The Volt Garage

[jayoldschool]

OK, WTF? My Volt tops out at 28 in the winter and tops out at 36 in the summer.

1. Up your tire pressure to 45psi. The car rides better, and mileage will immediately jump.
2. Drive slower.
3. Shift to L when slowing down until almost at a complete stop.
4. Fan only setting, lowest setting. Not eco. No AC.

These four things will add at least 5 to your range. Hills will kill the range. We have one big hill, but that means it's a regen the other way...

It's a big video game, have fun with it!

Just so no one thinks I'm exaggerating. It has been below 10C this week in Ottawa, so that has cost 2-3km in range.

 

[cp64]

Thought I'd post a pic of the flooring layout and design.

Race Deck Floor Volt Garage by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[BJ42LX]

1. Up your tire pressure to 45psi. The car rides better, and mileage will immediately jump.
2. Drive slower.
3. Shift to L when slowing down until almost at a complete stop.
4. Fan only setting, lowest setting. Not eco. No AC.

These four things will add at least 5 to your range. Hills will kill the range. We have one big hill, but that means it's a regen the other way...

It's a big video game, have fun with it!

Just so no one thinks I'm exaggerating. It has been below 10C this week in Ottawa, so that has cost 2-3km in range.

1) I can try that. Normally I run 40 all the way around (subject to temperature fluctuation)
2)
3) Standard normal operation for me is L with Drive Mode: Sport
4) The heater is useless so I use the seat heat a lot in the cool weather.

This morning it was 43F in my garage and the Volt showed full charge at 31 mile range. :-/

 

[jayoldschool]

Tires will make a difference immediately. Try not using sport, but it shouldn't make a difference, it just re-maps the throttle pedal travel. Might be worth it once on a round trip just to check.

 

[cp64]

Well, I've been busy working to pay the bills and the garage has had little progress. I did decide to move the tire rack. I like the new location better. It's a more efficient use of space.

Before
IMG_2017 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr
After

 

[cp64]

"Paying the Bills" is not always drudgery. Especially when you have a client near Napa, CA. My office one day a couple of weeks ago...

IMG_1923 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Picked up one 32" Husky base cabinet this past weekend and put it up. I'll post picks soon. Will pick up a 48" in the next couple of days. Been thinking of a paint theme - have the walls a light gray palette for now. See a lot of two tones and strips on this board. Still getting ideas....!

 

[cp64]

1. Up your tire pressure to 45psi. The car rides better, and mileage will immediately jump.
2. Drive slower.
3. Shift to L when slowing down until almost at a complete stop.
4. Fan only setting, lowest setting. Not eco. No AC.

These four things will add at least 5 to your range. Hills will kill the range. We have one big hill, but that means it's a regen the other way...

It's a big video game, have fun with it!

Just so no one thinks I'm exaggerating. It has been below 10C this week in Ottawa, so that has cost 2-3km in range.

Have my volt summer ready with 45 lbs in the tires. With the temps rising here in Michigan I'm approaching 50 miles per charge!

 

[cp64]

Cp, c'mon! Take a pick of the range indicator in the morning and post it up here.

I think I may have seen 35 last week when it was 70F in the morning.

If you insist, I captured a shot through MyVolt Portal showing 46 mile range currently.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Cp, c'mon! Take a pick of the range indicator in the morning and post it up here.

I think I may have seen 35 last week when it was 70F in the morning.

OnStar app snaps.

Volt Stats by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Volt Stats by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Filled the tires to 45, but they dropped to 43 already. Driving them usually gets them back up to about 46. I love the combination of auto and hi-tech.

 

[cp64]

So I've already admitted to being a tech geek and I've posted elsewhere of my pride for my lawn. Of course I'm overhauling my garage. So why not upgrade my sprinkler system while I'm at it. Picked up and installed my new sprinkler system controller. All Wifi based and waters based on local weather patterns. No more setting timers. Now I have to touch up those holes!

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[zgfiredude]

Hmmmmm, tell us about the sprinkler controller, please!

 

[cp64]

It's called Blossom. http://myblossom.com They had it on special a couple of weeks ago for $149. I like the clean look and of course the techie angle. I'm looking forward to see how well it determines when watering is needed.

 

[cp64]

Clean Car

First really nice day of spring yesterday in SE Michigan. Gave my ride a good cleaning.

Clean up. by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Clean Voltie by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[dubber]

That new spot for the tire rack works great. Perfect having the Husky upper cabinet above the Husky box.

 

[cp64]

New (old) Husky Cabinet

My father-in-law is downsizing and I was fortunate enough to acquire an old Husky tool cabinet from him! Not sure how old it is. I didn't know they made red ones. I do know it's great to have more room to store tools and other items.

IMG_2080 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

IMG_2081 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Re: Husky Cabinet

So now I have a new black tool cabinet, a new grey floor cabinet and an old red tool cabinet. It kind of matches the floor theme! For all the super OCDers on this thread, my space is getting better - I have a lot more I need to do. Little by little.

IMG_2082 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

IMG_2084 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Re: Husky Cabinet

So interesting observation about the Husky cabinets. The old one that is now new to me is not built to the same durability as the new ones I purchased this year at HD. The old model has smaller wheels and seems to be thinner metal. The logos have also changed over time.

IMG_2086 by cpenrose64, on Flickr
Old Logo

IMG_2087 by cpenrose64, on Flickr
New Logo

IMG_2088 by cpenrose64, on Flickr
New Logo

I actually like the new logo better and the highly reflective letters.

 

[bonecrrusher]

Question for you as I'm looking into RaceDeck for my new shop.

I've been debating between the FreeFlow - and the diamond tread solid. Which would you go with?

I think the FreeFlow photographs really cool - but the samples that I got in person - I put them on the floor in the garage - and I am just not sold.

I live in the south - it never/rarely snows - and plan on keeping my lift in the new house. So doing car work and dropping fluids/things - I think the solid floor would work better for me.

 

[cp64]

bonecrrusher - did you get a sample of the FF and the diamond? It's personal preference. I went with free flow for the snow/ice to melt and not puddle. Sounds like that is not a problem for you so less real reason to get the FF. Good luck. I'm sure RaceDeck will send you a sample of the Diamond. Don't forget to tell them you a GJ member, should get free shipping that way.

 

[bonecrrusher]

I probably have 8 sample tiles from them by now - everytime I reach out to them for a quote - I get a sample a few days later.

I have told them about the GJ membership - I was thinking something like this:

 

[denver133]

Well, I've been busy working to pay the bills and the garage has had little progress. I did decide to move the tire rack. I like the new location better. It's a more efficient use of space.

Before
IMG_2017 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr
After

What/where did you get these wheel holders? Look slimmer than the TireRack ones.

 

[cp64]

I like the classic checkerboard design and border. Go for it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[HiWind]

Well, I've been busy working to pay the bills and the garage has had little progress. I did decide to move the tire rack. I like the new location better. It's a more efficient use of space.

Before
IMG_2017 by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr
After

lots of great ideas and a clean finish - very nice!

Silly little question but can I ask what have you got on those tires on the rack?
warmers or keeping them fresh?

 

[cp64]

What/where did you get these wheel holders? Look slimmer than the TireRack ones.

If you are referring to the tire totes, I purchased them on Amazon. Kurgo Tire Tote. I think they are the same as the ones by tire rack but generic name. I think the tires themselves make the sleeves look smaller. The sleeves are a clever design to adjust to the size of the tire.

 

[cp64]

lots of great ideas and a clean finish - very nice!

Silly little question but can I ask what have you got on those tires on the rack?
warmers or keeping them fresh?

Thank you! Ha, the tire totes just keep the tires tucked away. They are my winter tires. I like the sleeves so my garage does not look like a tire store.

 

[BeachBoy]

Put my deposit on a fully loaded 2016 Volt last weekend. Every factory option, in iridescent white.

Now I have to wait until like December to get it.

 

[zable9]

Cool. Congrats. ***** you have to wait so long....

 

[cp64]

Also spent a few hours cleaning the inside of the garage door. It just doesn't clean up as well as I would have hoped. Have the white insulation panels. They were nasty, but now they are brighter. Cleaned the glass too. Will either go with the no insert glass panel (just rectangle) or get some new inserts.

I'll post of pics tomorrow...

 

[cp64]

Put my deposit on a fully loaded 2016 Volt last weekend. Every factory option, in iridescent white.

Now I have to wait until like December to get it.

Congratulations. I hope it's worth the wait. I doubt I'll be getting a new Volt. Will hang on to mine for another year or until I get the itch for something new. Really keeping an eye open for a BWM X Series that I have to have.

 

[cp64]

Cleaned up the step in my garage. Basic unfinished wood. Gave it a nice light stain and poly. Added some strips for potential wet conditions.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Also painted and used cove moulding to trim the wall base near the floor. Turned out pretty good I think.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

I'm not a big tool guy. Try to keep what I need to a minimum and tend to keep what I have for a long time if not forever. Picked up this handy tool for about $100. Worked perfectly to trim the RaceDeck tile.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

One more recent change was to reduce the amount of wiring in my garage. The builder did not put the garage door opener in before drywalling the garage. Thus there are wires running all over the ceiling for openers, etc. I just eliminated two of them. Cars already have homelink so I repurposed the remotes.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Almost forgot, replaced the window inserts. My wife did not want to spend the $ on new doors - even thought we have a few dings! So I did a low cost update.

Gone are the sunrise inserts, in with the colonial.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

Added a poster recently to the garage. Homage to my hometown Detroit and being a fan of open wheel and a Chevrolet!

Detroit Gran Prix Poster by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[cp64]

I just love how autos look on RaceDeck but I especially love how MY car looks on RaceDeck!

Volt and RaceDeck by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[dubber]

Very creative with the openers. My father-in-law actually did the same thing

Do you have a before pic of the garage windows?

I just love how autos look on RaceDeck but I especially love how MY car looks on RaceDeck!

And yes i completely agree with this.

 

[cp64]

Hey Dubber- sorry I have not been online much this summer. This is the best photo I have of the 'before' garage inserts.

Untitled by cpenrose64, on Flickr

 

[dubber]

/\ Guess that will have to do hahaha. Yea its almost always overlooked. Just fun being able to look back to what it once was.