Dear Linus, The Chevy VOLT is being discontinued.

[Minsc&Boo]

Back in August Linus got a Chevy VOLT.

 

Now (NOV 2018), the Chevy VOLT is being discontinued amid General Motors decision to close factories and displace 14,000 workers.

 

Source;
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/26/18112536/gm-layoffs-factory-closing-ending-production-chevy-volt

 

Well, at least you didn't drop it (kinda the reverse really).

[Arika]

So? It's not going to unbuild itself

[D13H4RD]

That's nothing to scream and shout over. 

 

Even if a vehicle model is discontinued, parts will still be available for it for a certain amount of time, usually several years after the vehicle model is discontinued. 

[NelizMastr]

2 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

That's nothing to scream and shout over. 

 

Even if a vehicle model is discontinued, parts will still be available for it for a certain amount of time, usually several years after the vehicle model is discontinued. 

That's usually enforced by law, for products like this. I think for cars that's actually like 20 years or something.

[dalekphalm]

This is a shame - the Volt is a kickass car, that has the main benefits of an EV (enough range on battery only to make it to work and back without using any gas at all), but also alieviated range anxiety by having the large fuel tank which could extend range up to 680 km (420 miles).

 

They're also discontinuing the Cruze, which is a popular compact car.

 

The simple fact is, that in North America, car sales are slumping like mad, and Truck/SUV sales are soaring. Ford already announced earlier this year they were discontinuing pretty much all Car models within the near future, and only selling Trucks/SUV's, and specialty cars (Mustang, etc).

[LinusTech]

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

[YellowJersey]

1 minute ago, LinusTech said:

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

That's one of my complaints. Calgary has a lot of that. If your pick up isn't filled with tools or covered in mud, you probably don't need it.

Unfortunately, the smallest car I can drive is a Civic sedan or a Corolla as I'm built like an orangutang on a step ladder. I tried my fiance's Civic coup and the front seat just don't go far back enough.

[Syntaxvgm]

14 hours ago, Minsc&Boo said:

Back in August Linus got a Chevy VOLT.

 

Now (NOV 2018), the Chevy VOLT is being discontinued amid General Motors decision to close factories and displace 14,000 workers.

 

Source: https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/26/18112536/gm-layoffs-factory-closing-ending-production-chevy-volt

 

Well, at least you didn't drop it (kinda the reverse really).

you posted the link text as the actual link, but it goes to a youtube redirect link

I have much to learn from your talents.

[Blademaster91]

13 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

This is a shame - the Volt is a kickass car, that has the main benefits of an EV (enough range on battery only to make it to work and back without using any gas at all), but also alieviated range anxiety by having the large fuel tank which could extend range up to 680 km (420 miles).

 

They're also discontinuing the Cruze, which is a popular compact car.

 

The simple fact is, that in North America, car sales are slumping like mad, and Truck/SUV sales are soaring. Ford already announced earlier this year they were discontinuing pretty much all Car models within the near future, and only selling Trucks/SUV's, and specialty cars (Mustang, etc).

Yeah,really disappointing Chevy is discontinuing their most popular cars, the Volt could have been even more competitive if Chevy could have made a full EV version.

But I think Chevy and Ford are only shooting themselves in the foot when they still sold quite a few cars, people that still want cars will buy another brand.

As someone in North America I don't want a expensive truck or SUV. And crossovers which are just a hatchback with bigger tires,AWD and a lift don't get that much better gas mileage than a SUV to make sense buying over a car either IMO.

 

[dalekphalm]

24 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

Agreed - I bought a Jetta for my current job, which requires me to drive between branch locations on a frequent basis - I could have gotten an SUV or something, but I wanted something that was practical and economical.

 

I hope you still put out the review for the Volt - the used Market for them is still quite large, and I imagine current new stock will last a while yet.

6 minutes ago, Blademaster91 said:

Yeah,really disappointing Chevy is discontinuing their most popular cars, the Volt could have been even more competitive if Chevy could have made a full EV version.

But I think Chevy and Ford are only shooting themselves in the foot when they still sold quite a few cars, people that still want cars will buy another brand.

As someone in North America I don't want a expensive truck or SUV. And crossovers which are just a hatchback with bigger tires,AWD and a lift don't get that much better gas mileage than a SUV to make sense buying over a car either IMO.

Instead of just modifying the Volt into a full EV model, that was what the Bolt was for.

 

The problem is that the Bolt is a totally different vehicle. It's a crossover at best, or a small SUV practically. It also has much lower luxury/build quality, and a different feature set.

 

Cross your fingers, maybe they'll lease a full EV version of the Volt in the near future?

[Edzel Yago]

27 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

If only you could buy cars used from the factory, then manufacturers would see more interest in these 'great' cars and continue to make them.

[dalekphalm]

2 minutes ago, Edzel Yago said:

If only you could buy cars used from the factory, then manufacturers would see more interest in these 'great' cars and continue to make them.

An interesting notion

 

Some people swear that buying new is a waste of money and that everyone should buy used... they also fail to see the problem with their suggestions

 

I did buy my car new, but it was on a killer deal with 0% APR with a ton of stuff thrown in for free, so for me, it was totally worth it.

[Amazonsucks]

They cancelled the potato on wheels? Wont be missed.

 

Was one of the ugliest of the bailout mobiles.

 

Sure getting paid back for the bailout billions by laying of 14,000 people too...

[3 Lions]

29 minutes ago, LinusTech said:

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do

The only problem I have with smaller cars is the engine bay is much smaller meaning any engine maintenance is a nightmare. I'm at college studying level 2 motor vehicle maintenance/repair and have to work on a Toyota Aygo...

 

and when the engine bay is this small...

 

It's not easy to do any engine work.

 

Yesterday I had to remove and refit the CTS (Coolant Temperature Sensor) and my god, it was horrible. The sensor is located mid-way down on the cylinder head and is in between two stiff hoses on the right side of the engine, the battery had to be removed to get any possible access and even then it was tight. Probably the most thing I hated about it was the shear pain, after sticking my hands down between two stiff hoses I had red marks and pressure indents on my hands and lower arms. 

 

[Minsc&Boo]

38 minutes ago, Syntaxvgm said:

you posted the link text as the actual link, but it goes to a youtube redirect link

I have much to learn from your talents.

 

Damn, how the fudge...

 

Thanks!

 

OP Link edited

[iKingRPG]

15 hours ago, Minsc&Boo said:

Back in August Linus got a Chevy VOLT.

 

Now (NOV 2018), the Chevy VOLT is being discontinued amid General Motors decision to close factories and displace 14,000 workers.

 

Source;
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/26/18112536/gm-layoffs-factory-closing-ending-production-chevy-volt

 

Well, at least you didn't drop it (kinda the reverse really).

i heard that too and rushed here.

[iKingRPG]

15 hours ago, Minsc&Boo said:

Back in August Linus got a Chevy VOLT.

 

Now (NOV 2018), the Chevy VOLT is being discontinued amid General Motors decision to close factories and displace 14,000 workers.

 

Source;
https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/26/18112536/gm-layoffs-factory-closing-ending-production-chevy-volt

 

Well, at least you didn't drop it (kinda the reverse really).

We need a mod to move this to *Tech News*.

[iKingRPG]

1 hour ago, LinusTech said:

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

maybe it will be replaced unless they did it to save money.

[iKingRPG]

10 minutes ago, Amazonsucks said:

They cancelled the potato on wheels? Wont be missed.

Can easily be fixed with a couple 2080 Tis....

[Blademaster91]

57 minutes ago, dalekphalm said:

The problem is that the Bolt is a totally different vehicle. It's a crossover at best, or a small SUV practically. It also has much lower luxury/build quality, and a different feature set.

 

Cross your fingers, maybe they'll lease a full EV version of the Volt in the near future?

I kind of forgot about the Bolt, nice crossover with great 0-60 acceleration for a cheaper EV that was still as practical as a car. IIRC most complained of interior plastic being cheap but I guess that could be a good thing to keep the car light. The Ford Ecosport seems to be popular, but its more of a small SUV than a crossover.

[aezakmi]

2 hours ago, LinusTech said:

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do

huge cars or trucks are like a must-have for americans

 

I personally own a Fiat UNO from 1994 and works like a charm, uses gas (real gas not gasoline or gas-oil) which is really cheap compared to other fuels or electricity, really compact but it can carry a lot of stuff so I don't see the point in getting a huge 4 door sedan just to drive around the city

[dalekphalm]

2 hours ago, aezakmi said:

uses gas (real gas not gasoline or gas-oil)

Can you elaborate on this? You mean your car runs off of Propane or LNG?

[dalekphalm]

16 minutes ago, Disgruntled Homer said:

How good is the Accord Hybrid/Clarity? I'd imagine it would be a bit more reliable, because while Chevrolet has improved, even a Ford is usually more reliable. It's a bummer how low the Prius Prime's electric range is, though at least it's a hybrid the rest of the time.

Having never driven either, I cannot say with personal experience, but the simple fact is that they're Honda's, which means they're probably very reliable. The Accord Hybrid in particular is probably very nice. Accords are pretty decent upgrades over the lower models like Civics, etc.

 

I'm not sure off the top of my head whether the Clarity is an "upgrade" from the Accord, or a "sidegrade".

 

Chevy has improved massively within the last 10 years, in terms of their reliability and reputation. The Cruze is a fantastic little car. Very reliable. Cheap parts. Pretty cheap to buy. My fiancee's sister bought one earlier this year and she damn well loves that car (and she's also a hands on person and a bit of a gear-head).

 

Personally I'd still keep my Jetta over a Cruze, because I love my Jetta, but they're definitely good cars.

16 minutes ago, Disgruntled Homer said:

I 100% agree. So many people drive around with empty pickups/SUV's. Part of the reason I hate them so much. (I also hate them because they are causing sedan models to be discontinued.) 

I have less of a problem with SUV's over pickup trucks.

 

Almost every single pickup truck I see on a daily basis (which is a lot, because I live in Canada, and we're just as obsessed with pickup trucks as the US is) is empty in the bed.

 

Whereas at least an SUV has more practicality on a daily basis. You've got the back seats, which only crew cab trucks typically have. You've also got the large trunk space behind the seats, which a pickup truck does not have (the bed is different because it's exposed to the elements).

 

I dislike seeing all the huge full size SUV's (stuff like Highlanders, Pilots, Escalades, Expeditions, etc) - as those tend to be overkill.

 

But small SUV's are actually totally acceptable to me - that's stuff like the Tiguan, CR-V, RAV4, etc. I'm actually considering getting a Tiguan or a RAV4 as my next vehicle (though that will be 3-5 years from now at minimum).

 

The RAV4 in particular offers an AWD Hybrid model that is particularly appealing to me. I wish so badly that VW would introduce a Hybrid version of the Tiguan... or hell, ANY of their vehicles. They made a Hybrid Jetta in Canada, but only sold it for 2-3 years and then dropped it. None of the other VW hybrids ever made it to Canada.

 

And on the electric side, the only EV VW sells here is the e-Golf. No thanks. I'm not a Golf fan (though the Golf Alltrack ALMOST convinces me to get one, but again, no hybrid or EV model for that either).

[dalekphalm]

Just now, Disgruntled Homer said:

I consider those Crossovers. I still don't like them as much as Sedans, though. On an unrelated note, I'm sad to see Manual Transmissions being phased out.

Well what is a Crossover? It's basically a small SUV/tall sedan. They tend to have characteristics of both, and I definitely consider Crossovers as a sub-type of SUV.

 

As for Manual Transmissions? I will not shed a tear there. Manuals are terrible for daily driving. Sure you can get good at it, and manage it so it's not overly annoying, but it will never be as convenient as a good automatic transmission.

 

I drive my car for work, which means I may have to travel between branches regularly, in city traffic. I wouldn't even consider a manual for my daily driver.

 

Furthermore, they've been able to engineer some amazing transmissions that are automatic and computer controlled, but have a fully operational manual mode that's still fun to drive.

 

And for those who must have a real mechanical manual? There's still the odd sports car that caters to that crowd.

[Velcade]

This is sad.  I worked with Chevy to design 

20 hours ago, LinusTech said:

Total bummer. My review of the Volt was going to be very positive. I think it's great.

 

I wish consumers would wake up to the fact that they don't need a gigantic vehicle for 99% of the things they do.. and that it's only a matter of (a very small amount of) time before you can just Uber a pickup truck for that TV purchase or dump run and drive your economical sedan the rest of the time.

 

*sigh*

I've done this a few times with Menards and UHaul.  The both offer cheap rentals of pick ups to move various items or refuse.