There’s a local dealer selling a bunch of these cars. They seem to be previously leased ones.
All have a new battery with an 8 year and 100k miles warranty
Prices range from 15k to 20k
Mileage varies from 20,000 to 57,000 miles
Over 200 mile range
There are federal and state rebates bringing the cost down to about 7k to 10k.
Has anyone had experiences with this model from those years? What should I be careful about when checking these cars? I’m looking to get one for my wife to replace her gas vehicle.
This would be our first electric car.
It looks like they charge on Level 1 which should work in our garage since we only have standard outlets. Overnight charging would suit us perfectly since it won’t be driven much; it’ll be mainly for short commutes.
My Bolt is newer, but I read a review saying it’s quite simple. It feels like a regular car that’s electric, quiet, and has great torque.
Both Level 1 and Level 2 charging should work. I suggest getting a basic Level 2 if you can manage the electrical setup. Check if it has Level 3 charging capability; not all do. You can tell by the connectors if they are removable or not.
Overall, the Bolt is fantastic. It’s affordable and surprisingly nice for its price. I really enjoy mine.
I’ve had mine for almost 5 years and I’m happy with it. It’s fun to drive.
One thing I wish I knew is that the range drops in colder weather, not just from using the heater. It doesn’t affect me much, but I wish I was aware of it sooner.
@Scofield
How many miles do you lose during winter? How cold does it get where you live? I think it wouldn’t impact us much since it will mainly be a city car.
Grier said: @Scofield
How many miles do you lose during winter? How cold does it get where you live? I think it wouldn’t impact us much since it will mainly be a city car.
Maybe around 30%? It drops more if you use the heater. Our winters get pretty cold, near freezing during the day.
I mainly use it for short trips, so it’s not a big issue for me.
I have a 2017 model. As long as the battery recall has been addressed, it’s an amazing car. Very reliable too.
The seats aren’t the best, but I got aftermarket covers and added a strip of foam behind them. Now they’re pretty comfortable. Just keep in mind it’s not really meant for long trips. Fast charging was optional in the earlier models, so yours might not have that capability, but if it does, the 55kw charging can make road trips a bit tricky.
@Grier
Honestly, the only real maintenance is rotating the tires. There are no oil changes needed, and I haven’t had any issues with suspension parts so far.
I use it for my small business, and we really push the car hard, but it’s been very reliable (although we had an issue with our charging station recently, but I’m trying to get a refund for that).
My wife has a 2017 model with a battery replaced two years ago. It has 180,000km (115k miles) and we haven’t replaced anything except tires. It’s an amazing car.
I’ve been using Level 1 charging since I got my 2019 in late 2018. It’s a solid car.
In my experience, the slower DC fast charging isn’t a big issue, especially if you’re mainly using it for commuting. The difference in road trips compared to before isn’t significant for me.
When comparing the Bolt to more expensive models, you can definitely notice the difference, and tools like ABRP can help you see how much it matters.
DCFC means Direct Current Fast Charging. It’s the general term for what Tesla calls Supercharging. This method sends power directly to the battery much faster than standard Level 2 or Level 1 (like what you have at home). The Bolt’s best case is 55 kW for DCFC compared to about 7 kW for Level 2. You usually use AC charging at home and DCFC while traveling because it’s much quicker. Some people call it ‘Level 3’ charging, but that may not be completely accurate.
ABRP stands for A Better Route Planner. It was made for those who wanted better route planning than Tesla offers. You can enter your car type and it will help plan your trip, telling you when and where to charge. The web version is free, and with a subscription and ODBII dongle, you can run it in your car’s head unit, allowing for real-time battery monitoring. For example, if I want to go from my location to Las Vegas, I enter the route, and the car tells me where to charge. While it’s not as seamless as Tesla’s network, I find it incredibly useful.
I also use PlugShare for finding local charging options, preferring places like hotels with Level 2 charging available so I can start fresh the next day.
@Shay
Absolutely, Bolts, Leafs, and I3s are perfect as second cars. I wouldn’t want to take one too far from home unless I’m somewhere with reliable Level 2 charging.
I really like the Bolt! I ended up getting an Ioniq 5, but I seriously thought about the Bolt. I only chose the I5 because I needed more space and love its retro design.