BooKittyLeaf
Well-known member
So the wife & I have been going to the dealers & taking long test drives in the 2015 leaf -in Phoenix, AZ. - been to three so far. The Leaf is a fun car to drive & we are all for switching to electric as our daily miles are around 45 if we both use the car, about 20 miles a day separately with two leafs. Cant wait to get one or two!
We want to convert our monthly gas costs ($300 +/-) into a car payment for Leaf, thus its a wash. Plus @ $30 month for electricity - basically a new car for $0 -$30 a month depending on the pice of gas.
Lease vs Buy used my Pros & Cons
LEASE:
2015 SV - $249 month plus tax ($268) + $2399 down = a monthly payment +/- $334 x 36 months = $12,000 +/-
PROS: - after 3 years possibly better battery tech (Dual Carbon batteries??), longer range, can swap for newer technology
if battery looses capacity quicker than normal (in 120* arizona summers) who cares, not my car - turn it in.
CONS: - After 3 years no car, turn in inspection, disposition fee/turn in fee?, Pay for repairs, damage, excessive wear & tear (purely subjective)
Limited miles, cant really personalize - not your car - if you spill a drink - HOLLY CR@P!
BUY USED:
2011 - 13 SV, 11-12 bars, Active warranties, no B033 notification- $12,500 +/-
Regardless of the car, negotiate sale price to reflect $350 month for 36 months
PROS: -Own the car, do what you want, unlimited miles, drive for 10 + years?? pending the battery, still some warranty left.
After 3 years still have the car to use
CONSIDER this... At the end of each scenario I have:
- spent @ $12,000.
- its been 3 years - whats new in tech, battery, range improvements are available
With the LEASE - I end up with no car. Have to start a new lease or extend the one I have - continue payments. Perhaps pay fee/repair if turning it in or buy it for another $12,000 - 3 more years of payments for "old" technology
With the BUY - I still have the car. Perhaps at 11, 9, even 8 bars (if out of warranty). NO payments - so Monthly gas costs are now a SAVINGS of $300+ a month. can use this to buy another Leaf, 2 years old (2016 by then) & repeat the process.
Even if the range is down to 50% - we only need 40 miles a day. So we can drive it for a long time, or, for $100 a month get a new Lizard Battery & be back to 12 bars & full range for another 5+ years with a newer Technology Lithium Ion battery (Yes, the Lizard battery will fit all previous Leafs. 2011-12 will need an adapter - buy they can al benefit form new battery.
So, at the end of 6 years, we would have two Leafs - PAID FOR. With perhaps $100 a month on one for new battery for longer trips. second leaf can loose capacity to 6 bars? & still get me 25 miles a day to/from work
I know this sounds like a weird idea, but it makes more sense to me than to keep leasing with bigger payments.
The Cars themselves are almost the same years after year - subtle differences in accessories communication, etc... that we dont care so much about - Its the batteries that are KEY with these cars. Take a 2011 with worn out battery - swap to a new battery after 6-7 - "new" car again with the Lizard battery no less. So an $8,000 battery cost every 10 years is like $60 a month for cost of ownership - unless the car itself fails.
Buying a new car is out of the question as I do NOT pay for depreciation, dealer costs, destination charges & all the other Fees (just really bothers me!)
Anyway, appreciate any input as to the best way to buy a used Leaf, or anything else I might have missed in this scenario.
We want to convert our monthly gas costs ($300 +/-) into a car payment for Leaf, thus its a wash. Plus @ $30 month for electricity - basically a new car for $0 -$30 a month depending on the pice of gas.
Lease vs Buy used my Pros & Cons
LEASE:
2015 SV - $249 month plus tax ($268) + $2399 down = a monthly payment +/- $334 x 36 months = $12,000 +/-
PROS: - after 3 years possibly better battery tech (Dual Carbon batteries??), longer range, can swap for newer technology
if battery looses capacity quicker than normal (in 120* arizona summers) who cares, not my car - turn it in.
CONS: - After 3 years no car, turn in inspection, disposition fee/turn in fee?, Pay for repairs, damage, excessive wear & tear (purely subjective)
Limited miles, cant really personalize - not your car - if you spill a drink - HOLLY CR@P!
BUY USED:
2011 - 13 SV, 11-12 bars, Active warranties, no B033 notification- $12,500 +/-
Regardless of the car, negotiate sale price to reflect $350 month for 36 months
PROS: -Own the car, do what you want, unlimited miles, drive for 10 + years?? pending the battery, still some warranty left.
After 3 years still have the car to use
CONSIDER this... At the end of each scenario I have:
- spent @ $12,000.
- its been 3 years - whats new in tech, battery, range improvements are available
With the LEASE - I end up with no car. Have to start a new lease or extend the one I have - continue payments. Perhaps pay fee/repair if turning it in or buy it for another $12,000 - 3 more years of payments for "old" technology
With the BUY - I still have the car. Perhaps at 11, 9, even 8 bars (if out of warranty). NO payments - so Monthly gas costs are now a SAVINGS of $300+ a month. can use this to buy another Leaf, 2 years old (2016 by then) & repeat the process.
Even if the range is down to 50% - we only need 40 miles a day. So we can drive it for a long time, or, for $100 a month get a new Lizard Battery & be back to 12 bars & full range for another 5+ years with a newer Technology Lithium Ion battery (Yes, the Lizard battery will fit all previous Leafs. 2011-12 will need an adapter - buy they can al benefit form new battery.
So, at the end of 6 years, we would have two Leafs - PAID FOR. With perhaps $100 a month on one for new battery for longer trips. second leaf can loose capacity to 6 bars? & still get me 25 miles a day to/from work
I know this sounds like a weird idea, but it makes more sense to me than to keep leasing with bigger payments.
The Cars themselves are almost the same years after year - subtle differences in accessories communication, etc... that we dont care so much about - Its the batteries that are KEY with these cars. Take a 2011 with worn out battery - swap to a new battery after 6-7 - "new" car again with the Lizard battery no less. So an $8,000 battery cost every 10 years is like $60 a month for cost of ownership - unless the car itself fails.
Buying a new car is out of the question as I do NOT pay for depreciation, dealer costs, destination charges & all the other Fees (just really bothers me!)
Anyway, appreciate any input as to the best way to buy a used Leaf, or anything else I might have missed in this scenario.