[klic]

I have an opportunity to buy a used ELR with 25K miles for mid $20's. It seems like an excellent value, but I have two pre-teen kids and I'm concerned about what living with the ELR will be like with a family of 4. My wife has a '14 Traverse, so road trips, or hauling cargo should be covered. My question to those of you who have lived with the ELR is whether there is enough room for 2 growing teenagers in the back seat when we want to take the ELR out around town.

Anyone out there who has a Gen1 Volt and an ELR that would care to comment on back seat space?

I have been shopping for a Volt for a while now. Never considered the ELR as I thought the price would put it out of reach. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has experience with both cars and would be willing to comment on using either as a daily driver. My head says the Volt seems a little more practical, but my heart is drawn to the ELR.

Thanks, folks!

 

[FloridaMatt]

My question to those of you who have lived with the ELR is whether there is enough room for 2 growing teenagers in the back seat when we want to take the ELR out around town.

Based on my once attempting to put my 5'7" self into the back seat, and then somehow managing to get back out, my opinion is "no, there isn't enough room".

Take the whole family to see the car. Pile everyone in and drive around the block (or the parking lot, if it's one of those places where a salesperson must come along). By the time you've gotten everyone out of the car you should know if it will work for you.

 

[DonC]

Well, there is no back seat in the ELR. Definitely not a family car and definitely will not work for teenagers in the back. On the other hand it's a super car for two people. Extremely comfortable and safe.

 

[Joe67]

Life would suck for teenagers in the back seat of that car on even a semi regular basis

 

[Edju]

klic,
Volt (Gen 1 and 2) is orders of magnitude more practical than ELR. No question.
You should weigh what's most important in your use-scenario when cross shopping Volt and ELR. If ELR is meant as your daily driver and only an occasional family hauler, ELR is doable. As difficult it is to get in and out of ELR's back seats, it is livable for around town short haul drives. I've had four people in the car few times and three people many times (college age girls - my daughter and her friends). In a pinch, four is doable but I wouldn't subject my passengers in the back seats for too long.

As DonC said above, ELR is really meant as a two seater. I really think it was meant as "country club ride" for two people and two golf bags (with rear seats folded down), although GM/Cadillac never marketed ELR for this use. Then again, other than the short run Poolside commercial Cadillac hardly marketed this fine showcar.

One more thing to consider is snow tires for ELR based on your IL location. There were few posts about what snow tires are best for ELR. Given the 20" wheel diameter with low profile rubber (245/40R20), snow tire choice is somewhat limited.

Good luck with your car shopping!
Ed

 

[Optimist]

I meet the qualifications, Owned a late model Volt, now driving an ELR.

The price you are quoting on the available ELR, is the lowest price I have seen, and is not available on the most popular sources, Cars.com, Carguru, and Carmax, where the lowest price is an occasional 30,000mi plus car at $28,000 +.
So my first advice is be very careful that you are not being offered a damaged/rebuilt car.

Regarding the back seat, The ELR is a 4 seater only when no other car is available to transport 4 people. You (provided the car you are considering is not "damaged") will love driving it alone or with your wife. However if you insist on having it, you may find that you
will be driving it alone,,,,,,,,,,,,following your divorce !

I recommend that you buy both a Volt and an ELR. Life will be Perfect,,,,,,,, for now !

 

[Loboc]

I had a '13 Volt and now a '14 ELR and a 17yr-old girl plus an 11-yr-old boy. The girl refuses to ride in the back of ELR (she is 5'9"). If all four of us go somewhere, we drive the 4-door pickup.

The answer to the questions of back seat space:

ELR is a 2+2 not a 4-passenger. It is extremely difficult to get people in and out of the back seat. Rear passengers shouldn't be over about 5'6" tall. They should be fairly athletic and flexible as well.

ELR:
1. Find a spot where the doors can be wide open. The doors are hugely long. Need about 2 full parking spaces wide for this maneuver.
2. Roll the front seats forward using the handy buttons on the side. This takes a good amount of time compared to a manual seat.
3. Raise the seat belt so that the rear passenger can get in. Alternately, they can be flipped over the front headrest.
4. Roll the seats back as far as they will go with rear passengers and readjust the seat belts.
5. Squeeze yourselves into the remaining space in front and drive around with 3" too little room.
6. Listen to complaints about hair getting mussed in the rear as their heads sweep the ceiling.
7. Reverse above for egress. Be prepared to assist as there are no oh-shjt handles in ELR.

Try it in the rain sometime. Not fun.

Volt:
It's a 4-door 4-passenger compact car. Works like any other.

 

[rmay635703]

I'm 6'3" and ride in the back of a 2 door cobalt 1500 miles as long as the front passengers aren't a hats there should be zero issues.

I think everyone is getting to be pansies these days

 

[Loboc]

Forgot the second half. Both cars are equally good as daily drivers. I prefer the ELR for trips as the power seats are more comfortable. However, Volt seats are good as well.

 

[myoda]

Like Loboc, I owned a 13 Volt, and traded it for an ELR - mainly for the more comfortable power seats, and less punishing ride. My kids are grown, so it's just me and my wife. I'm 6ft 2, and it would be difficult for anyone to sit behind me in either the Volt or ELR.

The backseat of the ELR is not a bad place to be if you are under 5ft 8. It depends if you have a short torso or not. I agree with Loboc that you must be a yoga master to get into the back seat.

The ELR doors are just as long as a Corvette door - just about 4 feet long. Park as far away from other cars as possible when you want to get out. Every once in a while, with the Volt, I'd smack my head exiting the vehicle.

Last, but not least, the ELR is a damn sexy car. No one ever told me my Volt was gorgeous. 'Nuff said.

The Volt may be more practical, but the ELR is so much more comfortable, and quieter when running the gas generator. Drive both back to back and let us know what you think. Good luck!

 

[Mister Dave]

I have an opportunity to buy a used ELR with 25K miles for mid $20's. It seems like an excellent value, but.....

It would be wise to run a Carfax on that car. I'll bet it's been "repaired". ELRs are going for about $31-32K right now used, with more miles than that.

 

[BAZINGA]

I owned 2011 CTS-V coupe and had no difficulty carring 4 adults


So I wonder how much different the CTS coupe is vs the ELR? I'm guessing the ELR must be more compact due the battery pack.

 

[klic]

Excellent feedback, thanks all!

I was very skeptical about this deal, but everything I have found seems to indicate it is legit. Dealer provided me a copy of the Carfax (which is clean) & MSO. This unit was a GM vehicle and was never titled. They are selling it at a used ELR price since it has miles on it and the warranty clock started in 2013. Their asking price is in line with other used ELR's as you pointed out, but the tax credit puts it back down into the mid $20's. I'm really having a hard time convincing myself not to jump on this offer. If it doesn't work out, I guess I could always trade or sell it & recoup most of my investment.

I'll post an update once I have made my decision.

Thanks again for all of your comments.

 

[myoda]

The ELR is smaller than a CTS-V. It's actually classed as a compact car.

ELR is also a bit lower to the ground than a CTS..

 

[Vn-Vet-Volt]

I too owned a 2012 & 2013 Volt. My 2012 was T-boned, and declared a total loss. I drove to NJ to buy a 2013 Volt that was a GM Exec's car, and traded it in September for my 2014 ELR, that looks exactly like myoda's and a fellow Burgh guy who put it best in his comments above, that I have to echo everything he said about the ELR.

 

[Mister Dave]

Excellent feedback, thanks all!

I was very skeptical about this deal, but everything I have found seems to indicate it is legit. Dealer provided me a copy of the Carfax (which is clean) & MSO. This unit was a GM vehicle and was never titled. They are selling it at a used ELR price since it has miles on it and the warranty clock started in 2013. Their asking price is in line with other used ELR's as you pointed out, but the tax credit puts it back down into the mid $20's. I'm really having a hard time convincing myself not to jump on this offer. If it doesn't work out, I guess I could always trade or sell it & recoup most of my investment.

I'll post an update once I have made my decision.

Thanks again for all of your comments.

In that case, it's a sweet price.

 

[Optimist]

Caution !

You may have been mislead or you may be innocently optimistic.

Please ask the seller to provide, "THE INSERVICE DATE", these "Executive lease cars, never registered"
are registered and are NOT eligible for the Federal Rebate and in most States, not eligible for the State Rebate.

The MAGIC WORDS ARE: What is the "INSERVICE DATE". If your seller can't provide this information, go to any Cadillac Service Department Manager with the Vin# and he can quote the Inservice Date.
This date is also the starting date of the warranty period.

 

[myoda]

You may have been mislead or you may be innocently optimistic.

Please ask the seller to provide, "THE INSERVICE DATE", these "Executive lease cars, never registered"
are registered and are NOT eligible for the Federal Rebate and in most States, not eligible for the State Rebate.

The MAGIC WORDS ARE: What is the "INSERVICE DATE". If your seller can't provide this information, go to any Cadillac Service Department Manager with the Vin# and he can quote the Inservice Date.
This date is also the starting date of the warranty period.

You could also create an account at the Cadillac Owner Center, enter the VIN in the Warranty Tracker for the start and end dates of the warranty period.

 

[klic]

You may have been mislead or you may be innocently optimistic.

Please ask the seller to provide, "THE INSERVICE DATE", these "Executive lease cars, never registered"
are registered and are NOT eligible for the Federal Rebate and in most States, not eligible for the State Rebate.

The MAGIC WORDS ARE: What is the "INSERVICE DATE". If your seller can't provide this information, go to any Cadillac Service Department Manager with the Vin# and he can quote the Inservice Date.
This date is also the starting date of the warranty period.

Well, color me innocently optimistic! The first entry Carfax shows in the detailed history is October, 2016 with 24K miles. Comment is "listed as a manufacturer vehicle, vehicle sold at auction". The report makes no mention of the car ever having been titled, which is supported by the copy of the MSO I received from the dealer.

The dealer disclosed, and I have confirmed that the vehicle warranty did in fact start in November 2013, but my understanding is that as long as the vehicle has not been titled before (vehicle MSO has not been submitted for issuance of title) that the car is eligible for the federal tax credit. Federal tax form 8936 requests "date vehicle was placed in service". I don't think I have found anything definitive, but my research seems to indicate that this is the date the 1st owner takes delivery of the vehicle. Am I incorrect?

Loss of the tax credit would probably be a deal breaker for me. Please let me know what you all think, or if you have a method to definitively identify whether this vehicle is eligible.

 

[klic]

I'd consider myself Optimistic, Optimist! I don't think the dealer is trying to pull anything. So the root question is whether this vehicle is eligible for the Federal tax credit. My understanding is that as long as the vehicle has never been titled, that it is. The dealer purchased the vehicle at auction in October with 24K miles. That is the first hit on the Carfax history. I confirmed with Cadillac that the warranty started in November, 2013 which has me a little puzzled.

IRS form 8936 only asks for the VIN# and "date vehicle was placed into service". I haven't been able to find a firm definition of "date vehicle was placed in service", but for depreciation purposes on a business investment, this seems to be the date that possession of the asset was taken after purchase.

Does anyone know a sure-fire way to determine if a vehicle is eligible for the federal tax credit? The fact that this car has never been titled and the dealer has the MSO would seem to support that it should be, but the warranty start date, and Optimists comments make me second guess that. I have called the IRS, H&R block, Cadillac, and the dealer, but haven't been able to get a firm answer.