GM offers big price cut on Chevy Volt

[happyslug]

73. I hate to say this, but given your situation, the Cruze Eco may be the better choice

First it is cheaper, $21,000 vs $39,000.

Second, in the Standard transmission version, it gets 42 mpg, which is better then the Volt when you have to use Gasoline (The Volt on the highway gets only 40 mpg). The opposite is true in in city driving, the Volt get better fuel economy.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/Find.do?action=sbs&id=32655&id=31377

Third, it is basically the same vehicle. GM developed both at the same time to spread out the cost of developing the non-engine and transmission costs of the Volt. i.e. they look much alike for the body, frame, brakes, steering, wheels, interior etc are the same).

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/12/21/2012-chevrolet-cruze-eco-review/

Fourth, no electric car, at the present time, can go 40 miles one way on a single charge. In theory it is possible, in actual practice no. My brother has a Prius and its electric charge only last 10-15 minutes before the gasoline engine has to kick in. Thus you have to accept the use of gasoline.

Fifth, Flex Fuel vehicle is a marketing gimmick, instead of buying oil directly, you have farmers buy it, harvest corn that is converted to gasohol that gets less mpg then gasoline. The net result is more oil used but SOUNDS like you are using less.

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2007/06/18/3139/flex-fuel-bait-and-switch/

Sixth, The "Arab Spring" which we have heard so much about, appears to have been triggered by increases in FOOD PRICES. One reason for the increase in food prices has been increase use of corn for use in gasohol (and US Farmers converting from wheat to corn for Gasohol production). This has lead to unrest in Syria, Libya, Tunisia, the Persian Gulf States and even Egypt. In fact your use of Flex Fuel may be causing much of the unrest in the Middle East due to the upward pressure it does on the price of food. Now in Egypt, the price of bread in controlled and appears to available, but anything other then bread is NOT price controlled and the people of Egypt has seen huge increase in those prices over the last five years. Thus Flex Fuel may be leading to the problems of the Mid East simply by increasing the price of food.

http://www.economist.com/node/21550328
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=climate-change-and-rising-food-prices-heightened-arab-spring

Seventh, the best way to reduce one's use of oil is to move closer to work and bike to work (that is what I did). Please note this also reduces your use of Gasohol and thus the increase in the price of food.