Reserved my Leaf on March 5th, Question from a newbie

Before I spend $30K on something I generally research it to pieces. I reserved my Leaf after deciding I could make the 80 mi. RT commute I have if I can charge at work. I called a local dealership with the round trip distance question and you know what the salesman told me!!?? He said " Sure, 80 miles RT is no problem, these are just like cell phones, charge them 4-5 hours and they are good for 100 miles." I immediately decided that dealership was not for me. I am in the tidewater area of Virginia (Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News), does anyone have a suggestion for a particular dealership? Or am I stuck with wherever Nissan sends my car?

Why do you care if a salesman has any idea what the actual range of the car is? You can do your own due diligence without anybody from a dealer or Nissan.

Even dealerships here in California that have sold literally HUNDREDS of LEAFs would be hard pressed to give real range data. Why would they? They sell cars, and any range data will be the official "100 miles" bullcrap you've already been fed.

Please tell us more about your 80 miles. From what town to what town (so we can determine topography, elevation, and weather)?

What charging are you planning at work? A dedicated to you L2, or something else?

Muleears said:

Or am I stuck with wherever Nissan sends my car?

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You can pick any Nissan dealer that has been "Leaf Certified". These are the dealers that have L2 chargers installed, have the service equipment & training needed to work on the Leaf, have some subset of the sales force trained to sell the leaf, and have a demo Leaf available to test drive.

You can find such dealers in your area here. Just type in your zip code. Leaf certified dealers are shown with blue markers, while other Nissan dealers are shown with red markers.

Dealership ignorance is a given. It doesn't matter.

The 80 mile RT commute could be done without charging at work, but only if you drive slowly and don't use the heat, or the A/C or the lights. Not very attractive, especially since summer comes early where you are.

If you have a reliable L2 EVSE at work (reserved parking), then there's no problem. Your LEAF will save you about $2,500 per year in fuel charges.

If you have a reliable L1 EVSE at work, then you're also OK. The L1 charges at a rate of about 4 miles per hour. If you work a regular 8 hour day, you'll extend the single day run by 32 miles. Since 70+32 is considerable larger than 80, you'll be fine, even in bad weather.

If your EVSE availability is not reliable (i.e. competition for parking), then think twice.

BRBarian said:

Dealership ignorance is a given. It doesn't matter.

The 80 mile RT commute could be done without charging at work, but only if you drive slowly and don't use the heat, or the A/C or the lights. Not very attractive, especially since summer comes early where you are.

If you have a reliable L2 EVSE at work (reserved parking), then there's no problem. Your LEAF will save you about $2,500 per year in fuel charges.

If you have a reliable L1 EVSE at work, then you're also OK. The L1 charges at a rate of about 4 miles per hour. If you work a regular 8 hour day, you'll extend the single day run by 32 miles. Since 70+32 is considerable larger than 80, you'll be fine, even in bad weather.

If your EVSE availability is not reliable (i.e. competition for parking), then think twice.

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I agree that if there are chargers, or outlets that you can access, you are fine.
I dont agree that 80 miles is out of the question, though it depends on how you drive and what terrain/roads you are covering and at what speeds.
i dont believe there really is such a calculation as mileage per charge hour. there is an approximation, however.
I typically get between 6 and 7 miles per par, sometimes more -- never less. I drive 60-65 on the freeways, and could stretch with somewhat more conservative driving. I do not use much AC or heat.
I L1 at work and refill to 80% after about 5 hours--my commute is 25 miles one way; so I get much more like 5 miles per hour.

My commute is 39 miles each way, total change in elevation is 50 ft. The only "hills" are two high rise bridges. About 7 miles divided highway (60+ mph) another 6 or 7 at 45mph with intersections, 4 miles urban stop and go and the balance is country two lane, mostly 55mph. No hills to speak of. I would like to use AC, it gets hot here. I am relatively confident that I will be able to charge at work but it will be L1 only. Charging at home will be L2.

Good to know I'm not restricted to one particular dealership.

Thank you all for the prompt and informative responses. I am really looking forward to my Leaf!

39 miles to work, no more than 55mph, L1 for 8 hours. Slam dunk easy in all conditions.
The salesman is not an engineer nor does he own the car so just ask what he knows about including the $2,000 off MSRP that you should ask for.

smkettner said:

39 miles to work, no more than 55mph, L1 for 8 hours. Slam dunk easy in all conditions.
The salesman is not an engineer nor does he own the car so just ask what he knows about including the $2,000 off MSRP that you should ask for.

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I thought as long as I can charge at work I'd be ok too. Good to have it confirmed.

Regarding the $2000 discount :lol: Is anyone discounting these cars or are they pretty much sticker plus? There is a local dealer with a 2011 demo they say they will give me a deal on, but I want a 2012.

i did a trip that was nearly all freeway except a 12 mile jaunt thru a town that was 89.3 miles drove 50-55 all the way and had elevation changes spanning nearly 600 feet or so. i made it. now, it was August so did pulse AC here and there but after we hit the Coast it was windows down for the most part. not a drive i would be comfortable with but doable. i am familiar with your area and L 1 charging at work will insure you have no problems even during winter (AC is not much of a drain on the range. heat can cut you down 25% and more)

$1,000 discount is fairly common in CA. $2,000 is about max. Anyway I said ask, not demand or insist. There is some wiggle room and if you have a few dealers in range and don't like the first offer just cancel and change dealers. Although I think it helps to talk to the internet manager in advance and drop some hints about getting a deal.

DaveinOlyWA said:

i did a trip that was nearly all freeway except a 12 mile jaunt thru a town that was 89.3 miles drove 50-55 all the way and had elevation changes spanning nearly 600 feet or so. i made it. now, it was August so did pulse AC here and there but after we hit the Coast it was windows down for the most part. not a drive i would be comfortable with but doable. i am familiar with your area and L 1 charging at work will insure you have no problems even during winter (AC is not much of a drain on the range. heat can cut you down 25% and more)

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This too is good news, I could drive my entire commute at 55 or less, might tick off some of the folks on the highway but they'll get over it. Looks like I could make it in a pinch without charging at work. I have minimal elevation changes and virtually no hills. Good to know AC isn't a big drain, I like my AC , I'd much rather be cold than hot. If I'm not mistaken the 2012 SV now has heated seats and steering wheel standard. That should do me for our mild winters here.

Thanks again for the help.

Here is what I did to get my 2012 SV for $500 below MSRP. I went to the Nissan web site and wrote down the phone number of every certified dealer in my state (the IL state rebate requires the car to be bought in IL). I then called every dealership and requested to talk to the fleet manager/LEAF specialist. I called back the "winning" dealer and immediately afterwards requested a quote through the Nissan web site. Not only do you get a good deal this way, you also get a feeling about how competent/committed the dealership is. This makes the buying process easier and more enjoyable. I was totally prepared to drive 100+ miles on my first trip home, including recharging on the road, if necessary. In the end the best deal was only ~60 miles from home.

lukati said:

Here is what I did to get my 2012 SV for $500 below MSRP. I went to the Nissan web site and wrote down the phone number of every certified dealer in my state (the IL state rebate requires the car to be bought in IL). I then called every dealership and requested to talk to the fleet manager/LEAF specialist. I called back the "winning" dealer and immediately afterwards requested a quote through the Nissan web site. Not only do you get a good deal this way, you also get a feeling about how competent/committed the dealership is. This makes the buying process easier and more enjoyable. I was totally prepared to drive 100+ miles on my first trip home, including recharging on the road, if necessary. In the end the best deal was only ~60 miles from home.

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I have at least four certified Leaf dealerships within 40 miles. I fully intend to get a price from each. I am not sure though, how the purchase process through the Leaf website works. I guess once I order my car a dealer will contact me? Or do I choose the dealer I want to buy it from?

Muleears said:

I have at least four certified Leaf dealerships within 40 miles. I fully intend to get a price from each. I am not sure though, how the purchase process through the Leaf website works. I guess once I order my car a dealer will contact me? Or do I choose the dealer I want to buy it from?

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Once you find a dealer you are comfortable with you then go through the "Request a Quote" process on the LEAF website, using the dealer you have selected. They should get back to you with a price similar to what you have informally negotiated. Be sure to notice whether the formal quote includes the $850 Destination and Delivery charge or not (it should say). If the price is what you expect you accept the quote and Nissan puts your car order in the queue, for eventual delivery to your chosen dealer. Then you wait for the car to be built and shipped to the dealer.

As part of the ordering process Nissan "requires" an evaluation for home charging. To waive this, just call them up and tell them you have other plans for charging (or that you plan to charge at 120 Volts with the EVSE supplied with the car). They will remove that block from ordering on-line.

dgpcolorado said:

Muleears said:

I have at least four certified Leaf dealerships within 40 miles. I fully intend to get a price from each. I am not sure though, how the purchase process through the Leaf website works. I guess once I order my car a dealer will contact me? Or do I choose the dealer I want to buy it from?

Click to expand...

Once you find a dealer you are comfortable with you then go through the "Request a Quote" process on the LEAF website, using the dealer you have selected. They should get back to you with a price similar to what you have informally negotiated. Be sure to notice whether the formal quote includes the $850 Destination and Delivery charge or not (it should say). If the price is what you expect you accept the quote and Nissan puts your car order in the queue, for eventual delivery to your chosen dealer. Then you wait for the car to be built and shipped to the dealer.

As part of the ordering process Nissan "requires" an evaluation for home charging. To waive this, just call them up and tell them you have other plans for charging (or that you plan to charge at 120 Volts with the EVSE supplied with the car). They will remove that block from ordering on-line.

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Thanks for explaining the process. I do plan to charge with an aftermarket charger, not the one from Nissan. How long from placing the order till I get my car?

Muleears said:

Thanks for explaining the process. I do plan to charge with an aftermarket charger, not the one from Nissan. How long from placing the order till I get my car?

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Generally two and a half to five months, but a lot depends on where you are located. Certain coastal cities get faster service, places far away from a delivery port can take longer as the cars get shipped by rail/truck. A few cars have been misplaced (in one case reported here the dealer selected lost their LEAF technician and that caused all sorts of problems with delivery: no tech, no LEAF certification).

Once the car gets close to the dealer they are at the mercy of independent car transport contractors and Nissan has little control of it at that point. This leads to a lot of griping here by impatient buyers.

Wow, I had no idea it could be 5 months or more. I better order now. Don't some dealers have them in stock or are they all pre-ordered?

Muleears said:

Wow, I had no idea it could be 5 months or more. I better order now. Don't some dealers have them in stock or are they all pre-ordered?

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You can always call around to see if a dealer has an orphan, but then you get what they have. If you are not a heat needed kind of driver, you may want to jump on the 2011 you mentioned.

After 13,500 miles of all electric driving, I am now confident that the Leaf will get me where I am going. Even in winter - 69 miles and a west coast mountain between me and my location I arrive with energy to spare. Rain, sleet, hail, and even a road closure have not left me stranded, although the road closure made my distance 97 miles so I ate dinner, did a little X-Mas shopping, and got almost an hour of L2 on the way home. We now check the weather related closures more. I feel I could have made it home without the L2, but we were hungry and it was there - so why not?

80 miles RT should not be too hard for you once you understand the car. It is easy to sprint onto the road using 80KW of power, but realize that max you can get back is 30KW (Much like a fast charger!) through slowing, so watch the power meter screen to see where you are using (and gaining) power. It helps a lot to think of it in time of use, rather than miles to travel. 55 mile an hour on flat ground uses between 5-10 KW, whereas 65MPH uses 10-15KW. Figure you have 20KWH to work with, and you will be able to go where you want with no concerns. If you find you really can rely on a charge at work , you will likely want to join the 80% club so you can have closer to full regen when you begin the drive. It is a bit more efficient that way - although the cost to operate is so low it isn't really worth the worry.

Greenest way to charge the Leaf is to regenerate your own electricity. No coal used that way.