Poll : The official 2013 "Did you Lease or Buy?" thread

[Bluebull]

I have leased a 2012 Leaf for three years, but that was before the significant upgrades with the 2013. My question is should I explore the possibility of turning in my current lease for a new lease for a 2013? Has anybody considered that? or should I just stay with my 2012 lease until it expires in 2016? The penalty might be prohibitive. Any thoughts??

[RonDawg]

I wasn't aware that Nissan will have new generation of Leaf by 2015.

Only Nissan knows when they expect to release Leaf 2.0 to the public. The 2015 guess is just that, a guess, based upon Nissan's usual product cycles, and the fact that they just did a mid-cycle update for 2013.

[RonDawg]

I have leased a 2012 Leaf for three years, but that was before the significant upgrades with the 2013. My question is should I explore the possibility of turning in my current lease for a new lease for a 2013? Has anybody considered that? or should I just stay with my 2012 lease until it expires in 2016? The penalty might be prohibitive. Any thoughts??

Someone did that earlier (search for a thread about how to get the lease payoff) and felt they would end up too far upside down. If you put very little money down, and/or rolled the inequity of your trade-in into the lease, you can almost be assured that the terms of ending your lease early will not be favorable.

[Compdoc777]

Yes I leased mine it only has a three year warranty and carwings is only covered for 3 years. The battery is backed by a 8 year warranty. I have the pearl white 2013 SL it very nice and its quick. My daily drive has me going 30 miles to work where they let me trickle charge at work for free. I averaged my monthly spend at $26 a month in extra electricity which is a far cry from $350 I spent driving my Armada back and forth. When the lease is up I may buy it. Unless they have something faster more sporty with greater range by the end of lease 2016. I do plan to buy the new pathfinder hybrid at that time or rather a used one. You get the best warranty used through Nissan automatic 8 year 100k drive train on a CPO plus you get about 10k off. Picked up my 2011 Nismo 370z CPO for 31k with 8k miles.

Now that I have gone electric I am not looking back! This car is just as fast if not faster than the average cars and trucks. The thing flys from 20-80 with no effort and it handles so nimbly you can get in and out of traffic easily. Most people are astounded that I can out run them with ease. It's always fun to watch people waste $$$ on gas while I am using cents going just as fast with using no fuel. Don't think I will be going back to gas for my daily commute.

I still have my Ford Expedition for those long trip with the family. Traded in my 2012 Armada for the Leaf the sales people were looking at me like I was crazy!

Yet the savings are immense! Plus all the cool gadgets you get. My fav is the iPhone app that let's me check the charge and turn on the AC. I like to take a nap at lunch time. I have my pillow and ear phones and glasses and I crash for an hour in 95 degree heat in the garage with the AC chilling me down to a nice 70 degrees inside the car all while the car charges back up. I also set the timer so when I get out of work of course the car is fully charged and its nice and cool when I get in.

The only thing they need to do is have a better button for Eco mode. I turn it off to launch and once up to speed I turn it back on. I am on and off with that button all the time. I use it to do a lot of my braking.

I don't know about the rest of you but I find myself speeding a lot in the car. You just can't feel the speed. I thought traffic was a little slow this morning so I passed the car in front of me and I look at the speedo again and I was doing 91. I was like wooh! Now you have understand this is coming from a guy who drives a Nismo with oil cooler and racing tires to work. The only time I say wooh In that car is when I look down after passing someone and I'm doing 140 or drifting hair pin turns a 60-70 mph with the tail hanging out.

Over all this car is the coolest I have owned by Nissan so far! If they could get the exterior looks down and add that new capacitors to the existing tech to give me like a NOS boost when I want it for those quick 0-60 runs they would sell like hot cakes. I love the interior with the leather smells so good, My Nismo is awesome, but this little car is the bomb!

[khoover]

Leased. The lease payment was less than what we were paying on a monthly basis for gas.

IMO, EV tech is still evolving quickly so I think it's smart to go with something short-term and then re-assess when the term is up in 2015.

[yobless]

Opted for the lease after reading up on the forum, thank you.

Went with a 2013 SV, Metallic Slate with the LED headlights and quick charge port package
36 month, 12k lease
3k down
Payments are $290 a month
Glendale Nissan in L.A. County

I've never leased a car before but the savings were to much to pass up. My commute is 34 miles, mostly highway, and I get to trickle charge at work. This was a no brainer...along with the $2,500 that the state of California will give you back. So far i'm in love with this car and technology.

[lzendle]

Traded in my 2011 SL Leaf (bought 6/7/11 for $34740) and leased a 2013 SL Cayenne Red with Premium package, mats, splash guards, zero emission graphic.) on 7/14/13.

2013 SL: Agreed upon cost $35100 (including $1000 Leaf Customer loyalty). Gross cap cost $36294 includes $595 acquisition fee and $599 maintenance contract). Adjusted cap costs = $26920 (reduced by $9373 for $7500 Fed tax credit and $2500 down, plus some taxes and fees) with residual value $18230.

36 month, 12 k lease
Payments $351 a month (including tax)
Palm Springs Nissan

I was very happy with my 2011 SL, but I had lost 2 bars in slightly over 2 years with only 12000 miles on it. BTW, I got $15500 cash as a trade in, but only put $2500 down on the lease.

[Larrycar]

I did a two year lease. With all the incentives, credits, and other cash motivators, I am driving a new car for free. Sounds to good to be true, it's true!!! I expect increased range in a year or two, probably 150 miles, will up grade then. I am still learning how to manage electricity and still have fun driving. As another said, people are sure surprised when an electric vehicle out performs their gas powered one. I can't help myself. My neighbor has a Leaf too.

[beaverton]

So on June 15th of 2013, I leased a Nissan Leaf SL without the premium package. The Dealer required $3600 down and $99 a month for 23 months. There were no additional fees. License, registration, leasing fees were all included in the price. The only surprise is they told me I have to pay $400 to turn in the car at lease-end. Oh, and it's a 24 month lease. The price works out to be $244.88 a month.

[ObjetDart]

I just leased a 2013 Leaf SV (includes optional quick charger) for $3000 down and $130 month for 24 months. I'm also facing the $400 exit fee if I don't choose to purchase at the end.

Based on current trends in EV tech advancement and lingering questions about battery longevity, it's unlikely I will purchase the car at the end of the lease, but I'll almost certainly lease or buy another EV at that point. I absolutely love the Leaf and am totally hooked on EVs.