A
Anonymous
Guest
So, I'm in the market for a used Chevy Spark EV.
I have EV experience in the form of a leased 2014 smart ED that I'm returning this June. Love the vehicle, love the throttle response, the acceleration, just everything.
I'm considering getting a Spark EV with the fast charge option only as my next vehicle.
Problem is, this vehicle is rare in Florida.
Carmax has none listed in the state. Closest from them is in Texas. The rest are pretty much all in CA. They cost $1000 in transfer fee from CA just to get to Florida. Yikes
There is a shady used car dealer near Miami, some 200 miles from where I live that has three 2014 Spark EV, only one of which appears to have the fast-charge option (and isn't even on their lot yet, still in transfer from CA).
Another option is some dealers up north along the east coast. I'm going on a road trip to Ohio in May and could swing by in Maryland, the only east coast state which ever sold the Spark EV. Driving the vehicle to Florida would be an adventure in itself, as the network of CCS chargers isn't quite contiguous between Maryland and Florida for an 82-mile range car.
I'm still unsure about the difference between the 2014 and 2015 model years. I realize the battery capacity shrunk from 2014 to 2015, but the economy improved too at the same time for a net zero difference. Gear ratio changed. Unclear on what that did to performance, economy or range. Which one is the better model? If I'm worried about battery replacability in the future should I look at the 2015+ model years only, since the company that made the batteries for the 2014 model is no longer?
All in all, what are some good tips for checking out a used Spark EV? What should I look out for? How can I estimate the battery's capacity?
I have EV experience in the form of a leased 2014 smart ED that I'm returning this June. Love the vehicle, love the throttle response, the acceleration, just everything.
I'm considering getting a Spark EV with the fast charge option only as my next vehicle.
Problem is, this vehicle is rare in Florida.
Carmax has none listed in the state. Closest from them is in Texas. The rest are pretty much all in CA. They cost $1000 in transfer fee from CA just to get to Florida. Yikes
There is a shady used car dealer near Miami, some 200 miles from where I live that has three 2014 Spark EV, only one of which appears to have the fast-charge option (and isn't even on their lot yet, still in transfer from CA).
Another option is some dealers up north along the east coast. I'm going on a road trip to Ohio in May and could swing by in Maryland, the only east coast state which ever sold the Spark EV. Driving the vehicle to Florida would be an adventure in itself, as the network of CCS chargers isn't quite contiguous between Maryland and Florida for an 82-mile range car.
I'm still unsure about the difference between the 2014 and 2015 model years. I realize the battery capacity shrunk from 2014 to 2015, but the economy improved too at the same time for a net zero difference. Gear ratio changed. Unclear on what that did to performance, economy or range. Which one is the better model? If I'm worried about battery replacability in the future should I look at the 2015+ model years only, since the company that made the batteries for the 2014 model is no longer?
All in all, what are some good tips for checking out a used Spark EV? What should I look out for? How can I estimate the battery's capacity?