 manual talks about "folding" side mirrors ???

The side mirrors do fold manually, they pivot when you pull on them, but that part is not motorized

photonburst

· #35 · Jul 31, 2017

OP, I know of the dealership you speak. Walked away from them myself. Was typing to recommend Vernon or Penticton but alas, none there either as of tonight. Maybe they don't sell in the valley?

Good luck in search and thanks for the informative thread.

wizard_of-ahs

· #36 · Jul 31, 2017

llninja said:
The side mirrors do fold manually, they pivot when you pull on them, but that part is not motorized

Mine dont !
It's a solid piece.

TSquare

· #37 · Jul 31, 2017

wizard_of-ahs said:
Mine dont !
It's a solid piece.

If you have stock OEM mirrors, they will fold. Just have to pull a little harder. They are tight, but will fold.

bcsteeve

Discussion Starter · #38 · Jul 31, 2017

[please tell me if I should be starting a new thread]

So... LT or Premier? Any insights?

I *think* I really want Adaptive Cruise Control. However, that appears to be a VERY expensive option. +4100 for Premier (to allow Driver Confidence II package, which is required), + 575 For Driver Confidence II, +575 for Driver Confidence (required for II), + 1375 (ACC itself) = $6625!! Granted, other stuff comes with that, of course. But unless I'm missing something, these are the perks:

- Slightly different wheels (I really couldn't care)
- Leather-Appointed Seat trim (I prefer cloth, generally. However I do like the pictures of that "Brandy" leather)
- Bose sound (does the basic system really suck?)
- Very limited safety enhancements (auto brakes sort of work but only at low speeds and not if the object about to be smooshed is smooshable... do I have that right?)
- Beeping things if the car thinks I'm not driving well (great... my wife gets the car backing her up!)

I think I've just talked myself into the LT, but I'd like to hear from owners if there's more to the Premier that I'm realizing.

See less See more

Norton

· #39 · Jul 31, 2017

Sorry, didn't read whole thread.
All but #1 can be answered by going on a test drive at your nearest Chevy dealership. (That will never happen with a Tesla)

#1- Mountain Mode keeps a bigger hybrid buffer in the battery. Even without using MM it still has a big buffer.
It always has a 150 HP even at 14k feet! Can't say that about gassers...
If and when you deplete the battery buffer,, then you have a Fit, again.

llninja

· #40 · Jul 31, 2017

wizard_of-ahs said:
Mine dont !
It's a solid piece.

Look at the front underside of the mirror - there is a black seam. If you take the top part and twist, it will allow you to volt the mirrors inward to help prevent mirror to mirror collisions when parked in a congested street (happens all the time in Boston).

21 - 40 of 59 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.