Volt Review Re-Run Still Runs Out of Gas

It should be about as "smooth and quiet" as turning on the headlamps, one would think.

After all it only runs to supply current to the battery, it does motivate the vehicle.

Anyone know how the Volt will perform in cold weather climates? You know, when it's minus 20 or 30 degrees out there, the heaters going, and all moving parts are stiff with the cold. Or is this car going to be like a motor scooter where you have to put it away for the winter?

That if the same for all vehicles and that is why the EPA label lists averages and says, your mileage many vary.

Any reciprocating internal combustion engine is going to make noticeable motion and noise. It may only charge the battery, but it is still in the confines of the body. It comes down to quantity of those factors and how often in use it must run.

Probably poorly.

First, batteries have less crank power when cold. Second, if the creature inside needs heat, heat deadens battery charges real quick. Add to above, it takes longer to charge batteries in a chill and costs more KW to do it. They will not go as far either before gasoline engine is needed. Cold underpowered engines driving a generator consume lots of fuel.

Lets put it this way, like the SmartCar you will not see many on the road from Minot MN, Winnipeg MB, Saskatoon SK, Yukon or Alaska come winter with a -30 temp. Probably a miserable experience even in Colorado in January.

Funny, my F150 4x4 Lariat with heated seats is nice to drive in January. And haven't even been late for work once in many years. Even starts and warms up in -30C as I have a remote starter.

And like I have said before, why should I own two depreciating assets when I can buy one vehicle that works year around and does what I want all the time. THese things are too expensive to buy one that is useles 8 mothns a year.

You mean, in contrast to Toyota that had a $#it load of unsold 2009 Pruis' sitting at their ports of entry because they could not sell them, until the clunker program lowered the $32,000 drive home price by $4,500?

The intro date for the Volt has yet to be set by GM. When it does come to market, the environuts will buy them just as they did the hybrids, to save the planet.

Except for the fact the heated seat will not come on, when one uses a remote starter. LOL

Seems to me SmartCar buyers on very smart if they drive them any highway anywhere.

My Buick does not, but my Sonata will. Nice feature on a cold day.

Now if a Prius only starts moving at $32,000 then what does that tell you about a untested cheapend Volt at $40,000???

GM is in deap trouble. Fortunately 2010 will be a hard year for more bailouts as some congress and senators have to face their voters who didn't get bailouts and have to pay for GM losers.

It works pretty fast. Wife demanded it if I got leather, the seats can be cold at -30C and nice to have it nice and warm.

If what you say is true and ones vehicle has automatic climate control, that is redundant, but I never saw ANY vehicle, with relay activated heated/cooled seats that did NOT fault to OFF, and I sold just about any brand on the market when I was in retail and they all had relay activated heated/cooled seats.

Perhaps you should have opted for automatic climate control.

I guess because you do not know that the Volt is a larger, fully equipped vehicle, like those currently selling in that price range. Its competition will be a hybrid Lexus.

The Sonata has climate control but the seats are separate switches. You can put them in the on position and they will com eon when the engine starts, a nice feature in winter.

My Buick is as you say, it defaults to off. Only difference is the Buick burned out after one winter and the bastards want $675 to replace it. Instead of fixing the $15 toaster element, they have to replace the entire seat bottom. Great design.

Some remotes can be programmed to turn of seats and rear defrosters but I never looked into that feature. I usually set the climate control to defrost if I think it is needed the next morning.