GM Needs To Make A Hot Version Of Its Work Vans: COTD

General Motors says the Chevrolet Express and GMC Savana will end production after the 2025 model year. When that happens, both of these vans would have been in production for about three decades with minimal changes to their flesh. Journalists and enthusiasts often complain about cars that have been in production, but I’ll be sad when these workhorses are no longer built.

Sadly, it doesn’t sound like these vans are going out with a bang, either. As Jason wrote this morning, they’re also probably the last consumer-level vehicle you can buy without an infotainment screen. I’m with StillNotATony here, these vans need to go out with a bang:

On the Old Site, they asked what vehicle needs a sport version, and I said the Express needs an SS model.

You can already get an LS, so slap a supercharger on it, and up to 2015, you could get AWD. Bring that back, slam it, stiffen the suspension, put on a body kit, and you’ve got a Typhoon for the whole family, plus Grandma, Granddad, Uncle Daryll, etc.

Call the the ExpreSS.

Then GM can put a big ol’ screen in the instrument panel.

I’m not going to lie, I’ve had dreams of a Chevy Express done up like the Ford F-150 FP700. Just a work van with a stupid amount of power and a slick appearance package. Yes, please!

Earlier today, I received information about a new RV supposedly coming to market next year. I get these emails all the time, but this one was bizarre. It was for a 1,400-pound box pulled by an electric tricycle. None of us could figure out exactly who this thing was for, so we decided to do two completely different articles on it. Your responses to Jason’s were hilarious.

TXJeepGuy:

I didn’t read the original article because I looked at it and said “that thing is dumb and useless”. I read this one though because that thing is dumb and useless.

Jesus Chrysler drives a Dodge:

1. Take a zero off the price
2. Rebrand as an environmentally friendly nano pop up banana stand.

Job done. There’s always money in the banana stand.

David recently spent more money public-charging a Rivian R1S than he would have fueling a chunky gas vehicle. Sadly, many public chargers are expensive, which leads to this unfortunate realization from JP15:

I wouldn’t recommend anyone buy an EV unless they can charge at home or at work (or unless they’re willing to deal with some inconvenience/understand the costs).

This is really the crux of it, and exactly what I tell anyone asking me if they should buy an EV. Do you live in an apartment and commute an hour each way to work? Do NOT get an EV.

I only ever charge at home, using a public charger maybe 2-3x a year at most, and my effective “cost per mile” rolling up maintenance/insurance/fuel is $0.03/mile compared to $0.33/mile on my Subaru I had previously. I tracked all vehicle expenses religiously ever since I bought my first car (a weird habit my parents taught me), so I had years of cost data on exactly how much my car usage cost. That made the calculations for EV savings when I started shopping for one pretty straightforward, but again, that only applies to my very specific needs.

I looked around on Plugshare, and it does seem like public charging rates have seen a massive hike in my area recently. I know electricity rates have gone up a lot, but stations that used to be about $0.02/kWH are now over $0.40/kWH.

I currently live in an apartment with no way to charge at home, so any EV I’d own would be 100 percent charged on public chargers. It’s something that’s been a huge pain with the Zero motorcycle I’ve had for a year and six months. Have a great evening, everyone!

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