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Good 2020 Bolt Review

8K views 57 replies 24 participants last post by  Fivedoor 
#1 ·
#12 ·
I'm looking at $33,900 for Premier and $30,066 for LT, both with the pretty much equivalent equipment - Comfort and Convenience (std on Premier), Driver Confidence (std on Premier), Driver Confidence II, and DC fast charging. Premier forces you into the Bose stereo to get Confidence II. I would then get the $1875 tax credit, $2000 from the state of CA, and $1000 from the electric company. So, a net of a bit more that $25k for the LT, without all the tax, tag and fees, which would add up to all those credits. Overall, not a bad deal.
Trying to decide if I want to go for one, or wait a year until the Standard Range Model Y is available. And - hoping the federal tax credit gets extended next year. That would be great news for GM and Tesla. I can't take advantage of a full $7500, but about $5000 worth, which would be helpful.
 
#14 ·
I'm looking at $33,900 for Premier and $30,066 for LT, both with the pretty much equivalent equipment - Comfort and Convenience (std on Premier), Driver Confidence (std on Premier), Driver Confidence II, and DC fast charging. Premier forces you into the Bose stereo to get Confidence II. I would then get the $1875 tax credit, $2000 from the state of CA, and $1000 from the electric company. So, a net of a bit more that $25k for the LT, without all the tax, tag and fees, which would add up to all those credits. Overall, not a bad deal.
Trying to decide if I want to go for one, or wait a year until the Standard Range Model Y is available. And - hoping the federal tax credit gets extended next year. That would be great news for GM and Tesla. I can't take advantage of a full $7500, but about $5000 worth, which would be helpful.
It's too bad you couldn't pull the trigger before 2/3. My state offers no incentives. Only a few municipalities and utilities offer any assistance.
 
#25 · (Edited)
A short review for the 2020
We leased ours with the huge discount GM is offering. Essentially I expect to pay for the lease with the money i used to spend on gas. Anyway, at times, I am sorry I didn't buy it.
What I don't like:
  • the car skids easy. I was surprised (panicked) to see the car not stopping while emergency braking from 70 MPH. It just continued forward like a sled. i noticed the tires squeal in slow turns also. I saw the issue being brought up in an Edmunds review.
  • Seats. Yes the seats. I am sitting on my thighs. But everyone else in the family is ok. I place a folded towel on the seat to fill in the middle.
  • radio - sometimes the radio starts by itself at car startup. Sometimes the sound only stays on for a second or two, sometimes the music continues until turned off.
  • Horn chips. This one is so annoying... I arrive at home 11:30 at night. I come out of the car, the door closes and car uses the horn to tell me I forgot the key in... Sometimes it chips for a reason I cannot identify. I am really thinking of finding the connector and disconnecting the horn.
  • The wifi connection is only for updating the infotainment unit.
  • The My Chevrolet App is slow and won't get updates from the vehicle unless refreshed. The app does not always work (mostly does not) via Apple Car Play. It just spins.
  • There is a Find charger function, but it's pretty useless. No navigate to charger option. No trip planning charger to charger.
Save for the tires concern, which can be a safety issue, the rest are minor.
We love this car. I had my Tesla M3 friend drive it and they were surprised how easy it was to just drive, without getting a PhD in Tesla interface. They called it intuitive. They also liked the seat up position. The M3 is very low, indeed.
I thoroughly enjoy the one pedal driving.
No rattles, nothing. Very well put together.
I would buy again and again. I am actually thinking of buying a second one. I'd like to add a tow hitch for bike carrying.
 
#28 ·
Yes, i stand corrected on the rear speakers. They are in the doors. I took a trip in the back seat and I couldn't hear the sound there....
OK. On the horn, I found the place in the settings where I could turn it off (and I did) but I think it's not fot the key left in the car. it's still doing it. i think it is doing it even for the charge port open, in some situations.

Thank you!
 
#33 ·
The settings area is a bit of a maze sometimes. Just go one by one until you find everything and you should be able to get rid of the horn beeps (i only have mine set to go off when i leave the key in the car; but never otherwise does it beep, so i figured out how to turn them all off).
As for the radio, i have learned to just put the volume to 0 before shutting off the car. If not, it will always start with it on; every **** time. I mean, it still starts with it on, but 0 volume means i dont realize it.
 
#31 ·
Thanks for that great article. I pretty much agree with the author's findings. I have a '19 Bolt which I bought in July. Perfect except for having to replace a tie rod which caused a squeaky steering wheel in cold weather. It took three tries with the dealer before they finally diagnosed and fixed the problem, with help from GM Tech Services. They did try hard, and I had shuttle service to and from my door every time.
I do find the ride can be a bit harsh over bumps. But probably not much different than a sports car. The pickup is equivalent to my old Porsches and BMWs ( I always bought them used). Very helpful getting on the highway and part of the fun factor driving the Bolt. And it's completely quiet!
I do wish the top half of the windshield wasn't so dark at night with normal headlights. I asked about that at the dealers, but they haven't been able to do anything. It's not dark at hi beams.
As for kwh consumption, agree the summer is about 300 miles range, winter in the 230-260 range, depending on temperature. Mild winter so far in SE PA.
If you drive 4-5K miles per yr like I do, simple level 1 charging in your garage overnight works fine, as long as you don't take 300 mile trips.
With electric engines, you can keep the car parked in your garage for a week or more, and it starts right up and is ready to go. My battery mower is like that, too. I didn't use it for a year, and it started right up like it was used yesterday. Not so with gas engines.
GM has a winner. Impressive from an ex Prius owner for 11 years.
 
#32 ·
My wife leases a 2017 Bolt Premier and has enjoyed it thoroughly. It's due back soon, and we've been trying to decide whether to purchase a 2020 Bolt or make the jump to the Tesla Model 3. I love lots of things about the Tesla, but I don't think my wife would really care all that much about the added features. In general, a hatchback works better for us, and I know my wife likes a high seating position.

Shopping around my area (Nebraska), I've found several 2020 Premiers available, and I've been able to negotiate a price of $30,800 out-the-door (not including sales taxes or licensing fees) on one ($13,500 off MSRP). This seems pretty good to me. I've told the dealer I'm willing to write a check for $30k today for this car, and am waiting a response now. Does this seem like a good price today?
 
#38 ·
My wife leases a 2017 Bolt Premier and has enjoyed it thoroughly. It's due back soon, and we've been trying to decide whether to purchase a 2020 Bolt or make the jump to the Tesla Model 3. I love lots of things about the Tesla, but I don't think my wife would really care all that much about the added features. In general, a hatchback works better for us, and I know my wife likes a high seating position.

Shopping around my area (Nebraska), I've found several 2020 Premiers available, and I've been able to negotiate a price of $30,800 out-the-door (not including sales taxes or licensing fees) on one ($13,500 off MSRP). This seems pretty good to me. I've told the dealer I'm willing to write a check for $30k today for this car, and am waiting a response now. Does this seem like a good price today?
I like the Tesla 3, but the Bolt has a more comfortable seat for me. Hopefully the Tesla Y will have better seats.
 
#43 ·
Not only with the Bolt, but with other new EVs, it seems like the discounts are generally not as generous in Tucson or Phoenix. I tend to just go straight for asking the out-the-door-price, and I keep in mind this does not include interest on a loan, and then this usually ends the conversation for me. Usually the final numbers are a few thousand more than what I read from other parts of the country on these boards.
 
#44 ·
You can buy one in California and avoid CA sales tax if you take possession outside of the state. You or the dealer will have to arrange transportation to the state line. I did that in 2005 anyway. I was living in Colorado but all the hybrids at the time were being shipped to CA.

The dealer physically drove the car with dealer plates to the state line (did not trailer it) and I met him at the NV state line casino who also had a notary. (Guess they do that a lot.). I signed the final paperwork and took the keys in front of the notary for like $25 or something. I had to get the dealer back home as part of the deal so my mom who lived close to the dealership drove him back to So.Cal while I headed east with a 5 day transport pass.

That was 2005. Today I'm surprised you can't buy one on Amazon and have it be delivered to your door.
 
#46 ·
Thanks for the info, interesting how you did this.

This is a possibility, but I'm not sure I'm quite this adventurous. It seems somewhat more likely that I'll prioritize not having to go through all that. I'm still very unsure. It's a very strange market, because there will be such a significant change in the number of good new models available in a year or two, and then after that, a few years down the road, I'm hoping some of them come down in price enough in the used market so that I can better afford one.
 
#50 · (Edited)
slate grey and it was the LT but it had every options chevy offers for it on it. i still cant figure out why chevy is offering so many deals. I mean they came so far down on the price it was almost a warning sign to not buy it. Like what is wrong with this car that they are trying to move the inventory so quickly. Still a little nervous about that. lol
 
#52 ·
I think that either battery prices that GM pays have fallen, thus allowing better deals, or soon the upgraded 2021 model will be advertised and the current model won't be very appealing in comparison, so they are trying to clean out the inventory. But, it seems a bit early for the 2nd case, so I'd go with the first: lower GM build costs allows a lower selling price, more inline with the perceived value.
 
#53 ·
If that is the case, then they need to drop the MSRP rather than selling with huge discounts. They can punch other EV manufacturers in the face with a vehicle featuring 259 miles of range and $30,000 MSRP. But a 259 mile range EV starting at $36,000 MSRP selling for $27,000 looks like desperate clearance measure rather than "we are doing great".

If they could get the MSRP on the LT down to $25,000 they wouldn't just punch other EV manufacturers in the face, they would light the EV world on fire... discounting a $36,000 LT down to $25,000 and nobody would notice other than people in the market who are already considering a Bolt.

Keith
 
#57 · (Edited)
Looks like the first significant price break was at 4 years. So, maybe the 2021 Bolt will see a price drop.

Bolt Sales per GM Authority:

................ US.......................Canada..............S. Korea..................Total
2017...... 23,297.................... 2,122 ................... 570 ................... 25,989
2018...... 18,019.................... 2,628 ................ 4,580 ................... 25,227
2019...... 16,418.................... 3,624 ................ 4,171 ................... 24,213

US sales have seen a continuing, significant decline, though Canada has been increasing.
 
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