alozzy said:
a 62kwh pack costs around $8-10k, 40kwh about $6-8k, 30kwh $4-6k
The problem is, a 2013 SV LEAF like mine, with 11 capacity bars, is still worth $8-9k USD in Washington State. A 2018 LEAF, with a 40 kWh pack, sells for about $16-18k. So, for $8-10k net I can sell my Leaf and buy a 2018 Leaf - about the same cost as a 40 kWh battery pack upgrade. It just doesn't make sense at that price to do an upgrade...
It may not be a decision that makes the most sense for everyone, and that's OK. I would agree that the 40kwh upgrade is not the best value by any means, but unfortunately that can be blamed on the market for used packs, but, some people like their older LEAFs, and would prefer to keep their existing car than buy a new one. I can guarantee you though that for an extra $2k to put in a 62kwh pack upgrade (net cost of approx. $12k), you could not get a newer 62kwh LEAF+ for less than that net cost (the cheapest used LEAF+ I could find anywhere in the country is just under $25k).
A few other things that may factor in to making a decision on a pack upgrade. In a mild/cooler climate like WA, the older LEAF batteries certainly do hold up pretty well over time. In warmer climates like here in Southern California, or in Arizona, you'd probably be lucky to have more than 8-9 bars remaining on a 2013. While the value on "newer" LEAFs here is about the same as up there, the older ones are not worth nearly as much down here, maybe $6k for a really nice one, but more realistically $4-5k.
Also, don't forget about sales tax and higher insurance premiums you'll be paying on the newer car. As I understand it, sales tax on a car in WA could run upwards of 10%, here in California, it's usually about 8%. While you would still be paying sales tax on the new battery, it would be less than that of purchasing a car. I can't speak to the specific registration fees in WA, but here in California, registration fees are somewhat based on the value of the vehicle, so a newer car also means you'll be paying higher annual registration fees.
In all reality, it's kind of a decision on a case-by-case basis for people to make on their own whether they think it's worth it or not.