Yeah I know a very loaded question. I was able to take a extended test drive earlier this week. Picked up a new SL that just came off the transporter a few days earlier, drove it home that night for the wife to see. L1 charge through the night, then drive 44 miles to work the next day (in Florida). Charge L1 again up until I left for the day, stop at a friends home for L2 charge just to make sure I got it back to the dealership with enough charge.
I'm very impressed with the LEAF. Its roomy, comfortable, handles nicely, and of course quiet. Like everyone else I wish it had more range on a charge. I can charge using L2 from both home and work (after wiring of course) so that isn't an issue. I'm mostly interested in the LEAF to reduce my transportation expenses and pay down other business debt.
I've looked at leasing versus purchase, and no matter I slice it (wanting to justify this), I keep coming back to this gut feeling its too expensive. I can purchase a Versa for half the cost of a LEAF. And though I see comments from others saying their cost to drive (IIRC) was around 3 cents per mile. That's great. But I don't see any references to adding in the cost of a new pack into those numbers. Without knowing exactly at what point the pack will not be usable for my driving range, makes if difficult to determine feasibility.
I have found a deal on a 2015 'S' model with Charge Pkg/Charge Port. I don't need all the extras that the SL/SV has and would be fine with a 'S'. With $3500.00 NMAC my price would be $21k. The dealer has emailed me: Purchase: 1.9% APR, 60 months, $2,000.00 down, and $497.80 month (Tax included). That seems excessively high, as there own payment calculator shows in $330.00 range. Granted that's not including tax, title, etc. But hard to believe that justifies a monthly payment increase of 50%!
Driving a LEAF would save me a ton on fuel. I calculate I would save $7800.00 in fuel over my current diesel truck (over a 50,000 miles), yet the replacement pack at $5500.00 + tax + install would nearly wipe out the savings.
The again, if Nissan does indeed come out with a better range battery in say the next 2 years, is that battery going to be compatible with the current vehicles? As a mfg, I would think they would change it, to force sales of newer cars. And itf that happens, then the value of the previous cars will not be anywhere as good.
I hate buying cars and the whole dealer dance
I'm very impressed with the LEAF. Its roomy, comfortable, handles nicely, and of course quiet. Like everyone else I wish it had more range on a charge. I can charge using L2 from both home and work (after wiring of course) so that isn't an issue. I'm mostly interested in the LEAF to reduce my transportation expenses and pay down other business debt.
I've looked at leasing versus purchase, and no matter I slice it (wanting to justify this), I keep coming back to this gut feeling its too expensive. I can purchase a Versa for half the cost of a LEAF. And though I see comments from others saying their cost to drive (IIRC) was around 3 cents per mile. That's great. But I don't see any references to adding in the cost of a new pack into those numbers. Without knowing exactly at what point the pack will not be usable for my driving range, makes if difficult to determine feasibility.
I have found a deal on a 2015 'S' model with Charge Pkg/Charge Port. I don't need all the extras that the SL/SV has and would be fine with a 'S'. With $3500.00 NMAC my price would be $21k. The dealer has emailed me: Purchase: 1.9% APR, 60 months, $2,000.00 down, and $497.80 month (Tax included). That seems excessively high, as there own payment calculator shows in $330.00 range. Granted that's not including tax, title, etc. But hard to believe that justifies a monthly payment increase of 50%!
Driving a LEAF would save me a ton on fuel. I calculate I would save $7800.00 in fuel over my current diesel truck (over a 50,000 miles), yet the replacement pack at $5500.00 + tax + install would nearly wipe out the savings.
The again, if Nissan does indeed come out with a better range battery in say the next 2 years, is that battery going to be compatible with the current vehicles? As a mfg, I would think they would change it, to force sales of newer cars. And itf that happens, then the value of the previous cars will not be anywhere as good.
I hate buying cars and the whole dealer dance