My Next Vehicle

Haven’t changed my needs/wants  but recent news is interesting.    Did a little surfing for info on the Leaf.   I have to agree with a lot of the comments – it is on butt ugly car.   Without any concrete cost info I played with numbers gleaned from different sources around the Web.  Assuming a $28,000 sticker price an leasing the battery at $120 – $150 per month after 10 years the Leaf will cost me around $44,000.  I’m assuming if there is an option to purchase the battery up front then the cost would be slightly less.  That number looks suspeciously close to the cost of a Volt before the tax break.  OK call cost a wash.  That leaves range and charging.  I really like the option of being able to charge at any 110/120 volt outlet instead of needing a 220 volt charging outlet.  Don’t get me wrong I would probably purchase the Volt’s 220 volt charging option just for convenience.  My concern is that even if I could get my employer to allow me to recharge at work, I’d have an issue with 220v at work.  (my employer is owned by a “major” oil and gas company and has been really quite about electric cares).  I’ve got a two car garage and we all know the wife’s car gets one of the slots.  Unless I want to be moving cars every night and morning, the Jimmy gets the second.  Looks like the Leaf or Volt gets charged while being parked in the driveway.  Not really comfortable with plugging in 220v in the rain.  Especially since water pool up right where I’d be standing when I plug it in.  Score car so far.  Overall range goes to the Volt.  Electric only range goes to the Leaf.  Quick charging is a tie.  Being able to use any 110 outlet – big benefit to the Volt.  Cost – not convinced yet but looks like a tie.  Might as well muddy the waters.  Every time you read anything about the Volt the comparisons to the Prius are brought up.  Tough comparison until we get some real world performance numbers on the Volt.  I notice today a couple of announcements/articles stating  that the Volt can go 104 MPH.  I can’t remember the last time I needed to go 100 or more.  Plenty of speed for me.  Sounds comparable to the Prius.  The big comparison is always the price.  Getting really tired of hear how the Prius is half the estimated price of the Volt.  I went to Toyota and used their “build your Prius” option.   I put the normal things on that I normally by – nothing fancy.  As I stated earlier – comfortable but not flashy.  Did it several times and every time I’m close to the same number – $33,000 before any tax breaks.    Score one for the Prius on raw price but not a big one.   Even at the current price of gas after 10 years the savings due to electric only miles almost covers the difference.    Still not a clear choice.  Looking like its going to take a while to get a clear choice.   More to come!

What do I need in a vehicle?

1.  I drive 30 miles round trip to work and back  5 days a week.  Our closest relatives live ~40 miles round trip from home.  My wife drive 60 miles round trip to work and back 5 days a week.

2.  I’m also on call which can result in a quick turn around (at home less than 8 hours) before having to return to work.

3.   We take 2-3 driving trips a year that are 250-300 miles one way.  There is also always the possibility of another hurricane and a forced evacuation.  The last couple of times we evacuated we had to go over 200 miles to find a hotel room.

4.  I also have a boat that some day I plan on using again so towing capability would be nice.

I have given up on the towing option with either a hybrid or EV.  To my knowledge towing is not a practical option for these vehicles at this time.  To that end, I guess the Jimmy will be kept as a second vehicle. The HHR is two small to safely tow the boat.   My daily drive should fit an EV or EREV.  The Nissan Leaf with a range of 100 miles would work.  The 40 mile range of the Volt should also be sufficient.  The occasional short overnight turn around could cause a problem with fully recharging.  My 2-3  driving trips (or hurricane evacuation) a year will be an issue with the EV.  Even if it had the range my typical destinations does not have the connections to recharge it.  The Volt would allow us to take the road trip and run on the range extender. With it having a 110volt charging option I would also be more likely to be able charge the Volt while traveling.   The other option would be to take the Jimmy.  Due to the low gas mileage (and age) I prefer to only use the Jimmy for short trips.  We could also take the HHR.  Bottom line is that as long as we keep one ICE either the Leaf or Volt would work.

I think I’m a typical or maybe the correct term is average car person.  I like cars but not a fanatic.  My first car was a 1976 Buick Skyhawk hatchback -  Jet black, white interior, 5 speed manual and a 238 cu. in. V6.  Yes, back before engine displacement was measured in liters.  I ran the tires off the car several times.  My next car was a 1981 Chevy S10 pickup – extended cab with V6 (3.8L?).  Drove that until it was totalled in a wreck.  Next car – 1989 Chevy S10 Blazer – 4.3L V6 with towing package.  Gave that one to my son when it had 135,000 miles on it and still going strong (until he totalled it in a 13 car pile up on the way back from college).  Then I bought my 2001 GMC Jimmy SLR – 4.3L V6.  Still driving this one as my second vehicle.  After the Blazer was totalled we purchased a used 1990 Ford Taurus (straight 6) from a family member for my son to drive.  That lasted about a couple of years before the constant repairs got to be to much.  We bought a 2009 Chevy Cobalt  coupe for him -  nice basic car for a college kid or someone just starting out.  He gets around 28 combined MPG.    I’m currently driving the Taurus because it gets around 21 MPG  combined ( around 75,000 original miles).  The Jimmy gets 17 MPG combined if I’m lucky (around 97,000 miles on it).  We keep it for hauling things and some day we plan on towing the boat again.   My wife drives a 2006 Chevy HHR with the high output 4 cylinder.  A nice little car for her daily commute – 26 MPG combined.   You can see I’m not a car “nut”.  I pretty much buy comfortable cars to get me from point A to point B – nothing flashy or exotic.   Bottom line:  After over a year of driving the Taurus, it is definitely time for a new vehicle.  It gets you from point A to point B but after almost 20 years the paint is bad, suspension is getting soft, all the rubber door and window gaskets are going bad.  Definitely got our moneys worth out of it.  I’ve started only fixing things that affect either safety or mileage.  I typically try to keep a car for at least 100,000 miles.  I’m hoping the Tauras will last until I can find My Next Vehicle.