http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-cont...evy-volt-2.jpg
vs
http://loo.me/wp-content/uploads/201...la-model-s.jpg
really?

**********, did you check out the new cruze clean turbo diesel? I know we all bust each other's chops around here but you'd be doing yourself a disservice by not taking a close look at that car.

By many accounts, it's real tough to stay in full electric mode in that Volt, which means gas mileage plummets the instant that gas engine fires up, and as soon as it's on, it will kick in to assist the electric motors. all by design. So best averages show the VOlt gets ~60mpg equivalent.

the volt stickers for $38K+

The new clean diesel engines are the latest technology, and it's impressive. The turbo clkean diesel in the new cruze get 67mpg, besting the Volt.

The clean diesel version stickers for $22k

really, get it instead.

And how many days was it -9C in Montreal this past winter?

I'd seriously look at electric options myself - if I lived much more southern.

Oh, and this:

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-cont...-S-in-snow.jpg
http://468y981o84o43v2wo2600a0gcj.wp...del-S-Snow.png
http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uplo...ope-snow-2.jpg
http://www.roadandtrack.com/cm/roada..._2214_4-lg.jpg
http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/tyTkRyTV2W4/maxresdefault.jpg
http://insideevs.com/wp-content/uplo...olt-winter.jpg
http://www.blogcdn.com/green.autoblo...n-snow-628.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cmm5sRJ8gE...anLeafSnow.jpg

Please - keep trying to prove to me that I've made a mistake.

is this in regards to my suggestion? I have no idea since I live in LA and have no concept of temperatures under 66f. I know diesels want a warm block to start up, I wonder if these new clean diesels are the same?

Of course. Tesla Rocks. I want I want I want, but but but. Would rather settle for a Volt AND buy a house, then just buy a Telsa. Been wanting one of these forever.


I considered it, but still prefer Electric.

Cars are mostly an emotional purchase.

Well, kinda.

It was in reply to (I think) Mark mentioning the batteries only work above 15F - below that it's all the combustion engine.

And given the long, frigid winter we're just emerging from...there's a LOT of months that the electric motor wouldn't be utilized.

That brings up a good point.

**********, how do you figure you'll calculate the energy costs of driving this car? It seems difficult enough to figure it out but factoring in cold, just curious

So pictures of these cars in the snow proves they are able to function normally? :thumbsup

Since we are taking this route...

Here is proof that man can fly

http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/t...n%20flying.jpg

*oh and*

Pigs can fly

http://falklandsnews.files.wordpress...flying_pig.jpg

According to weatherstats.ca :

http://montreal.weatherstats.ca/metr...mperature.html

the average was -10.2c, with the coldest being -27.3c.

Here is some poor guy with his Chevy Volt at -42. Crazy.




Lol!!! I don't know man..... I just wanna spend less on gas, use more electric... ya dig?


D'oh! how could I have been so wrong. You're right. Fuck high tech electric. It's chicken and gasoline for me baby, forever and ever.

Wow, that's it? My Prius gets over 50. The ePrius or whatever the fuck they call it, that my buddy drives gets the equivalent of 90mpg.

If you can drive and keep the car in full electric mode it gets a much much better equivalent but it seems it's extremely hard to do and to add, it's difficult to calculate with these hybrids but yeah, I was surprised too.

Well Mark..you were happy. Then you fucked up and posted about your new car on GFY.

Lesson learned...

Thats very 'French Canadian' of you

hah, turnabout is fairplay on gfy. You know the shit he stirs here and has.

Its fun to floor my Escalade next to these types of cars. oops, just canceled out your environmental bs :)

This will actually be a part of the fun for me. In My Camaro, I am always looking at the amount of Litres-per-kilometer, and trying to get it as low as possible by adjusting my driving habits. The car is a standard shift so you get lots of control over this, but its also easy to fuck up too.

For example, if I drive 100 kilometres per hour in 6th gear, it drinks about 8 litres per kilometre. But if I speed up to 140 Kilometres per hour, my usage creeps up to about 11.9 litres per kilometre. Driving 40% faster uses fuel 48% faster. I am assuming the extra 8% is thanks to increased drag, but that would be only a guess.

With a Volt, I'm going to watch it really carefully and try to squeeze out every volt from that battery (haha, I'm such a wit).

I promise to post my results, good or bad, in this thread. If I end up hating my purchase, you know I'll be honest about it.

It is? I don't know about that... It's very hippy / liberal / democratic / tree-huggeree asshole-ish of me for sure, but I don't know if it is French Canadian of me.



http://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content...polar-bear.jpg

If I ever get to hug a polar bear, I'll hug it for you.

:)

Well mostly because Canadian electric cars SUCK. Have you seen these things?

http://www.canev.com

But aside from them I don't think any companies in Canada make electric cars... or cars in general. There are lots of assembly plants but the parts come from the US or offshore.

Lots of "American" cars are really made offshore anyway. Buicks for example, contain only about 21% of Candian or American "content" - the rest is all from across the pond.


A 4 Cyl is of course really economical. And I think that the Ford Focus is really a great car for the money too (I've rented them a few times when travelling). I was thinking about going for a 4 Cyl but then I thought... nah... lets be high tech here. Let's put my interest / passion to the test... I always shoot my mouth off on GFY about electric cars, and DYNA-MO reminds me that I'm a hypocrite every chance he gets, right? So I'm putting my money where my mouth is.

I know just how you feel. My Camaro is a sexy beast and the exhaust note is sweet, sweet, extra sweet. When I walked into the dealer and said "Hey! Trade?", the sales rep thought I was putting him on. A manager came by and asked me if I was serious. I wonder if I'll be on the 6 o'clock news? (Maybe Collin Farrel will play me in the movie....)

For sure. The battery life still sucks. I wish it was 200 or 300 kilometres range like a Tesla, but oh well...

I was the one who posted it. Fucking amazing.

;)


Tomato, Potato...


Funny - thats just what Tracy said!

Every driver here, EVERY driver here, is fucked in the head for sure. But thanks!


See, that's the thing... to me, I think my Camaro is boring. I used to love this kind of car, but now, I just don't. I read Pop-sci and love new tech. I look at the Camaro and other gas cars and I see shiny gadgets around OLD tech. I think getting better gas milage is "more fun" than beating some kid-clown and his mustang in a quarter mile race.

But its actually not a slow car. Don't forget that EV's have max torque starting at 0 RPM's, but a gas car has to get up to about 4000-6000 RPM's to hit max torque. Also, a Gas car takes time to push gas and air into the cylinders, explode it, and convert that energy to forward momentum, while an EV's forward momentum is instant.

so what color did you get? that silver looks good. It's a good looking design too. It's not swoopy like the Tesla but it does have style, sharper lines.

Is that the one with the ecoboost engine? That's an impressive high-tech little mill.

Done!

They found a silver one, fully loaded, in eastern Quebec. I ordered it but won't find out until Monday if its still available. If it is, I should have it in a few days. Will post pics.

Can't wait!
:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

Mark - what size is the combustion engine in the Volt? (too lazy to look it up here, lol).

The wife and I recently bought a pair of Kia's - a Serento AWD SUV and an Optima EX luxury...both with the 2.4L GDI motor and the active ECO tech. So we've been trying to compare our mileage (hers being the larger and heavier SUV...she's not getting the fuel economy I'm getting so far in the Optima).

The "Engine Range Extender" as they call it is a 1.4L I4 DOHC.

Update!!

I really wish I had done this last year... check this out.

So I picked the options I wanted and the price came to just over $40,000, minus the following:

- $8500.00 Credit from Quebec Government.
- $750.00 GM Loyalty Credit
- $1500.00 GM Loyalty Credit (Tracy drives a Pontiac Vibe from 2002 or so)
- $2200.00 GM Credit because Tracy's company sells materials to GM.
- $1000.00 EV Charger installation credit from Quebec.
- $250.00 Credit for Gas
- $10.00 - Free electricity

That is $14,210.00 in freebies, plus free cargo cover woohoo!!

I am picking up the Chevy Volt on Wednesday afternoon, and I can't freaking wait.

In honour of you, Dyna Mo, I gunned the gas and did a cool smokey burn-out, but now I feel bad. Should I send a check to Al Gore or something? :)

Pics soon!

Done!!! I picked it up today and LOVE IT. Not that anyone cares... :(

:2 cents:

Honestly, congrats.

New cars are always fun.

I'm still settling in to my new Optima EX lux. :)


P.S. - I'd walk before driving another GM product again. But don't let that curb your enthusiasm. ;)

nice, I know you lolled too. :1orglaugh

hey, congrats man, a new ride is a new ride. And if you had posted at least 1 pic, I would have let you slide, but no pics? wtf! :1orglaugh

He'd have posted a pic - but the cam batteries died and the Volt refuses to timeshare the power outlet.

You guys are all ragging on him... Someone said it best above - buying a car is an emotional purchase. And nothing is going to change that.

I can't imagine why you want to go from a Carmaro to a Chevy Volt, but good for you.