New England Leafs?

[mitch672]

more than outright buying it, but less than the time value of the $7500, IMHO.
Keep in mind if you purchase it, you also have to pay interest and sales tax on that $7500 as well.

or, you can leave the lease in place as well, with the purchase option at the end of the 36 months.

you can see my Lease spreadhseet here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqqqbVu0y6pzdDkzR1RDcTYzT0hBaU1ySEhfdG13Z3c&hl=en_US#gid=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[ghabel]

Here in mass do we have any other tax credits besides the fed $7500?

 

[listless]

Nothing in Massachusetts.

I had read about pending legislation to eliminate sales tax for EVs and charging equipment but it looks like it has some baggage in the form of agreeing to a new "vehicle miles traveled" tax (since we won't be paying gas taxes.)

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S01490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a bit out-of-date ("Hearing scheduled for 05/12/2011") so I assume nothing has happened with it. I guess I should contact my state senator...

 

[jimcmorr]

FWIW... I went to my local (Keene NH) Nissan dealer Saturday to ask a couple of questions. Near the end of our converastion he told me that they were expecting two LEAFs to arrive in a couple of weeks. I think that makes it the first week in December (week of Dec 5). One of those LEAFs is their Demo car and the other is a customer's car. (Not me, though I'd like to know who. I might even know the person.) He said it was on their "drop sheet" and "usually cars with a date on that arrive within a couple days of that date". He also told me that those cars were coming in to Newport and being shipped from there.

 

[ghabel]

Nothing in Massachusetts.

I had read about pending legislation to eliminate sales tax for EVs and charging equipment but it looks like it has some baggage in the form of agreeing to a new "vehicle miles traveled" tax (since we won't be paying gas taxes.)

http://www.malegislature.gov/Bills/187/Senate/S01490" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It's a bit out-of-date ("Hearing scheduled for 05/12/2011") so I assume nothing has happened with it. I guess I should contact my state senator...

That's a bummer but maybe some day.

 

[listless]

My dashboard was just updated from "Month of January" to "Week of January 9, 2012"

Things are getting more and more real.

 

[mitch672]

My dashboard was just updated from "Month of January" to "Week of January 9, 2012"

Things are getting more and more real.

Yes, mine was too. That happens to be my birthday as well

 

[jimcmorr]

Happy Birthday! Congrats on your LEAF too!

 

[ghabel]

Just checked mine and it is still: "Month of January"
Ok, I'm officially jealous!

I was just in a Advanced AutoParts and ask him what they carry for the LEAF. Zilch! Looks like the cabin filter might be able to be ordered.
Got the usual range questions, charging times etc from the folks behind the counter.

 

[listless]

I got my first test drive this weekend -- our dealer got their demo car (a red one) on Friday.

If anyone is still having problems ordering one...Johnson Nissan in Pittsfield, MA (way out west) has their act together with a knowledgeable Leaf specialist on staff and four charging stations installed.

My Schneider EVLink is installed and preparations are almost complete in my garage/car nursery (I've likened the preparations to that of a new baby's arrival)...

Now to wait until the week of January 9th.

 

[mitch672]

I received a call on Monday from the Leaf specialist at "Clay Nissan" in Norwood, MA (which is the dealer my Leaf was ordered from). Their demo Leaf came in, and I was invited to a test drive. I picked up the Leaf this morning at 11AM, and had it for 3 hours. Drove it 34.5 miles,tried highway (to 72MPH), city, local roads. very nice car.. I paired my iPhone 4 to the Leaf and made and received calls, also used the USB sync cable for the iPhone to the USB port, and listened to part of a podcast, etc. Watched the "energy monitor" a bit, and used the heat (1.5KW being drawn), noticed the range drop etc. I think this will work for me, my commute is 35 miles roundtrip. I also took the Leaf home and tried out my Schnieder EVSE for about 30 minutes of charging, and that also worked, so I now have that tested as well. My dashboard has a delivery date of "Week of January 9th, 2012". I hope it comes in a bit earlier possibly, like the end of December, that makes buying the Leaf easier, since I won't have to wait an entire year for the $7500 rebate... if it arrives in January, its probably going to be leased, and possibly converted to a purchase later.

BTW, the car only had 17 miles on the demo when I picked it up, returned it with over 52 miles on the odometer. The 120V EVSE in the hatch was still new in the package, and not even unwrapped or used yet.

 

[essaunders]

Nice to see you got a good long drive. I hope to do the same here in NH next week.

 

[listless]

...since I won't have to wait an entire year for the $7500 rebate... if it arrives in January, its probably going to be leased, and possibly converted to a purchase later.

Since it will be arriving in early January, I was thinking about simply playing with the my federal tax withholding amounts for the year. Knowing that I'll get a $7500 credit in early 2013 -- I could have $625/month LESS withheld from my paycheck over all of 2012. Spread out like that it would definitely make the first year's payments much more manageable.

And I'm kicking myself for getting a 15 inch snow tire/wheel package for my Nissan cube last February instead of 16 inch. Looks like I'm out of luck on re-using them on the Leaf, but I'm going to borrow the demo Leaf soon and try one out just to see for myself. Nice that the dealers are flexible with the demo car -- they said I could use it to test out my Schneider EVSE also.

 

[ghabel]

Just got my update email. Scheduled for delivery the week of jan 20th.

 

[essaunders]

Week of Jan 20 here too. I'm in southern NH - I assume our cars get trucked in from New Jersey? When should we start watching ships?

 

[maevguy]

My dashboard shows "week of January 20th" as well.
I too ordered from Clay Nissan of Norwood, MA.

Any update on the MA incentives above and beyond the federal ones?

 

[mitch672]

My dashboard shows "week of January 20th" as well.
I too ordered from Clay Nissan of Norwood, MA.

Any update on the MA incentives above and beyond the federal ones?

Yeah, don't hold your breath unlikely in this economic climate for MA to even consider lowering tax revenue now.

mine is still showing "Week of January 9th, 2012" no VIN or carwings yet though

 

[maevguy]

Yeah... I'm not holding my breath for the sales tax rebate or waiver. I'm still holding out hope for more symbolic gestures... Use of HOV lane, designated parking spaces at Logan (there already are some spaces labeled "hybrid vehicles", IIRC), maybe even charging locations at Logan, similar to the ones at Government Center...

 

[Martytdi]

I need the tax rebate this year so I am paying for the Leaf in December. The dealer will already have the VIN # so I will get the rebate for 2011. If I didn't get the rebate this year I couldn't afford the car.

 

[mitch672]

I need the tax rebate this year so I am paying for the Leaf in December. The dealer will already have the VIN # so I will get the rebate for 2011. If I didn't get the rebate this year I couldn't afford the car.

How do you know you'll have the VIN? Mine shows up as "Week of January 9th, 2012", and I still have no VIN. There is always the leasing option, which will get you the $7500 federal credit passed on to you through NIMC, then after 3 months you can pay it off (or not, no need to rush, since you now have 36 months to decide if you really want to own it)