Dave Gill Chevrolet

I purchased a Chevrolet Bolt (EV) from Dave Gill Chevrolet this past weekend. I can't begin to tell you how pleased I am. This has been the very best car buying experience I have ever had. In my lifetime, I have purchased five new vehicles. This is my 6th new vehicle purchase. The dealership went out of their way to get me the vehicle I wanted from another state. They did a trade of vehicles with the other dealership. I suppose they could have said, "Sorry, we can't (or won't) do that for you." But they didn't do that. I wanted a certain color and features and it was not a problem in the least. They went the extra mile both literally and figuratively. Every single question I had about the vehicle was answered. And I had a lot of questions because what I was shopping for was an electric vehicle. I was able to take the Bolt for a weekend to really get a sense of how it drove and handled, the range and charging from a three prong outlet and so forth. I brought a Kill-o-Watt meter with me to the dealership and I was able to plug it in to get a sense of how many watts the car would actually draw at an 8 amp and at a 12 amp rate. The finance experience was handled quickly and efficiently. The paperwork was prepared in advance. What I requested was accommodated to the extent that it was in their ability to do. The business manager shopped around for the best rate and that included GMC finance company as well as other banks. I was not offered add on items that they knew I would not be interested in purchasing. That saved their time and my time. There was no pressure to purchase the vehicle. I actually brought the competitor's vehicle (a Nissan Leaf) back to the Chevy dealership and compared the two vehicles literally side by side. That was not a problem in any way. There was a recall on the vehicle I purchased and the situation was beyond the control of Chevrolet. The problem was remedied without question before I took possession of the car. One thing that was a significant help to me is that the dealership gave me a "charge point" info packet so I could explore where charging stations were located in my state. I knew in advance of buying the car that I could easily travel to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Detroit, Louisville and Indianapolis but further range (i.e., driving the car across the country or to Tennessee or Colorado or Maine) would likely not be possible given the present state of charger infrastructure. This is a commuter car. I asked questions of the service department such as cost of the battery and the labor entailed for replacement, I asked 240 Volt charger questions regarding purchase and installation. The dealership has referrals of electricians who are skilled and familiar with charger installation. I asked tire and rim questions. I asked questions and questions and questions. They stuck with me in getting answers. I brought my dog with me to the dealership - a very large yellow lab (friendly and well-behaved). He is part of my family and he had to fit in the car or I wasn't going to make the purchase. This was not a problem. They offered me water or coffee and they offered my dog a fresh bowl of water too. (At another dealership, the dog was a problem and I am sure they are regretting that stance because I was a serious buyer.) I am coming from a "foreign vehicle bias" -- so the transition to a Chevrolet and to an electric vehicle is a significant shift. In some ways this is a leap of faith. The Bolt is a very expensive vehicle. And I really, really like this car! and the dealership where I purchased it! I don't mean to be "sexist" with my comment which follows: As a woman, I would tell other women - you can go to this dealership without being taken advantage of. You don't need to take a man along with you to buy a car. You will be treated with professionalism and respect. If you are a man, you will also be treated with professionalism and respect. I think the price I paid was fair. The vehicle I purchased is not the "typical auto purchase" so a comparison of prices is a little more difficult. Not all dealerships sell the Bolt. I believe only 1% of the vehicles sold in the USA are electric vehicles. I am taking the Federal tax credit into account with the price of the vehicle and I am also taking into account savings in gasoline and savings in maintenance. There is a bigger picture involved in an electric car purchase. Dave Gill has made the investment in a 480 volt fast charger system and they are committed to the electric car market. I can come back to the dealership any time during business hours and use the fast charger. I will have one installed in my home as well. I have peace of mind knowing I have a fast charger located close to home. The sales associate went over the vehicle with me in painstaking detail. (Again I asked a slew of questions.) He made sure I knew the vehicle's features and how to operate everything. I took notes (literally). It isn't and wasn't complicated but it is unfamiliar in comparison to every single other vehicle I have owned in my life has been a gasoline internal combustion engine car. He had the patience of Job. I imagine I wasn't the easiest of clients but perhaps I was training for the next client who comes to the dealership who is transitioning to an electric vehicle. The dealership is located in an area that is not the best of areas. When I left the car I had driven to the dealership so I could do the weekend test drive of the Bolt, they were careful to have me park my own car behind the fence and security gates. My own vehicle was/is a top steal for parts -- so I was very grateful for the extra caution and consideration. I could go on the test drive knowing my own car was safe over the weekend. The staff at Dave Gill are friendly, down to earth and practical people. These are salt of the earth type of folks. There were no airs or pretension on the part of the staff. I was very well treated. I can't say enough about the Dave Gill dealership. I would recommend them without hesitation.