Two 2013 Leafs for ~$7500 with ~40k miles and 12 bars

My first post here, Greetings..
I am grateful for this resource!
I looked at these today (Saturday), at a Nissan dealer in Portland OR.
Based on what I have read here about BMS reset, these seem to be Unicorns.
They both are non-quick charge cars, I will include more specific info if asked.
I have ordered a BT OBD2 scanner, won't be in mailbox til Tuesday.
Thinking about buying one tomorrow (Sunday).
Bad Idea?

Could be. There have been many BMS resets, but even more Leafs are being sold at auction and being sent north, primary from Georgia now, to slow down battery degradation. If a good deal, there is nothing wrong with that. Just make sure you do your research and know more about it than your dealership and always be ready to walk away. Remember there will always be another one available.

Check the build dates on the door sill! (Carfax also lists them.) Leafs made after March of 2013 have better battery chemistry, so if you see an early build 2013 with 12 bars, be very suspicious. If you see one with 11 bars, expect another to drop soon. Leafspy really is your only friend here.

I wouldn't buy without checking first. That's a lot of miles to not have lost any bars. That being said the climate in Portland seems to be a lot easier on the battery than SoCal. Then again my 2013 S with only 28k miles but 11 bars also cost $7500, so I can't say you're necessarily getting a bad deal, even if a bar drops soon.

Paull said:

My first post here, Greetings..
I am grateful for this resource!
I looked at these today (Saturday), at a Nissan dealer in Portland OR.
Based on what I have read here about BMS reset, these seem to be Unicorns.
They both are non-quick charge cars, I will include more specific info if asked.
I have ordered a BT OBD2 scanner, won't be in mailbox til Tuesday.
Thinking about buying one tomorrow (Sunday).
Bad Idea?

Click to expand...

ok; need

miles
trim
original location


other than that; I would NEVER buy a used LEAF without checking it with LEAF Spy (or something that can read ahr) first

DaveinOlyWA said:

ok; need

miles
trim
original location


other than that; I would NEVER buy a used LEAF without checking it with LEAF Spy (or something that can read ahr) first

Click to expand...

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/5996832876.html -- actually an sv

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/5996720608.html

Wow lots of help here
I see mfd dates from an unreliable source that say 3/13 for both. One was in CA, the other I am not sure. I miss free information on the web! :roll:

My wealthier half and I decided to not get one of these, since we figure a battery of this age would not even last the term of the loan... Agree?

Agree. For me two things are very important. A post 03/2013 build with the improved battery (and good present capacity) and a QC package. Another $600-700 will likely get you a 2014 or 2015 with those characteristics.

Paull said:

Thinking about buying one tomorrow (Sunday).
Bad Idea?

Click to expand...

Bad idea.

Wait for LeafSpy

Paull said:

DaveinOlyWA said:

ok; need

miles
trim
original location


other than that; I would NEVER buy a used LEAF without checking it with LEAF Spy (or something that can read ahr) first

Click to expand...

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/5996832876.html -- actually an sv

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/ctd/5996720608.html

Wow lots of help here
I see mfd dates from an unreliable source that say 3/13 for both. One was in CA, the other I am not sure. I miss free information on the web! :roll:

My wealthier half and I decided to not get one of these, since we figure a battery of this age would not even last the term of the loan... Agree?

Click to expand...

doesn't look like either car is an S trim. 2013 did not have B mode or cruise control.

both VIN numbers suggest early builds. I would definitely check them with LEAF Spy first

doesn't look like either car is an S trim. 2013 did not have B mode or cruise control.

Click to expand...

Eh? The 2013 S lacked Cruise Control, but the 2013 SV and SL have B mode, and I think the S does as well.

LeftieBiker said:

doesn't look like either car is an S trim. 2013 did not have B mode or cruise control.

Click to expand...

Eh? The 2013 S lacked Cruise Control, but the 2013 SV and SL have B mode, and I think the S does as well.

Click to expand...

I take it as dave was saying the "S" model lacked B mode(which is correct) and cruise(which is also correct)
Note the ECO mode on the '13S does greatly increase regen, not sure if it's as much as a SV/SL with the B mode engaged though.....do know that without the ECO mode engaged it has practically no regen, I always have ECO enabled and unlike the pre '13 Leafs it sticks during power down, a great improvement over the older models IMO.

LeftieBiker said:

doesn't look like either car is an S trim. 2013 did not have B mode or cruise control.

Click to expand...

Eh? The 2013 S lacked Cruise Control, but the 2013 SV and SL have B mode, and I think the S does as well.

Click to expand...

No. 2013 Leaf S doesn't have B-mode. See http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2013-nissan-leaf-press-kit and the specs tab there.

I believe both CC and B-mode didn't arrive on S trim until model year 2015:
http://www.plugincars.com/2015-nissan-leaf-features-and-pricing.html
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/07/10/2015-nissan-leaf-gets-b-mode-standard-new-morningsky-blue-color/
http://nissannews.com/en-US/nissan/usa/presskits/us-2015-nissan-leaf-press-kit

Nagorak said:

I wouldn't buy without checking first.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

Nagorak said:

That's a lot of miles to not have lost any bars. That being said the climate in Portland seems to be a lot easier on the battery than SoCal.

Click to expand...

On the 1st part, it depends, on the climate and the build month of the vehicle. For 4/2013+ built '13 Leafs, it's not that much. I'm at past 41K miles on my 5/2013-built used '13 Leaf and still have all 12 bars but I'm creeping toward losing 1 judging by Leaf Spy stats. I'm in a hotter part of the SF Bay Area.

At http://www.mynissanleaf.com/posting.php?mode=quote&f=6&p=484974, is a report of a guy in Seattle losing his 1st CB at 89K miles. Prior to that, I'd heard of such (4/2013+ built) Leafs not losing a CB until ~70K miles, which they said was unheard for '11 and '12 Leafs up there.

LeftieBiker said:

doesn't look like either car is an S trim. 2013 did not have B mode or cruise control.

Click to expand...

Eh? The 2013 S lacked Cruise Control, but the 2013 SV and SL have B mode, and I think the S does as well.

Click to expand...

My 2013 S with QC and rear camera has neither B mode or cruise.

Thanks, I'd forgotten that the first version of the S lacked B mode. I definitely remembered no cruise, as that is what saved me from leasing an S, and thus being very unhappy in Winter.

I don't understand the confusion over the statement I made...

Neither car, based on the pix are S trims but that does not mean the pix match the car.