Going from a wagon/hatchback to a sedan...
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Anonymous
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Please tell me I will get over it and used to it!
I've driven 'sport wagons' (aka Jeep Patriot and Chevy HHR) for over a decade. I'm used to those little cars with lots of visibility! I need a newer car with better mileage for my long commute, and after realizing that electric-only is not practical for me at this time, I started looking at plug in hybrids. I came to the idea that the Chevy Volt is a contender, since they are available in my price range of 20k, and I have liked all my Chevys (a cavalier, an Astrovan, the hhr) over my lifetime. I went to test drive it and was suprised that I didn't immediately like it! It is nicely sized and has a large cargo area (it's actually a hatchback that looks like a sedan) but I'm not used to not having a big window in the back. It also didn't help that I thought the seat was low, as I am short, and the salesman didn't adjust it up until after I mentioned it after the drive. After I left without buying it (and driving a prius, didn't like, and looking at a ford cmax) I was driving home and thinking, maybe it felt so weird because of what i am used to? Would I get used to it? If you've driven both wagons and sedans, what is your experience? I want to like and buy this car because it would save me about 2/3's of my gas consumption! |
Anonymous
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Well I clicked on this link ready to tell you that wagons/hatch backs are superior to sedans in every way. I drive a sedan for 5 years after exclusively driving hatchbacks my entire life, and never got used to it. Just got back in a wagon and I’m so much happier.
Maybe look into Subaru? I think they do hybrid versions of all their vehicles and lots of hatchback options. I’d try to stick with a hatchback! |
Anonymous
| I switched to a sedan 3 years ago after 30 years of hatchbacks, wagons, and small crossovers, and I'm very happy. What I found when I was car-shopping is that trunks can be surprisingly huge and that seating position varies tremendously in ways that aren't predictable from the outside of the car. You really need to test drive a bunch. |
Anonymous
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Subaru Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid.
Great vehicle, high clearance. |
Anonymous
Subaru only has one EV and one plug-in hybrid. In fact, they’ve really pissed off long time customers by saying they are not expanding EV and hybrid options in the US. |
Anonymous
OK but why can't OP get their EV or plug-in hybrid? The point is that most of Subarus vehicles are wagons/hatchbacks, so if you like that type of car, it might be good to look at their hybrid/EV options. Also, are you sure that is true? I've seen a ton of Subarus in my neighborhood with the "EV" label and I'm pretty sure they've included Outbacks, Forresters, Cross Treks, maybe even Imprezas? Did they stop making EV versions? |
Anonymous
Nope, you’re wrong. Maybe you saw some other badging. But the Outback, Forester, and Impreza only come with ICE engines. Vast majority of Crosstreks are ICE. The Crosstrek PEHV is very nice, but not cheap ($35K). The new Subaru Solterra is an EV built in conjunction with Toyota. Subaru only started delivering these to buyers in the last 2 months. Hard to get, long waiting list. That’s it. The Japanese dropped a ton of money in battery manufacturing in Japan and will be at a price disadvantage due to Biden’s infrastructure bill, which only gives a tax rebate if you build the battery in the US. Imho, Subaru is basically giving up on the US market. |
Anonymous
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OP here-last time I went to the car show (a big city in FL) in 2019, the salesstaff at the Subaru booth told me they weren't selling plug in cars in my state. Of course, that could have changed since then. But looking at my local dealer's site-they have none. I also found zero used plug ins, which is too bad because that crosstrek looks like a car I'd like.
I think I will go drive the Volt again this week. I may also stop by a Chevy place and look at the Bolt (thanks Chevy for the rhyming names!) which would be new, but maybe with a tax credit might be doable. Not sure I'm ready for electric only, but that car is a wagon style. |
Anonymous
| Op, what did you think of the c-max? I have a hybrid one and love it. Great mileage, and a nice size. |
Anonymous
Unfortunately, I didn't get to actually drive it because the battery was dead! But I googled that the battery is 20 miles on the charge and then 38 mpg gas. I was so overwhelmed at that point and since it didn't run, I didn't look closely at it. I'll look at it again if i go back this week. I'm online tonight reading up on Chevy Bolts (as opposed to Volts) and gosh with the tax credit it really might be worth it to buy new. I'd have to have the charger installed at my parents' house as I rent. And public chargers are...not a thing...where I live (in the outer exurb of a big city) I think my head is going to explode with this decision LOL meanwhile the 12 year old, 255k HHR runs like a top hahaha |
Anonymous
| We have an SUV but usually rent hybrids on vacation. Our last rental was an Accord Hybrid and I was surprised by how much I loved it. It also fit all of our stuff (4 people) pretty well. |
Anonymous
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Former Volt owner here. It's older technology. Go with a Bolt if you can -- note it's all EV, not a hybrid. Bolts are a great option price-wise, since Chevy had trouble selling them.
You can charge using a regualr wall outlet if you have a place to plug in overnight, since that takes longer. |
Anonymous
My hybrid (not plug-in) c-max is 6 years old and I average 43 mpg with it. |
Anonymous
| You could check out Volvo? |
Anonymous
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OP here-after coming to the conclusion that there is just not a charging infastructure where I am-and along routes I would travel-I decided against the Bolt for now.
I went back to Carmax with my seat cushion, adjusted the set well and I felt comfortable in the Volt! It's pretty neat to drive. And it's eligible for a $4k tax credit for used hybrids in 2023. So it's in my garage, charging  Hoping for a long, happy life for it!
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