oftheseven said:
Hi everyone,
I was going to look into the Bolt next year once my eGolf SEL lease expired in 2018 but it was rear ended and deemed a total loss so now I'm here.
Loved my eGolf handling, rear storage, generic looks, haha.
Want to stay EV and could lease a eGolf SE with DCFC: $194/mo. 30mos, 12k miles/yr, $2500 down (taxes, fees inclusive) but it would be the current iteration. Next upgrade isn't until the fall for the 2018 model. More range and a little more pep are nice so strongly considering the Bolt.
Anyone driven/owned both?
Should I be worried about getting the 1st generation?
All the fancy camera views are nice but is Premium trim worth it if I don't need heated seats/steering wheel or leather?
We drive pretty efficient: 4.5-4.7mi/kWh and most trips are less than 100 miles; only had a few 'close calls' with range.
Thanks
I haven't driven an eGolf, so can't comment about that.
However, I've owned and driven a lot of cars, trucks and motorcycles in my time and I LOVE the Bolt!
I use my Bolt mainly for local driving w/in 5-15 miles of my house and can go weeks on end w/o recharging using it that way. I also drove it 150 miles RT on the freeway into San Francisco (at very high speeds) and had enough estimated range to get there and back on a single charge -- although I'd stop for a quick DCFC charge to get another 40-50 miles before heading home just "in case."
The car is extremely nimble, has more than enough speed and acceleration and more than enough luggage/passenger space for normal needs. You can drive it as fast or slow as you like and it will handle like a champ.
I got an LT w/the comfort and convenience packages and the luggage shelf which I think are absolutely necessary. The MSRP was just under $39k which I leased for just $282/month (before sales tax) for 36 months w/a 10k annual mileage allowance plus $2k net down ($5k cash up front less $3k in rebates still to be received). That was an excellent deal that I'm not sure you can still get now.
The deal Chevy is currently offering is $329/month for 36 months plus $3809 down on a "basic" LT. See: http://www.hybridcars.com/pricey-chevy-bolt-lease-deal-keeps-company-on-more-conservative-approach/
I personally don't think the extra features of a Premier model are worth the extra $5k or so. That's a choice you'd have to make for yourself.
The only common "problem" many (but not all) people are complaining about are the seats. Many feel that the seats are poorly designed because they are either just uncomfortable or downright painful. You can read a couple different threads on this forum about this problem. There doesn't seem to be any consistency in person size or model involved when the problem is raised. Can be a small or large person or an LT or Premier.
All you can do is sit in the seats of different Bolts to decide if this is a problem for you or not. Just be aware that if one Bolt of your choice (LT or Premier) has the problem, another similar Bolt may not. So, try as many as you need to find the one that feels the best.
Good luck!
PS: My battery consumption while driving sedately in town averages 4.0-4.2 m/kwh. On the freeway driving fast the way I do, it averages only 2.6-2.8. Extrapolating these numbers and assuming a full charge at 60 kwh, my range locally would be 240-252 and on the freeway 156-168 if I drain the battery to zero. Lots of cushion left for local driving, not so for the freeway, which is why adding at least 40-50 miles w/a mid-trip charge seems essential to me to complete my 150 mile RT journeys into the City.
