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Post by Phoebe on Aug 9, 2013 11:01:46 GMT 11
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Post by duncan on Aug 9, 2013 11:10:03 GMT 11
Interesting question.
I bought one because I believe plug in/battery cars are the medium term future and I'm happy to be one of the sales that helps build momentum.
Also, the up front margin is, or is almost, covered by petrol savings in my case
Also, I am a sucker for cool Nissans.
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Post by markrmarkr on Aug 12, 2013 22:22:53 GMT 11
I haven't actually got my leaf yet. I'm still waiting for it to be delivered. There were a number of reasons why I (will have) bought it. better for the environment. Just enjoy driving the car (at least the test drive). The big one is energy independence for Australia. I work for Defence and know people who deploy to the middle east, and I just like the idea that they don't have to kill anyone for me to drive my car. At the moment my contribution is just a small thing, but I think if enough people make the switch, the world will eventually be a better, more peaceful place.  |
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Post by leafboi on Aug 12, 2013 23:19:28 GMT 11
The big one is energy independence for Australia. I work for Defence and know people who deploy to the middle east, and I just like the idea that they don't have to kill anyone for me to drive my car. At the moment my contribution is just a small thing, but I think if enough people make the switch, the world will eventually be a better, more peaceful place. This is something I feel so many people look past. They see the electric car and think greenie snob, climate change is not happening. No one thinks of energy independence, so I'm glad you brought it up. I don't support war. War these days is all about oil. If we didn't need what they have we wouldn't be there, simple. |
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Post by Brian on Aug 13, 2013 2:44:32 GMT 11
My reasons were - * I'd had the electric motorbike for four years ( there were no production electric cars in Oz when I bought it ). The experience was so pleasurable and satisfying, going to four wheels and gaining weather protection was a natural progression. * Peak oil. People, all the easy stuff has been found. From here on it's going to be harder, and more expensive to get out. The scarcer it gets, the more the price at the pump will rise, exponentially, till it runs out. * To have the ' fuel bowser ' / solar PV at home gave independance, and that was appealing. * No tail pipe pumping out injurious particulates over my fellow citizens, or CO2 into the atmosphere to help cook the planet. * Financial savings in not buying petrol, and lower maintenance costs. For a person transitioning to retirement, these were budgetory reasons. * Quiet, clean, quick, smooth, etc , etc. * It's cool, man. * Hell, the LEAF is just FUN to drive. |
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Post by Jim Hare on Aug 13, 2013 23:54:24 GMT 11
Neat technology, self dependence on fuel (solar), energy independence for Australia, environment, wanted to be first kid on the block with a new toy! ;-)
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Post by David on Aug 14, 2013 13:06:10 GMT 11
Great thread Phoebe, not been a tech head I was getting a bit bored with all the techo stuff!
Novelty, energy independence very much part of it. I have family who work in the Gulf and I come from Lebanon. I have become a pacifist and I believe if we can wean ourselves off oil it couldn't happen too quickly. We'll probably fight over something else (?water) but what the hell
I do believe in climate change, not as a religion, but as a fact, it is happening
But in the end, it was the ride. All of the above got me to the test drive, but the ride did it
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Post by Feng on Aug 14, 2013 15:59:17 GMT 11
We wanted something Japanese and reliable to replace a lemon VW Golf and was originally looking at the Lexus CT200h. It wasn't that particularly fun to drive and was very expensive. Then the LEAF had its price cut and after taking a test drive I was hooked. I went from interested to obsessed after watching Revenge of the Electric Car and spending many late nights reading about it and trawling through forums for potential problems which I couldn't find any. I wish I did as much homework with the Golf before buying but wrongly assumed that VW = quality.
Two months into ownership and we're still as excited about it as the day we bought it. As a runabout around the city and to/from work the LEAF is perfect for our needs. I like to push the limits to see where I can go with it and hope to one day make it to Canberra if/when QC stations are installed along the way.
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marty
Half Charge
I like the idea of free transport....
Posts: 68
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Post by marty on Aug 14, 2013 17:00:31 GMT 11
Hey Feng,
Revenge of the Electric Car? Where did you see that?
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Post by Feng on Aug 14, 2013 17:24:49 GMT 11
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Post by Phoebe on Aug 14, 2013 18:08:22 GMT 11
Thanks for that, Feng, eberyone should see it.
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marty
Half Charge
I like the idea of free transport....
Posts: 68
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Post by marty on Aug 14, 2013 18:52:18 GMT 11
awesome, thanks for the link....
Was an interesting watch.
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Post by Brian on Aug 15, 2013 0:33:02 GMT 11
WE, dear fellow Forum members, are The REVENGE 
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Post by Jim Hare on Aug 15, 2013 9:14:11 GMT 11
You said it Brian! Hey, I'm in Perth 13 and 14 September, let's try to hook up.
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Post by Brian on Aug 16, 2013 16:54:52 GMT 11
Great, Jim. Europcar over here didn't want to know about EVs - claimed no demand.  So tell your wife that the LEAF has to go in for service, but slip it on the train and bring it accross  |
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Post by leighf on Aug 17, 2013 21:21:34 GMT 11
Thanks for finding and posting this Feng. I have been trying to see this movie for ages.
Leigh
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Post by markrmarkr on Aug 26, 2013 11:59:46 GMT 11
I haven't actually got my leaf yet. I'm still waiting for it to be delivered. There were a number of reasons why I (will have) bought it. better for the environment. Just enjoy driving the car (at least the test drive). The big one is energy independence for Australia. I work for Defence and know people who deploy to the middle east, and I just like the idea that they don't have to kill anyone for me to drive my car. At the moment my contribution is just a small thing, but I think if enough people make the switch, the world will eventually be a better, more peaceful place. Now that I have my Leaf things have change somewhat, and in a way that I didn't expect. What I said before is all still true, but the "driving" point is proving a lot more complex. I'm finding I'm enjoying it in a way that's difficult to explain. I've heard people who have converted cars to electric describe this thing called the EV-Grin, like it was some sort of in joke, and you had to actually have an EV to understand it. I think I'm starting to get it now. It's as though the EV is at long last delivering on the promise that cars have made but not delivered on for at least as long as I've been driving. Everything about a traditional ICE car works poorly compared to an EV and especially a Leaf. You put your foot on the accelerator in an ICE car and a whole lot of undesirable things happen before it starts going forward. There is a pause and the transmission may kick down, and the car starts to accelerate, slowly, then after a while its at full acceleration, and you are going too fast. And with all this palaver you know that most of the energy in the fuel is being wasted as heat . Similarly with breaking, all your energy is wasted as heat - how crazy is that. Some of this is observed effects, and some is going on in my head while I'm driving. I find myself observing the speed limit and enjoying it, because I know if I drive to the speed limit and not faster, then my energy economy will be better. Even stop start traffic is enjoyable because I'm not wasting energy going fast. And I'm regening to slow down. As I said - I had no idea it would happen, but I'm really enjoying it just the same. Yesterday a huge 4 wheel drive was bearing down on me as I was reversing out of my drive. Rather than make him slow down I shifted into D and planted my foot (Warp factor 10 Sckotty). I reached 50kmph very quickly, and in complete silence. At the first set of lights he pulled up in the lane next to me but behind me so he could check me out. here's what he saw. I'm loving it Attachments:
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Post by Phoebe on Aug 26, 2013 12:16:25 GMT 11
Yep, Mark, the LEAF is actually safer than my previous ICE car because of the foot to the floor acceleration ( which works just as well in Eco as in Drive). I have to go through a large dangerous roundabout on the New England Highway in Maitland, which has lots of big double trucks, to get anywhere. I am now, after nearly 10 months, coming to appreciate just how quick and how good the acceleration in the LEAF is as I squeeze into that traffic on the roundabout. I had to wait for much bigger gaps in the traffic in my old car to get into the roundabout. Leaving ICE cars at traffic lights is just fun  |
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Post by stewartm on Aug 26, 2013 23:13:37 GMT 11
The EV grin is interesting. I first test drove a Renault Zoe EV in France a few weeks back. When I got back I was grinning, great drive, quiet, powerful and smooth. The counter girl said that most people came back smiling, I had no reason to not believe her. Certainly did for me. Ps I'm getting a Zoe for my French home as I can leave it sitting, on 80% charge for six months with no issue in the garage. Petrol and diesel are not good with that.
Hence I'm getting a Leaf here. Renault say they have no plans for an Aussie Zoe here at this time. Great car, smaller than the Leaf though.
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Post by Brian on Aug 27, 2013 1:06:54 GMT 11
Very well put, Mark. - I agree completely.
Totally painless and guilt free are also terms that come to mind.
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Post by David on Aug 28, 2013 22:22:45 GMT 11
Mark that's the same colour as my leaf
Great colour isn't it
I'm sure it goes faster than the other colours!!!
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Post by markrmarkr on Aug 29, 2013 8:41:20 GMT 11
It is isn't it. Hey you’re in Bexley - the next suburb. Damn - people will be mistaking us for each other.
I know mine goes faster - at least since I took the roof racks off. ;D
I saw a blue one owned by the city council in Kings Cross last week. The first other Leaf I've seen, except at the dealer. Boy did it look sad. I think it must have had a hard life.
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Post by leafboi on Aug 29, 2013 9:31:15 GMT 11
I saw a blue one owned by the city council in Kings Cross last week. The first other Leaf I've seen, except at the dealer. Boy did it look sad. I think it must have had a hard life. You say it looked sad but I think that's great! It shows people that the LEAF is a REAL car. Being pretty and clean and propper and like new all the time, I feel, helps to fuel the myth that you can't use it like an ICE car. So bring on dirty beaten LEAFs to show that it's an everyday car. That's why people should buy it. ) |
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Post by stewartm on Aug 29, 2013 21:24:13 GMT 11
Got my LEAF today, very happy. In fact its as I always beleived a car should be, smooth efficient and quiet. Love it
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Post by Feng on Aug 29, 2013 21:33:33 GMT 11
Got my LEAF today, very happy. In fact its as I always beleived a car should be, smooth efficient and quiet. Love it Congrats Stewart! Happy motoring! |
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Post by Jim Hare on Aug 30, 2013 9:03:36 GMT 11
That's fantastic Stewart! And the great news is that wonderful feeling doesn't wear off.
It's been 14 months for me and I still smile every time I drive the LEAF!
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Post by Jim Hare on Aug 30, 2013 9:04:46 GMT 11
Well said! No such thing as a sad LEAF, it will jump into the trenches and take it better than any car out there. I saw a blue one owned by the city council in Kings Cross last week. The first other Leaf I've seen, except at the dealer. Boy did it look sad. I think it must have had a hard life. You say it looked sad but I think that's great! It shows people that the LEAF is a REAL car. Being pretty and clean and propper and like new all the time, I feel, helps to fuel the myth that you can't use it like an ICE car. So bring on dirty beaten LEAFs to show that it's an everyday car. That's why people should buy it. ) |
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Post by Phoebe on Aug 30, 2013 10:10:30 GMT 11
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Post by David on Aug 30, 2013 15:12:03 GMT 11
Mark, there is another leaf in Bexley (Feng), but it is not the fast colour like ours
I am interested in getting roof racks. What brand/model do you have
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Post by Phoebe on Aug 30, 2013 15:26:19 GMT 11
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