[Escherichia]

Hey everyone, I am getting ready to purchase my first EV, a used Bolt. I have looked at a few and so far none have worked out (most near me don’t have fast charging and I’ll need it for trips I make from RI to VA ~450miles each way). But I’ll be looking at another with all the stuff I want this weekend. I’m just wary of a few things a) it has 38K miles on it, which for a 2 year old car is kind of a lot, but not as bad as some near me (50-70K) and b) overall from the photos the car is in good shape but I can see that the leather on the drivers seat and the steering wheel is starting to wrinkle in spots (I added some pictures and circled the spots I‘m referring to in red). Is that normal for this car and is there a way to fix that up (have never had leather seats/wheel in a car before)? I live in RI so the battery warranty here is the same as in CA which is nice but I’m just wary of non battery component quality going from a Toyota to a Chevy, as good as the Bolt’s reputation is. Any other things I should look out for as far as wear on certain parts, etc?
Input from folks is much appreciated!

 

[Packard V8]

High miles in a short time can often point to use in Uber/Lyft or local delivery service; city potholes, continual opening and closing of doors and windows, the HVAC system in continual use when the car is waiting between calls, shifter being operated. JMHO, but I'd never consider one of those at any price.

If one could speak with the previous owner and be assured the high miles came from a single adult long daily commute, that's another less damaging use.

jack vines

 

[redpoint5]

Used from a dealer probably doesn't make sense... with the exception of some places like Oregon offering a $2k subsidy to purchase even a used car. New cars can probably be had for nearly the same price as whatever they are offering used after you factor in discounts and subsidies.

Aside from that, I would only buy private party because you can't get a sense for what type of owner someone was when buying from a dealer, and you won't have service records unless it was performed at that dealer... and you can get a much better deal private party.

 

[Escherichia]

Used from a dealer probably doesn't make sense... with the exception of some places like Oregon offering a $2k subsidy to purchase even a used car. New cars can probably be had for nearly the same price as whatever they are offering used after you factor in discounts and subsidies.

Aside from that, I would only buy private party because you can't get a sense for what type of owner someone was when buying from a dealer, and you won't have service records unless it was performed at that dealer... and you can get a much better deal private party.

Here in RI the best I can get a 2019 for is about $28000-$30000 when I factor in the things I need (dc fast charging and heated seats for NE winters), the used one is going for around $21K: way closer to my price range (I’m a grad student, not exactly swimming in cash so that $7-9K matters a lot more to me than most Bolt shoppers) the highest I could go without going over budget is 25K and that is really pushing it. There are also no private bolt sales in my area that I’ve seen in the last 3-4 months so that’s a no go as well.

 

[redpoint5]

I'd be looking outside RI then, because $21k for a used one doesn't sound great.

 

[GregBrew]

Hey everyone, I am getting ready to purchase my first EV, a used Bolt. I have looked at a few and so far none have worked out (most near me don’t have fast charging and I’ll need it for trips I make from RI to VA ~450miles each way). But I’ll be looking at another with all the stuff I want this weekend. I’m just wary of a few things a) it has 38K miles on it, which for a 2 year old car is kind of a lot, but not as bad as some near me (50-70K) and b) overall from the photos the car is in good shape but I can see that the leather on the drivers seat and the steering wheel is starting to wrinkle in spots (I added some pictures and circled the spots I‘m referring to in red). Is that normal for this car and is there a way to fix that up (have never had leather seats/wheel in a car before)? I live in RI so the battery warranty here is the same as in CA which is nice but I’m just wary of non battery component quality going from a Toyota to a Chevy, as good as the Bolt’s reputation is. Any other things I should look out for as far as wear on certain parts, etc?
Input from folks is much appreciated!

"...most near me don’t have fast charging and I’ll need it for trips I make from RI to VA ~450miles each way..."

Just a reminder for those that are considering new Bolts, without the DCFC port. It might bite you in the behind when it comes time to sell it into the used market.

 

[Escherichia]

Ya in this area there are a lot of Bolts for sale but very few with DCFC because those sell pretty well, dealers also seem to be catching on and the ones with it generally hold their value way longer (Less price drops). There is one without it in MA that is a great deal (19K for an LT with only 16K miles) but it’s been online for months now cause I don’t think anyone shopping used wants one without it.

 

[Escherichia]

I'd be looking outside RI then, because $21k for a used one doesn't sound great.

After looking at nationwide pricing on Bolts with the features I need, it seems that $20-22K is pretty reasonable for most Bolts, anything less than $20K I see has accidents or insane milage that is causing the reduction, I saw 1 in CA that looked ok possibly but that is a couple thousand miles away from me lol. Maybe I am using the wrong sites to look, but it seems that overall the pricing is pretty standard nationwide at least for DCFC equipped models. I’m not upset at the pricing I’m seeing, just wondering what people think about used Bolts in general, I’ve seen a few posts from folks who got them.

 

[PhilBo]

I don't know if this has DCFC or not. Located south of Boston. You may want to check it out.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/789593137/overview/?isShippableInsideSearchRadius

 

[chadzu]

Those wrinkles are perfectly normal and should not worry you.
I am a new owner of a used bolt myself. Mine had 57k on it.
So far my main complaint is that there is no soft place to rest my elbows on while driving. The arm rest on the door and the center console are not great.
That is kind of a minor complaint. So if that is the worst of it I will be happy.
I wish the bolt had the volt interior, but what can you do?
Quality of build seems to be just fine and I don't get the impression that it is going to fall apart.
I drive mine 85 miles a day and it has pretty much ruined me for anything else. Preconditioning is pretty cool,,,, or warm depending on your mood.

Hey everyone, I am getting ready to purchase my first EV, a used Bolt. I have looked at a few and so far none have worked out (most near me don’t have fast charging and I’ll need it for trips I make from RI to VA ~450miles each way). But I’ll be looking at another with all the stuff I want this weekend. I’m just wary of a few things a) it has 38K miles on it, which for a 2 year old car is kind of a lot, but not as bad as some near me (50-70K) and b) overall from the photos the car is in good shape but I can see that the leather on the drivers seat and the steering wheel is starting to wrinkle in spots (I added some pictures and circled the spots I‘m referring to in red). Is that normal for this car and is there a way to fix that up (have never had leather seats/wheel in a car before)? I live in RI so the battery warranty here is the same as in CA which is nice but I’m just wary of non battery component quality going from a Toyota to a Chevy, as good as the Bolt’s reputation is. Any other things I should look out for as far as wear on certain parts, etc?
Input from folks is much appreciated! View attachment 27488 View attachment 27489

I would not consider buying one without the dcfc option.
The expensive stuff has 8 year 100,000 mile coverage.

 

[davioh2001]

Missing info
Escherichia whats the price? Wrinkles= normal. NO DCFC = RUN AWAY (MAKES THE CAR NON USABLE NON RE SELLABLE EXCEPT AS A CITY CAR).

 

[davioh2001]

I've seen as low as 17,999 but it was one with 70K miles. Car gurus alerts.

 

[Escherichia]

I don't know if this has DCFC or not. Located south of Boston. You may want to check it out.

https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/detail/789593137/overview/?isShippableInsideSearchRadius

thanks for the suggestion, I’m not sure how I feel about Carvana and Vroom, something about buying a car I’ve never test driven online freaks me out a bit. Looks from looking real close at the pictures that it does have DCFC so I’ll keep it in mind if the one I am looking at tomorrow doesn’t pan out.

 

[Escherichia]

Missing info
Escherichia whats the price?

Marked at $21500 but the KBB fair purchase price is $20500 so I won’t pay more than that, up to them if they want to sell it lol.

 

[Packard V8]

Your opinions and results may vary, but please be aware they're not absolute or universal.

It's needs and wants. Several on this thread have the right to their strongly stated opinion some in large font bold type, a Bolt without DCFC is unsaleable junk. We bought ours without DCFC because we have no need for it and will never miss that feature. When BEVs get a wider buying public than we early adapter lunatic fringe, there will be a ready market for an affordable city car. That's all many need and want.

jack vines

 

[davioh2001]

Your opinions and results may vary, but please be aware they're not absolute or universal.

It's needs and wants. Several on this thread have the right to their strongly stated opinion some in large font bold type, a Bolt without DCFC is unsaleable junk. We bought ours without DCFC because we have no need for it and will never miss that feature. When BEVs get a wider buying public than we early adapter lunatic fringe, there will be a ready market for an affordable city car. That's all many need and want.

jack vines

To further elaborate - If I was younger and making a lot less money and HAD TO buy a 7-9 year old depreciated car 80k-100k miles on ODO; two hypothetical choices;
#1. Buy Used 2017 Bolt out of warranty with DCFC for say $15k (maybe by then they would go for $12K who really knows)?
#2. Buy Used 2017 Bolt out of warranty without DCFC+ the need to buy / insure / garage / maintain a 2nd longer range used gas car to take occasional road trips that most people want or need or at least THINK they need (Does anyone really think road trips on level 2 is realistic)? I have tried it and it is not efficient and not fun. It limits Your actually range to maybe 100 miles max or 150 miles at an overnight stop with a level 2. Even if I was retired and plenty of time on my hands I wouldn't want to do it! So unless You are in a rare Group that never takes a road trip or has extra cars sitting around or don't mind spending $500-$1000 on rental cars... Chances are You will want and need DCFC. Not having DCFC is like not having WIFI on a computer and being stuck with dial up lol.
... So to finally clarify my opinion is lack of DCFC would not make it unsalable junk but would cause 90% of the pool of potential customers to make a hard pass. As the owner of such a car I would expect it would take You a lot longer to sell and the price You sell at will be a lot lower than simply subtracting $750 off the sale price due to the lack of DCFC option.

 

[finallygoingev]

I think like buying a house, yes, you may never need it (or move), but just might as well get it in case and as mentioned, resale value...DC FC isn't even an expensive option.

 

[davioh2001]

I think like buying a house, yes, you may never need it (or move), but just might as well get it in case and as mentioned, resale value...DC FC isn't even an expensive option.

I realize GM is just a large corporation trying to make a lot of bucks. I also realize for marketing purposes they have to keep msrp low by stripping out important equipment like DCFC. Too bad they couldn't have made it standard and increased the sticker price around $400 or so. That decision would have made it so much easier on dealers and customers. I imagine there will be at least 1 person who will join the forum in the next few years that will be upset when they find they bought a used one without the expected DCFC.

 

[p7wang]

I intended to be able to make long distance trips so only considered the models with DCFC. With DCFC, I can reasonable drive up to 500 miles a day then let it L2 charge overnight at the hotel. Without DCFC, I would be limited to 200-250 miles a day... costing you time (days) and money (hotel stay). You make back the $750 option price in just 1 summer road trip.

 

[Evansaero]

On 9/1/19 I bought a certified 2017 Bolt Premier 60k here in Southern California for $20k before TTL. No ding, dents, stains or leather issues. Over 2000 miles on it now and I've become a Bolt thumping believer

The item that has the most wear/tear is the front camera from what I assume is road debris at highway speeds. It's completely useless... Run your finger across it to feel for pitting.