Thinking of selling in the new year...

[gnafuthegreat]

This is a bit premature, but it's on my mind so I figured I'd put it out there. Apologies if this is inappropriate, but it looks like others have posted "FOR SALE" threads in the past at least . TL;DR: I'm interested in selling my 2014 Spark EV sometime in the spring for its trade-in value to someone who will appreciate it.

I bought a 2014 Spark EV in June, and I love the little guy. I'm a fan of small cars to begin with, and a friend with a Bolt convinced me (or really, just driving his Bolt convinced me) that the future is electric and the future is now. The Spark was the only EV at a price I was willing to pay at the time (excepting Leafs with trashed batteries), and I am so glad I found one in my state of Wisconsin. It doesn't have DCFC, but it's perfect for my 21-mile round-trip commute to work and for getting me to surrounding towns in the North Woods that have Level 2 charging. Range in good weather is 65+ miles; range now in the winter has been ~45 miles. Seems to have between 13.5 and 13.8 kWh of usable capacity left.

All that to say, I am itching for more range and flexibility but it's not yet time to replace the main family Honda CR-V. I'm looking to replace the CR-V with an Equinox EV, but that's probably still two years away. In the meantime, I'm drooling over the reduced price of the 2023 Bolt EV and thinking I can afford it if I trade in my beloved Spark. I don't have room for three vehicles unless I park one outside, and that ain't happenin'. It's just me and my wife; no kids.

Therein lies the rub. How can I part with this amazing little car knowing it is such a fun piece of automotive history? Y'all know what these things are and what they represent. The 2014 is extra special to me with its LiFePO₄ battery pack, and I want to know whoever owns it next will appreciate it for what it is. I don't want to trade it in only to have it go to someone who doesn't "get it" and lets it rot, or worse have it end up junked or recycled. "It belongs in a museum!"

If you've read this far, you might have already been where I am now. Maybe you traded in your own little slice of EV heaven for a larger beast of burden. But if any of you have the garage space and the interest, maybe one of you who had one and let it slip away, I'm interested in selling my 2014 Spark EV sometime in the spring for whatever GM would offer for a trade-in value. If you're at all interested, please let me know and I'll keep you in the loop as I think this through and watch for dealership inventory.

I am in Barron, WI--so, up in the North Woods--but I could get the Spark into the Twin Cities or down to Eau Claire if there was serious interest. The previous owner took great care of this car and I've tried to do the same, but one thing I should note is that it has a "Lemon Law Buyback" branding on the title from its time in California. The story I was given was it had a door rattle that GM fixed but the first owner still refused the fix and they had to buy it back. I've had zero issues with the car and the previous Wisconsin owner claimed he had zero issues as well. Take that as you will, but it did make it harder to convince my credit union to finance the loan (they still did).

Whew! Feel free to leave a note in this thread or send me a private message. Thanks for your time.

 

[RSC]

Watching this thread. I'm in a similar situation. I have a deposit with the dealer on a 2023 Bolt EUV yet to be built, and won't have room in the garage when it arrives. The Equinox EV is just too big, and I'm too old to wait for a more reasonably sized Ultium successor to it.

There are a couple of deficiencies for us that the EUV would correct. One, we live about a thousand feet uphill from town, and since we can't set a charge level, we don't get regen on the downhill trip. Two, I like to drive out to some of the local trailheads about once a week, and many of them are out of range and over Forest Service roads that the Spark EV's ground clearance can't handle. Not that the Bolt EV would be a high clearance vehicle, but it could make it when other ordinary sedans could. Otherwise the Spark EV has been great around town, and for the right buyer it would be great for them too. The only thing I've had to do on it is to replace windshield wiper blades.

I think there's a deal effective after the first of the year where there's a $4000 tax credit for used EVs, but I think it has to go through a dealer. I don't know much about it, though.

 

[gnafuthegreat]

Watching this thread. I'm in a similar situation. I have a deposit with the dealer on a 2023 Bolt EUV yet to be built, and won't have room in the garage when it arrives. The Equinox EV is just too big, and I'm too old to wait for a more reasonably sized Ultium successor to it.

There are a couple of deficiencies for us that the EUV would correct. One, we live about a thousand feet uphill from town, and since we can't set a charge level, we don't get regen on the downhill trip. Two, I like to drive out to some of the local trailheads about once a week, and many of them are out of range and over Forest Service roads that the Spark EV's ground clearance can't handle. Not that the Bolt EV would be a high clearance vehicle, but it could make it when other ordinary sedans could. Otherwise the Spark EV has been great around town, and for the right buyer it would be great for them too. The only thing I've had to do on it is to replace windshield wiper blades.

I think there's a deal effective after the first of the year where there's a $4000 tax credit for used EVs, but I think it has to go through a dealer. I don't know much about it, though.

Thanks for joining the conversation! I remember reading about an older tax credit on used EVs, and I am pretty sure that one only applied to dealer-sold cars. We'll see what the new year brings .

One thing about your hilltop situation: have you tried setting a departure time later than you plan to leave so the car only charges to 80% or so? I regularly set mine to a departure time 1-2 hours later than I plan to unplug so my battery's only at 80-90% when I know I don't need maximum range. Now in the winter I set a 9:00 AM departure time when I know I'm leaving for work at 7:30 AM or so, and the battery is a bit over 90%. Of course, that all varies depending on your capacity and charging speed.

 

[RSC]

As far as the hilltop situation, I'm retired and don't have a regular departure time. The car will often sit for several days, then one of us will decide to go out at a time that really can't be predicted.

I know that I could unplug the car at a desired charge level, but this would detract from the trouble-free aspect of driving electric, and I like to leave it plugged in during triple-digit temperatures in the summer.

 

[gnafuthegreat]

I thought that might be the case, and of course it makes perfect sense .

 

[NORTON]

.... but one thing I should note is that it has a "Lemon Law Buyback" branding on the title from its time in California. The story I was given was it had a door rattle that GM fixed but the first owner still refused the fix and they had to buy it back. I've had zero issues with the car and the previous Wisconsin owner claimed he had zero issues as well...

Mine had the exact same title issue, it was called a Buy Back "due to customer satisfaction", not a lemon, as I remember. Some how, bought it and financed thru a local Ohio bank the dealer recommended, because my Credit Union would not finance a 'lemon' car. But then a few months later my CU allowed me to refinance the car thru them and somehow my title did not have anything about 'lemon' on it.
Long story, short, I bought it in '15. Bought a '17 Bolt in LA for a song when lease returns were everywhere in '20.
I won't say the price... .
She drives it.

I changed jobs and have a 80 mile round trip.
The Spark EV was sold 3 weeks ago and I bought a '10 Prius, level 5, w/ATP, 124k miles. I had money to spare after the sale and purchase.
The Spark EV had 98k miles and only one failure that was such a gm clusterferk. But only costs me $200 for the repair.

The '14 Spark EV is unique!
That A123 battery pack and it's the first EV with the CCS port for DCFC!

 

[wiseguyz23]

If I were you, I'd sell your Spark NOW. I just sold mine to Driveway for $11,127. Carvana is now offering $8500. They offered $10,500 just a month ago. The Spark's value is tanking.

Luckily, I got a Bolt EV just today. I ordered it in December and I just completed my paperwork and took delivery today. It's amazing. I love it already.

IF you can find a Bolt, now is the time to get the tax credit while it qualifies until March. Good luck finding one, though. Find a good dealership that won't mark it up like mine... but it's going to be hard.

Good luck!

 

[RSC]

If I were you, I'd sell your Spark NOW. I just sold mine to Driveway for $11,127. Carvana is now offering $8500. They offered $10,500 just a month ago. The Spark's value is tanking.

Luckily, I got a Bolt EV just today. I ordered it in December and I just completed my paperwork and took delivery today. It's amazing. I love it already.

IF you can find a Bolt, now is the time to get the tax credit while it qualifies until March. Good luck finding one, though. Find a good dealership that won't mark it up like mine... but it's going to be hard.

Good luck!

The Bolt EUV I ordered was produced as of yesterday, so I sold the Spark yesterday to the local Chevy dealer yesterday for $9000. I had to take the offer, since I didn't see how I could get this kind of deal much longer. We'll just have to get along with a single car while we wait on shipping. I hope the Bolt EUV arrives by March.

 

[Degiverthe]

That is what I suspected, and it makes total sense, of course.

 

[KerekesOrmos]

This is a bit premature, but it's on my mind so I figured I'd put it out there. Apologies if this is inappropriate, but it looks like others have posted "FOR SALE" threads in the past at least . TL;DR: I'm interested in selling my 2014 Spark EV sometime in the spring for its trade-in value to someone who will appreciate it.

 

[gnafuthegreat]

I'm happy to report that I still drive my 2014 Spark EV nearly every day, but now we have a 2021 Bolt that has replaced our CR-V! It feels good being a 100% EV household, but now I'm looking to get something like a used Ioniq 5 to become our main car with the Bolt moving into the Spark's place. I don't have a timeline for selling it, but let me know if any of you are interested in a 2014 Spark with ~80% of its original range that's still in great shape.

 

[REvans2001]

Location? Miles? DC fast charge? Price?

 

[REvans2001]

This is a bit premature, but it's on my mind so I figured I'd put it out there. Apologies if this is inappropriate, but it looks like others have posted "FOR SALE" threads in the past at least . TL;DR: I'm interested in selling my 2014 Spark EV sometime in the spring for its trade-in value to someone who will appreciate it.

Location? Miles? DC fast charge? Price?

 

[randa1724]

Sorry to barge in. I recently bought a GM buyback 2021 Chevrolet Bolt Premier also. I have a 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV Lt1 for sale also. 39,000 miles. DCFC. It originally came from Oregon. I live in Eau Claire, Wi. I am asking $8,000. Thanks Randy

 

[coolcat]

I'm happy to report that I still drive my 2014 Spark EV nearly every day, but now we have a 2021 Bolt that has replaced our CR-V! It feels good being a 100% EV household, but now I'm looking to get something like a used Ioniq 5 to become our main car with the Bolt moving into the Spark's place. I don't have a timeline for selling it, but let me know if any of you are interested in a 2014 Spark with ~80% of its original range that's still in great shape.

We have one 2014 Spark EV and for the right price I'd be very interested in picking up a second one. I live near Milwaukee and currently my son drives our Spark daily (school commute to MSOE weekdays, to work on weekends). Definitely send me a PM when you're ready to sell so we can see if the timing works out for both of us.

 

[randa1724]

I have a 2016 Chevrolet Spark EV for sale. It is a 1LT. It has 39,000 miles. It has DCFC. It is white in color. I am located in Eau Claire, Wi. I am asking $8,000. Randy