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G.M.’s Electric Lemon

New York Times -- GENERAL MOTORS introduced America to the Chevrolet Volt at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show as a low-slung concept car that would someday be the future of motorized transportation. It would go 40 miles on battery power alone, promised G.M., after which it would create its own electricity with a gas engine. Three and a half years — and one government-assisted bankruptcy later — G.M. is bringing a Volt to market that makes good on those two promises. The problem is, well, everything else.

For starters, G.M.’s vision turned into a car that costs $41,000 before relevant tax breaks ... but after billions of dollars of government loans and grants for the Volt’s development and production. And instead of the sleek coupe of 2007, it looks suspiciously similar to a Toyota Prius. ...

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Submitted Jul 30, 2010 By: CosmicP

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chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:12,377 Points:2,176,265 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2010 11:32:00 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse The gasoline engine is only used to recharge the batteries. What idiot at GM decided to use an engine that requires premium fuel?
jeskibuff Champion Author Tampa Posts:5,301 Points:984,460 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2010 5:44:54 PM Ignore jeskibuff Report Abuse highdesertman said: "This blogger obviously has some kind of bone to pick with GM" Probably most people who have owned a GM product has some kind of bone to pick with GM.
remay Champion Author Houston Posts:4,696 Points:1,654,720 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2010 12:29:25 PM Ignore remay Report Abuse "It also requires premium gasoline, seats only four people (the battery runs down the center of the car, preventing a rear bench) and has less head and leg room than the $17,000 Chevrolet Cruze, which is more or less the non-electric version of the Volt. " Uh, in my opinion that's 3 strikes, not including the price... you're out.
Martinman Champion Author Mississippi Posts:11,760 Points:1,659,270 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2010 5:55:15 AM Ignore Martinman Report Abuse THIS IS NOT NEWS. It IS an EDITORIAL OPINION (op-ed). And it DOESN'T BELONG HERE, in the Recent News section.
granitestater Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:6,309 Points:1,017,395 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 31, 2010 5:03:52 AM Ignore granitestater Report Abuse Lemon? More like Lemon-Lime. Or at least, a horse-designed-by-committee (camel). But then Ford didn't start out with the Mustang. It started with the Model T. Not exactly something that would attract crowds today...
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:5,961 Points:1,385,540 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 6:02:33 PM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse In that case highdesertman, we'll leave this car and it's price tag as a special purchase just for you. Meanwhile, get back to us later on ... let us know how badly you get reamed when those batteries need replacing.
highdesertman Champion Author Albuquerque Posts:1,202 Points:1,309,720 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 2:27:43 PM Ignore highdesertman Report Abuse Worth noting that this is an op-ed opinion piece and not a NYT news story. From pictures I've seen, the Volt looks nothing like a Prius and of course uses a totally different plug-in hybrid design. This blogger obviously has some kind of bone to pick with GM and sounds like he may be on the Toyota payroll. I'd rather wait until the unbiased reviews come in before deciding whether it's a lemon.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,195 Points:1,031,620 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 2:07:07 PM Ignore car253 Report Abuse Speaking of LEMONS, Toyota has recalled 9,500,000 REAL UNSAFE LEMONS.
derKraut Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,669 Points:848,795 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 2:02:34 PM Ignore derKraut Report Abuse It would be funny and predictable were it not so sad. Sad because provincial governments here gave purchasers a big incentive to buy yet another GM LEMON.
BurntOrange Champion Author Austin Posts:5,940 Points:1,124,955 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 2:01:17 PM Ignore BurntOrange Report Abuse Poor Article. GM always knew that the Volt would be low-volume and/or a money-loser in 2007. It will be a while before the cost of materials allows for a cost-competitive plug-in hybrid. That is why they are only building 10,000 of them, and limiting the markets where they will be sold. The Volt will (hopefully) do 2 things for GM: 1) Give GM a proving ground to work out the kinks of a plug-in hybrid. Ideally the Volt-2 or Volt-3 will be cost-competitive with gas vehicles, and best-of-breed. 2) Give GM some good PR. [Edited by: BurntOrange at 7/30/2010 4:02:09 PM EST]
VanIsleRover All-Star Author British Columbia Posts:930 Points:324,770 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 1:49:17 PM Ignore VanIsleRover Report Abuse The designers like making concept cars for the car shows. They promise us good quality then import parts made in foreign countries and the problems continue. The oil companies want us to keep using oil and gasoline. It's the $$$$$ Meanwhile we have no choices if we want alternatives. There is always someone out there putting a stop to innovative ideas.
tarheelcoastie Champion Author Greensboro Posts:3,008 Points:662,745 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 1:40:01 PM Ignore tarheelcoastie Report Abuse If there is any money left to steal, GM will keep making crap ... just they have for the past 30 years. Who runs a business that loses billions each QUARTER???
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,165 Points:1,365,980 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jul 30, 2010 11:54:57 AM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse GM is good at building Lemons.