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Post by bobherbert on Sept 16, 2012 15:39:08 GMT 11
:Di'm curious as to the number of leafs!leaves!registered in aus.
Moorooka Nissan service centre rep told me they were into double figures on sales.i know of 2 in brisbane,a white and a black.
I have only seen the white car on the road.
PROBOARD says there only 8 Australia wide.
It would be nice to know there are others in Brisbane.
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Post by richardh on Sept 16, 2012 21:15:05 GMT 11
I am in Sydney and I am yet to see another on the road. If anyone sees me driving - white LEAF - then please wave/honk/flash headlights.
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Post by Brian on Sept 16, 2012 22:24:28 GMT 11
Quote " Moorooka Nissan service centre rep told me they were into double figures on sales."
If true, then some LEAFs are not being registered on Carwings, which I understood to be standard Nissan pre-delivery practice.
In Western Australia, there is our white one ( rego NIL CO2 ) and the RAC of WA are taking delivery of another ( colour unknown at this stage ). I am told another four have been ordered by another party.
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Post by Jim Hare on Sept 17, 2012 16:53:42 GMT 11
Are people really that uninterested in buying the LEAF? I know they cost a lot but I would have thought there would be at least 100 on the road since we got ours in June.
The public can be so closed minded. Frustrating.
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Post by Brian on Sept 17, 2012 23:01:42 GMT 11
Point 1. We are a nation of ' Petrol Heads ' Point 2. Other than the electronic media, I am not aware of any advertising for the LEAF Point 3. So it is not surprising that probably 99% of the people I talk to have never heard of the LEAF Point 4. Where they have heard of it, they think it is a hybrid Point 5. We, the happy and fortunate LEAF owners, are the best advertisements for the cars. Our friends who have ridden in it, or, in selected cases, been allowed to drive it, have , without exception been impressed, and some even amazed. In fact, I believe a couple may well become converts - one is already modifying his house electrics. Point 6. Lack of federal or state government incentives. In U. S. A. and U.K., such incentives have lead to a far greater uptake. Point 7. The price - the greatest obstacle . . . until people test drive it and get to feel the silky smoothness and the quality of the build - it could be a Beemer  Point 8. Range. If you do frequent country trips, you would need a second car / fossil fuel burner |
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Post by David on Oct 31, 2012 14:08:51 GMT 11
Brian, you have nailed it on every point. I am still amazed at the lack of advertising of what is a revolutionary car and have brought this up with Nissan. I am doing my best to be an ambassador for the car. Interestingly, at a recent family BBQ, my leaf got all the attention and my cousin's new BMW was almost ignored. I think some advertising and 5-10K off the price and there will be many leafs on the road
Here's hoping
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Post by Brian on Nov 1, 2012 1:56:09 GMT 11
Yes, I agree $10K off the price would be a scene changer.
I don't have an issue with the basic cost of the car, per se, at $ 46K. Take a ' similar ' Fossil Fuel Burner at around $35K, and add $10K because it's electric, and that works for me. But it is the compounding effect of taxes that brings in the pain factor.
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Post by Jim Hare on Nov 1, 2012 11:57:40 GMT 11
I agree. I've bent over backwards screaming from the rooftops. Abihannad, I had the exact same experience at a BBQ over the weekend. Was the main topic of conversation and after a test drive really sent the message that this was a real car.
They asked silly questions like "why does it have a steering wheel, why not a joystick?" I said to be successful the first thing they have to do is make it exactly like a regular car, just emission free.
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Post by bobherbert on Nov 30, 2012 11:14:50 GMT 11
Greetings all,I just had a word with my Leaf dealer.he tells me that Moorooka Nisan have sold 5 Leaf and a north side dealer has sold 3 to 4.SOME have not been registered on Carwings at the purchaser's request.Also the dealers are reluctant to pass on to them the proboard.com web site because of
privacy concerns.
I guess some people cant go ALL the way to embrace a new method of doing things.
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Post by Brian on Dec 2, 2012 0:56:03 GMT 11
Good to hear the numbers are growing, albeit slowly. In W.A. ( Wait Awhile ) we still only have two non-dealer LEAFs on the road - the R.A.C.W.A.s and ours. Not registering on Carwings sounds like paranoia, in case Carwings could be used to find that they are in places they don't want people to know they are  " the dealers are reluctant to pass on to them the proboard.com web site because of privacy concerns." Surely the new owner should be given the chance to choose whether to join the Forum or not. If they choose not to, then there are no privacy problems. Whereas, if Carwings was hacked, then a person's privacy might be compromised to some extent. |
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 4, 2012 20:58:59 GMT 11
My brother in the U.S. says Nissan are changing their strategy and trying to get as many LEAFs on the road as possible, both to make people feel comfortable with the concept being "normal" as well as have more market share when the next advancements happen.
So they are giving insane 3-year leases (again in the US) for like $120 per month in hopes that in 3 years everyone will want the next model.
Certainly makes sense. We can all see that the current model at the current price is only going to be popular with hardcore enthusiasts like us who have vision beyond a price tag...
For me, I'll have this one, the next one and the one after that. No way I would wait 3 years to have this incredible experience.
As long as it gets more people behind the wheel and promotes change, I'd be all for it.
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Post by Brian on Dec 4, 2012 22:03:11 GMT 11
A lease at those rates sounds like a great way to go. But then it would seem, from ' Revenge of the Electric Car ' that Nissan's CEO, Carlos Ghosn, is a radical thinker. Only problem in Australia is that figure will get screwed by greedy, ' denier ' politicians charging G.S.T. AND stamp duty on the lease.
It is interesting, because I was talking to Nissan's W.A. Marketing manager at the W.A. premier of ' Revenge ' in W.A. last night, and he floated the idea of a LEAF lease at $45 per week. Now, if a person has solar PV, that really is a no brainer - I would have gone for that like a shot.
BTW, we had the W.A. corporate LEAF, a Holden Volt and a Tesla Roadster in front of the theatre for the premier of ' Revenge ', and the event generated a lot of interest.
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 5, 2012 20:40:11 GMT 11
At $45/week I'd probably get a second LEAF just for fun!
Seeing the Tesla would have been cool!
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Post by Brian on Dec 5, 2012 23:18:20 GMT 11
CORRECTION
Apologies - when I sought clarification today, it should have been $45 per day.
It would be a thirty six month lease, and would include registration and servicing. The vehicle could be returned to Nissan at the end of that time, or be purchased for $ 20,600 + GST.
This was based on a driveaway price of $57 odd K.
Such a lease could be a way into EVs for those unable, or unwilling, to purchase outright.
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 6, 2012 8:05:05 GMT 11
Hmmm, not so sure that would be enough incentive.
Basically after 3 years someone would have spent $48,600 and not own anything. Makes the total cost almost $70k if they did buy it.
My feeling is until the range goes up and the costs go way down, we're going to be part of a very exclusive club! ;-)
I believe the reality of high range/low cost will happen in the next couple of years so the new goal is to keep the concept in front of people and show them the concept is completely viable so when the time comes they can't wait to own one.
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Post by David on Dec 6, 2012 22:02:51 GMT 11
this thread started with the question of how many Leafs may be on the road and ended by taking cost. I guess the two are intimately connected and as mentioned above, with current pricing and lack of any push in Australia, we are likely to remain a small and exclusive club. I got so sick of people not quite getting it when I said I owned an electrical car (You mean hybrid they would say) that I have committed even more money to my leaf by ordering (and will pick up this weekend) the number plate NOPTRL. Anyone jealous? I have yet to see another Leaf in Sydney. My main commutes are from Bexley to Liverpool and often across the bridge to Milson's point. Have not seen another Leaf in the 2 months I have owned mine. By the way, I am averaging just over 2000km per month, with no problems.
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Post by Brian on Dec 7, 2012 1:36:55 GMT 11
As with any lease, mortgage or hire purchase, the total cost will always be greater due to the interest factor.
Against that should be factored in the lower running costs ( almost nil if you have solar ) no service costs, and petrol prices that will continue to rise.
It appeared to me that a buyer might be paying G.S.T. twice, when once is bad enough.
For those who cover over 150 kms per day in their work, range will be a factor. But research shows that more than 80% of drivers don't, and therefore they don't have a range problem.
Range has not inhibited LEAF sales in the U.S. and U.K., where enlightened governments provide incentives, not dis-incentives as are provided by our be-nighted pollies.
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 9, 2012 10:02:12 GMT 11
I think the new pricing structure will see more on the road. David, you'll find me all around the North Shore and in the Sydney CBD!
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Post by Brian on Dec 19, 2012 1:29:37 GMT 11
At last, a second non-corporate LEAF has been sold out here in the Wild West - silver in colour.
I have asked the salesman to pass on the Forum link to the buyer.
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Post by Brian on Feb 3, 2013 22:28:33 GMT 11
After six months on the roads of W.A., I saw the first other private LEAF on our roads a couple of days ago. We drove ' in company ', abreast on a three lane highway, for a while.
I am told there are now 6 private LEAFs in W.A., with the latest sale ( ex. demo ) being trucked down to Albany in the South West.
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Post by David on Feb 4, 2013 8:03:36 GMT 11
I still have not seen another leaf on the road in the southern and south western parts of Sydney. There is a Nissan dealership in Rockdale, close to where I live. They don't seem aware of the existence of the leaf, will not service it, so I take it to the place I bought it from (Alexandria). I am still astonished by Nissan's absolute lack of push for this amazing car they have created. I have no explanation
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Post by duncan on Feb 4, 2013 8:31:16 GMT 11
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Post by Brian on Feb 7, 2013 0:45:55 GMT 11
David . . . agree absolutely, it is an amazing car.
But I think Nissan are realistic and have done their market research.
Commercially available EVs are relatively new technology, and this is treated with great suspicion and reticence by the majority, who are comfortable with proven fossil fuel powered vehicles.
Nissan anticipated a limited uptake by early adapters ( that's us ) and the climate change concious ( us again ? )
There are other challenges -
* the oil industry doesn't like EVs, for obvious reasons, and promotes the ' range anxiety ' myth
* Australian politicians don't like EVs because by not buying fuel, EVs are not contributing to the tax base
* Petrol and diesel are too cheap. In U.K., where they are paying the equivalent of $2.50 / litre, the EV uptake has been a lot faster.
* The enlightened U.S. & U.K. governments have provided very attractive subsidies, which are absent here.
At the moment, we, The Early Adapters, are the LEAFs best salespeople, as we 'spruick' our brilliant cars.
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Post by Brian on Feb 17, 2013 1:05:59 GMT 11
If, as LEAF owners, there are times when we might feel a bit ' lonely ', take heart -  Nissan have just announced that 50,000, yes, fifty thousand, LEAFs have been sold world wide. Nissan also says it is the top car in their whole range for customer satisfaction. These figures make it the top selling pure EV to date. As LEAF owners, we can understand why.  |
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