Posted on 07/30/2010 12:56:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The Chevrolet Volt may be wearing out its welcome. General Motors has been hyping the gasoline-electric car ever since the company showed it off to the public 1,300 days ago. The company has let countless reporters into its battery labs and given interviews with its engineers, all in a very credible attempt to show that GM has smart people with good ideas. And it has worked. GM has picked up some technological credibility and fostered goodwill with the environmental crowd.
Now that GM is finally, after three and a half years, getting close to selling one, the commentariat is taking shots at the Volt. In an editorial in the New York Times today, Truth About Cars Editor Edward Niedermeyer panned the car as GMs Electric Lemon. He criticized the car for, among other things, having bland styling and because it will likely lose GM money. Before that, Tonight Show host Jay Leno, a well-known car buff, also took a shot at the Volts styling, telling the Detroit news that, if you didnt know, you might think its a Cobalt or a Camry.
What gives? It could be a case of Volt fatigue. Sure, documenting the tale of the cars development gave GM a great story to tell. But in the past few months the company has amped up the noise on a car that has been hyped for years. I count 14 press releases on the Volt since June, including an announcement today that GM will boost 2012 production from 30,000 to 45,000. Some of those releases were absolutely necessary, like vital information on pricing, warranty and ordering options.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessweek.com ...
$41,000 is a chunk of change. Does it come fully loaded or “Batteries not included; some assembly required”?
This car is revolting!
I heard Rush talking about the Volt and 40 miles to the charge. I have never heard how much your home electric bill is going to go up for every charge you give your car. It’s not going to be free so exactly how many dollars will it cost?
It’s called the “free market” kenyan boy! If the “free market” don’t want it, we don’t buy it! Stupid Marxist a$%clown. 40 miles PER charge!? For $41,000!? I put 150 a day on my car. I would have to take 16 hours a day to charge the POS.
Couldn’t give a tinker’s damn about the “styling” whether it’s a car, a laptop, or a toaster. The question is whether the product offers the expected functionality for the price. $41,000 sets the bar rather high for somthing a little bit better than a golf cart.
Sounds like his presidency...
Or, it could be that the car sucks. A 40 mile range after somehting like an 8 hour charge (@ 110 V)?
And it STILL has a fossil fuel burning engine on board in the form of a "generator" for recharging the batteries "on the go".
If you're in to the whole pseudo-green thin (i.e. you are willing to ignore the environmental impact associated with manufacturing and, ultimately, disposing of, batteries) then one of the many Hybrid cars/truck/SUVs available today is a WAY better option... ANy Hybrid.
Can’t wait to honk my horn and wave as I go by one broke down on the side of the road.
Honk honk!
Howdy sucker.
Thanks for the compliment...however, the last time I did one that left the obvious to the viewer, I got email saying they “didn’t get it”...it was probably a democrat.
Rush was saying the other day that in order to charge this piece of junk a 220Volt outlet will be required. In most homes the receptacles are wired for 110 volts. Installing a 220 volt outlet will cost an additional few hundred bucks. And if you don’t have garage a long extension cord will be needed which will create an additional hazard.Tell Obama to shove his Volt.
I will never buy a car from GM (Government Motors). Ford - yes. THey made it on their own. But I will not put a dime into a bailed out company, I think I gave enough already, don’t you?
That sounds about right for what to expect from Volt ownership.
Yup, when considered cradle to grave, electric cars are bad ju ju for the environment, even a Hummer has less impact. What idiots.
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