[eatsleafsandshoots]

There's a lot of info about buying CA, with the myriad of crazy rebates, and buying in the rest of the country where people have to pull their own weight But I haven't seen much about CO, where buying a new EV results in a $5k off-the-top discount, one I've already taken advantage of this year to get a $4,750 Leaf with hail damage.

Does anyone have any tips about the best Volt dealers in CO? Any deals applicable in our region, or should we wait for them? I don't have a particular time frame, but if I can steal a Volt and stack a few tax credits on top, I might trade in my Gen 1.

 

[indyflick]

I moved from Denver in the early 2000's. However when I lived there we'd normally buy our new cars from dealerships in Colorado Springs. The savings were worth the drive. Obviously you don't have to have the car serviced where you purchase it. One thing to be aware of is that some unscrupulous dealerships have been known to advertise a current year Volt as new. However it may turn out the vehicle was already titled and the $7500 federal credit taken. So always ask about that. I'd check cars.com (with distance 100 miles from Denver) or any one of the many other website that dealerships list there inventory on to find a car that meets your requirements.

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

Yep, looks like the best deal I can possibly hope for is a 20% off MSRP (this doesn't stack with anything, right) plus state rebate, plus fed credit. That will get me about $5-6k away from what my 2013 Volt is currently worth!

 

[obermd]

I bought mine at Ed Bozarth in Lone Tree. Not always the lowest prices but very definitely a top notch service department.

 

[indyflick]

Where are you seeing a legitimate 20% off of MSRP for a new untitled 2017 Volt right now? Most of the big discount offers I've seen are assuming the $7,500 federal tax credit into their advertised price.

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

Where are you seeing a legitimate 20% off of MSRP for a new untitled 2017 Volt right now? Most of the big discount offers I've seen are assuming the $7,500 federal tax credit into their advertised price.

I'm not seeing one, unfortunately. I'm happy with my 2013 Volt I bought used last year, but if the 20% goes into effect and I stack that with the $5k CO rebate (I can do that, right?) plus the fed tax credit, a new 2017 Volt will be a few grand more than the remainder of my used car loan. I'd make the switch at that point.

 

[obermd]

I'm not seeing one, unfortunately. I'm happy with my 2013 Volt I bought used last year, but if the 20% goes into effect and I stack that with the $5k CO rebate (I can do that, right?) plus the fed tax credit, a new 2017 Volt will be a few grand more than the remainder of my used car loan. I'd make the switch at that point.

Similar to what I did this past May. GM was offering 0% for 60 months on 2017 Volts and I jumped.

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

First, I would never get rid of a car after only one year. Every time you buy a new car, you are losing money. You are paying a higher insurance rate. You are paying a commission to a dealership. You are paying registration fees and excise taxes. You are paying for miscellaneous repairs or improvements, such as a new set of tires and mechanical glitches that often occur until the car is truly yours. Therefore, avoid buying frequently. If you cannot be dissuaded from buying a newer vehicle, then buy a second generation volt that is a couple of years old. Check cars.com or autotrader.com for potential vehicles matching your criteria. I have had the best service on repairs with Stevenson Chevrolet of Lakewood. However, they currently have no used vehicles on the lot and list 2018 Volt Premier at $40,600. A white Certified 2017 Volt Premier is listed for $32,600 in Phoenix, Arizona, at Midway Chevrolet. A couple of 2016 Volt Premiers are listed at $28,000 and 27,000 at Rosedale Chevrolet in Minnesota.

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

Yeah, thanks for trying to help, but my state drops $5k on my head every time I buy an EV so your advice really isn't that applicable.

I bought a 2013 Volt last year and have about $12k remaining on the loan. If Chevy ran 20% off MSRP, plus CO state rebate, plus federal, I'd be looking at a new LT for under $16k, pre-tax. Maybe, for you, it's not worth it to get a 4 year newer car with greater capability and range, 50,000 fewer miles, brand new tires/oil/glass/paint, and a renewed warranty for $4k but it is to me

It's like the people who say that leasing is always a bad deal - yes, it is, if you go with a normal national lease deal. Weird deals exist, though.

 

[JD4JC]

I bought mine at Ed Bozarth in Lone Tree. Not always the lowest prices but very definitely a top notch service department.

Got my Volts from Bozarth, Grand Junction, salesman David Davis very knowledgable and forthright. Service Department first rate and knowledgable as well.

After CO and Fed tax credits, and a little bargaining, I traded up from the 2015 to a 2017 for basically the out-of-pocket cost of sales tax and registration fees. I'm thinking of flipping the 2017 for a Bolt this year if the numbers come out like the last trade. Even if the deal doesn't turn out to be as good as the '15 to '17 Volt, the thought of paying over $10k taxes that could be avoided with the credits certainly adds an incentive element!

 

[llninja]

Yeah, thanks for trying to help, but my state drops $5k on my head every time I buy an EV so your advice really isn't that applicable.

I bought a 2013 Volt last year and have about $12k remaining on the loan. If Chevy ran 20% off MSRP, plus CO state rebate, plus federal, I'd be looking at a new LT for under $16k, pre-tax. Maybe, for you, it's not worth it to get a 4 year newer car with greater capability and range, 50,000 fewer miles, brand new tires/oil/glass/paint, and a renewed warranty for $4k but it is to me

It's like the people who say that leasing is always a bad deal - yes, it is, if you go with a normal national lease deal. Weird deals exist, though.

You're not going to get rich flipping cars for the Colorado rebate. And as some who tried to flip in Illinois discovered, the state suspended that program when they ran out of funding leaving some people holding the bill for the full price of the car (minus fed tax credits and other GM incentives). Get it while you can, but usually the best tact is to not be making car payments your entire life.

Also, check the fine print. In Cali, folks who flip their cars are obligated to pay back a portion of their Cali EV rebate check. The DMV office knows when you've sold the car when the new owner trying to register the vehicle.

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

You're not going to get rich flipping cars for the Colorado rebate. And as some who tried to flip in Illinois discovered, the state suspended that program when they ran out of funding leaving some people holding the bill for the full price of the car (minus fed tax credits and other GM incentives). Get it while you can, but usually the best tact is to not be making car payments your entire life.

Also, check the fine print. In Cali, folks who flip their cars are obligated to pay back a portion of their Cali EV rebate check. The DMV office knows when you've sold the car when the new owner trying to register the vehicle.

There's no clawback in CO, and the $5k comes off at point of purchase. Neither of those points are relevant.

I'm not trying to get rich, but if I can get into a new Volt for $4k more than a 2013 with 50k miles, I will - and why wouldn't you?

 

[ghostgs1]

To be honest, you will have a hard time getting a good deal anywhere in Colorado. Our market is a bit isolated, so the dealers don't think they have to compete with out of state dealers. Both of our Volts came from out of state, the first from NJ and the second from MN. When we bought our 2011 we got it for $12,000 under msrp while local dealers were asking msrp plus. The 2014 was $13,000 under sticker. I shopped that price to dealers in Longmont, Ft. Collins, Greeley and Ft. Lipton. None would even try to match the deal from Mankato Motors. Hope things have changed, but I doubt that they have.

 

[obermd]

There's no clawback in CO, and the $5k comes off at point of purchase. Neither of those points are relevant.

I'm not trying to get rich, but if I can get into a new Volt for $4k more than a 2013 with 50k miles, I will - and why wouldn't you?

The $5,000 is a tax refund, not point of sale. I checked. You need to submit your bill of sale to show it was purchased in Colorado.

 

[JD4JC]

You're not going to get rich flipping cars for the Colorado rebate.

Getting rich? How about not getting poor(er)? And how about not letting $13,500 of tax credits go down the drain?

 

[llninja]

There's no clawback in CO, and the $5k comes off at point of purchase. Neither of those points are relevant.

I'm not trying to get rich, but if I can get into a new Volt for $4k more than a 2013 with 50k miles, I will - and why wouldn't you?

When I bought my $44k MSRP 2013 volt new for $21K, I thought about flipping it as I was in a rare situation where I could have sold it in a neighboring state for a profit and then go looking for another one. Usually state sales tax prevents you from making out like a banshee for my particular purchase, they had a "pay your state tax sale". But I decided I wasn't in the car sales business, I was in the software engineering management business, so I should just drive the car until the wheels fell off then go shopping again

Congrats on finding such great deals. I fear that my deal was a once in a lifetime planet alignment that will be difficult to reproduce, especially since IL suspended their rebate program.

 

[llninja]

Getting rich? How about not getting poor(er)? And how about not letting $13,500 of tax credits go down the drain?

It comes back to an earlier point another forum member made, buying a car almost always costs more than not buying a car.

I could drive a paid-off car and continue to do maintenance on that car for far less than getting a new one every few years, unless you are very lucky and can get into a situation where they pay you to trade the car in.

A coworker of mine was able to do that once. He and his wife bought a used Japanese car and probably paid too much for it. A little over a year later, they were able to trade it in for a brand new one for the same price because of some incentive program. It extended their payments to a new payment, but it was actually less per month than their previous payment. So it looked good on paper until they realized that they have 15 more months of payments now, so ultimately if cost them thousands more. Dealerships are tricky like that

Rich people ask how much. Poor people ask what's the payment.

 

[obermd]

Getting rich? How about not getting poor(er)? And how about not letting $13,500 of tax credits go down the drain?

$12,500 in potential tax credits.

Up to $7,500 in non-refundable tax credits from the Feds
$5,000 in refundable tax credits from Colorado

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

I wish I lived in a world where Volts were free to maintain after their warranties expired! It sounds nice.

 

[eatsleafsandshoots]

The $5,000 is a tax refund, not point of sale. I checked. You need to submit your bill of sale to show it was purchased in Colorado.

Sorry bud, it's at point of purchase. I've done it once this year.