Incentives for members...

[Railfanner]

Hi Corey, Hi to the few folks just finding this site...

Corey, you mentioned in your Welcome that the response was exciting after having such a meager budget ($100) to get this all going - I will say right now you haven't seen anything yet. When word spreads as to the GM Volt and this message forum, interest will just explode in folks posting, arguments that will crop up, fantastic rumors that will spread (The Volt will be ready for sale by Christmas 2008!! ) and the like. I predict you will have your hands very full just managing the response. Happily for me, right now this is just underway, and therefore my post has a much better chance of being read!

That said, I'm sure that you well understand the incredible value of having intensely interested folks watching and commenting on the development of such an automobile. By the time the Volt actually IS ready for sale, pent up demand will be incredible. Gas will be so expensive that the Volt could (and should) break all records for numbers sold, pre-introduction. As for the value of this board, surveys can be run, and very important feedback gathered in advance of commitments made to production. Literally millions of dollars can be saved in making very informed decisions regarding usability, engineering, testing, etc.

Further, the marketing gained by such message boards can also be of great value. GM can and should be well positioned for helping the US economy and saving the world by reducing the carbon footprint on our city streets and highways.

But I'm digressing badly - back to the subject of this message...

With the value of this board for GM - wouldn't it be very cool if all of us members and early posters were to be eligible for some sort of discount on the Volt? Yes, I know it'll sell like hotcakes w/o that sort of thing, but offering even a small discount or other incentive for joining the board would be a great program for GM to get behind - and even that gesture would benefit GM in positive ways.

So consider throwing some of us a bone - it would get this board off to a roaring start, and again - the value you'll get back in insightful response will surprise you!

[Corey Crowley]

Railfanner -

When I finally sit down with GM, I will propose your idea. In the mean time, I am working on putting together a program by which all Volt enthusiasts can share their passion for the Chevy Volt even though it doesn't exist. This is going to include t-shirts, bumper stickers, lapel pins, etc. Just stuff for people to showcase their interest. Once I have these designed and built - I will generously splash them about to get this project off the ground.

If you have any other ideas for getting people to enjoy their Virtual Volt...please let me know. I don't know about you but I would rather talk about the Volt and wear a Volt t-shirt than talk about Britney Spears latest publicity stunt (I must admit, however, that I do like her new album).

THANK YOU for your feedback. I am honored that so many people are taking their time to comment on the site.

[Davepo]

You hit it on the head when you said "Virtual Volt"...unless there already is one that I haven't seen, it would be very, very cool to be able to do virtual tours of the Volt from your PC. I don't get excited about much, but I am going to be a Volt owner someday, that I am sure of.

When I had a Bimmer, I was in the BMW club...maybe there could be some sort of membership cards and dues to get publicity going...I dunno. I'll help however I can...let me know.

[mix]

I'm ready to trade in my Honda Civic and buy this car today. I'm hoping Chevy will roll out the volt and have swappable batteries (because of new technology) before 2010.

[Corey Crowley]

I must agree with the timeline of NOW instead of 2011. There is no reason Chevy couldn't take a current car body and refit it with an E-Flex design. All it is is an electric motor, battery, and small generator. I bet I could build one in a few of weeks based on a current car body. LETS GET GOING GM!!!!!!!!!!

[voltchallenge]

GM will again shoot itself in the foot by dragging its feet and let several other foreign car manufactures deliver the working plug in cars to the American public NEXT YEAR if not this year. By the time 2011 comes rolling around the market will be saturated by the other brands that it will not have a long production life. Why you ask--- GM has this absurd belief that the American Car Buyer does not want something small and economical or environmentally sound. My last attempt to purchase a hybrid Vue at a Saturn dealership in 2007 was quite interesting. The sales man did everything he could to talk me out of the hybrid Vue, telling me it is not worth it and I really would not get the benefit of the Hybrid unless I was going to keep it for more than a few years. I told Him that is what I really wanted and he told me that the gas mileage really was not that much of a difference from the regular gas engine. I then went to a Chevy dealership and pretty much heard the same story with one exception that the hybrid I was looking at was a Yukon and even with it being a hybrid the actual gas mileage wasn’t any better than 20 at best. HELLLO GM I am looking for 30+ MPG. There is a very limited array of GM cars that get that kind of gas mileage. If the VOLT were out now I would have three of them sitting in my driveway. When I called to GM to complain I was told that the hybrids were not really selling that well and that was why GM was focusing on the larger trucks like the Yukon and Envoy, Not selling well maybe because the deallership never has any on the lot or on order for you to even take a look at. I was told that the stock of 80 Vue hybrids sold in two weeks after delivery here in Columbus Ohio. There were not going to be any more delivered untill next year being 2008. Maybe thats why they are not selling well limited inventory.. Maybe!!!!! My Dad works for GM and I worked for GM and all of our cars are GM. But if they do not pull thier head out of the sand and get this thing to market now (who cares if the extended battery life they are looking for isn't available now) it will be to late for GM. Lease the batteries and when the new better battery comes out make sure it can be retro fitted into the THOUSANDS of other Volts as well as the three in my driveway that have already been sold sight unseen.