I drove a Bolt. Loved it. 

"Hooker" (Hooker) 01/16/2019 at 22:12 • Filed to: None

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If the Bolt is indicative of the electric future. Want. So smooth. Quiet. Competent. Normal. Fun. Yeah. They interior is plastic. But it’s not playschool plastic. Its functional, well grained and attractive. However, price is a bitch. Early adopters, do your thing. I want one cheap. Potato pics because dark and potato. Back seat is 5'-8" me behind 5'-8" me.

Nibby > Hooker 01/16/2019 at 22:21

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that interior looks super cheap and low end... i mean, i get it, it’s one of the cheapest fully electric cars but that interior looks like a $15,000 car, not a $35,000 one

daender > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 22:22

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My thoughts exactly when I test-drove one with Jordan. The MSRP should be in the very- low $20k range, not $41k.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 22:25

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I drove one too, and the interior does in fact look low end and cheap. The Styrofoam accents are a nice touch.

Nibby > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/16/2019 at 22:26

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just buy an insight or clarity for less/same instead.

Hooker > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 22:26

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I agree, it could be nicer. But I also think the technology and overall package is a compelling case. And how often do we fondle the dashboard? Or should we? I want tight panel gaps and low sheen plastics. This does a convincing job. Is it perfect? Nope. But I believe that at this point the tech and the overall package is worthy of consideration. 

for Michigan > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies 01/16/2019 at 22:28

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My impression is that it’s very similar to the Spark’s interior, which is a sub-$15 K car.

Nibby > Hooker 01/16/2019 at 22:32

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the leaf doesn’t have that kind of range but it is over $5,000 less and has a much nicer interior imo

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 22:47

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The Hyundai Ioniq and Kia Niro are also compelling, and cheaper options. 

Deal Killer - Powered by Focus > Hooker 01/16/2019 at 22:47

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What’s the range on this thing again?

daender > Deal Killer - Powered by Focus 01/16/2019 at 23:02

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240 miles officially, up to 270 under ideal conditions. Like gasoline vehicles, it c an still go for a short (~30 mins./miles) period of time despite the display showing empty.

PanchoVilleneuve ST > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 23:04

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I sat in one and it was weird because it’s the only car I’ve been in that felt both cheap and not crappy. Like, the plastics have this weird Rubbermaid kind of quality where they feel like cheap garbage but also like they’re really rugged and durable. GM’s Achilles heel has always been hiding where they cut corners but the Bolt is weird because it’s so out in front but in a way where you can totally see the thinking behind it and you still feel like they made the right call. It’s like they did the whole triangle thing with “pleasing on a tactile and aesthetic level, durable, inexpensive: pick two” and went with durable and inexpensive.

The person I was with when I first sat in one said it felt like a Disney World ride vehicle inside and that was totally spot-on.

Also, I love the Bolt for being a HEY GUYS BUY ME AND SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT WE MADE IT ALL TALL AND BULBOUS TO MAXIMIZE PRACTICALITY! thing that thanks to the beautiful thing that is electric torque is exactly as quick as my Focus ST from 0-60.

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > Hooker 01/16/2019 at 23:17

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I’m still trying to figure out why you would buy this over say a w ell equipped F it and the price differential in Gas.

JMordu becoming “savethemilanos” > Nibby 01/16/2019 at 23:18

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While tastes are of course subjective and the bolt doesn’t have anything one would call a luxurious interior even for its price , I actually really liked the inside of the Bolt Premier I got to drive last year. Nicer in person than one cell phone shot of the back seat can do justice. Guess I’m just saying don’t discount it without giving it a shot in person, the GM EVs are super fun to drive in a weird way (Never gonna replace my classic alfas for pure fun, but way more interesting than any automatic+ gas car I’ve spent time in) and I ended up with a CPO ELR after testing the Bolt.

E92M3 > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 01/16/2019 at 23:34

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It doesn’t make financial sense. $15,000 buys a lot of fuel for a Fit. It’ll be a nicer place to sit , you won’t have any range anxiety, and it’ll still be worth something in 5 years. If you invested the $15k you saved, it would probably earn enough to cover your annual fuel costs.

Chariotoflove > PanchoVilleneuve ST 01/16/2019 at 23:57

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I think the Rubbermaid analogy is an apt way to describe how Chevy does most of its plastics.  Even the soft touch padded surfaces feel rubbery.

Chariotoflove > daender 01/16/2019 at 23:58

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That’s not bad.

RallyWrench > Hooker 01/17/2019 at 02:14

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I was thinking about the Bolt a couple of days ago, they seem fun but I haven’t driven one. It's a hell of a lot cooler than a Leaf, if not the E-Golf. I could see daily driving one, for sure. As long as it meant I can blow up some dinosaurs on the weekend.

His Stigness > E92M3 01/17/2019 at 03:06

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Range anxiety is not a thing, sorry. It’s manufacturer by journalists who refuse to accept electric cars are a thing. And “range anxiety” is even less of a thing when you get 250ish miles on a full charge.

I've taken my e-Golf to the edge of its range in one stint and never once had "range anxiety." And if you ask any other EV owner they'll say the same thing. 

His Stigness > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 01/17/2019 at 03:08

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Because an EV is a hell of a lot nicer place to be than anything but a top of the line luxury car.

And getting into your car each morning having it fully charged is worth a lot. Myself and EV owners never need to go waste our time getting gas, we just plug in at home, or at work, or at our destination.

And electricity rates do jot fluctuate when a butterfly flaps its wings halfway around the world like gas prices do. 

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > His Stigness 01/17/2019 at 07:23

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See for me the charging part is the deal killer for me  townhouse without an garage so unless I’m running an extension cord out a window or something that isn’t happening.  I also teach at a school so no charging opportunity there either and while my commute is somewhat idea for an EV approximately 15 miles highway speed each way the rest of it just doesn’t work.

Arrivederci > Hooker 01/17/2019 at 07:59

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EVs are moving in the right direction - when they offer the same range, performance, interior, exterior and price of their gasser friends, I’d absolutely jump on board.

Hooker > Arrivederci 01/17/2019 at 09:53

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Same. But this thing honestly comes really close on everything but price. And the infrastructure is improving daily. I came away completely impressed. And I certainly didn’t expect to.

Hooker > Nibby 01/17/2019 at 09:54

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Haven’t been in a Leaf. But I will have to check it out. I’m a little sour with all the issues they had with range on their first attempt. It seemed half baked.

Hooker > RallyWrench 01/17/2019 at 09:55

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Yes. Bolt for the weekdays, ZR1 for the weekends. There has to be balance!

Nibby > Hooker 01/17/2019 at 10:25

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half baked... typical modern Nissan :)

Hooker > Nibby 01/17/2019 at 11:42

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Yeah. Like, don’t get me wrong, the Bolt interior design is great. Quality of materials could be better. However, it’s obvious Chevrolet and GM spent a considerable amount of coin on the powertrain and the tech. I don’t get the same vibe from Nissan.

His Stigness > Phyrxes once again has a wagon! 01/17/2019 at 11:43

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Well, EVs don’t work for everyone, obviously. But for those of is with a garage, or charging at home, we got EVs for my reasons stated above.