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My open letter to the Chevy Bolt, from a Tesla fan.
- Thread starter PTADO
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SΞXY P100D
$ Trillion Musk
I like your post but I'll have to disagree with you on the statements quoted above. I'm pissed off at GM for coming up with a $37k product that looks more like it's worth $18k, and they dare to compare it with the Model 3 (which btw costs less than that tiffin box). If GM were my only choice I'd still take the Volt over the Bolt just for looks and long range alone.
If, however, GM came up with a supercharging network plus a more compelling sexy looking car, then I would have been quite excited. But that's not the case here. Nor is Tesla the chaser. The long lines during the 3/31 Model 3 reservation event are a testament to that.
On a positive note, it's good to see other players get on the EV bandwagon with a bit more seriousness.
I feel like I'm throwing a party for Michael Jordan, but Marc Jackson showed up 30 minutes early and is trying to convert me to Christianity.
Yes, way classier. Simple, clean, elegant, functional. In contrast, the Bolt interior is fussy, cluttered, and over-styled.
My opinion. You are welcome to differ.
MikeJer
Member
I think it's fabulous that other car manufacturers are starting to take EVs a bit more seriously. With that said, the Bolt is definitely not for me.
The media is touting the Bolt's excellent range -- and it is excellent, in of itself -- but the problem is that the range is effectively pointless without an equivalent supercharger network. Not just the network itself, mind you, but also the speed at which it will charge your car. Tesla's Superchargers are just barely fast enough to not be a huge drag on a road trip. I'm still looking forward to faster charge times than these are right now. But the Bolt's fastest, if you're lucky and a stall is available, road trip charging speed option (90 miles in 30 minutes) just doesn't cut it -- too little range for <= 30 minutes of charging. And that's a best-case scenario with the Bolt. With the ability to comfortably road trip gone, the Bolt's range becomes pretty superfluous. If it's just a city car, you don't really need more than ~100 miles of range. A used Leaf can provide that on the cheap (~$10k or less I've heard). There are several new EVs with city range out there too.
Even putting aside how the range and charging don't work together...
-Exterior is ugly. Looks like a cheap-o $14k econobox with a few weird lines mixed in, all at the price of premium or low-end ICE luxury cars (like Acura).
-Interior isn't ugly, but looks incredibly cheap as well. Feels like something a toddler would enjoy playing with, what with its bright plastics, disjointed controls, and outdated-looking UI. Seats do not look very comfortable.
The only thing I like about the Bolt (on paper, of course), besides its existence in helping the EV market, is its interior space and decent performance/handling.
In summary, I applaud Chevrolet for putting something out there. The range would be excellent if they could combine it with supercharger speeds (or faster) and accessibility for road trips. But when weighing the pros and cons, it's still not a very compelling option. I'd much rather have a used Model S for a bit more.
As far as I can tell, the only thing the Bolt has over the upcoming Model 3 (again, on paper), is perhaps interior headroom and cargo space (due to being a hatcback). I'll reserve judgment on the Model 3 interior until we see the final design, but I do tend to prefer classy, sleek, and clean over the cheap plastic kids toy look. The great thing about the Model 3 is that, unlike the Bolt, there are no compromises in city driving or on road trips.
Model 3 looks like it will be a much more compelling car for the money. I am glad the Bolt exists though! Just wish Chevy would have put the whole package together.
After following Tesla news for the last couple months while ordering and waiting for my Model X, I've been appalled at how much the media craps on Tesla with so many utterly false and inaccurate headlines, stories, and tone. There are several legitimate and factual criticisms of Tesla, but the media would rather outright lie and slander to gain attention. It's obnoxious.
The media is touting the Bolt's excellent range -- and it is excellent, in of itself -- but the problem is that the range is effectively pointless without an equivalent supercharger network. Not just the network itself, mind you, but also the speed at which it will charge your car. Tesla's Superchargers are just barely fast enough to not be a huge drag on a road trip. I'm still looking forward to faster charge times than these are right now. But the Bolt's fastest, if you're lucky and a stall is available, road trip charging speed option (90 miles in 30 minutes) just doesn't cut it -- too little range for <= 30 minutes of charging. And that's a best-case scenario with the Bolt. With the ability to comfortably road trip gone, the Bolt's range becomes pretty superfluous. If it's just a city car, you don't really need more than ~100 miles of range. A used Leaf can provide that on the cheap (~$10k or less I've heard). There are several new EVs with city range out there too.
Even putting aside how the range and charging don't work together...
-Exterior is ugly. Looks like a cheap-o $14k econobox with a few weird lines mixed in, all at the price of premium or low-end ICE luxury cars (like Acura).
-Interior isn't ugly, but looks incredibly cheap as well. Feels like something a toddler would enjoy playing with, what with its bright plastics, disjointed controls, and outdated-looking UI. Seats do not look very comfortable.
The only thing I like about the Bolt (on paper, of course), besides its existence in helping the EV market, is its interior space and decent performance/handling.
In summary, I applaud Chevrolet for putting something out there. The range would be excellent if they could combine it with supercharger speeds (or faster) and accessibility for road trips. But when weighing the pros and cons, it's still not a very compelling option. I'd much rather have a used Model S for a bit more.
As far as I can tell, the only thing the Bolt has over the upcoming Model 3 (again, on paper), is perhaps interior headroom and cargo space (due to being a hatcback). I'll reserve judgment on the Model 3 interior until we see the final design, but I do tend to prefer classy, sleek, and clean over the cheap plastic kids toy look. The great thing about the Model 3 is that, unlike the Bolt, there are no compromises in city driving or on road trips.
Model 3 looks like it will be a much more compelling car for the money. I am glad the Bolt exists though! Just wish Chevy would have put the whole package together.
After following Tesla news for the last couple months while ordering and waiting for my Model X, I've been appalled at how much the media craps on Tesla with so many utterly false and inaccurate headlines, stories, and tone. There are several legitimate and factual criticisms of Tesla, but the media would rather outright lie and slander to gain attention. It's obnoxious.
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What did you think about charge port location on the Model 3. Mine is not located very well. I think the stitching in the rear seats is the wrong color as well. I sort of wish they would have engineered some oversteer into it, just a touch. I know most cars natively understeer, but the Model 3 should have more of a Porsche feel in my opinion.
And my glove box isn't very large nor does lock with key.
Other than that, it's really nice until I wake up and realize I'm lying in bed with the alarm blaring. My cloudy mind before coffee still can realize there is no such thing as a production Model 3. We have seen what amounts to Concept Cars at this stage.
SΞXY P100D
$ Trillion Musk
Even if the Bolt had the looks of a Cadillac ELR I still would go for the Model 3 hands down. It's a pity how GM continues to spew out mediocre EV offerings - definitely nothing close to a Tesla. In fact even their most compelling ICE cars do not appeal to me enough to make me purchase one. Ideally GM should offer a Corvette EV supercar first to show their seriousness in the new drivetrain technology and to potentially attract a new set of customers. This is obviously not the case.
Nice find! What I get from that is the Bolt will be coming with a cabin air filter, unlike that strange omission in my Volt.
And the service pricing is a HUGE unknown for the Model 3. Considering we don't even know what the service plan prices are for the Model X (since Tesla isn't selling X service plans or extended warranties yet), I am guessing that is going to be a leap of faith for the early adopters.
Thanks for the comparison. So the Bolt actually has slightly more passenger space, which is nice. However, the Bolt's significantly smaller rear luggage space is unfortunate. We have a family and we do fill our LEAF's rear luggage space at times. That said, in comparison to the more beautiful Model 3, I do like that the Bolt is a hatchback.
Well, the Bolt EV does have some features or advantages that aren't known to be available on the Model 3. For example, the rear view camera mirror and the bird's eye Surround View while driving at slow speeds like parking. Those are both pretty cool.
diamond.g
Active Member
Why has your X been to service so often?
Is having the charge port up front better than having it on the back? I have noticed every EV but Telsa's have the ports up front.
Having the charge port in the back means you have to back in to most public chargers and many superchargers. I am terrible at backing into public parking spaces, so I am not looking forward to that at all.
diamond.g
Active Member
Yeah, I know my wife will love AP Perp parking. I am reasonably proficient at backing into spots, plus I like not having to look behind me when leaving a parking spot, along with being given the choice at going left or right more readily.
Maybe the Model 3 will have a surround view camera system like the Bolt EV. That would make backing into spaces much easier.
strykeroz
Member
If a Nissan Pathfinder family SUV has surround view cameras, surely this is a mainstream thing already?
I'm actually pretty surprised the S and X still don't have surround view. It seems like that would be a decently easy implementation that would add a lot of value for cars as big as the S and X.
rxlawdude
Active Member
I'm sorry. Just look at the cutaway view of what's under the hood in a Bolt. Looks like an abomination of wires, tubes, and metal taking up the exact space an ICE engine would go in one of their other.. oh.
gjunky
Trifecta: Solar and both cars are EVs
Totally agree with these replies. I actually prefer the shape (not styling) of the Bolt over the M3. I prefer the practical shape of a Golf over a corolla. In my opinion, it is a shame Tesla didn't go for another hatchback. It doesn't matter if the seats fold or the truck lid is a little larger. Just try to store a few lawn chairs in the trunk of a sedan and you will know why.
I am obviously a huge Tesla fan (see sig) but I would still like to see their smaller car, the one I always wanted, to be more practical. Putting more glass in is also not the answer....
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