[Ma v e n]

Using the best filters, fluids and parts you can will help.
Using top tier fuel should be considered mandatory. High octane highly recommended.

Use the manuals recommendations but you should be changing the brake fluid every 2yrs/60k in my opinion, and I wouldn't let the trans fluid go beyond 100k in an auto. I think the manuals severe duty recommendations are overkill for a highway commuter, as this should have you changing trans fluid every year.(if you're okay with this expense, it's obviously not detrimental, but a trans fluid exchange is typically the most expensive bit of maintenance on this car and doing one a year at 45k is definitely overkill)

It's hard to beat Mobil 1 or Pennzoil Platinum for a Walmart/parts store oil change. Consider Amsoil if comfortable buying online(or if you have a local distributor) and getting used oil analysis done to keep track of fuel dilution and make sure running 12-15000 mile or longer oil change intervals. I'd stick to 7500 miles max on the UPF64R ACDelco filter and change it out during the course of any extended OCI routine you adopt. It's a good filter, it's less than $5 online, and there is still confusion/unclarity regarding whether or not any of the aftermarket filters available actually meet all of the filters specs.

 

[Ma v e n]

I solely use Chevron gas, but I have always gone with regular (not premium). I've been a bit paranoid that not following the standard fuel requirement will leave me with a dusty black cloud on my bumper by the tail pipe...but I have read it helps with engine "ping" though that's not something I'm experiencing so far.

I fuel up almost every other day. The extra 20-40 cents per gallon adds up and I'm still unsure how helpful it'll be in the long run?

At 45,000 miles per year, 35mpg, reg @ $2.75 and premium @ $3.25 you're looking at $12/week extra in fuel. You may actually find that you get improved mileage with 93 octane fuel.

Also of note is that in Europe and other markets, the recommended fuel for the 1.4T is 95RON fuel, roughly equivalent to 91octane. Additionally GM has (kind of quietly) been petitioning to get the USA to use just one grade of fuel....95RON. They don't want there to be regular (85-87 octane ) mid grade and premium anymore, and have to deal with the issues it causes, additionally they report increased fuel economy and reduced emissions on cars with 95RON as the required fuel compared to 87 as ok.

 

[Ma v e n]

Trade it in for a Bolt EV.

Or don't...Until GM makes an EV that isn't ugly as fcuk.(and there is sufficient EV infrastructure and vehicle tech to allow trips that exceed battery capacity not take triple or more time than in an internal combustion vehicle.)

 

[Ma v e n]

It's a commuter beater that's going to rack up 45k a year. Who cares what it looks like? And depending on other vehicles the household owns, a BEV isn't a bad purchase for a commuter car when there are other gasoline/diesel vehicles in the household for long-distance trips. This person has the opportunity to entirely eliminate their reliance on fossil fuel for their ultra-commute and reap substantial savings.

There's no savings to be reaped, definitely not substantial ones


I know very few people who would consider a $30k+ car a beater.
I know no one who would purchase a $30k+ car they thought was ugly just because it was for their commute.
If I'm buying a $30k+ vehicle it's going to be my only vehicle.


A Bolt with no options except for the DC charge option is $38,245. Tax credit drops to $3750 April 1. So $34,495. Home charger is easily $1000+ installed in my area, so $35,500. A Cruze LS w/convenience package is $20,995, less $1,500 rebate puts you at $19,495.
A $15,500 difference.

45,000 miles at 35mpg =1285.7gallons annually.
1285.7 gallons @ $2.75/gal =$3535.71
$3535.71 x 5years = $17678.57
$17678.57-$15500=$2178.57 more for Cruze....So far.

45,000miles x 5(yrs)= 225,000miles
225,000m / (28kwh/100miles)= 63,000kwh. 63,300kwh @ $.12/kwh=$7.560
Chargepoint says $1.18/50miles for a public Chargepoint useage. Or $5,310
We'll split the difference...$6,435
$6435-$2178=$4,257 more to purchase and power a Bolt than buy and fuel a Cruze.
30 oil changes = $1500
5 air filters = $200
5 trans flush= $1250
4 spark plug service= $500
Total= $3450 (the remaining maintenances are either same or more money on Bolt, well ignore them for this though as the point is made.)

Bolt still Over $800 more. Even after 225,000 and assuming equal cost for non scheduled maintenance and breakdowns.

So best case scenario its a wash, and you essentially just financed thousands more than you needed to.

 

[Ma v e n]

Only 87 my car ever saw is the 2 or 3 gallons it was built with. 93 since the very first fillip during new car prep with 2 miles on odometer.

 

[Ma v e n]

Obermd:
I did mention that the maintenance needs I didn't list were the same between the Bolt and the Cruze, this includes the maintenances you list. However, the Bolt doesn't use the same trans fluid as the Cruze, it uses Dexron HP, and the Cruze uses Dexron VI. The fluid is twice as much, but the 1ET uses half as much as the 6T, so it's a wash.

You're mistaken regarding coolant usage as well, the two electronics and battery cooling systems use a total of 11.4qts(10.8L), and require a Dexcool premix. You'll also very likely find getting the cooling systems and trans service on the Bolt to more expensive and less convenient than a Cruze. Fewer places should be trusted to do the work and it will be more expensive.

And if you get into needing EV specific repairs, and component replacements that price gap and service location gap massively widens.

EV are the future, and it's coming. But it's not yet ready for prime.time for the average consumer. It's still very much the time for diehard early adopters who have strong feeling on the need to electrify I and are willing to make notable sacrifices to do so, and the time for those with serious disposable.income to add a unique extra vehicle to the stable.

 

[Ma v e n]

The liberation from fuel stops....Eh, when I stopped commuting in my 16mpg Silverado and switches to a 42mpg Cruze I didn't notice any feeling of liberation from only having to fill tank once a week as opposed three times. Additionally, if I have to stop for a snack and leg stretch, fueling is a perfect reason and isn't something I would skip even if I could.
And while it was a silly commercial, "range anxiety" is a real thing. I hate when my employer sends me on road trips in a Bolt. I dont like being beholden to charging stations that could charge for 4hours to make sure I can make a 2 hour drive.

 

[Ma v e n]

Tax credit drops to $3750 April 1. So $34,495.

There is still a while until 01APR2019 that someone purchasing a new Bolt EV can get the entire $7,500 tax credit. Some people who get the entire $7,500 can’t use all of it because if you aren’t already in a high enough income bracket to owe that much to the IRS, you don’t get it refunded. It’s hit-and-miss for some potential purchasers.

Still, that puts a new Bolt EV at $30,745. That’s the price if you can’t find a Bolt EV without additional discounts. My local Chevy dealership had one on their sales floor for at least 10 months that they couldn’t sell it, so they had it marked down below MSRP. When I was shopping for my Cruze I briefly considered the Bolt EV but I just couldn’t get the math to work because I don’t qualify for the full $7,500 tax credit.

That’s a $11,250 difference if the purchaser qualifies for the entire tax credit available until 31MAR2019.

Five years of fuel makes the price difference -$6,428.57 using your estimated fuel costs. With the services you listed, it’s -$9,878.57.

Using an electricity cost of 5¢ per kWh ($3,165 for 63,300 kWh of electricity if you exclusively charge at home) brings that back to -$6,713.57

Almost $7,000 in savings is substantial. If the purchaser is like me and can charge for free at their workplace, it’s almost $10,000 in savings.

There's only a tad more than 2 months til the credit halves,, that's why I went with the lower number, and later this year it halves again, and in a bit over a year it'll be gone. You could get a stripped Bolt, or you may be stuck with a loaded $44k version.
I can go down the street right now and purchase one of probably 10 Cruze LS for $16,500. Or I could get a Premier for less than $25k. My RS Redline Hatch was $19000. $.12/kwh is national average. It may be high, but $2.75 is too, there's 15 states were regular is $2.0X or less, national average is only $2.24 currently. And much of the service bill could EASILY be notably lower. I tried to pick fair numbers in both directions. And an all highway Cruze could potentially beat 35mpg by a notable margin as well.

The point is if you don't have "free" electricity, the Bolt isn't a money saver. One should really question whether free electricity is sustainable or desirable, we didn't even touch on what happens when you brake down 200 miles from the nearest Bolt certified shop...Or the fact that most significant Bolt accidents result in a total loss, or the fact that if you've gotta go out of pocket for EV system repairs that you could be easily dropping $12-15k. And of course it eventually comes back to....I think it's ugly and wouldnt pay for one. Neither would many other people....As evinced by it's sales.

 

[Ma v e n]

My electric was 12.49c from August to December, and this month just dropped to 12.35c. Signing up for a 36 month plan would enable you access to about 11.5c.

There are ChargePoint public station at a Kohl's 35miles away, and a bank of half a dozen or so 6.6kw chargers in Atlantic City. Besides those the only others in my area(a 50 mile drive within NJ)are the ones installed at dealerships. The BMW dealer would likely get real pissy if I started charging my Bolt there, read that as I might be able to do it once, and hopefully find something to do for a couple hours while it charges before I got banned from.Group1 automotive properties LOL

And installing solar panels and a battery Bank to do it the job "free" wouldn't work either. You can't get "free" solar installed in my area unless the array produces less than 105% of your average usage.