New Toad

[JamieGeek]

Ok instead of trolling other threads I'll just put some info here: We picked up a new toad (well ok it will be my daily driver, but since its dolly towable we'll probably take it camping as well).

A few months ago, on vacation, we rented one to check it out (more info here: https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com...k-with-a-bolt/ ). I liked it so much I picked one up.

I haven't taken it to the scales (yet) but GM's specs says it weighs in at 3583 lbs (our Escape is about 3500lbs and the C-Max is 3800lbs) which should be easily towable by the Axis (especially since it tows the C-Max like nothing is there).

Some more thoughts on it from my blog: https://spareelectrons.wordpress.com...ugin-a-bowtie/

[rvfigs]

The front end has some nice aggressive lines. Overall, they did a nice job with the design. I do see some European design elements...reminds me of the VW Gti.

Congrats. Looks sweeeet!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Congrats big time on buying Made in America by an American owned company!!!

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Congrats big time on buying Made in America by an American owned company!!!

Well considering I've been purchasing Ford for quite some time...I've always bought made in America--especially since the last two Ford's I drove where built about 3 miles down the road from our house, and this Chevy was assembled about 30 miles from our house (The battery and motor assembly, however, do come from South Korea).

[The Gritz Carlton]

Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.

I have family who works for Ford--they refused to go to the Chevy dealer with me (Jokingly I think )

[The Gritz Carlton]

The battle will go on forever but all survives. While Chrysler is still assembled here, they are no longer an American owned company...down to the Big Two.

[Bob Denman]

Well that sure is a pretty Toad!
Congratulations, and the best of luck with it!

http://www.thorforums.com/forums/att...1&d=1528287247

[Mr Sunshine]

Sweet ride, looking good! Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to a longer term review.

[petefoss]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Have a very close friend that works for GM...Every vehicle I buy is ordered and delivered through Al Serra. Now I drive a Ford 550 chassis but we're still friends...I think.

As an active GM employee when I bought my 31W last fall, it's weird to drive a Ford!

[The Gritz Carlton]

Do you know Hugo Leonardi with GM? And yes, my wife reminds me every time we get in the coach..."in 1993 you said you would never own another Ford". At this age, I've developed quite an appetite for Crow!

[jabrabu]

I recall that the goal to make an EV practical was for it to go 200+ miles on a charge and cost less than $30K, and have some decent cargo capacity. Most people thought that Tesla would get there first, so it's pretty cool that Chevy was the first to achieve this.


(The Bolt costs over $30K, but after rebates/incentives can get under $30K.)

[petefoss]

My issue with an EV for a toad is the extra tow weight. Since most of the time you are towing it vs driving it, I would rather have a similar sized conventional vehicle.

[petefoss]

FYI on the 7500 tax credit on EV, do your homework. We had quite a few Volt owners who got bit by the AMT and couldn't take the tax credit. If you lease an EV, the credit is added to the residual value so you get the benefit regardless of your tax situation. On my wife's Gen 1 Volt, that took the lease from 500 to 300/month.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by petefoss

My issue with an EV for a toad is the extra tow weight. Since most of the time you are towing it vs driving it, I would rather have a similar sized conventional vehicle.

Weight doesn't really change the mpg of the RV as does wind resistance. In this case the Bolt is narrower than either our C-Max or Escape so it may actually yield better mpg. In any case its close enough to the weight of our Escape to not make that much of a difference.

[cvflowe]

Nice Bolt! Do you have to do anything special to tow it? For example, disconnect battery?

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by cvflowe

Nice Bolt! Do you have to do anything special to tow it? For example, disconnect battery?

When towing with a dolly you have to disconnect the - terminal of the 12V battery (according to the owner's manual):

Tow the vehicle with the two rear wheels on the ground and the front wheels on a dolly.
To tow the vehicle from the front with the rear wheels on the ground:
1. Put the front wheels on the dolly.
2. Shift the transmission to P (Park). See Shifting Into Park P 206.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Secure the vehicle to the dolly
5. Follow the dolly manufacturer's instructions for preparing the vehicle and dolly for towing.
6. Release the parking brake.
7. Turn the vehicle off.
8. Open the hood.
9. Wait two minutes.
10. Disconnect the negative (-) terminal connector from the 12-volt battery.
11. Close and latch the hood.

Might have to install a knife disconnect on the - terminal of the Bolt!

The interesting bit in there is the "wait two minutes" must have to wait for some module to time out and power down automatically.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Weight doesn't really change the mpg of the RV as does wind resistance. In this case the Bolt is narrower than either our C-Max or Escape so it may actually yield better mpg. In any case its close enough to the weight of our Escape to not make that much of a difference.

With a little bit of a "tail" out back to smooth the airflow: it might even improve your aerodynamics a little bit.
(Versus driving your rig, without having it in tow.)

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Bob Denman

With a little bit of a "tail" out back to smooth the airflow: it might even improve your aerodynamics a little bit.
(Versus driving your rig, without having it in tow.)

Oh yeah the Axis does drive a bit better with a car back there--have pulled a toad for at least 5k miles now.

[JamieGeek]

Decide to take a little spin in the RV trying to see how much gas I can burn with an EV!? (I know--what??)

Waiting the required 2 minutes before disconnecting the 12V battery's negative power cable.

Yes an EV still has a 12V battery, and here is what it looks like under the hood (you can see I've added a knife disconnect switch on the battery at middle right).

All disconnected, on the dolly ready to go.

Lets go for a drive.

Taking it for a good 5 mile spin which included about 2 miles on the highway. All was well--it rode and tracked back there just as good as our other cars.

That is until about a mile away from the storage lot....BANG...bang bang bang... sigh. Turns out it wasn't the car--our newly replaced valve extension on the driver's side decided to let go. When I got back to the storage yard I discovered it flopping around in-between the two wheels with the end crushed (ok I'm now down one TPMS sensor...sigh). Fortunately the office at the storage lot was open. This will be taken care of on Monday (by which time the driver's side inner tire will be flat).

The other funny thing: Once the battery is disconnected and the car all locked up--there is only one way to get back in: You have to dig the key out of the fob and open the door the old fashioned way LOL.