Thinking to lease the Spark or ??

[SteveC5088]

Once we figured out exactly what we wanted and were willing to pay, I started calling dealers and asking, can you get me this exact car for this price. Most said no, one said yes (I quit calling after the yes). I gave the salesman who I went for my original test drive with an opportunity to match, he could not so I went with the other dealer. They had to trade to get one with the DC fast charge, but they found one at another dealership.

Mine was a purchase and I anticipate still having the vehicle once the compatible DC fast chargers are more prevalent, but that will probably not happen for a few years.

My method was to get online at cars.com, and I searched the entire state for the blue, 2LT, no fast charge options I wanted. There were very few. Most were listed for the same price (fast charging option was 750 more). I found Penske Chevy in Cerritos had one for about $600 off, so I started dealing with them -- phone calls and then email.
I has to wire cash for the deal -- my credit union did that for a $20 fee. I then rented a UHaul dolly, drove the 200 miles in my (ugh! gas hog) Suburban, and picked up the Spark EV. They would have shipped to my house, but that would have cost me about $100 more than the gas and UHaul rental.

It took about 2 hours at the dealer. Biggest hitch is they spelled my name wrong on the legal papers.

Anyway, I recommend cars.com and other online websites to find the right Spark EV.

_______________

 

[nmikmik]

Oh, that picture is priceless Steve

How does it feel going from Suburban to the Spark?

I found what I want but that's too far N Cal. shipong don't make sense and I don't have the Suburban...
Hate settling with something I don't want. The alternative would be ordering the 2015, but I am not so sure about the battery been not the same and under the GM production. Sucks that I kind of trust one failed company more than the other.

 

[nmikmik]

Oh, that picture is priceless Steve

How does it feel going from Suburban to the Spark?

I found what I want but that's too far N Cal. shipping don't make sense and I don't have the Suburban...
Hate settling with something I don't want. The alternative would be ordering the 2015, but I am not so sure about the battery been not the same and under the GM production. Sucks that I kind of trust one failed company more than the other.

 

[SteveC5088]

Oh, that picture is priceless Steve

How does it feel going from Suburban to the Spark?

I found what I want but that's too far N Cal. shipping don't make sense and I don't have the Suburban...

Re: Priceless--
Thanks. It was a fun drive. Made me feel like a trucker. ;-)

Suburban vs Spark: Each has its place. Da Moose sits parked most of the time. I loan it out to folks that need a 9-passenger vehicle occasionally, and I use it whenever there is something to tow or I need something big at the hardware store. But the Spark is so much more fun to drive!!

Shipping: Why doesn't it make sense? Ask the dealer where the car is to check into shipping. You're not going to buy a new car very often, so getting the right one is worth the trouble/expense, IMO.

 

[nmikmik]

Shipping: Why doesn't it make sense? Ask the dealer where the car is to check into shipping. You're not going to buy a new car very often, so getting the right one is worth the trouble/expense, IMO.

It doesn't seem they are really excited about trading vehicles to begin with. But to ship it it's even extra cost. If I'd be buying/financing the car, not much of a difference compare to a total cost, but on the leas it does.
Another thing is that most of the ones left have quite a bit of miles on them. That's understandable, these probably been driven a lot before they get sold.

 

[nmikmik]

I found one in Costa Mesa and bought it.
White 1LT with QC, I am somehow sure it was not free, but let me tell you....
Car was charged to about 48mi at the dealer and I didn't want to wait till the full charge since it would take hours and still would gate me home "on fumes". On the way home stopped at the Quail Hill mall station by 405. It took me awhile to figure out that plug has to be very precisely aligned with the receiver on the car, then DC charge went on fine. Took about 15-20 minutes to get my car from 48mi to 82 It wasn't cheap at $5 a charge, but still very impressive.

 

[Chocula]

I found one in Costa Mesa and bought it.
White 1LT with QC, I am somehow sure it was not free, but let me tell you....
Car was charged to about 48mi at the dealer and I didn't want to wait till the full charge since it would take hours and still would gate me home "on fumes". On the way home stopped at the Quail Hill mall station by 405. It took me awhile to figure out that plug has to be very precisely aligned with the receiver on the car, then DC charge went on fine. Took about 15-20 minutes to get my car from 48mi to 82 It wasn't cheap at $5 a charge, but still very impressive.

Congratulations! I hope you love it as much as we love ours. You are now the only person that I know of who has quick charged a Spark.

 

[tigger19687]

I found one in Costa Mesa and bought it.
White 1LT with QC, I am somehow sure it was not free, but let me tell you....
Car was charged to about 48mi at the dealer and I didn't want to wait till the full charge since it would take hours and still would gate me home "on fumes". On the way home stopped at the Quail Hill mall station by 405. It took me awhile to figure out that plug has to be very precisely aligned with the receiver on the car, then DC charge went on fine. Took about 15-20 minutes to get my car from 48mi to 82 It wasn't cheap at $5 a charge, but still very impressive.

Do you mind telling us what the sticker was ?

 

[nmikmik]

The sticker says $28,245