Was the Chevy Volt One of GM's Best Vehicles?

[@6trailtiger9]

1st Gen volts have a hidden super power in mountain mode that recharges the battery by nearly 50%. When using MM on highway (anything over 50 mph) loss of fuel economy is trivial (about 2.5%) but gain up to 15 mi battery at a rate of about 1 mi battery for evey 2-3 driven in MM. This ensures you always have battery at both ends of a trip. On long trips you can cycle back and forth (battery\MM) and get b/t 50-60 mpg. Best of all it's fun. It drives like a sports car.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

I’ll give this a try! Thanks for the tip!

[@kenwittlief255]

if you use MM from the start of your trip (even a short one) it reserves about 40% of battery charge without using any extra fuel. This is like shifting half your EV mode from the start of your trip to the end.... so if you are going on a date 40 miles away, you can save 10 to 15 miles of battery power till you get there (then switch back to normal mode to run silent). If you run your battery down to zero miles on a long trip, and then switch to MM to charge it back up to 40%, you are using about half a gallon of fuel to charge the battery with the gas engine. Not very efficient, but for a couple dollars its nice to have EV mode (normal) available if you are going to a quiet park, or a small town, and want to run silent then you get there.

[@jamesmccluskey1476]

it took me years to figure that out. but sportmode is always preferable, isnt it? yes.

[@KolokoLOVE]

you can charge to 100% even with Hold mode with fast switching while driving from Hold to Normal mode

[@fixman88]

I'm a lifelong techie who grew up in a family of mechanics and gearheads, so I had been wanting a Volt since they came out. Back then that was just a dream since they cost 40 grand and I was making half as much money as I make now. About a year ago I started saving and planning to get a used one since the 2007 Hyundai Elantra I've had for the past six years (and has 364,000 miles on it and has had so many parts replaced on it that it was basically the Ship of Theseus) wasn't going to last forever, plus as time went on it was going to be more and more difficult to find a First Gen Volt with decent mileage and good condition (and a non-absurd price; I was finding Volts with 100,000 plus miles for 15 grand, which was nuts). So I waited and bided my time...until I found one with 63,000 miles for 10 grand. Two months previously it was 13 grand. I decided to jump on it before someone else did. The dealership was 170 miles away. My Elantra got me there without issue (its last faithful act for me). It had been on the market for 611 days, so it had been sitting for a while (it had dried out windshield wipers and dried leaves in the bottom of the air cleaner box, and I later found the tires had dry-rot cracks between the tread), but I was able to get it back home without a problem. I was aware it was going to need a few things done and was ready for that; I have the Service Manual (all 8011 pages of it, and no, that doesn't intimidate me). I got it late December 2023 and I've changed the spark plugs with NGK Iridiums and changed the ignition module and EVAP Purge Solenoid since it was showing a DTC for 'No Flow During Purge'; the DTC hasn't come back so far. I'm planning to flush the brake system (brake fluid isn't supposed to be coffee-colored) and check the coolant in the three coolant loops. I replaced the tires (as I was intending) with Bridgestone Weatherforce ones. This is the first time in my life that I have been able get the car I *wanted* as opposed to 'getting a car because I needed a car'. The Volt has been amazing so far; in the winter the 6000 watt electric heater+Remote Start= a warm interior very quickly. That plus the 460 watt rear window defroster means the rear window is clear in one minute flat and the front window in two. I live in an apartment so I can't plug in to charge, but the nearest public charger is less than a mile away at the parking area of the local hospital. It cost me 44 cents to charge to 50% so a full charge would cost less than a dollar.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

That's awesome to hear!! So glad you love it so far-I'm sure it'll continue to serve you well. I got my Volt when gas was super cheap in early 2021 since I KNEW gas was gonna skyrocket after getting so cheap. I called it, and this car has been absolutely clutch. I'm at 178k miles on it now, and it's not showing much slowing down. I have noticed the prices of Volts have gotten crazy, but I don't intend to sell mine. I think people are too scared of an EV battery with nearly 180k on it anyways, so I'm just gonna drive it until it can't any more. There's no financial incentive to get rid of this thing. This car will save you so much money between fuel of an ICE, or the upfront costs and insurance costs of a new EV.

[@GTN3]

I drove my Elantra 120 mi to buy a 2015 volt with 30,000 mi on it. It's for my daughter even though I always wanted one! I'm glad to hear the safety ratings and the Elantra didn't get much more than 22 miles a gallon. And her incentive to visit me is that I'll charge her car while she's here!

[@kyleroberts2426]

Loved my 2013 Chevy volt. Had it for 2 months this year got 42 miles of range and survived a head head on collision from someone going 50-60 mph. I put 4,000 miles on it in those two months and only put 3 tanks of gas in it. Plugged in at home and at school sometimes down the street from my work. Loved it and will get another one. I only broke my wrist in the crash all the airbags kept me safe and no back or neck injury’s. I loved the Chevy volt premium and it reminded me of my first car a 2002 Mercedes c230 komoresor. The Chevy volt had awesome electric torque and saved me hella money.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Glad to hear you’re okay! These are little tanks. And this car saves me a ton of money; I’ve filled it 6 times over the last 8400 miles and I mostly charge at work. I love it.

[@fixman88]

The Volt is one of the safest cars ever made in my opinion. I've seen the NHTSA crash footage and report of one they crashed into a concrete wall at 35 mph. The headlights still worked and they were able to open the doors without issue.

[@arthurwerkheiser7731]

After reading the book “Chevy Volt charging into the future “, I went out and bought a used 2014. Every thing you said is right on the mark. I love the gen 1. Gen2... not so much even if it does go further on battery

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Nice one! Mine’s a 2013; I should have gone over the different drive modes since 2013 is when they introduced “Hold” but whatever. Hope that Volt has treated you well!

[@markaruski]

Wow, I'll have to check that book out!

[@kalebm9302]

I bought my Volt in December (2020) and I'm so glad I got it. It's quiet, smooth, reliable, comfortable, cheap to run, and everyone thinks it's newer than it is. Plus I got my favorite colour Blue Topaz Metallic w/ chrome rims.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Great buy! Those Blue Topaz ones aren’t too common!

[@evtrekker1317]

Wow. That was a good review. You touched on many of the points I would make regarding the Volt's design and benefits. I followed it from concept thru it's first few years of production before buying a used '13 model in Jan '16 and it was my only car until I added a Bolt Premier last Nov. I still love driving the Volt and everything on it still works. Best car I've owned up to now. Still pending on the Bolt but I am enjoying it.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Thank you! It really is an awesome car. Mine’s got 138k on the clock and it’s still charging a full 40 miles, and that’s with the weather just starting to warm up. I hope the Bolt treats you just as well.

[@ProTeslaVolt]

Driving it for 5 years, the best car I ever had.

[@jasonh8212]

2015 Chevy Volt @ 160k miles here, mostly on the gas motor due to living in an apt without a charge port. Thing is reliable as hecc, only maintenance are tires, oil, and spark plugs. Amazed at how reliable these cars are. There’s a guy in KZbin that has documented his over the years hitting 500k with the only issue related to a car accident he was in. ALot of cool standard features not in many newer cars, like push start, backup camera, heated seats, cool command/visual interface. Overall one of the best vehicles in terms of Value that I’ve ever owned. And while saving for a house this is the perfect car for me right now with its reliability and mpg’s.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

It’s amazing how reliable they are for how complex they are! And absolutely; it’s hard to beat the value of this car. Insanely cheap to drive.

[@bundo13]

@@detroitdrivers4415 This is all great to hear, just bought a 2015 Volt myself. I think I'd rather have the Bolt but there seems to be way more competition for them right now. KISS says their electric only setup should be more reliable. That said, I've always heard good things about the Volt's reliability despite it being objectively considerably more complex! Great job by the whole team on this one it seems

[@charlesjack6571]

I had to trade in my '15 Volt when the intractable condo HOA board where I live made it impossible to plug in anywhere in order to charge. I loved that car bui love even more the Chevy Bolt I traded in for. I still can't charge at home (ridiculous condo rules) but nearby charging stations and a now meaningful EV range turned a maddening situation into a delightful upgrade. Looking back, GMs experience with the Volt morphed into the Bolt, a brilliant engineering masterpiece and I'm now immensely pleased. I still immensely dislike HOA boards.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

The Volt really laid it all out for GM. Mine is now at 166k and it's held up incredibly well, especially with Michigan's brutal roads. You can tell they really put everything they had into it-it's such a well-built car. And I will not disagree in the slightest...HOA boards are the bane our existence.

[@georgepelton5645]

I owned two Volts, and also fell in love with them. However, Volt was not the "first plug in hybrid offered by an OEM." Audi built and sold 100 "Duo" in the 1990's, with a diesel engine and lead-acid batteries.

[@paulrybarczyk5013]

I had both a gen-1 and gen-2 Volt. Both were decent cars with ABSOLUTELY GREAT drivetrains. It's sad that GM hindered the Volt platform in so many ways, and even more sad they didn't use that great Volt drivetrain across their other products. So much potential, yet they just threw it away. Traded my second Volt for a used Tesla. Absolutely amazing car.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

They really should have put it into a larger platform. There was a brief moment where they had a Voltec-based van/crossover thing and they canned it for the ELR. Which looked super cool but was a terrible business case. Congrats on the Tesla! They really are incredible cars.

[@davidchase4324]

A modified drive train is also in the Cadillac CT6 Plug-In Hybrid.

[@crazycoolclips]

I agree, Tesla is not the cause for GM's future bankruptcy, as they lose all market-share to Tesla and soon to come Chinese EVs, it is their horrible leadership, which is displayed in the decision to kill the Volt rather than pushing it with all the effort and ads they could muster... and not creating a pick-up using the same concept is proof they have the worst leadership of all Legacy auto-manufacturers. Its one thing never to develop the Volt, its quite another to create such a marvel, and then bury it on purpose.

[@josephgriffin1065]

The Volt is actually very cool!

[@markaruski]

Great video! I have a 2015 that looks just like the one in the video, I bought it used at Carmax years ago. It's been a great car--no range anxiety, mostly driving electric, but if I need to go farther, then just use some gas. The net effect is much less gas usage for me, averaging about 145 mpg. Super easy oil changes too, don't even have to jack up the car to do the oil change (if your arms are long enough), and I put a Fumoto valve on it to make draining the oil easy. Driving the car feels like a stress reliever to me, it's very relaxing and enjoyable. I drove manual transmission cars for 20 straight years and am really enjoying the seamless flow of power from the Volt! I really wish they kept making it and hope they bring back some other plug-in hybrid Voltec architecture car. If someone asks me about the Volt, I won't shut up!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

It’s an excellent car! It really is a smooth, borderline therapeutic experience driving it and it’s great never having to worry about range.

[@mike_t_007]

Pretty much nailed how I feel about mine! Love my 2011 and came from a G35 before it. Love your Z as well!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

They're great cars! And there are two of us that run the channel here-I do not have the Z; I have the Volt and a Harley. The Z belongs to Deven, who is the other person running the channel with me. And he thanks you lol

[@nexusfxcc]

Just came across this video, prolly won't see this but great job. I personally got my 2017 Gen 2 with 62,000 miles on it for $13,500 right before the chip shortages in February 2021. After adding 53000 miles on it, it is worth more now than it was. Such a great car from an efficiency and aesthetic standpoint. Only thing I don't agree with is your take on the Gen 2 design, I believe it's far superior than the Gen 1, especially the Taillight design. Also the interior is much more intuitive and doesn't have 1000 haptic buttons, along with a new feature I got spoiled by, the heated steering wheel.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Thank you! Yeah, then Gen 2 is overall a vastly superior vehicle to the Gen 1. I just prefer how the first one looks; it had more of its own identity. The Gen 2 isn't bad-looking in any way-I just thought it felt more generic. The first one was just the right amount of oddness that made it unique, while also being a really clean design. But I do absolutely agree on the interior. Again, I love how the first gen interior looks, but from an ergonomic standpoint it's awful lol. Too many redundant buttons that you can't get any physical or visual feedback on, and they're not the most well-organized.

[@gregb8759]

I actually bought a 2013 Volt yesterday....traded in my gas guzzling 2008 Saturn Outlook....got a fair price and bought a Volt!! I’ve been doing some research and it what I needed for 50 mile commute round trip..I’m 6’2, getting in is easy...out takes a few seconds...very low!! It was in a TRANSFORMER MOVIE!! I remember people plastering stickers all over there cars

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Nice one! Mine’s a 2013, as well! Solid choice since they got a slightly upgraded battery that year and they added the “Hold” mode. Congrats on the purchase! I think you’ll love it.

[@gregb8759]

I have to get a car out of the carport so I can charge it.....I work weekends as a news editor...you did a nice job....checkout B&H for a wireless kit...your cross over audio picking up a FM station was scarey....I’m going to see if I can charge my car during my shift?? I went back to the dealer to charge up a little...they told me it’s free for me to use anytime....I have the basic package....I did keep my Lexus RX....you never know!! My youngest son bought a Tesla 3 two weeks ago...he loves it!! I could never afford that, but I can afford this!! My car has a few miles on it....haven’t heard of batteries dying....you’re only using 80%...it saves 20% for the top and bottom....let me know how you’re doing with your car...there’s a bend at the top of the rear right side back passenger door... I want to see how much it would be to fix....ohh!! I filled the gas tank with premium....3.50 a gallon...$20.00 ...not bad!! Thanks for listening

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Thanks, man! Yeah, that was some pretty nasty interference there-I’ve never had it that bad before and I didn’t know it happened until I reviewed the footage when I got home. I’ll check out B&H like you said. Absolutely correct on the battery-Volts have barely any degradation for exactly the reasons you said. My Volt has 138,000 miles and now that it’s getting warm again it’s still getting about 40 miles a charge. Amazing. Right?? Even with Premium fuel it’s cheap to fill. It’s so awesome.

[@gregb8759]

One question?? When does your mileage change after the cold weather?? I’m still at around 25 miles....no one talks about that!! Is it the first 70 degree week

[@detroitdrivers4415]

I’ve noticed a big difference when it hits around 60 degrees and up. It gets a little better every 10 degrees or so above freezing, but it seems to make a huge leap around 60° or so

[@vevenaneathna]

best video on the volt actually. u did ur home work. the volt was really supposed to be a loss leader to kill the model S which failed coz the public thought it was a prius. i liken it to a diesel electric. they last easy 400-500k miles, what would u expect from an EV that never super charges, never overdischarges/overcharges the battery, and uses a gas engine to protect the battery in low temp weather. 90% of the in town driving is done on electric which avoids almost all short heat cycles, and the engine basically only runs at hwy speeds and a very stable rpm range. iron block, naturally asperated sub 100 hp low displacement engine, no real transmission, just bulletproof if you can plug in every day. Ive done 40k miles in my 2013, now at 120k miles and getting 45 miles of ev range still, and i just picked up another one for my girlfriend, a 2014 with similar miles. with our driving these cars are literally free after 3-4 years of gas savings. cant say that about any other car with zero compromise edit: also my insurance is liability only for 20$/mo since i paid cash. hard to beat.

[@Thoughmuchistaken]

I bought a used 2014 Volt a few years ago, no question it's a solid car. I'm not a GM fan, I enjoy making fun of the company, but I really wish the Volt had gotten a 3rd generation. People don't understand the car though, PHEVs are weird things because the same car can be great or terrible just depending on the owner. I get 120mpg, the previous owner got 55mpg, someone else could get 40mpg and someone else could get 500mpg. And while I like the 1st gen Volt, the centre console is poorly laid out and full of useless or redundant buttons.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Exactly-people don’t know how to use it. It’s not an “effortless” sort of car; you kinda have to think about it when you drive it, but when you understand its purpose it’s a brilliant car. When I got mine, the lifetime MPG was 38 MPG, so clearly it wasn’t used as intended. I’ve been averaging about 150 since owning it. Agreed on the center stack. Layout is confusing and some buttons don’t need to be there. But it looks nice!

[@kenwittlief255]

If you only take short trips and never go further than the battery range, eventually the car will run the engine just to burn off the old gas in the tank, to keep it from turning to goop. The max indicated MPG will be 600mpg. Since the car only runs on 93 octane, that is usually high quality fuel and not likely to go bad. If someone is only getting 40mpg they are not plugging the car in at night (or they cant).

[@kytsmf]

had 4 2012s at one point, down to 1 2012, a 2017 and a 2017 bolt. Sadly, GM killed it in 2019. I will definitely look for a 2019 in the future.

[@AaronWerner]

This is the only car I have ever owned that has given me zero issues. I have put so many miles on it. Just yesterday, I realized it has never failed me in any way. This is the best car I have ever owned and I have owned a lot of cars. I purchased a 2012 so it is almost 10 years old and the only thing I have ever had to do with it was to change the tires and oil. I love this car and yes, I also own a truck, boat, and building a 31 model A that is way o'school. So I am here to say...it is freakn cool to own a volt.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

It’s amazing how reliable these things are for how complex they are. Like you, I also love my gas-burners but this is just genuinely a great vehicle.

[@audio_tron]

Nice video. Leased a 2014 base. Loved it so much bought a 2014 premier. Can charge every night at my building and leave it plugged in when not driving for a while. Has 84k miles now, bought at 46k miles for $10k. Saw recently that GM will be reviving their PHEV tech too. Maybe GM will finally learn some lessons. Volt is def an iconic car and I love driving it. It’s appreciated in value in a rough EV market. Only unplanned repair I’ve had to do so far is replace an axle because the boot ripped. Would buy again without hesitation.

[@aztexadventure2518]

We own one and we love it also. 2013 we just drove it on a road trip of 3477.4 miles with out issue. However we did keep our Chevrolet Trucks they are in the driveway most the time now.

[@josephgriffin1065]

Love the Detroit backdrop, subscribing

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Thank you! She’s a majestic city

[@hayden8113]

I love my 2013 volt! 100,000 miles and ZERO problems. Might trade in my 07 Tahoe for a second volt!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

139k here! Rock solid. 2013, too!

[@jimmykelly2809]

I own a truck gets 17mpg city and I bought a used 2012 volt in the exact same color as yours. My rear end is different it has glass on the bottom instead of a panel. I originally bought it for my daughter who will be driving next year but I’m falling in love with the car. I’m going to buy a 2016 ELR after I give her the volt. It’s basically the same car just more luxurious with better styling and the 16’s got a 2 sec 0-60 power boost. Can’t wait to get one in the garage

[@Wheelgauge-bt7ox]

Absolutely love my 2015 with 118 thousand miles still at 41m electric. Zero issues🇺🇸

[@squarewheel9113]

I had a 12 Chevy volt for just about a year and unfortunately had to sell it. Mine was a complete lemon. I spent more money in repairs than I saved in gas. By the end of my ownership, I had replaced two modules in the battery and repaired about half of the HVAC system. Some of my repairs were covered but my total out of warranty repair costs were around $4,000. My last straw was the when some kind of gas came pouring into the cabin threw air vents, and I drove to a dealership the very next day and dumped it. Very sad. Absolutely loved that car. I know this car has quite a few parallel lines, and in my uneducated opinion, looks pretty Scandinavian, and from that, I feel as though many car design enthusiasts might not appreciate the volts design, but I for one think it is a fantastic design that has aged like fine wine

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Oof. Sorry to hear that dude; they’re generally solid cars but there’s the occasional lemon. It is a fantastic vehicle, otherwise.

[@squarewheel9113]

@@detroitdrivers4415 Definitely. If I had the financial leverage to keep it going I would have, but then again, the very reason I bought it was to secure my financial position by lowering fuel and insurance costs. Also because it was super cool to have an electric car. Hopefully in the future I can afford another electric car.

[@kenwittlief255]

your experience is part of the reason GM stopped making the car. There were a LOT of expensive failures, some take a long time to repair because the car is so packed and complex. But fortunately most of those happened under warranty, and the original owners did not have to foot the bill for GM working out the bugs. If you buy a used one that is no longer under warranty, it should be past that point... but not all of them.

[@ondago2]

I've got a 2015 Gen 1, for all the Dave reasons and you literally said our exactly as I have. "I fcking love this car" and I had a 2017 C7, Corvette Z51 convertible, manual.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

It's truly a great car! Few cars accomplish their own purpose so well.

[@mrcross78]

I also reside in Detroit off Woodward Ave. I bought a 2011 Chevrolet Volt after an accident with my 2009 Chevrolet Silverado WT.

[@mauriciotmr]

I’m liking so much my 2014 Volt! Great car!

[@PBRGuitar]

I have a 2012 with 133k miles. Still have the original brakes and probably changed the oil 10 times. Cheapest car to own ever.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Dirt cheap! I’ve saved hundreds a month switching from a truck to this

[@coupish]

How’s it holding up now? Do you still have it?

[@PBRGuitar]

@@coupishI drove it to 163K and now have a 2017 Volt. There wasn’t anything really wrong mechanical with the 2012 just stuff like a broken seat, faded paint. I drive 100s of miles a week so it was time. Best cars ever!

[@shawnwhite2572]

I love my 2014, but the truth is that if you ever have a single cell to fail, the replacement cost will be so high that it’ll basically total the car. There are no new batteries for these cars, only reassembled old ones.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

That is true. Fortunately these don’t seem to have many battery failures. Mine would be easily totaled however since I got it for only $4500 lol

[@kenwittlief255]

If your ABS module fails its about $4,000 to replace it, because its buried behind the brake master cylinder and the motor power inverter, both of which have to come out to get to the ABS controller - about 8 hours of labor at a dealership, plus the cost of the new module...

[@georgepelton5645]

The reason GM cancelled the Volt, IMO, is that they decided to stop production on the Chevy Cruise due to declining sales and low or negative profit margin. Without the high volume Cruise, the many common parts used by the Volt would be maybe two times as expensive to make or buy in low volume. The margin for the Volt was likely already negative, so GM decided to cut their losses and cancel it as well.

[@utah133]

We have two Volts, a 2013 and a 2019. I like both, each for different reasons. It's a dependable car and I think GM deliberately put extra effort into the design. It was their serious entry into the EV era. They were justifiably a bit expensive. They made so many that the tax incentive would expire in 2019, so they realized it wouldn't sell well after that. Too bad the Bolt full EV unit wasn't styled as well. It would have sold better.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Yeah…it sucks they made the Bolt look like a computer mouse. It’s an otherwise actually very good powertrain.

[@crazycoolclips]

I have a 2012 Volt, that is giving me signs that it is time to move on, all cars eventually get to the point where they require considerable maintenance to keep running, for me, I prefer to move on from them before that. I also have a 2018 Bolt, it doesn't have the luxury feel that the 2012 Volt does, but it has better road performance, better software/accessibility and the ability to SEE in it as you drive feels almost 360, like being in a fishbowl, your ability to see what around you is the best of any vehicle I have driven (many). My wife absolutely wanted nothing to do with it, she loved her 2016 Equinox, but when it went just past 50k miles (and most warranty items expired) it developed a sudden amount of issues that would have required thousands of dollars to repair. I traded it in right then for the Bolt, have had no issues with it, never have to worry about fuel pumps, pistons, alternators, oil, or my wife pulling in for gas at nighttime after a long shift (RN) she likes the car and hasn't complained about the switch.

[@jerimiahake]

I drive a 12 year old Volt. I love the car for the most part. The thing only costs about a $1.50 to charge and goes 30 miles on electric.

[@peteeastwood1635]

Yes! It's true the 2nd gen car is technologically superior but the 1st gen is way more sexy with more classic Chevrolet identifying lines. The Volt is an awesome car! From a lifelong Siverado owner driver.

[@PolyphonicSpr33]

I've had my '14 Volt Premium for about 3 months now, fantastic car. Level 1 safety and comfort packages means parking sensors and black leather interior but no entertainment package/Bose speakers lol. 66K miles for $9K after the tax refund. I do a lot of driving for work but at most I need to use about 2 gallons of gas total in a week. Living in an apartment means I rely on public stations, but I'm persistent enough to keep it charged daily. Don't get me started on Sport mode/Low gear 🤌🏻 my Volt is red. I can't help myself sometimes 😂

[@tomsko567]

Just bought a 2012 UK Vauxhall Ampera version and love it. Solid, smooth, cheap to use. Still feels like new. Great video - spot on.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

I love those Amperas! I want to do a fascia conversion so bad but it’s difficult to find those parts in the US and it’s expensive. And thank you!

[@dalichannel5320]

Volt is Super Car!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Agreed! It’s an awesome car.

[@mvpmachine]

Great video, I love my 2011 I don't ever want to go back to gas (only) even though prior to me purchasing mine used in 2017 I was mostly a van and pick up driver. GM lost a lot of money on making and selling the Volt, It cost GM almost 90k to produce the 2011 and it sold for less than half of that. They did not want to have egg on their face with this car so the loss was calculated to produce future dividends on future vehicles, but never the Volt, I don't think they ever made a profit from any year Volt. However that makes it a great deal especially in a used car. You feel like you are driving a $90,000 car for the $7500 I paid for mine in mint condition (with 95k miles) it was like getting a present. I drive to and from work 12 miles each way every day and put gas in once or twice a year. I charge it at home with 220v level 2 and occasionally at work on the 11v charger that came with it.

[@chrisw443]

that nearly 60 mile range gen 2 is saweet, but if you can get a bolt, do it, its even cheaper to run

[@detroitdrivers4415]

I was really tempted to get a Gen 2 because of that range. It so much better. But I was looking for best initial cost and overall ownership cost, and it’s really hard to beat the Gen 1. I got mine for $4500. Though I’d imagine as the Gen 2 depreciates, it’ll start to be competitive with Gen 1s especially with its much better range. I would love to go full-EV eventually, though!

[@KolokoLOVE]

nice review, thanks mate!

[@bolt5564]

My dad got a 2012 Chevy Volt in 2014 with about 30,000 miles on it and has proceeded to put another 150,000 miles on it for a total of 180,000 miles. The only thing he's had to do is get oil changes, the brakes once, and he hit a stump and had to get the radiator replaced, but that was the fault of hitting a stump not the car. (The Edit is for getting rid of the dollar sign in front of how many miles he drove and replacing "and" with "in" when he got the Volt)

[@detroitdrivers4415]

It’s amazing for how complex these cars are, they’re wildly reliable.

[@iphone1627]

Its so good it makes you wonder why they are not making more of them

[@kenwittlief255]

because overall GM lost money selling them, and having to do all the repairs under warranty tesla lost money on every car they sold for nearly 8 years, and they are just barely making a profit now they were selling cars for $100,000 that cost then $200,000 to make, and making up the difference by selling more and more stock

[@gabdominguezz355]

I'm a DOOR DASH DRIVER JUST BOUGHT ME 20214 VOLT ! AND I FKIN LOVE IT 💗IM SO BLESSED WITH A GREAT CAR SMOOTH AND OMG THE MPG IS SOOOO AWESOME 👍 THX U CHEVY 🚗🙏😉😊😊

[@toddbenfield6546]

I’ve got a 2012, and 2018👍 love them both for different reason! Like the styling better on the gen 1, and the gen 2 is 25% more efficient, and getting 60-65 miles a charge, and 45-50 mpg on gas👍like you, I’ve had a lot of sports cars, and love driving my Volts as much as any car I’ve had✌️enjoy your Volt, and good luck with it

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Exactly! It’s a brilliant car. Thank you sir; she’s treating me very well so far.

[@dansmith6990]

That 2018 is going to depreciate like a rock in a river though. I bought a 2018 Volt Premier from CarMax and I found the seats to be very uncomfortable. I found a 2013 Volt Premium on facebook marketplace for $12,500 LESS than the 2018. Once your Voltec warranty expires the value drops significantly. Luckily I haven't had any problem with my 2013, and I returned my 2018 for a full refund. Yes the Gen 2 is better in most ways, but yikes that depreciation is very real and WILL happen to them all. I'll wait a few years and get another Gen 2 once the prices fall another $10k

[@toddbenfield6546]

@@dansmith6990 bought my 2018 with 800 miles in March 2019 for $23,500! It was brand new👍

[@detroitdrivers4415]

This is a good point. My 2013 Volt is well past it’s warranty. The car cost me $4500!

[@dansmith6990]

@@toddbenfield6546 I'm glad I returned my 2nd gen! It was $23,160 (after taxes and fees) AND it already had 46,000 miles on it!!! Thank God CarMax stands by their word and I was able to return it with no problems whatsoever. I love my 1st gen Volt now though!

[@danwat1234]

329K miles on my 2013, mostly food deliveries. 1:30 I see you have the DRL mod so DRLs are on when headlights r on. Buying them used now is a gr8 deal. But wish next gen batteries could be made for these otherwise degradation will eventually take them all. I use hold mode keep it at mid charge to maintain full performance

[@acenewholland564]

Aren’t the first gen already limited between 30 and 90% of battery to limit degradation?

[@LuisdeSousa]

Good video. But that background "music" is really off.

[@dougg519]

Duuuude the drone footage

[@detroitdrivers4415]

I love the drone about as much as I love the Volt

[@pikminlord343]

such a great video!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Thank you!

[@chaostheory2219]

Love my volt best car I have ever owned. There is a reason that on kelly blue book the volt has such great ratings.

[@Nemo-yn1sp]

hope the background noise ends, really want to watch all of this.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Hi! Thanks for watching! The background noise was only on the rooftop take-the rest of the video doesn’t have it. Believe me; I wasn’t happy when I got home and reviewed the footage lol. Unless you meant the music, which...is throughout the video lol.

[@dansmith6990]

@@detroitdrivers4415 Great video, but I think he is talking about the music, the level is just too high. I know you'll only get better with time though! Thanks for the informative vid!

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Ahhh that’s it. Yeah…looking back at this the music is a bit high. It’s always a delicate balance. I should probably just start cutting the music out. Thanks for the feedback!

[@firefalcoln]

Another issue for this car is that it came out shortly after GM and other American automakers had repeatedly demonstrated an inability to make reliable economic small cars compared to Asian automakers. So a lot of people were probably hesitant to trust GM on this car. GM should have partnered with Honda, Toyota or Mazda on the volt and released it with one of their badges. It probably would have been a huge hit. It also would have probably been a huge hit if it could have been ordered outside of the dealership model. Because dealers didn’t want to sell a car that didn’t have much of anything that broke. Dealers make more money repairing cars than selling new cars.

[@kenwittlief255]

the Volt was originally planned to be released as a Cadillac, not a Chevy. No issue with history of quality there, but they thought too many people would associate it with their grandparents sedan.... It is built to Cadillac quality and finish standards.

[@aajs2317]

I have my second, thirst volt, now the ampera

[@bmw803]

And here we are today, with gas prices. Those VOLT are selling like hot cakes and for a LOT more than they were 3 years ago. Bought a 2015 for 14K. Now I could sell it for over 20K, but NO FUCKING WAY. It's reliable and cheap to operate.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Buying this car at the time I did was the most well-timed decision I’ve ever made, lol

[@NahledgeIsPower]

Awesome video! I love my 2012 first gen volt. #Viridian Joule

[@detroitdrivers4415]

You got a Viridian Joule! That’s awesome!

[@randallpatrickc]

Love ours - 480 mpg from new

[@supermantom2456]

Is there a way to check the hybrid battery when buying a second hand volt? Thank you in advance

[@kenwittlief255]

yes, but you may have to spend a few hundred dollars for an OBD2 scan tool that has EV and PHEV functions then its a few key clicks to see the state of each bank of cells in the battery....

[@glennberkheimer8177]

Love my VOLT.

[@SweetBearCub]

Tried to watch, but8 the music made this video completely unwatchable.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Looking back at this video, the audio drives me crazy. Your feedback is very valid.

[@B-rad303]

I would never buy a full EV complete joke waste of money and impractical as hell for what I do but the Volt is awesome. I'm going to get one this summer

[@michaeld954]

I really think that I need to take the chevy Volt Technology And turn it into a truck

[@cavramau]

The thing is already a truck. Back seats down flat, remove the centre arm rest and start shuving stuff in. I once had a weekly session with a friend, he had a recumbent hand cycle, wheel chair, transfer milk crate, it all went into the car with only the wheel chair back wheels removed. I have never been able to get any where near as much stuff in other cars. Trips to Ikia are a breeze. Love my Volt. Gateway to my EV. Oh but a Prius C was my happy introduction to the Volt. One third of the distance travelled in the Volt and Prius was on regenerated electric energy. Free.

[@aajs2317]

Next time without music please

[@romanbiahun4968]

The car is complete crap. The battery will die. You won't be able to turn on the engine. It's not provided by the system. I know what I'm talking about. Because I had it. So if you see "high voltage charging system" get rid of it quickly.

[@hughclark396]

If you are going to even think about putting something on youtube grab a cheap wireless microphone. The first well known rule is sound is 10x more important than picture quality.

[@detroitdrivers4415]

Yeah…lesson learned on this one.