Who will actually buy the Chevy Volt?

[Dustin Y]

I have been hearing about this car for about a year. I recently caught it on TV and started thinking: Who is the target audience for this vehicle?

The group that benefits most from high gas mileage is the working class. The working class, however, can not afford a $40,000 vehicle.

The second group that benefits from this vehicle are your "GO GREEN!" people. How many of these people have a garage or area where they can charge their vehicle? You can't simply run a cord from your apartment window down to the parking lot. Charging stations are few and far between.

So...who exactly will buy this vehicle? Sure it's a neat idea but is it practical?

Here's a link for those that haven't heard much about this vehicle:
http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/defa…

[John E]

Very good question. I would like to get one, but the $40K price would take it out of the picture for me. It would have to be priced in the 20K range for it to work for me. So I would guess it would be the same people that are buying Toyota prius or the green crowd. The economics of it just won't pan out. You will never save enough on gas to offset the purchase price.

[if u aint first ur last]

Well you are forggeting the rich people and the smart ones. My parents are about in their 40 and own their house and I'm sure this car would really benifit them and they could afford it, shoot the saving on gas alone would make this car great. And yes this car is amied more for people who have houses for now but when charging station are at every gas station this car will really hit off.

[Jackson]

yes the $40,000 price tag could throw some off however with tax rebates, automotive rebates (CARS).. you could expect to pick this car up after everything is said and done for around $25-33,000..

this vehicle is going to marketed to everyone until gm can push more body styles out to market to different audiences.. I'm actually planning on buying a volt i put my 02 TA 06 GTO in storage and i'm not going to use my 09 G8 GXP so i'll need another daily driver here soon.. especially when my G8 GXP goes to storage.. So i will be buying the volt i'm 25 a bartender and my income last year was $68,000

[AsYLum dRiVeR]

While everyone is somewhat correct, the fact is the technology will not develop without the car being sold. Think of it this way, when the plasma tv came out few could afford it. As the technology became better, and manufacturing costs came down, the price dropped.

I would buy it if I had the money. It is about time someone came out with a decent looking hybrid. Practicality will grow, but for that to happen there has to be the first group to accept the new product.

Besides if the 230-250 mpg is correct for 100,000 miles i'm sure this will offset purchase price if maintenance costs are not astronomical. That is ten times the mileage of a 25 mpg vehicle, not to mention those who do little driving over their 20 mile commute a day will rarely have to purchase gas at all.