Newbie Owner - But Do you have regrets not getting the Volt?

All things being equal, I too would prefer the Volt over the PIP. The range is one issue, but the bigger one is that the PIP is less of an EV than I would like - there are too many ways to trigger the gas engine. The Volt also handles better and is overall built a bit nicer.

That said, the Volt couldn't touch the price of the PIP, and the PIP has a larger back seat, and larger cargo area, overall swaying my choice. I also think the PIP is not only more efficient on gas, but overall drives a bit nicer on gas than the Volt. Even with the extra electric range, that really comes down to how crazy these cars make us about mileage. It would be a very specific owner who could get substantially better mileage in a Volt than a PIP.

Enjoy your car!

 

I looked at both and after weighing all my requirements and the pricing, I decided on the PiP because it just fit a little better. If I had the money though, I'd have one of each.

 

Never considered anything other than Toyota and the Prius. Based on Toyotas overall reputation and their long successful history with three generations of the Prius. Would prefer the Volt's EV range but not enough to purchase one.

 

Both great cars. Very big positives and negatives to both. Each person will have to weigh their own to see what they need/want. For me it was a no-brainer since I either take really short trips or REALLY long trips.

 

+ 1

 

But Do you have regrets not getting the Volt?

None whatsoever! Try carrying a half dozen 2 x 4 x8s around in the Volt. How about 4 or so big tubs of materials for a Model Railroad exhibit or NMRA Meet? Not in a Volt you won't. How about a complete professional sound system to DJ at your 50th. High School Class Reunion? I did. In fact the back seats haven't been up in months. It doubles as a truck for me.....​

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Besides the room issue, I have had very, very bad experiences with GM products. Very, very good experiences with Toyota products as have everyone I know who owns one (or two). Not only that but the local GM dealer is a, ah, well, lets just say I don't trust them.... ​

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The PiP meets exactly what I wanted in a vehicle. Sure I would like more EV miles per charge, but I can get all my around town stuff done in range, so not a big issue.​

 

I have no regrets for not getting a Volt. In over 3 decades of owning Toyotas, I have been very happy with the cars. I like being able to select HV mode while on the road and leave EV range for in town. As I recall the Volt is EV only until the battery is low. And while even at 3/4 EV I am using more gas that I would with a Volt, I like using enough that it gets replaced and doesn't spoil in the tank.

 

From a purely saving money point of view, there is a sweet spot of electric price to gas price ratio, and average driving distance, where the Volt beats the PiP. Outside of that sweet spot, the PiP (or regular Prius) is a better money saver.

 

I have both. There are pros and cons for both cars. The PIP has more interior space and gets much better mileage. The Volt is much quieter and of course,has a better range. I recently started a new job with a 38 mile R/T commute and the Volt is perfect for this. I get home with about 5 miles remaining. On the highway, as long as I stay around 65 mph, I have gotten as far as 53 miles on pure electric. I've had the PIP for 19 months and have had zero issues. I have only had the Volt for a month so it is too early to tell about quality. I've had one small issue that I posted on the Volt board and a GM advisor responded immediately and assigned a personal Volt advisor to me. They opened a case and have contacted me to ensure any issues I have are addressed. I had a call the other night from GM wanting to review in detail my initial thoughts on the car. They are working very hard to establish a loyal customer base. One area where I told them they could improve is paint quality. The PIP is close to Mercedes quality. The Volt is not bad, but it could be better. Overall, very pleased through 5 weeks and 1,300 miles.

 

I don't have a PiP, but the Volt is a dedicated 4 seater...deal killer for me..its a cool car though...and seems very dependable...

 

I've purcchased two new Chevrolets in my life time----NEVER AGAIN!

 

pros for PiP after 1 yr: cargo space (even with a full size spare i got), seats 2 kids/3 adults, toyota reputation, superior HV mpg (where i am higher usage ==> higher electricity rates due to tiered pricing, so by the end of the month it's actually cheaper to run HV mode than it is to charge... for my usage pattern)

 

The 2013 and on Volts have a "hold" mode that's the equivalent of HV mode.

We now own a 2013 Volt and a 2011 conventional Prius 3.

Each serves its purpose. I use the Volt for a 36 mile daily commute and am about 3 gallons into the tank that the car was delivered with in mid-July. None of the gas was spent on my commute.

I find the Volt more fun to drive and the range available is very useful (around 48 miles per charge the way I've been driving). The Volt is a hatchback and can haul a lot of stuff--but not as much as the Prius can.

 

Toyota's reputation for reliability had made me avoid the brand completely. The way their dealers treat their customers leave much to be desired. However, the PiP was the only car for me at the time as the Volt commanded a $4k premium. If I was in the market today though with the recent price drop, no question, I would purchase the less expensive Volt. One year driving this awfully slow PiP with no driver excitement is reason enough. Couple that with a brand who's rude dealers has burned me twice on previous Corollas and I cross my fingers that the PiP is as reliable as Priuschat members say it is.

I don't regret my purchase per se. It's a great car that serves it's purpose: get me from A to B. But if given the choice today. I'd rather have the higher EV range and overall faster acceleration of the Volt. The dealers from both brands are rubbish IMO. Reliability? I've had a poor track record with Toyota.


iPhone ? - now Free

 

If you think they're bad, I wouldn't recommend buying a VW.

 

I'm pretty confident you would find this with most brands. There is a very good reason car dealers have the reputation they have.

As a side note, this is another reason we should all be supporting Tesla on their direct to consumer approach and taking out the worst part of buying a car...the dealer.

 

its amazing you can get 18 EV miles on a charge but enjoy it because that will end very soon. There is a lot of good reasons to buy the Volt, PiP or the LEAF but really matters is how often do you drive more than 40 miles without charging or more than 75 miles?

how much gas have you used? I know a Volt driver who was barely at half a tank after 7 months of ownership (havent seen him in over a year so dont know how he is doing but this was also when Blink chargers were still free so guessing he is not charging in town as much as he did before but his RT commute is right at 40 miles so might be doing it all electric anyway)

but have to say that $100 a month is significant.

 

I did and I switched to the Volt. The PIP is a great car. It just wasn't right for me at this point in time.

 

Gee.....I've done the same thing!
Only for me it was the other way around.
Toyota makes good cars, but I just can't stomach the dealership network.

If you have Volt envy, you've come to the right place!!!!
Prius Chatters have exposed every single chink in the Volts armour!!

However, COMMA!
The real truth is that the Volt makes a lot more sense than the Prius to some, but to others it would be throwing good money after bad.
FWIW it sounds like your PIP is a good fit for your daily drives AND we all know from the cheerleaders that it's also a good fit for those who leave the sloburbs behind and get out on the open road.

Joisey will probably get more public charging stations, which will make your EV life even easier.
Oh yea. Please get permission from your employer before plugging in at work. (I'm thinking that you did from the tone of your post.)

The EV community is small and highly visible.
Only takes one or two bad actors to give the whole crowd a bad name.