Volt out of production

The assembly line for the Cevrolet Volt has been shut down for several monthes due to overstock. Chevrolet sold less than 75% of predicted sales.

Well it's extremely overpriced in my opinion

In reply to Grtechguy:

Doesn't matter. It's what Obama wants.

Shocking. (Sorry, had to say it)

I think they overestimated how much of an impact it would have on the marketplace.

Yeah, at that price they won't move many. Cut 10K from it and you'll move twice as many.
So, selling 25% less than expected is a big deal? Seems that should be easy to overcome with discount pricing???

Want Hybrids to sell? Make them less expensive of their gas counterparts. otherwise it will never take off as dreamed

Kind of a shame, but not terribly surprising.

Toyota and Honda were both very clear about their hybrids. Chevy was murky and confusing.

In conversations with various greenies many have been confused, and hesitant about the Volt because of the confusion. Is it an electric, is it a hybrid, can I really drive it on the engine or am I just limping home, etc.

I know a number that drive Prius's, several that drive various Hondas. I don't know a one that has a Chevy Volt.

well.. the Prius has the "name" and is instantly recognizable as being a hybrid. the Honda and the volt were not. Sad to say, but it is not enough that the car have "green" credentials, but it is also a lifestyle choice.. and those people WANT you to know that they supposedly working to help save the earth by driving green

Being expensive does not help

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, at that price they won't move many. Cut 10K from it and you'll move twice as many. So, selling 25% less than expected is a big deal? Seems that should be easy to overcome with discount pricing???

Chevy wanted to sell 10,000 last year - sold about 7,500. Wants to sell 45,000 in 2012 - has sold 1,600 so far.

The production line only came back online from holiday break on February 6 and they have nearly 4,000 sitting unsold.

Price price price. I kinda like the car, technology, etc. But houses cost $40k, not cars. E36 M3ty houses, but still.

bravenrace wrote: In reply to Grtechguy: Doesn't matter. It's what Obama wants.

Your order is ready sir:

I went to the GM Employee website and built a 2012 Volt. No discount? This little car is pricey.

base msrp* $39,145
colors & options $5,290
delivery & handling $850
total msrp $45,285
Vehicle Not Eligible For Discount

DrBoost wrote: Yeah, at that price they won't move many. Cut 10K from it and you'll move twice as many. So, selling 25% less than expected is a big deal? Seems that should be easy to overcome with discount pricing???

You're probably right. But GM was trying to get away from the policy they had for years of having a higher MSRP then stuffing the glove box full of incentives and rebates just to move the product.

What's funny is that I live in the SF bay area and see pretty much every "green" car, the new one is the Nissan Leaf, I don't recall seeing more than 1 or 2 volts. People around here aren't buying them. Plus the leaf is allowed in HOV lanes since it is all electric.

IF I had $40,000 for a new car I would be buying this. Since I am saving $5,509; I can use the balance towards gasoline and a set of truck balls.

2012 Silverado 1500 - 4WD Crew Cab 143.5" - LTZ
Victory Red, Ebony, Custom Perforated Leather-appointed front seats
base msrp* $42,440
colors & options $2,495
delivery & handling $995
total msrp $45,930

GM preferred price $43,276
current offers -$3,500
Net Price $39,776

Another reason it hasn't sold well is that it has a GM badge:

My folks live in an upscale country club community. Most of the folks there are wealthy. You see Priuses all of the time, as they suit the needs of a retired person pretty well, and they can "feel" good about being green. (never mind the fact that their 5K sq. ft. home consumes a ton of energy for the two people living there) Nearly all of these folks are Republican.

They absolutely won't buy a GM product, especially the Volt as it has been targeted as "Obama's car". Their country club buddies would be disapproving.

I love the Volt. I think it is revolutionary technology that is a step in the right direction. It costs too much, and it's relationship with the bailout and Obama are hurting it's sales. It's a shame......but then so was the EV-1.

Grtechguy wrote: Want Hybrids to sell? Make them less expensive of their gas counterparts. otherwise it will never take off as dreamed

I disagree, though not entirely.

Hybrids sell really well to people who want others to know how green they are. I mean, look at how many callouts are on a Tahoe hybrid.

IMO, if they really want hybrids to sell outside of that crowd, they need to make them perform as well as or better than a similarly priced gas-engine car, and NOT be obvious as a hybrid by silhouette alone.

For me, I don't hate that the car is hybrid, I hate that it's ugly and underperforming for it's price. From what I understand the Volt really wasn't that bad as a performer... if you were comparing it to cars that cost $15k less. At $40k, it better be comparable to a Lexus ES/IS, BMW 3-series, CTS, etc.

The bottom line is that your paying $40K for a mid-sized Chevy sedan. The Cruise Eco costs half as much, is the same size and every bit as nice to look at. OK, it only gets 40mpg to the Volts 80mpg (or 45 or 300 depending on what system you believe) but it would take a while to save $20K in energy costs any way you look at it.

That said, if I were in the market for a loaded Malibu, I would consider paying a little bit more for the Volt if the trim levels were compatible.

ReverendDexter wrote: At $40k, it better be comparable to a Lexus ES/IS, BMW 3-series, CTS, etc.

The phaqu? You've mostly listed luxury-sport cars. Are you going to complain a $40,000 F-250 isn't comparable to a 3-series next?

The Volt isn't that much more than the Lexus HS250h (it's closest competitor), and that's a plain ol' hybrid.

I'm not sure the price is the problem. Well, it might be, but I'm not sure. I think the politics of the whole thing probably do play a part. I used to live in Berkeley (yes, there's a place with that name - it's not just a car). It is just about as silly there as people make it out to be. I hadn't been back in a while but was there over the holidays. Man, there are a LOT of Priusesz running around there. It is the car to drive. I think those folks are probably slow to junp to anything that says "Chevy" on the back.

And yeah, that's really lame. And yeah, it looks like a pretty darn neat car.

I love the Volt. On my own commute, I could use zero gas, but still be able to drive to CT to the in laws with it if I wanted to (unlike the Leaf). And unlike the Prius, which will still use gasoline all teh time. Th eplug in Prius coming out costs about what the Volt does, but it's no where near as advanced as the Volt.

The Volt also has a pretty advantageous lease rate, at $349 a month, which is less than the typical equivalently equipped (luxury features) Accord or Camry, and it can use no fuel, unlike said Accord or Camry.

I'm thinking of trading in my Mustang on a Volt, as I'm paying $300 a month for the Mustang, plus all the gas to commute with. Then sell the BMW and buy a Miata to go autcrossing with. I love the way the Volt looks, too, especially in the dark red metallic that is available.

I did the math and it would cost me about $2 a week in electricity, charging at off peak hours, to drive all week long. I can't spend that little on fuel in even a Prius or a TDi VW. If I only used the Volt to commute with, I'd be averaging 1200 mpg for the year, as it still runs the gas engine to make sure the fuel doesn't get stale.

People simply don't get it, and GM has done a bad job of making them "get it." And the recent NHTSA flap about the crash tested Volt that caught fire 3 weeks after the test while it was still sitting in the lot didn't help.

Chris V has the right idea; leasing is really the way to go on this one.

maybe if it was sold as a Buick or Cadillac?

People apparently buy Fiskers. They are like 3 tons, aren't all that efficient, and are kind of slow.

Telsas are second rate Lotuses, but people buy them.

Rich people in Hollywood drive Priuses even though they are kind of ugly and slow.

I guess what I am getting at is that the Volt can't pick up the hip vibe that these other cars put out.

I agree with Chris and Joe...the Volt is an excellent commuting option for the wife and I as well. I actually tried to take her into one, but she is dead set on a Wrangler.
Don't get me wrong, I love Wranglers, but she wants it for the looks basically. We already have 5 4x4 vehicles, so the Wrangler isn't bringing anything to the table, but is "cute" as she puts it. It's also 30k. Sure you can get a base model for 24k, but once you add her requirements (auto, ac, hardtop) you knock on 30k quick. She doesn't give me crap when I buy another car or motorcycle that isn't needed though, so I should just STFU and go get her a wrangler.