Barry sizes up new ride, may not be able to swing the financing...
 

Now this is some funny shit right here...

http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enoug...to-my-manager/

That would be funny, if it weren't for the fact that Barry and his Co Conspirators are continuing to write Bad Checks on My Grandchildren's accounts

volt what a joke.......$42k before "dealer markup" for being exclusive.

but i guess it makes sense big O pushing that product.

Did you even look at it?

He's in an EXPLORER. A FORD EXPLORER. So far as I could tell, the Chevy Volt was never even mentioned.

Ed's not big on details...but remember; start small.

lol

:lol:

this is what i'm talkin about

http://www.earthtechling.com/wp-cont...aVolt-copy.jpg

That was obvious, but the Volt has nothing to do with the original article that was posted.

While the Volt does cost almost $42k, from what I understand that drops to $33,500 once the available federal government "encouragement" is factored in. If I were shopping in that segment I'd still rather take the extra room, extra power, and around $15k in extra money that comes with a Honda Fit. Then again I'd be looking for a car, unlike most Volt buyers who will be looking for a "lifestyle accessory".

On a semi-related note, whoever the rocket scientist was over at GM that decided to spec an engine for the Volt that requires premium gas should get donkey punched every day he/she remains at GM. Their retirement benefits should be tied to continued donkey punching as well. It is a 1.4 liter engine making approximately 80hp. Why should a fairly anemic engine like that require premium?

It doesn't require premium, it requires 87 and is optimized for 91.

Probably because it runs ridiculously high compression, in order to be more efficient.

Not according to what I have read.

"we also discovered that the vehicle’s four-cylinder onboard generator — which maintains the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries – will require premium fuel, according to GM."

"In an emergency, regular gas can be used on the Volt, but fuel economy will be compromised, and the engine may become noisier. The Volt’s engine computer will detect the octane change and retard ignition timing. Still, Read highly recommends refilling the Volt with premium fuel as soon as possible to avoid damaging the engine."

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2...es-and-no.html

That would explain it, but I'm not sure why this engine would be running such high compression. One of the side effects of high compression is usually power, something this engine is lacking. My bike makes more power, does so with less than half the displacement, runs a 12.4:1 compression ratio, and can run on regular unleaded. I'm sure the engine in the Volt is set up for lower RPMs and more torque, but I still can't think of a reason why a 1.4 liter engine would require high compression to make 75hp. I haven't seen anything from GM to explain it either.

Thread is chock-full of fail.

http://green.autoblog.com/2010/08/03...toblogGreen%29

It has a knock sensor, like practically every other car made today.

I thought the volt was purely electric. So now it takes gas? and what kind of electricity is this thing going to draw, affecting your electric bill?

The same person your article used as a source, GM Powertrain Spokesman Tom Read, was the source in the article I posted. I don't know which information is correct, but I don't feel to bad about it since Tom Read doesn't seem to know either.

It's called a range-extended electric. Would you rather walk, when it runs out of battery?

It functions as a full electric until the battery dies. Then the backup generator kicks in.

It's an electric car with an on-board generator. You can plug it in or let the car charge itself off the engine. It drives up to 40 miles on pure electric power if you plug it in, then the engine kicks in and charges itself. So you can drive it cross-country if you want, unlike a regular electric car.

It has a knock sensor, like almost every other car on the road.

And yet GM's powertrain spokesman has also "highly recommend(ed) refilling the Volt with premium fuel as soon as possible to avoid damaging the engine." This isn't coming from me, it is coming directly from GM.

You win, it will spontaneously combust if any 87 is put in the tank.

You realize that notice is in basically every owners manual on the road today, right?

A couple of Toyota manuals I've read say the opposite.:shrug:

Obama answered every question except he couldn't prove where he was born. lol