It sounds to me like you already have your mind made up, lad! Go with your gut. Are you purchasing a new or used Bolt?

 

New one, so hoping to see the $7500 back as well.

 

@ladfromaus ,,,

Good Luck!! There is NO good answer here!! There will be some level of PTSD regardless!!

 

I'd find a way to keep the SS by getting the cheapest oldest possible used Bolt as a daily, garage/parking space and pride be darned 🤪

If the SS becomes a recreational weekend-only low-mileage car your insurance premium should drop a lot, you can also increase deductibles and waive the rental car coverage (since you have a second daily) and other things that will dramatically bring the premium down.

Being Australian, having a manual Holden Commodore in the states, and how these cars will only appreciate in value as time goes on, you will almost assuredly deeply regret selling the SS, especially if your work situation changes in the future rendering your parting with the car senseless.

If I were you I would do the above but of course it is ultimately up to you.

 

I'd find a way to keep the SS by getting the cheapest oldest possible used Bolt, garage/parking space and pride be darned 🤪

I guess a very important question would be this; is Georgia plagued with SS thefts at the moment? We aren't sure of OPs storage capabilities, so that is something to consider.

 

I'm going with post number 4...

 

I understand that it’s just not practical for many people to have an extra weekend fun car. In your situation, it sounds like a decent decision financially. You could sell it here but would you get over $43k? plus the hassle over just trading it in?

 

You could sell it here but would you get over $43k? plus the hassle over just trading it in?

That's definitely weighing on me as well. It'll be easier and I'll end up very close $$ wise.

 

 

For me the SS is my daily. It isn't an investment as I plan to drive it for 1,000,000 (s)miles. I was tempted a few years ago by the Bolt bug. My work also has free charging. So that would save me ~$3000 a year. But to me getting a new car at anything over $4000 a year doesn't have any rewards.
My wheel to wells cost to the earth is mostly in favor of me now. The SS, I lavish with preventative maintenance, is probably less than $1000 a year.
Even if I purchased a Bolt, off the lot, I'd still be just as meticulous with maintenance that I wouldn't really notice a change in cost of ownership.
Now if I got a diesel Cruise before the SS... I'd never would have looked back either. Lol

 

Ok, I think I'm going through with it. When the kids are independent, I'll find a another one (of the 74 uncrashed ones left by then) and, after draining my 401k for the astronomical prices, be at peace again. See, I knew I was gonna regret it even before I signed it over.

Thanks again for the thought insights, and the surprising lack of abuse ;-)

 

Don’t trade a SS on a bolt - good grief

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

It's a three pedal car, no one can drive it, so theft is not an issue....

 

That's true. When they we're assessing trade value took him 15 minutes to find someone to drive it.

 

Relative in El Paso sold his Caddie Blackwing CT5-V (wife still has the CT4-V manual) he had bought to replace the SS we had bought from him, and bought a brand new Bolt EUV. We had a chance to ride around in it, and was pleasantly surprised that it was not too bad as an electric city car, drove decently, with about 200-250 mile range. He got a good deal on it, with a rebate, an already low price, and I believe GM installed the charging system in the garage for free.

Of course, not an SS. Had decided that changing circumstances (Parkinson's) required something different, and the Bolt was quite suitable at it's price.

 

Of course, not an SS. Had decided that changing circumstances (Parkinson's) required something different, and the Bolt was quite suitable at it's price.

Thankfully my reasons for considering are not in the same league re seriousness, but I think I''m getting a pretty good deal. Discounted from MSRP of $33k, almost $3k tax savings, $7.5k tax credit (not deduction), and a check for just over $10k.

Put aside (with no great ease) it's a Bolt for an SS, and practicality and financially, right now at least, it makes sense. $22.4k all-in (after tax credit) for the Bolt out the door, and $10k cash in hand.

On the bright side, there's an SS coming up for sale in Alabama in the next few days.

 

Everyone has to do what they feel is best for their family. If you think the Bolt is better for you and your family, then you did the right thing.

I may personally think you're crazy for that trade, but it's not my situation.

 

Regardless of if we agree with it or not, everybody here should have the freedom to choose what they want to drive without fear of being heckled for it. Every situation is different. Some here know how to give a good ribbing in good fun, while others may occasionally take it to the extreme. I drive a Volt, I fill it with gas, and I rarely charge it. Why? Because it is good, fun, cheap transportation that I don't care about getting beaten up. My Volt is quick, certainly not SS quick, but she still moves!! I had to sell my SS because I changed jobs, took a pay cut (my choice), and I could no longer afford it. This economy sucks, and people have to do things sometimes that is the best decision for them in that moment.

 

Actually, the overall economy is pretty darn good if one has stayed somewhat out of the hole. Inflation is way down, gas prices are way down, unemployment is way down, jobs for anyone who wants one. Food is still up, for various reasons such as millions of chicken killed due to bird flu, but dropping. Part of the problem is the people who are getting big raises to counter existing inflation, but trouble is, that also causes inflation. Much of inflation is caused by worldwide problems, not just the US. Some we cannot control, such as the Trump imposed tariffs on imported goods, which most people buy lots of.

One thing we decided to do after we graduated from school was to pretend after we married that we were still very poverty stricken students, and saved all we could for several years, living on beans and franks, so to speak, and very old tired cars (which we kept), rather than celebrate our graduations by spending all of our new salaries immediately on the goodies our parents worked hard for years to get. We decided that we just didn't need them. Not into status symbols or other goodies.

We invested all of the early saved money in the general stock market and interest bearing funds, and let it ride for a few decades, rising with the general market and interest rates, not touching it at all. Esp, also carried no interest payments on credit cards. Doing all this planning ahead made for a decent nest egg for our retirement years, esp to cover any potential old age medical concerns.

Granted, more difficult now, but still...

can be done if early restraint is demonstrated.

 

The stockmarket is back 13% so it is stilll down 7% . That is good ??? Toys like my MR-2 Spyder , AC 351c Cobra , Caprice PPV , Mustang GT Coupe are dropping because of less money to piss away . That"s good ??? Who does your food shopping . ??? Gas is down because people are not driving, not because electric cars are taking OVER . Becuase the Economy is on the verge of tanking .

 

Have a trade offer of $40k on my black '16 6M with 44,3xx mls. Will save me just under $3k tax on a new Bolt (@$3k below MSRP). Wife's car would be our long tripper. I paid $40.3k all in, back in 2016. It doesn't seem like a bad deal.

That's seems to be a great deal, it's like you had a brand new SS for 7 years pretty much for free. Well $300 dollars plus gas. Amazing these cars are getting such good resale value especially with 44K miles on it. If you can get that same amount I'd sell or trade it for a used Tesla model S. That way you get your HOV lane access, electric savings over gas, and an even faster, roomier, better handling, sportier looking car than a Bolt.
I wonder how many people who got the 20% discount are actually making money selling their SS now?

 

If was anything other than black, red or white I would come get it right now. Save the hassle of trade in 😂

 

If I was from Australia the only vehicle I would own/drive would be an SS if I lived in the USA. Too good of a platform and too much of a sentimental connection being from Australia and all. But I'm from the USA and live in the USA and still would not part with an SS by choice, especially any SS with a manual and low mileage for the year. Sorry for your loss and perceived plusses for now I appreciate your convincing enthusiasm for your personal choice sir. But as @ESindon said you will regret this decision and I pray you will be able to live with it and still be happy when you look back on it. No offense okay, I respect and understand your decision. But, you did ask for our opinions, financial or emotional otherwise lol

 

Yeah, I'm in the cold dead hands crowd. And even though a pickup would be way more practical, it's not enough to out way the enjoyment this car brings with it. We always improvise, adapt, and overcome.

 

There is a VERY short list of cars I would trade my SS for. I intend to be the dinosaur that still drives V8s when everyone else is driving around in their EVs (or perhaps, stated more accurately, having their EVs driving them around). I could see myself trading for an Audi S7 or RS7 or a Cadillac CTS-V 3rd gen, but it has to be either RWD or AWD and have a V8 or a twin-turbo six at the least. I have a hunch the last combustion car I'll end up buying would be a Cadillac CT-5V Blacking.

Now, if I had to make a choice between a 4cyl econobox and a Tesla, I would take the Tesla all day, every day, and twice on Sunday. That's probably one of the reasons people in Europe seem to want EVs more than we here in America do. Big sedans, SUVs, and pickups aren't really a thing over there because of how expensive gas is. An EV would be a huge upgrade over a 4cyl, no matter how powerful said 4cyl is.

 

Interesting introductory post @soupmeat1 . Makes one wonder if you signed up solely to rant on a three year member simply because they happen to have a viewpoint with which you disagree. Certainly hope that is not the case.
Welcome to the forum -- I think.

 

I agree Mr. Pinetree