The official "I got my Leaf" thread

[eHelmholtz]

I ordered a LEAF in May with one dealer but had to take an orphan from another dealer on August 18. The details are here. http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5364" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[mainsil]

I picked up my blue Nissan leaf #7572 from Carson Nissan today. It was not an unpleasant experience, but took a lot longer than i would have liked (about 3 hours), especially considering that I have been stalking these forums since I ordered in May and didn't really have any questions, and paid cash. Having to do the whole finance stuff is a PITA, but I understand their point: if the check bounces, they need to still be able to get paid.

The specialist who turned the car over to me had clearly been well trained, but just as clearly did not have a lot of day to day experience with the car, I would rate her as a B+. The finance guy made appropriate efforts to interest me in extended warranties and the like, but did not hit hard sell, or try to sneak stuff in which was a pleasant surprise, and therefore gets a solid A for not being anoying.

 

[highcountryrider]

Congrats!

<snip>...but did not hit hard sell, or try to sneak stuff in which was a pleasant surprise, and therefore gets a solid A for not being anoying.

 

[yombad]

Picked up my Silver SL yesterday at North Bay Nissan- was a great experience! They did an excellent job of getting me out of there in about an hour, including financing, as I had a 135 mile drive home. Drove 70 miles to Davis, charged for a couple of hours at an L2 public charger, then continued another 30 miles to Roseville to park and charge overnight. Picked it up fully charged this morning and drove it the last 35 miles (uphill) to my home outside of Auburn, CA.

I ordered sometime around May 11, VIN 7454, delivered in just over 3 months- the whole process went smoothly. My final estimated delivery date was August 19, so they were about a week off - the dealer indicated that was fairly typical.

Looking forward to putting some miles on this ride! Thanks everyone for sharing your information and experiences - it has been very helpful with my decision to purchase this car.

 

[GPowers]

Reserved on 5/11/2011. Picked up Leaf number 7922 Friday August 26, 2011 at 9:45PM from Metro Nissan in Montclair California. Dealer was great but the process took along time. Mine was the 9th one delivered at this dealership.

Love the car HATE the light tan/gray interior cloth upholstery. The engineer who put cloth on the door pulls and center arm rest should be fired. That has too be the dumbest move anyone has ever made. Two areas of the car that get touched the most and will get soiled very quickly, even with Scotchgard.

The best felling in the world is driving past ALL gas stations

 

[abasile]

Picked up Leaf number 7922 Friday August 26, 2011 at 9:45PM from Metro Nissan in Montclair California.

Congratulations! Nice to see another Inland Empire LEAF owner!

 

[pwruser]

Ordered May 2011. Red SL with QC port.

First delivery date given was Sep, then week of Sep 26. Changed to week of Sep 29, changed back to Sep 26.

Took delivery today at Bankston Nissan on LBJ.

 

[geolizleaf]

Picked up my Silver SL-e ( well I hope to get the 700 back) today. Ordered in May using an iPad...,

The transaction quite easy, Highly recommend that Tucson folks get their Leafs from Jim Click Nissan, Venessa Pain-Helms was very easy to work with. Took about 2 hours to sign all the paperwork, go through everything, etc. no pushing anything like Tint, or Maint agreements etc.

Feel very lucky that we went to the 4th Ave Street Fair drive event last Dec..I barely knew of the Leaf before we went to the event. Signed up on the mail list and got invited to order in early May, from the RAQ to delivery was 3 1/2 months, right in line with what the dashboard said from day one.

I start my daily commute of 42 miles round trip tomorrow, she's charging up to 100% now until I get a feel for what the commute will use, then if it works, I'll switch to 80%.

Don't plan on altering my driving style too much (coming from a G35 coupe, which I kept!) I plan to drive 65 on the freeway which is about 1/2 the commute distance. So I hope it works out that I can switch to 80%, since it's so hot here, my biggest worry is in a couple of years from now when the battery capacity starts to fall off, will the heat have caused an early demise to the battery pack? I sure hope not..

Anyway, it's fun to drive, and as most people say, it drives just like a car..

 

[OttersRedLeaf]

I picked up my blue Nissan leaf #7572 from Carson Nissan today. It was not an unpleasant experience, but took a lot longer than i would have liked (about 3 hours), especially considering that I ...didn't really have any questions, and paid cash. Having to do the whole finance stuff is a PITA, but I understand their point: if the check bounces, they need to still be able to get paid....

I will be paying cash also. Did you have a cashier's check or personal check? Isn't the point of a cashier's check that it is essentially guaranteed to be good since it was the bank who wrote it?

 

[GPowers]

Ordered May 2011. Red SL with QC port.

First delivery date given was Sep, then week of Sep 26. Changed to week of Sep 29, changed back to Sep 26.

Took delivery today at Bankston Nissan on LBJ.

Mine was the same way. Original deliver date was late Sept, but took delivery 8/26.

 

[mainsil]

I will be paying cash also. Did you have a cashier's check or personal check? Isn't the point of a cashier's check that it is essentially guaranteed to be good since it was the bank who wrote it?

I paid with an regular check. They make you fill out a credit app so the finance guy has a chance to sell you extras. You might be able to avoid the credit app if you argue enough, but it probably isn't worth the effort as you have little leverage (they make more money if they can sell it as an orphan and jack up the price). As part of the sales contract they insert a loan; if the check does not clear, they activate the loan on the sales contract.

 

[Tugrik]

Test drove at the SJ Drive event on 11/1/2010.
Reserved the late evening of 5/5/2011 - Black SL with a few extras
Forecast date: "End of Dec 2011 / Early Jan 2012"
Suddenly in July it ramped to "Week of Sept 2nd, 2011".
Took delivery at Premier Nissan San Jose on 8/31/2011. Leased, $2500 down.

Wilson Bui @ Premier was a great guy and did well for me, though there were some frustrations with final-delivery timing between 8/29-8/31. He put up with my grumpiness just fine, though, and got me the car before the month was over.

Leviton charger on a 6-20R->L6-30P pigtail, plugged into L6-30R that used to run my air compressor / plasma cutter combo. Ordered it online, got it next day, built the pigtail from Home Depot parts, plugged it in, done. Works great.
Plan to get the included EVSE upgraded next month sometime. Applied for Blink; if they accept me I'll move the Leviton to the shop (aka the 'remote Man Cave') where all the metalworking gear now lives.

Love the car so far. My only complaint: The monster "Zero Emission" sticker has _got_ to go. The newer small-letter badges are much better; had I known they were available (instead of a blank door vs. monster sticker choice) I'd have gone that route. Wilson is trying to order a set for me and then I'll swap out.

 

[LEAFfan]

Isn't the point of a cashier's check that it is essentially guaranteed to be good since it was the bank who wrote it?

No, cashier's checks can be forged. I was told by my credit union never to take a cashier's check but to do a 'wire' which IS guaranteed. So when I sold my old car, I had the buyer wire the money into my account.

 

[LEAFfan]

Had my Cayenne Red Leaf SL-e shipped from AZ to Atlanta, GA. It arrived 08/11/11. 97 miles to date. Clipper Creek EVSE.

Congrats! Most here will sell/lease orphans for MSRP. From which dealer in AZ did you buy/lease?

 

[Leafboy]

Had my Cayenne Red Leaf SL-e shipped from AZ to Atlanta, GA. It arrived 08/11/11. 97 miles to date. Clipper Creek EVSE.

Congrats! Most here will sell/lease orphans for MSRP. From which dealer in AZ did you buy/lease?

Pinnacle Nissan. Very nice to deal with. Walter Dolan made this buying experience very easy to complete.

 

[GPowers]

Most here will sell/lease orphans for MSRP.

One local dealer in in So cal has a white SL orphan with a $9k over sticker

 

[Leafboy]

It really irks me when a dealer asks over msrp for any car. I would not buy a car from them ever in the future!!

 

[Scarecrow]

The dealer that we picked ours up at--Don Davis Nissan in Arlington, TX--has two orphans, one black and one white, both with quick charge ports, and I believe both SL. I'd be surprised if they're selling them for more than MSRP. If anyone's interested they could check with James Whitehouse. He's the Leaf sales guy there.

We picked ours up Wednesday. Using Phil's modified charger. Loving the new car! Looking forward to no oil changes and cheaper operating costs.

 

[highcountryrider]

Just got back with my new LEAF!

 

[eHelmholtz]

Most here will sell/lease orphans for MSRP.

One local dealer in in So cal has a white SL orphan with a $9k over sticker

Wow! 9K over MSRP is crazy. I got my orphan LEAF for 1K under MSRP a few weeks ago at a San Diego area dealer. Here are the details: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=5364" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;