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Post by greenisgold on Dec 6, 2014 0:42:42 GMT 11
Anyone have any new advice on purchasing, given how hard it's been for me to even track down a Leaf to test drive? Is 40k for tech that's sat around through a few Aussie summers still worth it? And is the charger that the dealer will recommend the best one to get installed?
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Post by caskings on Dec 6, 2014 1:02:46 GMT 11
Hi greenisgold.
What area do you live in? One of the members here might be able to give a drive in their car. I haven't noticed any deterioration in my leaf over the last 21,000 kms.
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Post by Phoebe on Dec 6, 2014 5:07:34 GMT 11
Hi greenis gold, welcome to the forum. My LEAF has sat through 2 Maitland summers, often in 40 degrees without developing any obvious problems. I charge using the cable provided in a 15amp power point I had installed, very much cheaper than any of those fancy charger things. It is a bit slower, but time isn't a problem for me.
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Post by gabzimiev on Dec 6, 2014 7:50:57 GMT 11
And is the charger that the dealer will recommend the best one to get installed? In my biased opinion because I sell the charger that Nissan in the USA recommend you can buy mine for cheaper. unbiased they all the do the same job recommend you, buy one that has Australian certification (mainly for home insurance purposes) . and avoid importing and DIY kits unless you have enough electrical knowledge to be able to read a wiring diagram.
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Post by Jim Hare on Dec 6, 2014 7:54:24 GMT 11
Welcome!
There have been quite a few new purchases recently so many have had the same concerns and gone on to buy the LEAF.
Every owner I have ever met loves it, whether they got it a couple of weeks ago or years ago like we did.
From what I can tell the only thing to watch out for is that they properly detail the car before delivery, to ensure it's prestine when you pick it up.
There have been no mechanical or battery issues reported from anyone who purchased recently.
Regarding charging, it's really based on your needs. Virtually no one is buying the expensive chargers anymore. Some, like Phoebe, opt for the included portable charger that come with the LEAF, while others spend between $400 - $1,200 on third party options.
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Post by lesmando24 on Dec 6, 2014 10:03:39 GMT 11
I bought the Chargepoint CT500 for $2990 when I bought my LEAF in 2012, and it is a very nice unit. But you can get a Aerovironment EVSE-RS for over $1000 less. Both do the exact same job. So why pay more if you don't need to.
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Post by leafboi on Dec 6, 2014 11:46:02 GMT 11
Get it!!! The current finance deal of no deposit and 0% has me thinking to trade on and get a new one to lower my monthly payment!! As for the EVSE I also have the chargepoint from origin. More expensive yes, but it also has a warranty and knowing ChargePoint australia will service it if need be is reassuring.
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Post by Feng on Dec 6, 2014 12:34:46 GMT 11
Maybe the recent new owners can chime in on how the range and apperance of their new cars have been?
I wonder if there was some poor guy at Nissan who had to top up several hundred LEAFs after they've been sitting for two years? I know the battery is supposed to hold charge for months without much loss but after two years surely it would have needed a top up at some stage.
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Post by moyanous on Dec 6, 2014 14:48:31 GMT 11
I bought mine 4 weeks ago, it looked brand new. Couldn't tell that it has been sitting around for two years. Just had 1000k service, the battery is in excellent health according to the report. At full charge, the GOM shows 166-168km range. I can't tell what the actual range is 'cause we've never let it run down completely yet.
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Post by Feng on Dec 6, 2014 16:05:06 GMT 11
Hello Moyanous, welcome to the forum. Good to know they're holding up well to storage. Where are you from?
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Post by Phoebe on Dec 6, 2014 16:16:01 GMT 11
Hi moyanous! Welcome to the forum Is that 166-168 km range in Eco or Drive? Do you use the aircon? Is it flat or hilly near your home?
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Post by jacky on Dec 6, 2014 17:49:57 GMT 11
Hi moyanous! Welcome to the forum Is that 166-168 km range in Eco or Drive? Do you use the aircon? Is it flat or hilly near your home? While you are waiting for moyanous. You may be interested to know about mine. I had mine for 2.5 months old. It has >160 km in Drive and >170 km in Eco (you know GOM does not always show the same number) when it was fully charged and aircon off. My place is flat.
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Post by moyanous on Dec 6, 2014 20:18:35 GMT 11
Thanks. That's 166-168km in Drive, no aircon. Around here it's mainly flat but there are a few hilly places. I'm from Perth.
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Post by Phoebe on Dec 6, 2014 21:53:36 GMT 11
you know GOM does not always show the same number Yes, jacky, I know that. It's an estimate worked out on how you have been driving and although we may think we are driving exactly the same, we never are. The hills only have to vary a little, the speed only has to vary a little and it may be quite different. Even going in the opposite direction, on a longer trip, makes a difference.
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Post by Phoebe on Dec 6, 2014 21:58:17 GMT 11
Thanks. That's 166-168km in Drive, no aircon. Around here it's mainly flat but there are a few hilly places. I'm from Perth. That's about as good as it gets - it hasn't done your LEAF any harm sitting around for a couple of years. There are a number of members on this forum in Perth, Brian was the first. Three of them met up, and there is a photo somewhere in the forum posts.
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jennie
EV Enthusiast
Posts: 40
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Post by jennie on Dec 7, 2014 0:45:54 GMT 11
Hi greenisgold and moyanous. Hi Feng, here are my numbers in answer to your question for new owners. I've had mine for just over 2 weeks now. I'm up to about 900kms on the odometer. I usually charge to 80%, and when I turn the car on and put it in Eco, the GOM reads around 140 - 145km. I charged it to 100% the other day, and the GOM in Eco read 175km. I have not yet run the battery to empty (and I never will - to scared to experiment out here in the country where it's mainly unpopulated highways and no public chargers) so I don't know how many kms a full charge can do.
With regards to the appearance of my Leaf, sitting around for a couple of years doesn't seem to have done it any harm. Mine is Glacier White, and to my eyes, looks brand new.
Other than the fact that I still haven't got Carwings going yet (I'll post the response from Dean from Nissan in the Carwings thread), I absolutely love driving my Leaf.
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Post by projectatlas on Dec 7, 2014 14:29:19 GMT 11
Hi Jennie, may I ask you how much you paid for yours? I actually signed a contract to buy a silver one on Saturday a week ago. Went to BMW Brisbane to test drive the new i3 because my wife insisted on it. Did the test drive, love the car, cancelled the deal with Nissan Gold Coast on the same afternoon. I was going to pay $40450 for a brand new silver one with tint. It can be test driven still at the dealership. Current milage is 250 km.
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Post by projectatlas on Dec 7, 2014 14:35:13 GMT 11
Btw, before anyone here in the LEAF forum ask me why I did not buy and lynch me for that....
LEAF is a great car. Super good value for money. The i3 is just a better car in every aspect except boot space.
Is the i3 worth twice the price of LEAF? Absolutely NOT.
But the i3 made me FALL IN LOVE with an EV for the first time ever. LEAF never did that for me.
I recommend anyone here to at least test drive the i3 once. It will make you GRIN!
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Post by Phoebe on Dec 7, 2014 14:56:30 GMT 11
Thanks. That's 166-168km in Drive, no aircon. Around here it's mainly flat but there are a few hilly places. I'm from Perth. That's about as good as it gets - it hasn't done your LEAF any harm sitting around for a couple of years. There are a number of members on this forum in Perth, Brian was the first. Three of them met up, and there is a photo somewhere in the forum posts. Here is the photo of the Perth meet - Brian on the right.
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Post by greenisgold on Dec 7, 2014 23:26:28 GMT 11
Thank you all for the prompt and enthusiastic (not to mention informative) replies! I think I'd very much like to be a productive member of the Leaf community, but I'm having quite the time getting behind the wheel for a test drive. I'm in Geelong, Victoria. So far, here's the blow by blow... Signed up on the Nissan website to be contacted for a test drive. Got a call the next day from Dealer A saying "We don't have one, call around to a few other places and see what they say." Called Dealer B. They didn't think they'd get one for "a while". Called Dealer C. They'd sold the one they had and had another coming in "at the end of the week". Called them on Thursday to confirm and was chastised for confirming, then reassured that they'd call me on Saturday when the car arrived. Didn't get a call. I'll call them on Monday, at which point I'll have to see if they are going to come through or if I'm taking the gas guzzler to Melbourne. Ug. Starting to get frustrated.
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Post by moyanous on Dec 8, 2014 2:25:30 GMT 11
Thanks Phoebe for the photo. Nice cars. I originally was going to get 'electric blue' but ended up a bit more conservative, with a silver one.
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Post by jeffjl on Dec 8, 2014 11:22:40 GMT 11
Thanks Phoebe for the photo. Nice cars. I originally was going to get 'electric blue' but ended up a bit more conservative, with a silver one. Damn silver ones in Perth. That is another one. Now kind of wanting a big storm to wreck the place so I can get a different colour. Welcome Moyanous. One day G4 will arrange something and we can all get together. Who did you buy it from? Magic Nissan. If so Mike must be sick of selling silver cars.
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Post by caskings on Dec 8, 2014 11:31:04 GMT 11
greenisgold, I feel your pain. When I was looking into the Leaf. Of the two dealers certified in Brisbane, one was a complete waste of space and my time. The other was fantastic, it comes down the the certified Leaf sales person (Hi John @ moorooka nissan ). If they care is then all is great. If they are ambivalent, then it is like getting your teeth pulled.
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Post by gabzimiev on Dec 8, 2014 11:46:26 GMT 11
Thank you all for the prompt and enthusiastic (not to mention informative) replies! I think I'd very much like to be a productive member of the Leaf community, but I'm having quite the time getting behind the wheel for a test drive. I'm in Geelong, Victoria. So far, here's the blow by blow... Signed up on the Nissan website to be contacted for a test drive. Got a call the next day from Dealer A saying "We don't have one, call around to a few other places and see what they say." Called Dealer B. They didn't think they'd get one for "a while". Called Dealer C. They'd sold the one they had and had another coming in "at the end of the week". Called them on Thursday to confirm and was chastised for confirming, then reassured that they'd call me on Saturday when the car arrived. Didn't get a call. I'll call them on Monday, at which point I'll have to see if they are going to come through or if I'm taking the gas guzzler to Melbourne. Ug. Starting to get frustrated. you can take pye the leaf for a test drive without a dealer you just have to pay car hire. www.goget.com.au/bookings/show_vehicle.php?vehicle_id=1516
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Post by lesmando24 on Dec 8, 2014 20:03:56 GMT 11
Nice, I like the names they give the cars.
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Post by moyanous on Dec 9, 2014 1:15:03 GMT 11
Yes got mine from Magic Nissan. According to Mike the only stocks left in Perth are red and black.
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Post by greenisgold on Dec 10, 2014 22:56:51 GMT 11
Got a chance to test drive a Leaf at last! Was impressed by so many things, primarily the handling and the oomph when you put your foot down. Not the way to drive for economy, but still a lot of fun. Headed back on Friday to talk and perhaps sign the paperwork... Only negative was a (very) high-pitched whine throughout the drive. I liken it to about 10% of that "cabin pressure" noise you get on an airplane. Dealer said it may be the "sound the Leaf makes so that you know it's on" and that it could be turned off. Does anyone else experience this noise?
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Post by Feng on Dec 10, 2014 23:24:01 GMT 11
The pedestrian noise is only on up to 40km/h and isn't intrusive in the cabin. The high pitched whine is from the motor and is more audible at higher speeds. It's not too bad, I don't even notice it anymore but it might be more annoying to others. Sounds like the dealer was trying to give an excuse for it.
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Post by greenisgold on Dec 12, 2014 21:11:44 GMT 11
Thanks for the reply, Feng. Signed the contract today and am awaiting delivery in the next couple of weeks!
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Post by Feng on Dec 12, 2014 23:25:40 GMT 11
Congrats! Welcome to the club!
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