How to: Buy a New Volt for Cheap?

I know we have a few Chevy Volt owners on the forum and I have a question for you about the buying process when going for a new one.  My fiance is currently driving a 2013 Volt, so we've bought into the concept.  But today I caught a post today on the truth about cars that I thought was too good to be true, but I might be wrong.

The heavy depreciation is a bit misunderstood in my opinion. My Volt, with a $35,455 MSRP was discounted over $9k with a purchase price of $26,305. After federal tax credit of $7,500 and another Massachusetts state rebate of $2,500. This car was $16,305 plus TTL.

I found a slew of similarly priced Volts just over $26k and once I started tacking on the rebates this looked like it might be worth trading in the original Volt for a new one.  How does the loan work out with these rebates involved?  I'm trying to do the math so I know what I'm up against for payments.  

• Base Cost
• (-) Federal Rebate
• (-) State Rebate
• (-) GM Rebates (if any)
• (+/-) Trade-in vs Current Loan
• (+) Sales Tax

I also saw a few references to $3,000 'private offers' from Chevrolet which are said to be sent out at random.  I'm curious how to get on that list of interested buyers.

Income tax credits come at tax time, and do not affect the purchase price or loan amount. 

State discounts carry be state as to how they are applied. For instance, since Washington doesn't have income tax, they waive sales tax on up to $32k of the sale price. So yeah, we can save up to another ~$3200 on the it the door price. But other states may do an income tax credit similar to the feds, or something else entirely, if anything. It's pretty easy to look up what/how your own state does it.

No idea, but if you figure it out, let us know. 

Wasn't there also a post on here a few weeks back regarding the Nissan Leaf with similar discounts? Something like $12,000 after all rebates/discounts. I know the Leaf is a pure EV and the Volt is a hybrid but it is amazing some of these prices......if they are true. 

I'm also very interested. Looking at used volts for $13k so a new one at $16k would be a shoe-in. I did notice that a lot of the $26k volts on cars.com said that price was "with the $7500 tax credit" so I suspect there are some shenanigans going on there. Not all dealers said it but the others might be just hiding their shadiness more. 

The federal tax credit applies until a manufacturer sells a certain amount of electric or hybrid vehicles right? I think the threshold is around 200k new vehicle sales and then the amount of the credit is cut in half for a period of time, and then cut in half once more until no credit is left. Anyone have any idea how close GM is to meeting that threshold?

It looks like GM had sold 126,xxx vehicles as of January 2017 (the most current data I could quickly dig up), so time may be running out to get the full tax credit on a Volt:

https://www.pluglesspower.com/learn/forecasting-the-sunset-of-federal-tax-credits-for-evs/

I'm interested in this as well. There doesn't seem to be any good info on how to get on that $3000 private offer list. I've signed up for updates on the Bolt and Volt. We'll see if that helps me.

There are a ton of Volts sitting on lots right now. Q4 should see some deep discounting. 

I don't think that GM is at immediate risk of losing the $7500 tax incentive. This year they have sold 11,670 Bolt EVs and 13,895 Volts through August. 

Feedyurhed said:

Wasn't there also a post on here a few weeks back regarding the Nissan Leaf with similar discounts? Something like $12,000 after all rebates/discounts. I know the Leaf is a pure EV and the Volt is a hybrid but it is amazing some of these prices......if they are true. 

$22,500 off a new Volt.

https://durangoherald.com/articles/145521 

Given my thread about the Bolt (as in Boy someone in Chevy marketing needs a stern lecture), this is something I am interested in. If I can get a Volt down to a tolerable purchase price, this might be on the menu. 

My volt was $30k OTD including TTL (MSRP $34,995), minus $7.5k federal tax credit, and $2k PA grant, so $20.5k final price.  That was 3 years ago, and GM was only advertising a $1k rebate at the time.  Just have to find a dealer willing to deal.  I happened to find one that was, and I was going to be in the area (3 hours away) for 2 days only.  They were about $2k higher until the morning I was leaving and then said if I came in that day they would do the deal.  Every dealer in my area was about $4k higher.

In reply to Nitroracer :

Buying any car at a steep discount requires the patience of a saint and the persistence of a flea. 

First never go into the dealership until the deal is done.  

If the dealer doesn't have what you want don't waste your time.  Shop only from someone who does.  Don't worry the warranty is the same if you buy it one place and have it serviced someplace else. 

Ask for the best deal possible and shop dozens of places even if they have a color you hate. Use the lowest price as leverage. Buy the color you want. 

After your initial contact use the lowest price to get a better price

ABC has one at.......  can you beat it?  

Thats only round two. Expect to go around several times before the best and final offer is made. 

Now the hard part have them send you a signed quote, signed by the manager .  

With that in hand now is the time for your first visit. If they will honor it, good finish the deal

if not, if they want to add something or charge you for something not spelled out in the offer  get up and walk out. 

Chances are they will back down but there are some real hardballs out there.