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Moving on to a Volt

Discussion in 'Gen 1 Prius Plug-in 2012-2015' started by KV1955, Feb 6, 2016.

  1. KV1955

    KV1955 Member

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    My lease on my 2014 PIP ends in a month, and we've decided not to purchase at the end of the lease. We bought a 2016 Volt a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say that the difference in the two cars is pretty striking.

    Don't get me wrong...I really like the PIP. Great gas mileage, dependable, decent cargo space for a economy car. But it always seemed to remind me that it was an economy car. The rather cheap-ish interior, the interior noise level at highway speeds, and frankly the looks are nothing to write home about. But I did get about 75mpg lifetime in the two years I had it, with about a 70/30% gas-to-EV ratio. And not a lick of trouble. It's been a good experience.

    My new Volt is a different thing altogether. Much more comfortable inside... with a much quieter ride on the highway. It just feels more like a luxury car than it does an economy car. I am getting 45+ miles of EV range so far...even in the very cold weather we've been having since my purchase, although I fully expect that number to rise as the weather warms this spring. And I can floor it without the gas engine kicking on. Our driving habits are such that, with a 50-ish mile EV range, we will likely never use gas except for our 2-3 yearly longer drives. Rear passenger room and cargo space is less than the PIP...but there are only two of us so we can generally fold down the rear seats if we need the extra room for gear. And while previous Volts have scored well on dependability polls, well...a Chevy is not a Toyota so we shall see in the long run.
     
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  2. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats, all the best!(y)

    who got the pip back? someone here might be looking for a good deal.
     
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  3. arescec

    arescec Active Member

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    How's the 2016 Volt compared to 2016 Prius? I've heard that Volt is also more expensive - could that be reason for the 'luxury'?
     
  4. mmmodem

    mmmodem Senior Taste Tester

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    I'll probably follow your lead in 2019 when my solo HOV decals expire. I'll hang onto this PiP until then. I know what you mean about the EV experience. The PiP is like a gateway drug. Give me more EV please! Oh and until you manually wind your windows down in a Nissan Versa or a Mitsubishi Mirage, you don't know what an economy car is. The Prius is a luxury car compared to those non contoured seats and plastic door handles that pop off in your hand.
     
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  5. KV1955

    KV1955 Member

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    I still have the PIP...won't turn it in until the lease is up ( I still have around 1500 miles I can use before it hits the 24,000 limit). Someone will certainly end up with a good car...both my wife and I generally drive like grannies and all the services were done as required. The residual is $19,400 or so. I also have a full-sized spare that I got from Tirerack that I'll be selling cheap after I turn it in.

    I haven't seen or driven the 2016 Prius...so no opinion. And yes...the Volt is more expensive. But much of the difference is made up by the larger Fed tax credit on the Volt. You should really go test-drive a Volt. You'll see what I mean when I say it has more of a luxury car feel.
     
    #5 KV1955, Feb 6, 2016
    Last edited by a moderator: Feb 6, 2016
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  6. sillylilwabbit

    sillylilwabbit Active Member

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    I have to agree with your assessment regarding the cheap feel/economy feel of the PIP.

    My 16 year old VW jetta has batter quality materials than my 2012 PIP.


    iPhone ?
     
  7. arescec

    arescec Active Member

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    They stopped selling them in Europe in 2015. It was marketed under Opel Ampera:
    [​IMG]

    It's base price was around $56,000 before any incentives - and incentives are very hard to get (only 50 or so cars per year per country in Croatia). If I did get the it would be $49,000 with incentives. Now you do get $40 bonus a year for owning a hybrid vehicle and that's about it (aka. you don't have to pay for emissions test every year). There are no charging stations, and the ones that started popping up require you (in some cases) to pay for electricity.

    I paid for my Prius $12,000 and am very happy with it. We don't get any incentives for battery replacement so that one can cost you up to $27,000 in Europe for Opel Ampera. No fun.

    Opel Ampera (aka. Volt) sold in total 69 cars in Europe in last 5 months before stopping the sales.
    In the meantime, Toyota sold 40,000 Yaris and as much Auris hybrids (in those 5 months). Plug-ins and EVs are currently too expensive for the EU market as an average new car bought here is somewhere around $20,000 or even less in poorer countries. And cars are generally more expensive - Prius 2010 base in here costs around $33,000 due to all taxes. That means there is a heap of Renaults, Peugeots, old VW's and Fiats on the street. Btw. Fiat Punto costs $12,000 base so it's 4x cheaper than e.g. Volt. That makes Volt obsolete.
     
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  8. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    Love to hear these gateway drug stories. I too will never be able to drive a non-electric car going forward.
     
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  9. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    no question. even the thought of going back to a regular prius gives me the shivers. great car, but i hate when the engine starts, as i'm just backing out of my garage.:mad:
     
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  10. fotomoto

    fotomoto Senior Member

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    Ditto. (y)

    A change in driving routines has me rarely using gas and it's been nearly 6 weeks since I last heard the ICE on an out of town trip. I've driven my wife's (nearly new) car twice during that time frame and it feels so archaic in comparison. It also takes more mental and physical effort to stop that car since my muscle memory is now accustomed to one-pedal driving.o_O :)
     
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  11. 48mpg

    48mpg Member

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    After the way I was treated by GM corporate and 2 local dealers during all the recalls on my HHR Id never buy a GM product, Id rather buy a KIA .. I had to give the used car dealer my 2009 HHR plus $2500 cash for my 2005 Prius ..The GM dealer told me they would not rent me a car because the 3 recalls would take a year to get parts for it and they offered me 1/2 of trade in value ONLY if I bought a new GM if I didn't buy one they didn't want the HHR at all..Copr said each dealer is independently owned and can handle the recalls as they see fit ..
    not a GM fan, good luck with the Volt
     
  12. KV1955

    KV1955 Member

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    Gateway drug....I like that analogy!
     
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  13. markabele

    markabele owner of PiP, then Leaf, then Model 3

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    I can't take credit. I think bisco said it a little while ago on another thread. :)
     
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  14. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    you'd remember better than i would.(n)
     
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  15. Montgomery

    Montgomery Senior Member

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    Wish you the best with your Volt. I really like the way they look. I hope your maintenance and dealership experience stays good as well. I know the Prius doesn't have the "luxury" feel. Kinda miss that. But the other bells and whistles seem to satisfy me for now. I really need to see 5 years from now how many Volts and Bolts are still on the road and how little maintenance issues they had. All the best to ya!
     
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  16. dbcassidy

    dbcassidy Toyota Hybrid Nation, 8 Million Strong

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    I ma not surprised sales have stopped in Europe. GM, again, blew it on defining their customer or market base.

    DBCassidy
     
  17. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    It's the Drugs! :eek:
     
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  18. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

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    2017 Opel Ampera spied in Europe:: Holden Ampera to follow in Australia?
     
  19. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    at my age, we call them meds.;)
     
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  20. retired4999

    retired4999 Prius driver since 2005

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    I hear you! :cry: