asterism
Congress != Progress
It's really sad when Americans cheer for the failure of one of it's own companies and all because of the complete control their ideology has over them. And these same people claim to love their country. Liars.
On another note: Toyota hybrids: Carmaker to expand range of models Toyota hybrids: Carmaker to expand range of models | Indianapolis Star | indystar.com
So there is market for hybrids. GM just has to figure out how to capture their segment of the market and how to convince the domestic haters of America to buy their cars.
That's a very telling comment. You don't see the problem being a substandard product that's too expensive, you see the problem as one of "convincing" people to buy. That's why left leaning command economics fails. They deal in messaging instead of market, convincing instead of offering.
The Volt is too expensive and 35 miles is too short. In the real world, the Chevy Cruze is a more eco-friendly car at half the cost.
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For some people that might work, but for others not so much. Most people don't buy a car based on one single attribute, in your example fuel economy. If people did only buy based on fuel economy for a given size vehicle, then the Cadillac ATS is dead in the water. In size it is somewhere between a Cruze and a Malibu and starts at around $33,000, going up to mid 40s. And it doesn't get the fuel economy of a Cruze or Malibu. But the thing is people also buy this car for the styling, the technology content, and the driving performance.
Back to Volt....Styling compared to Cruze? Some would give the edge to Cruze, but I think most would prefer Volt. Technology content compared to Cruze? And I won't even count the drive system. Both have full capability onscreen Nav with the ability to program directions from your cell phone. Included in Volt, extra cost in Cruze. Volt also has standard front and rear collision alert, rear camera, Sirius XM Radio with option of a 40 gig HD so that you can load your own music or use it to "pause" live radio. Some of this stuff is available in Cruze, but at additional price. Also Volt is a hatchback, so the cargo space is much more usable. I've carried an upright bass in the Volt. Can't do that in a Cruze or a Malibu.
When we decided on Volt, we did not consider Cruze. Doesn't meet our needs. We consider Malibu and Equinox. Our lease price on either of those would have been $80 - $100 less than the lease price on the Volt. Savings has actually been significantly more. But we knew we'd easily save that much in fuel per month and the Volt cargo space is more useable than Malibu cargo space.
That is how car buyers think. Total package, not one attribute or feature. And for what it's worth, the Volt gets better highway fuel economy than any Cruze EXCEPT Eco. And the city fuel economy can be infinite.
You may impress yourself, your family, and fellow advocates with your "analysis" of how the Volt is a good choice but the facts show that it's a failure.
The Volt is a flop and an example of why GM failed before, and a government-owned GM still fails.