I Kissed A Bolt, And I Liked It

We have been in the car market lately, and when driving by a Chevy dealer on Car Dealer Row, I had to stop in to test drive the new Chevy Bolt. Although we are not looking for such a small city car, I have been wanting to see what a true EV was like. I told the salesperson up front I was probably wasting her time, but she said that’s OK.

The vehicle is very small with very little room to carry things, which is a killer for us, so “no way” on that accord. It will seat four with adequit leg-room in the second row though. The accoutrements were also OK in this one rung up from the base model package, but the sound of the infotainment was poor to me, which I could never live with. I suspect the usual Bose disqualification factor here from GM products. But, and here’s the big “but,” I was thrilled with the motor, feel and quietness! Zipping in and out of rush-hour traffic on the crowded freeway was spiffy. If you are a competitor in those situations, like me, then this tiny car and outstanding excelleration with instant torque is a real weapon, Baby. See a hole in the next lane? Bip, you are in there. Need to get in the next lane moving faster? Zip, you have enough excelleration to keep from getting hit in the ass. kind of expected that from my reads on it, but what I did not expect was how smooth and quite it was. Too bad that quietness could not be taken advantage of by complementary music reproduction. A little more refinement and I may have to have one for city use.

Oops, I almost forgot — that car was sticker-priced @ $38k and change, and when I asked if it qualified for the statutory federal tax credit of $7500, they said they could not promise that, and I would have to ask my accountant. I did not bother to ask what I should do when I have no such accountant. Therein is another - and the biggest problem for most people - you can never approach saving enough on fuel costs to make up the big difference in price vis-a-vie other small cars even with a tax credit, yet I know of no tiny car I would put in the same league in drivability. This thing is FUN!

Have not looked at a Bolt, but have looked around at different electric cars and right across the street from where we bot the Charger is a Tesla dealer & spent a couple hours looking at them.

Really like the Tesla Model S, but the limited range is one thing against it as is limited recharging stations & extended time to refill the batteries....

We did get to take it for a spin, the lack of engine noise...is strange, the thing did have some serious ZIP and was sort of fun...enough room for the 2 of us, 3 with a kid and all 4 if we squeezed with suitcases.

Stupid expensive at the base level, the Charger at $50K vs $88k and limited to 335miles on a charge & our normal drive of 333 miles to see the girl child and no charging stations would be a issue......but they do have a little gas engine trailer that you can buy extra & pull behind to keep you charged.....but does that then mean your gas powered????