Reply #52: "You're comparing Aston Martin to GM..." LOL!

[MindPilot]

I started by writing "Corvette" and then I thought as long as I'm dragging out the hyperbole, why not go all the way? :D

I see your point about the possibility--however remote--of GM getting something right. In this case they probably came closer to getting it right than they had since the '56 Nomad and I firmly believe that the possibility of that kind of success scared the hell out of them. "Oh shit, we have a product people like! How are we going to justify firing workers and offshoring plants now?"

I also see your point about it not being the ideal family sedan. It's not--or more accurately--wasn't nor did it try to be. But neither is a Miata, S-2000, Mustang, Corvette, Viper, Ranger pickup, or the Nissan 240 I drive. It's not like automakers haven't ever supplied a niche market before (note the aforementioned vehicles). Hell any of the big three could build an electric in one corner of the factory and make money one it or at least not lose too much.

No it's not for everybody, but then what vehicle is? I'm a single guy, no kids and all of my driving falls within the range; it would be the perfect car for me. One disadvantage that I haven't heard discussed is people who don't have access to off-street parking so they can hook up to the charger.

Don't know if you saw the movie or not, but demand certainly wasn't an issue. I attempted to get one in '98 I think it was. I didn't know which GM dealers were handling them so I wandered into a Cadillac dealer to ask to get on the waiting list. They gave me a number to call, I did, left a message, and never heard back. If GM had put half as much effort into selling the EV as they do producing commercials telling me I'm a bad American because I live in the city and don't drive a full-size Jimmy, they likely would have sold a lot more of them.

The bottom line is it didn't get a chance. So it's a pricey sports car today, five or ten years of development, it could easily be a roomy four door sedan or even an SUV.

And to answer your question about as much sense as it does to build something that uses so much gasoline that when it hits three bucks a gallon, no one will be able to afford to drive it? Oh wait they already do that.