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Quick update: We finally have what I've been calling "phase 2" installed and up and running. We ended up going with a single Tesla Powerwall 2, and added 3 additional east-facing panels to our garage roof after tracking actual production and usage for a few months. The new panels are sufficient...

Just replaced the OEM Michelin Energy Savers with Continental Purecontact LS A/S tires. Bumped the size to 225/50R17. Look nice. Seem to drive well. Quiet so far. Not too concerned with range as we use this car, more interested in better driving characteristics. Haven’t loved the Energy...

Update: 3 additional east-facing panels added to supplement the 18 west-facing panels we had installed last year. All on IQ8As. Also 1 Powerwall2 and associated Gateway for backup. Gives us about 16-20 hours of backup at baseline without any assistance. We could run off-grid with solar most...

Amen. +1 on all of the above.

I've written here before about our experiences and satisfaction with our 2019 SL plus, and how we choose to use it. Consider this a quick review and update. You can see in my signature that we currently own 3 very different vehicles, which are each used in specific ways - right tool for the job...

Tongue weight demonstration video below. It's the kind of thing that you can get away with, until you can't.

Speaking as a guy who has towed quite a bit while carefully paying attention to the limits, I would say that the Leaf is pretty much the last vehicle I would select for that purpose. I've towed a pop-up camper with my 2001 Forester (manual stick) through the Rockies, and similarly with a little...

With respect to how we manage charge level, we let go of any specific number. Whether it charges to 77% or 80% is frankly irrelevant. Close enough. I set it to charge for roughly long enough per the dash display and never worry about the details. Why would I? I think there may be a tendency to...

Also a former fan. I'm done with this guy. I've got nothing nice to add about him.

2019 here so Eco mode all the time. I haven't turned it off in years.

Not this experience at all, but we purchased our 2019 SL+ in Colorado with a range of incentives then offered for $27.5k before taxes and tags. Also thought that was a screaming deal. At the time I cross-shopped against the Corolla hatchback and the Mazda 3 hatchback ICE versions, just for...

Well said. We have an Audi Q5 TDI that makes 430 ft.lbs of torque, basically right off idle. Yes, I could burn through my tires and bark about it, but I'd rather just drive the car normally. Just because you have instant acceleration doesn't mean you have to use it constantly. On the other...

We buy gas maybe 6x a year for our other 2 cars combined. For our Audi, when we take longer trips or shuttle my wife's 60# trike around for a more distant bike ride in the mountains. We put gas in the roadster maybe 2x a year. The Audi is now 8+ years old and has 54k miles on it. Not exactly...

I would consider selling our 2019 SL+, but 1) it's paid for, 2) it still meets all of the needs we ask of it, and 3) I can't find a compelling replacement in the market today for reasonable dollars. So we're keeping the Leaf. If I were to sell it, the current best candidate might be the Kona...

We run the WR G3s on our Audi precisely because Denver area is generally pretty mild, but we drive into the mountains, which definitely are not. Great all weather tire. Prolly a little loud for the Leaf. I'm not sure about the latest generation, but Hakkapeliittas are definitely the real deal if...

I've been a regular customer at our local Discount Tire for many years, until it was destroyed in a wind storm a couple of years ago, and hasn't been rebuilt. I recently tried our local Big O, and won't be going back. Not a confidence-inspiring experience.

We run Hakkapeliittas on our Audi Q5 - Love 'em. They've held up well, but we don't put many miles on that car anymore. Their WR G3s are more of an all-weather tire, still severe winter rated, but intended for year-round use. They wear better than the Blizzaks I've tried, and have comparable...

FWIW, we just purchased new Vredstein Wintrac Pro snow tires in 205/55R17 XL size. They ride very nice and are very quiet, especially for a snow tire. Not as responsive as our Continent Winter Contacts that we just retired, which were a touch smaller at 205/50R17. The Conti's felt sportier. I...

Might be helpful to know which Leaf you're driving, and where you're located. Experiences vary quite a bit based on those 2 factors. For our part, we use our 2019 Leaf SL+ exclusively as an urban corridor runabout in the Denver area, for which it is very well suited. We never worry about range...

I have yet to see a review of any EV that focuses on the EV-specific features that we all know are decisive, particularly if you live anywhere that gets snow, e.g. the presence of a heat pump, whether the EVSE is included in the purchase price, etc. I'm not sure if they're just ignorant of the...