Drew Dowdell

Finally... someone brings back the push button transmission selector.

Huh? Can you post a picture example? I can't think of what you're describing.

I'm not sure it is something I'll even be able to notice on the bill as I'll only have the car for a week. FromWikipedia entry on the Chevy Volt: To extend the battery's life span, GM plans to station charge the lithium-ion battery to a SoC of approximately 90%. Then, once the battery depletes to a low set-point (ca. 25%), the on-board ICE powered generator maintains the state of charge between the lower setpoint and an upper set-point above the 30% SoC level (see figure 5 of reference[2]). So, its charge state actually varies between 25% SoC and 90% SoC. This translates to the following analysis of battery capacity: theoretical capacity 100% 16.0 kW·h (not realized under normal conditions) highest recharged level 90% 14.4 kW·h (after being plugged in) charge sustaining level 25% 4.0 kW·h (after ~40 miles of driving) Empty 0% 0.0 kW·h (not realized under normal conditions) My total utility charge for electricity is about 13.25 cents per kWh. Which means that every full charge will cost me $1.378 = ( (Highest recharge level - charge sustaining level) * cost per kWh) After one week, it would cause my electric bill to fluctuate by only $9. My Bill already fluctuates by more than that, so any change will likely get lost in the noise. I'll try to remember to post any difference in my next bill, but I doubt there will be any noticeable difference. Keep in mind that recharging the Volt from empty is equal to running one of those 1000 watt oil filled space heaters for about 10 hours a day.

Update on day 2 with the Volt: After sitting on the charger for 3 hours, Albert and I leave to go to his brother's house for his niece's birthday party. In those 3 hours of charging, the EV range has moved from 1 mile range to 9 miles range. His brother's house is 8 miles away, so I expect we'll be back into regen mode by the time we get there. Thanks to the topology of Pittsburgh, most of the trip to his brother's is downhill. When we arrive, EV range is listed as 6 miles. The regenerator never kicked on. Coming back, we managed to make it all but the last 1.5 miles without using the regenerator. We used 0.1 gallons of gas for the entire 48 miles we traveled today for an effective rate of 480 mpg. If we had the 220 volt charger installed in the house, that 3 hour charge time would have brought the Volt a 3/4 full charge and we wouldn't have used any gasoline at all for the day. 48.0 miles traveled 46.4 EV miles 0.1 gallons of gasoline used

not that it hasn't been done already.....

Remember guys. This is just version 1.0 for the Voltec. As the technology continues to grow, it will filter into other models. Electric gives awesome low end torque. It would work very well as a sporty car.

For those is you who have run it for a while; How often do you maintain your K&N?

Just a reminder that all entries need to be in by the 28th.

it's not going to be standard. that part of the article is incorrect. It's going to be available on all, standard on Lacrosse for now and possibly an Enclave in the future.

And that's why Chevrolet makes both. I like the Camaro a LOT......I've never been a Camaro kinda guy and you all know that. But I could totally drive one daily. But for the same amount of money, the Volt is a more useful vehicle, still has enough scoot, and can be driven gas free. I've finished my errands for the day and the Volt is back on the charger. 32.1 miles traveled 32.1 EV miles 0 gallons of gasoline used. Averaging 60.1 mpg since I got the car on Friday. Edit: Further updated below.

I'm not a Sierra Club activist and I would totally buy this over a CTS because a CTS, while nice and handles great, doesn't suit my day to day needs like a Volt does. The Volt is comfortable for long distance drives, it's very very very very quiet. It has a nice interior. Handles plenty good enough, has a highly useful cargo area that only the CTS Wagon could compete with, and for 95% of my driving and commuting, I wouldn't use very much if any gas at all. One doesn't need to be a Sierra Club activist to see the $4.25 a gallon writing on the wall. Step one is being realistic about what you use your car for on a day to day basis. No one commutes to work via the Nurburgring. There isn't a single place here in Pittsburgh where you can use the capabilities of...say a 330i... to even 50% of it's maxiumum for more than a second. Step two is not being a brand snob.

It's still true today.

Buick has a lot of their sleeve with the regal.

The WRX Sti is actually aimed at being a performance vehicle. eAssist is only the base engine in the Lacrosse. It will be available in the Regal, but not mandatory.

Few are going to buy a Regal because it has a manual. It's just a way for Buick to gain a smidge of cred. Anyone who buys a car for more than "it's reliable, beige, and I got a big rebate" buys cars with a more emotional aspect. The Sonata Turbo may be a better vehicle on paper, but the styling is gross. The Subaru has AWD, but the over all look is still G.A.S.. I like the Optima styling and to me that would be the competitor for my dollars against the Regal Turbo. I purposely didn't say which engine Optima... because 0-60 doesn't matter. How it rides, how it drives, and how good the heated seats work (helps with an occasional noise in the front passenger seat I find) and especially how it looks are what matter most to me. If you like the Legacy... mazel tov! Enjoy and post frequent updates. But saying that Buick is going to fail because the Legacy is a better (in your eyes) car on paper doesn't take into account that other people see differently than you do.

With 236 lb-ft at 1,250rpm, weight is less problematic to fuel economy.

I like the Legacy. I like the Regal more. It's just two of us with no dogs, no kids, and can care less about 0-60 as long as the power is sufficient for daily driving. I have different needs than you. You can't base every vehicle evaluation off your personal family life.

They should make a manual version of just about every car.

leaves me cold.

The climate control app is for remote start. What if you left the HVAC shut off yesterday when it was 68 degrees out, now it's 27 this morning when you're going to leave? The Remote Start is going to do NADA for you as far as getting the car comfortable inside ahead of time. All you do is warm up the engine.

Chevrolet Cruze getting a Clean Diesel for 2013 Model Year The Chevrolet Cruze is getting an even higher mileage option than the Cruze Eco offered today. For 2013, it's getting a clean diesel. Follow the jump for more. 2013 Chevrolet Cruze getting clean diesel option

I'm guessing that is 42mpg combined.

End of first full day with the Volt: 106 miles traveled 47 mpg 28 EV miles Today was a typical Saturday for me. I did some work at one of the places I do consulting at, rewiring part of their network. Before arriving at work at 11am, I stopped at Lowes to pick up some supplies. Part of the way through the job, realized I would need to make a another run out, stopped at Target and Best Buy then back to the job site. After completing work at 2pm, I raced back to my house to pick up Albert. Along the way is when the regenerator kicked on for the first time. Now, Albert likes to keep his heated seat set at broil and he was stealing my Em Pee Gees. Every time he wasn't looking, I would shut his seat off to get my Em Pee Gees back. He caught on to this fairly quickly and I gave up trying. We stop and pick up two friends to go out to a late lunch/early dinner at Cheesecake Factory near downtown. Have a nice long meal with them and then head back to their place to play with the cats and give our friend his belated birthday gift. We leave their house at around 6:30pm. Albert doesn't want to go home yet and says he want to go to IKEA. So it's back through downtown and out towards the airport. After spending about an hour at IKEA we head back home getting in around 8:45. Total miles for the day: 106. As I said, this is a typical Saturday for us... and a Saturday that we couldn't have done in a vehicle like the Nissan LEAF. Thoughts so far: Driving for MPGs becomes a bit of a game. Due to my scheduling, I was rushing during most of the day, so I wasn't hypermilling, but you're easier on the throttle and top speed. I wish the DRLs wouldn't come on by default. The quality of the materials is very high. It wouldn't have taken GM much more to let this car wear a Buick or Cadillac badge. The seats are the first thing that come to mind that would need improvement. They're not bad, but Buick's and Cadillac's are both better. LOVE LOVE LOVE the fact that it has a boot up sound and and a shut down sound. This was something I complained about with the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. In that car there was no affirmative signal that all systems were go for take off since the engine doesn't start when you start the car. The Volt has that signal. I wish there was a charge door release button on the keyfob. DOH! VOLT: 1 - Drew: 0.... it helps if you actually read instructions guys. The Volt DOES have a charge door release on the keyfob. I'll repeat that the center rear view mirror is too small. The hatch glass offers more viewing area than the mirror can cover top to bottom. Rear visability is excellent.. so good that I find myself turning around to back up rather than use the rear view camera. Turning around gives a much better view than either the mirror OR camera can offer. I would have liked some sort of cargo cover for the rear hatch area. It drives very well so far. I haven't put it through any handling paces, but spending a long distance in the Volt isn't anything to be scared of.

Caesar

The Regal has a substantially nicer interior than the Subi. 0-60 is that much more important to you?