I think I got the 9th private Leaf 1/4/11. Overall I love it. I expected a few problems with a totally new design, but they never happened!!!!!!! (I cringe thinking about how the Apteva I was waiting for would have worked out.)
The cost was great (about $23k net). I was ready to pay $40k for a next gen EV. I also expected to spend $10k in five year for a replacement battery (net of trade-in). Still don't know what that cost will be but I can wait a year or 2 more.
I have ~22k miles and charged >90% at 80% for ~30 months with ~ a dozen quick charges. Then I lost a capacity bar and the range had dropped enough that I started to charge at 100% all the time. I opted out of the battery settlement to keep my future options open. My range at 75 mph commuting speed in San Diego is now about 55 miles. I just got the software update with my 3 year battery check. My Rav4 EV can do at least 110 miles at that speed or 140 miles at 60 mph.
The Leaf is much quieter than the Rav4 EV, handles a little better, gets 3.7 vs 3.0 miles per kWh, sits lower, has better interface, has less problems - power - storage area. I'm very happy with both.
Love just about everything about the Leaf. Hate nothing. The two disappointments are the quicker than expected battery degradation and the poor tires (changed out at 20,000 for Michelins’ MVX?).
I expect to keep the car for perhaps 20 years with 2 battery replacements. There is very little else to wear out that to force getting rid of it. If a reasonable replacement battery isn’t available in 3 years (which I doubt) I’ll buy a Tesla. I only expect to keep my Rav4 EV for about 7 years because of potential problems (it is just a compliance car with no support).
The cost was great (about $23k net). I was ready to pay $40k for a next gen EV. I also expected to spend $10k in five year for a replacement battery (net of trade-in). Still don't know what that cost will be but I can wait a year or 2 more.
I have ~22k miles and charged >90% at 80% for ~30 months with ~ a dozen quick charges. Then I lost a capacity bar and the range had dropped enough that I started to charge at 100% all the time. I opted out of the battery settlement to keep my future options open. My range at 75 mph commuting speed in San Diego is now about 55 miles. I just got the software update with my 3 year battery check. My Rav4 EV can do at least 110 miles at that speed or 140 miles at 60 mph.
The Leaf is much quieter than the Rav4 EV, handles a little better, gets 3.7 vs 3.0 miles per kWh, sits lower, has better interface, has less problems - power - storage area. I'm very happy with both.
Love just about everything about the Leaf. Hate nothing. The two disappointments are the quicker than expected battery degradation and the poor tires (changed out at 20,000 for Michelins’ MVX?).
I expect to keep the car for perhaps 20 years with 2 battery replacements. There is very little else to wear out that to force getting rid of it. If a reasonable replacement battery isn’t available in 3 years (which I doubt) I’ll buy a Tesla. I only expect to keep my Rav4 EV for about 7 years because of potential problems (it is just a compliance car with no support).