by nitroman » Mon 05.03.2012, 05:54
How long is your lease? I saw my first Volt about three months ago and it was surprisingly attractive. It looked "sharp & purposeful" instead of like the typical GM blob. What's the size of the gas engine? I know the one in the Fiskar is a 2.0L turbo and it doesn't use the petrol engine for direct drive either. I'm guessing you have the 1.4L (turbo or no?) that GM is selling as its new advanced small car engine.
I imagine that GM and the dealer got a federal & state kickback (legally sanctioned) even though it's just a lease, as the government(s) are pushing that type of car until such time as the technology & volume-production savings catch up. I even read that in California the state will reimburse you something like two-grand towards installing a quick-charging unit (240v) in your garage. I could be wrong on the bullion amount but my brain's technology is rather old.
Oh, I just rented a new Kia Forte for a week (soooo glad to be back in the Elan). In a really heavy downpour in Georgia hill country the front drive wheels were ever so slightly losing traction on the up-grades as the low-rolling-resistance tires clawed for traction against the gravity-driven flow of water. Those tiny losses of traction caused the stability package to come alive and cut the engine power so much I thought I might get run over by a semi! Being a Kia it can't be disengaged.
One last thing. How long is your battery-pack supposed to last and what is the replacement cost? An article regarding that was in my hands a few months ago and they said most carmakers claim 5 to 8 years and $8,000 to $12,000 to replace, and they are all timed to go bad AFTER the initial car warranty has expired. The article said that single concern will cause an electric car's value to plummet near zero when it happens and either become a new resident at a landfill or cause an unscrupulous owner to get a non-warrantied battery-pack from another aged vehicle installed simply to sell the problem vehicle on.
The anti-argument wasn't rosy either. They said technology could advance fast enough in five-years that battery longevity will be greatly increased, but then it will leave today's e-cars looking like horse-and-buggy technology. As you alluded to in your post, that'd make the trade-in value lower than they projected (to you).
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BTW, did anyone else notice that the USA is losing 3 of our ONLY 11 petrol refineries this year, as the company running them said with all the state & federal regulations involved it can no longer operate profitably? The last new refinery built in the USA was in 1971! At that point there became too many legislative hurtles to open a new one. Ironic that even if we did open ANWAR for drilling we'd have to ship the crude overseas to have it refined, then pay to have it shipped back before your car ever burns it. That fits exactly Energy Secretary Chu's statement this week, "The Obama administration's goal is not to lower gas prices." Duh! Am I the only one noticing their policy, or caring?
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As an aside Doug, there are hundreds of SAABs stuck at various ports (158 alone at some port in Washington state) which are legally being held captive by companies who have filed suit against SAAB for past-due bills. If you still like SAABs you might want to monitor the situation so when they are set free you can grab the "last" new SAAB in the world. Remember that 2011 (and 2010) SAABs come with no warranty though, as the company is 100% ceasing to exist, and GM is only honoring warranties from 2009 back to when they purchased SAAB.
Strive for perfection in everything. (given time)
Take the best that exists & make it better. (given inclination)
If it doesn't exist, create it. (God did)
Ignore what I say. (good advice)
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