Science/Engineering/Technical forums

Hey Doug,

Been a while since I checked on your progress with the Volt. We still have both of ours now for over 5 years. Cheapest car to run I ever own.

Hi Dave, yeah, long time.
Still have my Volt, "never gonna turn you loose". Because of other events, I've had to drive it some when I would have taken the truck (truck was down) on medium trips, and my lifetime mileage is now merely 160 mpg, though I'm still at 244 for the last two years. (I did break the engine in right off so as to change the oil and get rid of the assembly lube, that's why the low lifetime which creeps up real gradually).
On long enough trips to keep the engine going, it still gets 40 mpg or so, and I still touch 50 miles on batteries now and then. But when you only need it for 5 miles, it's more like 20 mpg.
It's just a great car and fun to drive. I did turn off onstar (~$300/yr) in favor of a $99 (forever) garmin, and never use the phone either. I like privacy when I'm out and don't order pizza much.
My friend Alex bought one based on my experience, and loves his too (lives in Fla but visits up here now and then).

Haven't had a single fix or update applied. One they want prevents it from running in park (I guess some drunk forgot to turn one off in his garage or something). Well, in my case, that "bug" is a feature in case I need to back up my house power, so nope. It's never been in for service other than the one oil change. I might buy tires someday...I've never actually needed it for backing up my house, just like my handguns have never shot anybody. Still better to be ready than not.