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Title: Have you driven a Chevy Volt...lately?
Source: American Thinker
URL Source: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog ... you_driven_a_chevy_voltla.html
Published: Aug 8, 2010
Author: Isaac Martin
Post Date: 2010-08-10 05:26:28 by reaganisright
Keywords: None
Views: 35772
Comments: 65

Have you driven a Chevy Volt

The headline is a play an early ‘80s Ford car ad campaign. Have you driven a Ford. . .lately? was the tag line and it's instructive when considering Chevrolet's new Volt, the car that'll make GM a "leader" in green vehicle technology and create green blue collar jobs. The answer to Have you driven a Chevy Volt . . .lately? is most likely to be no.

I really love cars, and it pains me to criticize a vehicle, since my premise is all cars are good, some are better than others. Plus I know people at GM who love cars and worked diligently on this car, even if they thought it an answer to a question no one asked. While the Volt looks like smart product planning and business management to the Obama regime - people who don't know or care about cars - unfortunately, it fails on several levels.

Start with a $41,000 list price and with the $7500 Federal tax credit it drops to $33,500. I would even speculate that California, with a $20 billion deficit, could even be willing to spend money it doesn't have by kicking in a state hybrid vehicle credit to shave the price slightly. Regardless, tax credits mean more of what we don't need: government spending.

The President, and anointed government czars think the Volt is a good idea that consumers will clamor for, at least 10,000 of them. During his Michigan GM factory visit, the President looked so - what's the word - manly as he hopped behind the wheel to drive a Volt all of two car lengths off the prototype assembly line. I sure wouldn't buy a car he endorsed, because he wouldn't know a good vehicle even if it goosed him.

Consider the collision insurance unknown. I haven't seen any ratings, but a car with a big battery that might be damaged in a collision, will be expensive to replace or repair. That means potentially high premiums, unless the Federal government enacts a Volt insurance premium cap.

Another problem lies in the current automotive market. There's huge supply of new and used compact, fuel efficient vehicles for sale. So it's not like the Volt is only one of a few high-mileage brands available. Volt has to compete against Honda, Toyota, Suzuki, Ford Escort, Chevrolet Aveo, not to mention Hyundai and Kia.

Performance is also an important vehicle characteristic. I am not concerned about 0-60 times, but rather the car's battery, with a claimed 40 mile range before the gasoline engine takes over to drive the generator for electric propulsion. This claim to green power nirvana means if you have a 40 or fewer mile commute, you can escape Big Oil's clutches because, you won't need gas. Just don't forget to charge it every night.

The critical issue is under what driving conditions that 40 mile range claim is made. Is it a 20 or 30 mph average speed? Is that on flat highways, or does it include hills? Would it cover that distance at a steady 65 mph cruise?

Environment influences vehicle performance. How far would a Volt go on battery power alone, after sitting outside all night in minus 20 degree temperature. Then, the driver hops in at 5:30 am, when it's still dark out, and drives off, with the lights on, heater and defroster working and listening to radio. And, because there's no traffic, he merges onto the freeway and speeds up to 65 mph.

Driving reality further diminishes the Volt's value compared to my humble 2001 Ford Focus station wagon. It seats five, and with the rear seat folded down, can carry a lot of stuff. On a bad stop and go city traffic day, mileage is 23 mpg. But on the highway, during a recent solo cross country trip, cruising at 80 mph, with the A/C on, my Focus averaged only 32.9 mpg. Consider too, with its $4500 purchase price, the car is paid for. Money not spent by not buying or leasing a Volt would buy a lot of gasoline, pay down credit card debt or go into savings.

So my answer to Have you driven a Chevy Volt. . .lately? is firmly not in my lifetime. And I suspect, that you'll never see the First Family driving one on a vacation trip to Chicago.

And if I may borrow Greg Gutfeld's Big Hollywood blog signature close, if you disagree with me you are no doubt a racist, homophobic, child porn loving Global Warming believer or one of their useful idiots.

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#1. To: Pan-Z-Boy (#0)

Why do you folks hate tax credits targeted @ the consumer?

The manufacturer gets his price and the consumer gets affordibility.

war  posted on  2010-08-10   8:10:44 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#2. To: war (#1)

All his hate and rage goes back to not getting to nail Goldi in her prime.

Were you ever in the music or song writing business? ... e_type_jagoff to Mudboy lol

Biff Tannen  posted on  2010-08-10   8:35:36 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#3. To: Abu el Banat (#2)

I think he tried and failed...and that failure was the moment that he really knew, despite his ever growing hopes to the contrary, that he was a fairy...

war  posted on  2010-08-10   8:46:51 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#4. To: reaganisright, skippy, Abdul, dwarf, All (#0)

Start with a $41,000 list price and with the $7500 Federal tax credit it drops to $33,500.

For that ugly, useless piece of shit? Go for it you liberal idiots! Buy a fookin dozen!

Ibluafartsky  posted on  2010-08-10   13:24:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#5. To: reaganisright (#0)

40 miles to a charge. Meanwhile, the Tesla Model S will get 300 miles to a charge. The Volt is going to be yet another GM failure. Just watch.

jwpegler  posted on  2010-08-10   13:28:34 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#6. To: jwpegler (#5)

I turned down a job at Pontiac back in '77 because they showed me a prototype of the Chevy Citation series and said it would take four years to design and be the best car ever off the line.

BS, the spare tire wouldn't fit the front wheels when it rolled off the line in 1980. I had a kid total one into the back of my van two weeks after he got his license. My already damaged bumper took most of the hit and was no worse than before. The body damage was easily repaired with a $15 set of cheap body tools and a can of spray paint.

Is it time to take out the trash? Post Date: 2010-07-14 11:48:27 by A K A Stone We know who you mean.

reaganisright  posted on  2010-08-10   17:00:02 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#7. To: reaganisright (#6)

Umm, bullshit.

Were you ever in the music or song writing business? ... e_type_jagoff to Mudboy lol

Biff Tannen  posted on  2010-08-10   17:09:17 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#8. To: Abu el Banat (#7)

How many Volts are you going to purchase, Abdul?

Ibluafartsky  posted on  2010-08-10   17:14:30 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#9. To: Abu el Banat (#7)

Amazing the pathology in this one, eh?

war  posted on  2010-08-10   17:57:18 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#10. To: reaganisright (#6)

GM has had the most brain management on the planet for 30+ years. Nothing has changed, except now the taxpayers are footing the bill for their incompetence

jwpegler  posted on  2010-08-10   18:09:19 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#11. To: Ibluafartsky (#8)

Ibluafartsky...

I fart in your general direction...

The anal stage in psychology is the term used by Sigmund Freud to describe the development at the age of one to two years of age. Around this age the child begins to toilet train which brings about the child's fascination in the erogenous zone of the anus. The anal stage coincides with the start of the child’s ability to control its anal sphincter, and therefore his ability to give or withhold gifts at will[1] . This is second stage of Freud's psychosexual stages.

The concept of anal fixation emerges here. When there is excessive gratification in this stage, it leads to the development of extremely generous, unorganized personalities. When gratification does not occur, the individual becomes extremely organized. ~Wikipedia

Change your screen name and grow the hell up.

If you are more than two or three years old, you are an embarassment to the human race.

NMC_EXP  posted on  2010-08-10   19:31:49 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#12. To: NMC_EXP (#11) (Edited)

Change your screen name and grow the hell up.

Wikipedia

Eat shit, faggot! You're a disgrace to the human race.

The source used by the mentally incompetent and the just plain stupid.

Ibluafartsky  posted on  2010-08-10   20:00:23 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#13. To: Ibluafartsky (#12)

Eat shit

Like I said, anal fixation.

NMC_EXP  posted on  2010-08-10   20:10:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#14. To: war (#9)

Amazing the pathology in this one, eh?

Ya amazing. These nuts are beyond help.

Were you ever in the music or song writing business? ... e_type_jagoff to Mudboy lol

Biff Tannen  posted on  2010-08-10   23:45:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#15. To: NMC_EXP (#13)

anal fixation.

Well pull your head out of your ass, you idiot!

Ibluafartsky  posted on  2010-08-11   1:37:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#16. To: Abu el Banat (#14) (Edited)

Every time I watch Pan-Z-Boy and Boof talk football it reminds me of the scene in The Birdcage in which Robin Williams tried to teach Nathan Lane how to be a man:

Armand: Al, you old son of a bitch! How ya doin'? How do you feel about that call today? I mean the Dolphins! Fourth-and-three play on their 30 yard line with only 34 seconds to go!

Albert: How do you think I feel? Betrayed, bewildered...

BTW, boy is heading up to T/O camp with Soo in 2 weeks. He's working his ass off.

war  posted on  2010-08-11   8:18:04 ET  (1 image) Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#17. To: war (#16)

Ya, they are a little too desperate to make sure everyone sees them talk football.

BTW, boy is heading up to T/O camp with Soo in 2 weeks. He's working his ass off.

Hope he enjoys himself. btw, my daughters friend is new in the army. Those kids are in great shape. Does half marathons for exercise. Not sure how often, though. But, still, that's a lot of running.

Were you ever in the music or song writing business? ... e_type_jagoff to Mudboy lol

Biff Tannen  posted on  2010-08-11   8:40:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#18. To: Abu el Banat (#17)

Ya, they are a little too desperate to make sure everyone sees them talk football.

Chyea..

Your army is absolutely fanatical about the physical condition of its soldiers.

I was in Savannah, Georgia about 10 years ago and a sub was docked there. I went for an AM run around sunrise and those bastards were just FINISHING up their AM PT...

war  posted on  2010-08-11   9:16:46 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#19. To: war (#1)

Why do you folks hate tax credits targeted @ the consumer?

So you must be for school vouchers, then?

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   9:31:15 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#20. To: Ignore Amos (#19)

So you must be for school vouchers, then?

As long as they go only to property owners and are not used in sectarian schools, sure.

war  posted on  2010-08-11   9:41:32 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#21. To: war (#20) (Edited)

So you must be for school vouchers, then?

As long as they go only to property owners and are not used in sectarian schools, sure.

Wow - impressive.

Have you told the DNC and the teachers' unions (sorry, redundant) about this?

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   9:49:31 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#22. To: Ignore Amos (#21)

I've actually had several personal discussions about vouchers with my Representative.

Vouchers have zipola to do with improving schools...as you've underscored above...

war  posted on  2010-08-11   9:51:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#23. To: war (#22)

Vouchers have zipola to do with improving schools...as you've underscored above...

I disagree.

Public schools are essentially a monopoly - so at least in theory if they had to compete for funding, they might improve.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   10:06:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#24. To: Ignore Amos (#23)

Public schools are essentially a monopoly

I've put three through private and one went through public.

In other words, I disagree.

war  posted on  2010-08-11   10:07:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#25. To: war (#24)

I've put three through private and one went through public.

Must be nice to send your kids to whatever school you choose, and not have to pay extra.

Unfortunately for me, where I live, only the public schools get state and federal funding.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   10:19:11 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#26. To: Ignore Amos (#25)

Must be nice to send your kids to whatever school you choose, and not have to pay extra.

I did pay extra to put them thru private school.

Unfortunately for me, where I live, only the public schools get state and federal funding.

I find that difficult to believe.

Buty why do you believe that someone who does not pay school taxes should get the benefit of a targeted tax benefit? Even tho I didn't buy a new car, should I have gotten a cash for clunkers credit?

war  posted on  2010-08-11   10:24:09 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#27. To: war (#26)

Buty why do you believe that someone who does not pay school taxes should get the benefit of a targeted tax benefit?
Unless one is living under a bridge, he/she pays school taxes.
Even tho I didn't buy a new car, should I have gotten a cash for clunkers credit?
Nope. No one should have gotten it. It should not have existed.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   11:04:43 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#28. To: Ignore Amos (#27)

Unless one is living under a bridge, he/she pays school taxes.

Any who does not pay property taxes isn't paying school taxes.

war  posted on  2010-08-11   11:19:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#29. To: Ignore Amos (#27) (Edited)

Nope. No one should have gotten it. It should not have existed.

Non answer.

Should I get a rig depriciation allowance if I don't drill oil?

war  posted on  2010-08-11   11:20:20 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#30. To: war (#28)

Unless one is living under a bridge, he/she pays school taxes.

Any who does not pay property taxes isn't paying school taxes.

The landlord is writing the check to the local school district.

And he's passing the cost onto his renter(s).

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   11:48:58 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#31. To: Ignore Amos (#30)

The landlord is writing the check to the local school district.

And I'm buying gasoline...

war  posted on  2010-08-11   11:53:30 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#32. To: war (#29)

Nope. No one should have gotten it. It should not have existed.

Non answer.

No, your question was bogus. The fedgov had no Constitutional authority to create a "cash for clunkers" program. They fabricated it at a whim - out of whole cloth. It follows then that whatever rules they come up with as to who benefits from it is irrelevant. It's built on sand.

Should I get a rig depriciation allowance if I don't drill oil?
If oil exploration companies have to pay more to produce oil, then **surprise** you'll have to pay more at the pump.

Pay now, or pay later.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   11:57:30 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#33. To: war (#31)

And I'm buying gasoline...

Right.

And the price you pay per gallon includes all the costs incurred by the oil company to produce said gallon.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   12:00:26 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#34. To: Ignore Amos (#32) (Edited)

The fedgov had no Constitutional authority to create a "cash for clunkers" program.

Really? The Commerce Clause doesn't exist? They have no taxing authority?

Yowzah...I had no idea...

If oil exploration companies have to pay more to produce oil, then **surprise** you'll have to pay more at the pump.

And if you eliminate ALL of the tax code I'll have more money to pay for it.

Odd that you believe a tax break targeted at one form of economic activity is more valid than one targeted at another...

war  posted on  2010-08-11   12:05:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#35. To: Ignore Amos (#33)

And the price you pay per gallon includes all the costs incurred by the oil company to produce said gallon.

So my question stands...if someone indirectly paying property tax can get a school voucher why can't I get an oil depriciation allowance?

war  posted on  2010-08-11   12:07:07 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#36. To: war (#35)

So my question stands...if someone indirectly paying property tax can get a school voucher why can't I get an oil depriciation allowance?

A prerequisite to getting a school voucher is to have a school age child.

I assume a prerequisite to getting an oil depreciation allowance is to be actively engaged in oil exploration?

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   12:14:45 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#37. To: Ignore Amos (#36) (Edited)

A prerequisite to getting a school voucher is to have a school age child.

I assume a prerequisite to getting an oil depreciation allowance is to be actively engaged in oil exploration?

Actually...oil picks up credits all along the supply chain...and each and every credit is money that I, as a taxpayer, have to make up somewhere some how.

Now, you want to take my tax dollars and redistribute them to a renter to go tpo a school that is tax abated because it's parochial.

Sweet deal...except for me because my choice of school now has less money because you've redistributed income away from it.

Again, I have no issue...limit it to those who pay property taxes and to non sectarian schools.

war  posted on  2010-08-11   12:21:40 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#38. To: war (#37)

and each and every credit is money that I, as a taxpayer, have to make up somewhere some how.

Welcome to the real world. Here's a clue: taxpayers (and consumers) pay for everything.

Now, you want to take my tax dollars and redistribute them to a renter . . .
The renter pays taxes just as you do. The fact that his funds "pass through" a landlord is irrelevant.
to go to a school that is tax abated because it's parochial.
If you wish to make a case that parochial schools should not receive vouchers, I might agree.
Sweet deal...except for me because my choice of school now has less money because you've redistributed income away from it.
No, it has to compete for money. The more students it can attract, the more money it will have.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   12:32:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#39. To: war (#22)

Vouchers have zipola to do with improving schools.

The public schools are a bunch of hidebound monopolies. Like all monopolies, they are resistant to change. That's the problem.

jwpegler  posted on  2010-08-11   12:43:21 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#40. To: Ignore Amos (#38) (Edited)

No, it has to compete for money.

So YES it has less money?

I say tax religious property anyway, btw.

Cut to the chase...health and education should be priority one in this nation. Yet, the debate is one of the most moronic in the history of modern western society. Pursuit of happiness, to Jefferson, meant the self/lie sustainable intangibles such as arts and letters. Life certainly has to have a certain minimal quality associated to it or why bother?

Do you know why we ended up with compulsory attendence laws? Because in a generation and a half we devolved from the Founding Fathers in to a nation of idiots.

Do you know why we ended up with the NDEA and then ESEA? Because we ended up even dumber...

war  posted on  2010-08-11   12:48:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  


#41. To: war (#40)

Cut to the chase...health and education should be priority one in this nation.

The population of the nation . . . perhaps.

The government of the nation. . . no way.

______________________________________________________________________________
Zero diddled while America burned

Ignore Amos  posted on  2010-08-11   13:00:50 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  



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