My new daily

[DCIV]

Wow. Yeah, I see why you drove a pick up truck when younger.


Coop

[mjannusch]

2007+ Avalanche with cylinder deactivation will get you a little better mileage. I think the EPA rating or whatever is around 19-20 highway. I typically get more like 16-17, but lots of short trips and not a lot of time on the highway. Certainly far less than your Volt, but comfort is work something. We have a 2010 LTZ and the leather seats are really nice and has memory for 2 drivers, that includes pedal adjustments.

[Duck Vader]

I've been looking at 2010+ ltz. Can get one for about $20k with 90k miles on it. Was going to go test drive one tonight but didn't get a chance to go. Not sure if I want to add that much debt over the volt. If I could get a nice one with low mileage under $15k I might go for it. Have a couple of things happening over the next few weeks though so not going to happen until at least March or April.

[Duck Vader]

Took the Volt for the longest/hardest drive I think I have yet in it over the weekend. Only just over 150 miles each way and about 3 hours, but a lot of mountains with the pretty big changes in temperature, elevation, and weather (60s and sunny to 20s and cloudy, hail storm, heavy rains, light snow, etc). Over the 300+ miles I averaged 45 mpg. It made the climbs easily enough. Passing going up the mountain hills though you can tell it weighs a lot and is a bit under powered at times. Not awful by any means and way better than any Jeep I have driven. Handled the twisty mountain roads going 65 mph with ease even with suggested speed of 45 posted.

That being said, by the time I got to sisters the transmission was definitely hotter than I have ever noticed it before. Center console was warm to the touch. Never felt that before. Also, my wife was complaining after about the 1.5 hour mark her legs and back were hurting. By that time my feet and ankles were a little sore and my back was cramping bad. Required a lot of throttle input to keep the speed up so calf/shin was starting to cramp a bit too. Getting out after 3 hours was probably funny to watch. It was a struggle since so stiff. Also trying to get in/out after the competition beat me up was not fun. Hit my head really hard and tweaked me neck trying to duck in.

But it did carry all my gear and luggage with room to spare.

The engine noise though. Man that thing screamed trying to get up the mountains. And by scream I mean buzzed loudly. Left both Danielle's and my head feeling weird if we didn't turn up the radio.

So this is a great car for local stuff. But not a long distance traveler if you ask me. Especially if you go up/down mountains. Being able to drop it in low though was a lifesaver for coming back down to the valley. Didn't have to touch the brakes much at all.

With all the being said, I still think it is time to move on. The getting in/out just pisses me off anymore and we both want to start traveling more. The Volt is not good for us for long distance and the Kia is on a low mileage lease. Jeep, well, ya... we know that fiasco.

So going to get it cleaned up a bit and put it up for sale officially this week.

Just at about 61,000 miles on it.

[mjannusch]

The new Volt has a Mountain Mode, which tries to keep more charge in the battery so it is more agile going uphill. Not sure if the old one has that or not. They also did improve the gas engine sound by going to a larger displacement motor that revs lower, so your complaint there is something that was addressed later.

The heat on the center console is likely from the heavy energy demands being made on the battery pack. I think you'll see that in any EV.

But yeah, I wouldn't consider it a great car for long travels. The back seat is pretty small, and when you aren't in locations where you can charge it back to full then it is an average at best vehicle. We did take ours out to Yellowstone and back and it was okay, but I kept it in Hold mode most of the time to maintain battery charge, and when it got low enough then used Mountain mode to keep a couple bars of charge for hilly sections.

[Duck Vader]

It does have mountain mode. Tried using it a bit, but stayed mostly in hold mode. Wanted to keep the battery charge for when driving around the city with the stop/go stuff. You are probably right about the energy demands on the battery, didn't think about that.

When I needed to pass a lot of people I would switch it over the electric and it helped, but it sucked down the battery fast as hell doing that. Easily drop 3-4 miles of range in less than a mile of actual driving.

Overall I have been very happy with the Volt over the last three years, but just as life changes so does my needs. I have been buying vehicles based on current needs/wants since the GTI. Want to try to find something that will last a variety of changes/needs/wants.

Going back over the last 10 or so years - bought a truck, then lost my job so had to sell, bought a focus when I needed a car again because it was cheap, but hated it, replaced it with a truck, but wrecked it, replaced it with a jeep, but blew the engine, then came GTI, but too many issues, Mustang, but was able to sell more than I owed and was fun but useless, Rubicon, fun, useful, but way too unreliable with piss more mpg, then came the Volt. Great mpg, comfy for a compact car, but not great, perfect car for a local daily if I was smaller, but doesn't work for us for long travels.

So looking now for comfortable, OK mpg (15+ average would be ideal at least, more the better), practical, useful, great long distance traveler.

Can't think of anything besides a truck that would fit those needs/wants. Maybe a large SUV, but rather have a truck than another SUV.

[MumRa]

how on Earth do you fit in a Volt? it's not exactly roomy for me.

[DCIV]

Bobby you have a volt?


Coop

[MumRa]

[quote=""DCIV""]Bobby you have a volt?


Coop[/quote]

Gawd no but I've sat in one. my car is much smaller. BRZ

probably be onto something else in the fall. haven't decided if I want to keep it or not. it's been completely problem free besides getting hit in the front and back then vandalized at the gym.

good gas mileage, fun to drive(just needs more power) and the most reliable car I've ever had. of course it helps when you buy brand new.

[Duck Vader]

Going in next week for a recall. Something about the batteries and insufficient warning when they start to deplete.

Might see if the will just buy it from me. If they offer what I owe, it might be worth it. If not, I will just hold onto it for now.

[Duck Vader]

Also I might have fucked up something in the front end. Hit a big ass pot hole the other day and now been hearing noises coming from the front. So there is that.

[Duck Vader]

Goes in today for the recall.

There is also a weird noise I am starting to hear at low speeds that sounds like it is coming from the front end. Almost like a small clinking sound, but can only hear it when driving very slow, radio off, and very quiet outside and close enough to something to have the sound bounce off.

Drivers side window is starting to have problems too. When it goes up at the top there is a grinding sound coming from inside the door. Assuming regulator is on its way out?

[MumRa]

Ga brought back the $10K tax credit for buying electric cars. tempting since it's a credit which is exactly like cash when tax time comes.

ex: buy car in December(or anytime during the year). file taxes next year and get $10K cash back from the Feds. this is assuming you have a tax liability > or +$10K. if not iirc you have 5 years to reach that number so they will just refund all your taxes until it hits $10K. pretty awesome incentive. I'd just charge my car as many places as possible that aren't at home to save even more.

[ChargerX3]

Buy and then flip out of state?

[Chris GTO TT]

Usually the depreciation hit those cars take account for the tax credit... It's why Leafs are so cheap

[Duck Vader]

Leaving the dealership and my wife points out the window and says she like that. I should see about getting one of those.... She was pointing at a Colorado... If memory serves me right I don't fit in them well. Might have to go take another look. Lol.

[stealthee]

[quote=""Chris GTO TT""]Usually the depreciation hit those cars take account for the tax credit... It's why Leafs are so cheap[/quote]

That and they're hideous and way underpowered.

[Chris GTO TT]

[quote=""Duck Vader""]Leaving the dealership and my wife points out the window and says she like that. I should see about getting one of those.... She was pointing at a Colorado... If memory serves me right I don't fit in them well. Might have to go take another look. Lol.[/quote]I barely fit in a Colorado/Canyon I doubt you would be super comfortable

[quote=""stealthee""]That and they're hideous and way underpowered.[/quote]

Heh cannot be too much worse than a Miata

[MumRa]

[quote=""Duck Vader""]Leaving the dealership and my wife points out the window and says she like that. I should see about getting one of those.... She was pointing at a Colorado... If memory serves me right I don't fit in them well. Might have to go take another look. Lol.[/quote]
tighter than a Volt?

[quote=""stealthee""]That and they're hideous and way underpowered.[/quote]
it's like a fat chick that doesn't even give good head.

[Duck Vader]

I think the Volt was more comfortable than the Colorado, but I can't remember why I thought that. I will have to go sit in one and drive one again. Will stop by the local carmax. They have a few.