Leasing can save you money on your monthly gas expense, if you were already leasing or planned to lease a similarly rated vehicle than the Volt…or if you like to lease new technology but don’t qualify for a tax credit. See US News and World Report’s list of Best Upscale Midsize cars (the Volt is tied for #4)…those are the vehicles to cost compare with the Volt, not a freaking Civic. Sorry for saying freaking.
So what's your point in trying to make a cost difference comparison between two vehicles you would never be interested in feature-wise, one that you have no real world experience with?! (and that pretty much any thinking person would say just aren't comparable vehicles)
I’m all for the EV technology. It’s just not viable for me or most people. I look at it like HD TV’s. When they first came out…only the rich could afford them. Now the price has dropped over 90%…and anyone can buy them. I foresee the same type of thing happening to the EV technology. I believe the price will drop…batteries will get better…and we’ll have an affordable vehicle for the masses.
Leasing can save you money on your monthly gas expense, if you were already leasing or planned to lease a similarly rated vehicle than the Volt...or if you like to lease new technology but don't qualify for a tax credit.
Sure if you’re comparing a lease to another lease…but the point is you should NEVER EVER LEASE. It’s a waste of money. And leasing a vehicle like the Volt where you’re trying to SAVE money…is an oxymoron. You’d loose every bit of money you saved in the gas mileage of the Volt by leasing it.
@bscar2 - Doesn’t matter. The important thing is that when a American assembled American company car is sold, the profits remain in the United States, in our economy. When a Toyota is sold, the profits go to Japan.
@aventineavenue–It does matter to me where a car is assembled. It gives employment to U.S. workers when the vehicle and a good percentage of the parts are made here in the United States. I live in a city in the midwest that was hit hard when General Motors closed its parts manufacturing. I bought a Toyota Sienna for 2 reasons: 1) I had driven Ford and GM minivans and both manufacturers discontinued making them. I need a vehicle with sliding doors and room to haul people and musical instruments. 2) The Toyota Sienna is assembled in my home state giving work to our citizens.
I don’t really care to line the pockets of overpaid executives who, in my opinion, made bad decisions. The Chevrolet Vega that had an engine about as durable as a potato chip, the Plymouth Volare that rusted in the showroom, the GM diesel engine converted from the Oldsmobile 350 cubic inch engine that drove rods through the oil pan are a couple of examples of decisions made by management and not by workers that soured many people against domestic nameplates. Now the quality of our domestic manufacturers has improved and perhaps the reputation will come back. I was very satisfied with the Ford minivans that I owned, but Ford went out of the minivan business. I had great service from a Chevrolet Uplander, but our son needed a better vehicle, so we sold it to him at the family discount price and when I went back to the Chevrolet dealer, I was informed that GM no longer made minivans. Although it is a nice vehicle, the Chevrolet Traverse doesn’t meet my needs.
The U.S. auto manufacturers produced some great vehicles in the mid 1950s when engineers were in charge. In later years when the bean counters took over, the concern wasn’t the quality of the automobile but the next quarter’s profits. In the short term maybe that was good for the stockholders, but in the long term, even the investors lost.
Actually, profits go to whomever could be bothered to purchase stock in the respective companies.
Mostly 1. Really rich guys and 2. Institutional investors (mutual funds etc).
Nothing’s stopping some guy in Peoria from buying Honda stock (or some guy in Tokyo from buying Ford.)
Finally, this isn’t illicit drugs: it’s a legal product in an established industry…with razor-thin profit margins. The money spent in parts and labor is much more significant than the modest net profit (=< 0 for an awful lot of mfrs over fairly long runs of time.)
Toyota has been committed to NiMH batteries for years. They give acceptable range of over 100 miles and are much cheaper then lithium, recyclable and have proven durability of well over 100 mile. They were use in their RAV EV generation one years ago and have been used in the regular Prius for years. When Toyota went to the plug in Prius, they were forced to use the more expensive lithium that most others are forced to use as well becaus of the patent encumbrance. That’s where we stand now; forced to use more expensive batteries then necessary. The Volt could easily have a range of 80 miles and cost less then it does. The Leaf could easily cost thousands less and get well over 100 miles per charge.
But, the auto and oil industry are absolutely making sure our move to EVs is done in very small steps. The Volt is the epitome of the ov pricing going on in extended hybrids technology…and that 's all it is, another hybrid that really doesn’t have cost as much as it does.
http://www.ev1.org/teslarav.htm
@bscar2 - Doesn't matter. The important thing is that when a American assembled American company car is sold, the profits remain in the United States, in our economy. When a Toyota is sold, the profits go to Japan.
IT DOESN’T MATTER. I suggest you take a class in economics.
As permitted by any decent Chevy dealer, I suggest you take a 24-hour test drive of the Volt. It will be a course in Volt-onomics. 
Whether it’s GM or Toyota, the middle class is most affected by the employment opportunities they provide. Both are multinationals and both make cars in many locations. If a car is made by a GM owned firm in Mexico, it’s less beneficial then one made in the US from mostly US made parts. It’s NOT who makes the profits, it’s how they are reinvested. If Toyota reinvests some of it’s In US made Tundra here, that’s better then GM reinvesting it 's profits in plants in China. There are a lot of American firms that do little for the US economy and there are forgiven owned that do more.
The revolution of new hybrid technology is driven by CAFE standards and not just the current level of technology available. There is now a surplus of gasoline in the US. If standards were relaxed, hybrids would stall and larger SUVs would make a comeback. The Volt is just a GM response and no where near as capable as it could be; it is a joke that it costs so much as it does. This happens with GM; this happens with Toyota. Maximizing profit insures their survival, not solving the worlds problems. That you should expect from them.
I am more interested in driving my friends Miata then a Volt. The sales pitch is wearing thin. We get it. The Volt is an over priced hybrid; good for a few who travel 40 miles perday, no so good for many who travel off road or drive cross country, tow, carry heavy loads or are actually restricted by a budget on how much they can pay for a car. GMs repair history with new technology in cars does not match that of Toyota. It will have a tough time breaking the ice with many.
@dagosa wrote: “…good for a few who travel 40 miles perday”
That’s 77% of American drivers that drive 40 miles or less a day, or 150 million people.
@dagosa who wrote “the Volt is an over priced hybrid”;
It’s a less than average priced mid-sized sedan that is a pure EV for 40-50 miles in the real world, and then a ~40 mpg hybrid for an indefinite extended range. Quit lying.
@dagosa who wrote “The sales pitch is wearing thin.”
Let the readers of cartalk.com decide who’s pitch is wearing thin.
@dagosa who wrote “I am more interested in driving my friends Miata then a Volt.”
Huh? The Miata MX-5 gets 0 miles EV range (gets only ~22 mpg in town) only gets a max ~30 mpg highway, only seats two, and costs about the same as a comparable equipped Volt…Why on earth would you want a Miata over a Volt?
Oh, in a Miata you also can’t travel off road, tow, carry heavy loads (not as heavy or large as a Volt which you can put like a full-size bookcase in the back of a Volt with the seats down) - nor can anyone afford a Miata if they are actually restricted by a budget.
Huh? The Miata MX-5 gets 0 miles EV range (gets only ~22 mpg in town) only gets a max ~30 mpg highway, only seats two, and costs about the same as a comparable equipped Volt...Why on earth would you want a Miata over a Volt?
Because it’s probably a lot more “fun” to drive. Count me as one who’d like the drive a Miata over a Volt.
@MikeInHN
Thank you for making my point for me. Now which do you think is probably a LOT more “fun” to drive, a Chevy Volt or a Honda Civic?
I have to agree that this has been a really lively and informative thread. Up till now not much real life actual operating costs had been available. I usually discount what the manufacturer or the government says.
Comparing the Volt to a mid level luxury car makes it come out OK if it meets your needs. If you really want the lowest cost per mile, a used econo-box is your answer.
The environmental aspect has not been getting much coverage in the later postings. That’s complex and it appears owners are mostly focused on lowering their gas bills.
This thread will likely go on for a while yet. One item not answered yet is the long term reliability of the Volt and the repair costs. We had the same questions about the Prius , but so far that car’s reliability and durability has been exemplary!
We encourage all Volt owners to report on their car’s operation.
This lively discussion reminds me of a scene in the book “No Time for Sergeants”. The army draftee from the back country of Georgia, Will Stockdale, is being examined by the army psychologist. The psychologist is trying to make Stockdale angry and says “I would rather live in the worst pigsty in my state than the finest mansion in Georgia”. Stockdale doesn’t react. The psychologist says, “I just insulted your state. Doesn’t that make you angry?” “No, sir”, Stockdale replies. “Where you want to live is your own business”.
We all have different needs and tastes in the cars we drive. I won’t be critical of others choice their vehicles–be it a Chevrolet Volt, a Mazda Miata, a Toyota 4Runner, a Corvette or a diesel pickup truck–so please don’t be critical of me as I search for my perfect car–a Studebaker Scotsman.
IMO
Boomers and Millenniums will gravitate to cities. Downsizing, amenities, activities.
Boomers will opt for stuff with a known future cost: Annuities, PEV’s.or hybrids
Millennium couples will go for a small SUV for trips and a hybrid or PEV for local use. I’m not sure if the male will get the SUV and the female will get the electric. -Kinda depends who feels the hottest driving the vehicle.
I can see our millennium son driving an electric for short city trips and a beater for trips +100miles to parents and outdoor outings. He makes good pay and no deductibles so a PEV would be a good second car to his 15 yo Camry which he uses for carrying camping/ski stuff.
I think the issue facing young people living in the city is that public transportation is fairly good and parking is fairly bad. So a second car could be a problem.
Would a girl think favorably on the guy if he drives a PEV?
Thank you for making my point for me. Now which do you think is probably a LOT more "fun" to drive, a Chevy Volt or a Honda Civic?
Neither…their both boring cars. The Civic is PROVEN reliable vehicle that I’ve recommended to my nieces and nephews just starting out. The Volt…way too expensive…and reliability is yet to be proven.