[hopbackguy]

Yesterday, the Greenthumb chap came to scarify the lawn, and before he'd started, immediately engaged me enthusiastically about the Ampera sitting plugged in on my drive. He was really interested in the car, in fact he actually recognised the name and what it was! He's the latest caller to ask me all about the car over the last couple of months, having spotted the electrical cable, following the window cleaner, the odd job man, the central heating guy and a supermarket shopping delivery driver - though the first to recognise the car and know anything about it. The odd thing is that none of my neighbours have asked!

How many times do other Ampera/Volt owners find themselves on the doorstep talking about the car?

One other thing that has surprised me the longer I've gone on driving it is how little interest it sparks in other drivers and pedestrians - virtually none. I'm assuming that's because from a few feet away it doesn't look especially 'different'!

 

[REB]

Hello hopbackguy,

The last person I encountered to show an interest in my Volt was a neighbor and I did offer he and his wife a ride. His wife however is a right wing person so politics entered into it I guess as the next time I saw him about a week later he showed no further interest.

The other point is while I like the appearance and shape of both the Volt and the Ampera the design isn't too radical like the Fisker or to some extent the Nissan Leaf. By that I mean with the exception of plugging it in or someone noticing it going silently by at less then 20 mph they likely only hear the tires and just assume it is yet another new car.

Nice to learn at least some of the public is becoming familiar just what the car can do for day to day living and cutting air pollution.

Ross

 

[CliveS]

I must confess that I have found the complete opposite. Hardly a journey goes without the car attracting some kind of interest which ranges from straight head turning to comments such as "sorry I was staring but I haven't seen one of these before - what is it? Is is electric?" my wife tells me I'm becoming a complete bore explaining the mechanics time and time again. The other thing is that it doesn't attract just one age group. For instance the other day we were just going back to the car when the elderly couple in front stopped to comment on it to each other (another excuse for my spiel). We then went through the local Drive Through to buy a coffee and were prevented from driving off by a young chap holding a crash helmet who wanted to know all about the Ampera. I honestly could not count the number of times I have talked about it to complete strangers.
My experience is also born out by the majority of press reports on the car which invariably allude to the surprise at how much attention the car attracts. I'm sorry but I cannot comment on your neighbours!



CliveS

 

[hopbackguy]

That's interesting....complete opposite to my experience then. I guess that people are just a lot more blasé down here near Portsmouth

 

[dpeilow]

What colour is yours Clive? I had to use a silver service car for a weekend and I couldn't believe how much attention I got. In fact an entire pub at Oakhanger came out to see it. Black: nothing.

 

[CliveS]

I wondered the same thing, mine is pearlesant White. (I'm afraid I can't remember the official name)

CliveS

 

[Parax]

I think the white is the most noticeable version (the boomerang lights stand out the most) my grey gets some attention only yesterday the office window cleaners wanted to know all about it, and were quite shocked when I showed them David's mpg pic! also I had an odd reaction from a guy (modern hippy type woolly hat, dreadlocks) crossing the road in front of me (I was stopped at a t-junction) as he got half way across the road he noticed it and was like "Yeah, an ampera that's what I'm talking about" and gave me the thumbs up..
most days though the driving is uneventful I do notice sometimes there are a few head turns and points, I'm guessing its the car not me... well it didn't happen in my old car...

 

[Dave Mathers]

My car ( white) seems to attract most attention when parked and plugged in at my local Little Chef.On the road only the occasional look.

 

[hopbackguy]

Mine's Cyber Grey, so from what's been said maybe thats also a factor with the South Hampshire set - not noticeable enough!

 

[Andy McCrory]

Mine's a black Volt and I have not noticed any interest at all on the road.

I think the low speed silent running could be any hybrid, so no trigger there.
The Volt styling is not as extreme as the Ampera's either.

The only comment I did get in the wild was at a filling station where another customer asked me what the car was (I think because it looks a bit sporty), I then had a sureal conversation about the Voltec system while I was filling it up with Petrol!

Other comments I always get with new passengers is "Wow, this dashbaord is a bit blingy.".

 

[Duncan]

I've had a fair amount of interest when using public charging stations but otherwise it's just another car on the road (or rather, at the moment, off the road).

 

[MK AMP]

I get a lot of interest in MK when plugging in and charging, might be partly jealousy in my getting a free space. A few looks on the road, but more from the scraping of the front skirt!
6000 152mpg