RCR: Chevy Bolt

[kevm14]

I tend to agree. I think we can be honest about this with each other - when our argument depends on something being too expensive (either unaffordable or not good enough for the money), we use MSRP or even dealer markup if possible. When we want something to be cheap and plentiful we refer to higher mileage used cars. A subset of this is when we talk about base vs options. When our argument depends on the car being too expensive, we quote a price that includes top option packages (and possibly round up after that). When we want the car to be cheap (or perhaps cheaper than another model) we use the base price. It's a thing.

Can we all stop doing it and do apples to apples in every case we possibly can?

I'll add some criteria.

When discussing options, and option costs, compare with like features when possible. And distinguish performance options from non-performance options where possible. That said, if you have information that shows actual cars for sale drastically different from MSRP (higher OR lower) that is fair game. Barring that, of course, you use MSRP. In the used market, trims and options tend to depreciate even harder than the base car itself, making them a better value.

I would like to say new vs new and used vs used. There are some cases where that is hard. I would never buy a new car so I pretty much always compare to used - I'd compare used to used if I could. There is a period where a new model/trim is just released and there is no used market. And the competitor, while probably also available new, may have an established used market. If we talk about buying at that point in time, those are the choices so I think that makes it fair game. Otherwise you simply are speculating on what the new car will eventually depreciate to, and when, which can vary. The fact is, some new cars are better values than others. And some used cars are better values than others. Each case kind of bears its own unique comparison.

[bill25]

I agree with what Kevin said above and this:

My only point is that I wish automotive journalists and other members of the general public would stop referring to the Bolt as a $40k car when one can be had for much less, possibly even half of that depending on your circumstances.

It is very hard to talk about a car that could have a 20K price swing brand new. How have we gotten to a point where people buy cars with that much of an unknown price delta going in. Are people really at a point where they just don't care what they are paying? Why wouldn't GM have the price in very clear print after rebates and gov. promotions instead of me seeing 37K in bold and clicking away to something else? This whole thing is crazy.

[Bob]

I'm not sure how many people actually pay MSRP for a Bolt. Maybe the early buyers did. Anyone willing to do 10 minutes of research now is going to save themselves a huge amount of money. Even if you pay MSRP, you're eligible for anywhere from $7,500 to $12,500 of federal and state incentives, plus employer incentives in some cases. At worst, this is a $30k car (assuming you didn't already use up your federal tax credit on another EV).

Also, there are many cheap lease deals out there. It seems like a large percentage of Bolt buyers are leasing, which I think is actually a smart move with electric vehicles due to the improvements that are likely to happen during the lease term as well as the poor resale.

[kevm14]

Which is why the RCR review was so annoying. He didn't take just a little time to understand the EV market, which is not brand new.

[Bob]

Lack of research seems to be a common theme across many RCR reviews lately.

[kevm14]

He should probably stick to 90s and earlier. That seems to work best. And 90s cars seem to have the most cultural/personal significance to him anyway, which I understand.

[Adam]

And 90s cars seem to have the most cultural/personal significance to him anyway, which I understand.

Plus the cars themselves have developed a personality by then too.

[Bob]

Decent value on a used Bolt: https://charlotte.craigslist.org/cto/d/ ... 66307.html

I could actually see replacing the Prius with a full EV car at some point since it never leaves a 30-40 mile radius of our house these days. The Bolt will likely be a good value in the used market, unlike any Tesla.