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Post by duncan on Feb 7, 2013 22:02:12 GMT 11
Hi All, I realised that I have not properly introduced myself, although I've been lurking around since ordering the car a few weeks ago. We've just picked up a black Leaf from Sydney Nissan, have been hooning around in it for the week.  The Leaf is really a day to day comuter/daily drvie for me, I have something of a nissan problem so there is always something else available to drive..... The Old Daily (Cube)  The Fun Car (March Super Turbo) super rare  The Tow Car (Stagea)  The Race Car (GTR)  There is also the Ute...it is a bit unloved so no pic...it's an 88 Navara dual cab More thoughts to come on the leaf, so far the experience has been positive except for the disgraceful price. |
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Post by duncan on Feb 7, 2013 22:03:37 GMT 11
BTW why 0 Karma in my profile? I am a reasonably good Buddhist, I assumed I had obtained some Karmic merit through my actions  |
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Post by Jim Hare on Feb 8, 2013 20:31:30 GMT 11
More thoughts to come on the leaf, so far the experience has been positive except for the disgraceful price.
I don't think the price is disgraceful at all. Expensive and therefor possibly out of reach, but after spending $3billion (yes $3 billion) developing the LEAF, the first model off the line was always going to be costly.
I used to work for a music equipment company. They developed a new technology and the first box they created with it cost $85,000 to buy. Two years later they were giving the technology away in every $900 box they made.
Point is R&D into new whacky ideas makes early products expensive, basically for the foolish and forward thinking like ourselves. I'm happy to be an early adopter. Love it and relish every moment.
In a few years electrics will cost the same or less than petrol, go further and cost very little to run. When that happens I hope we see a quick falloff of fossil fuel burners.
When we do, we'll know it was us who got them through the teething stage and made the whole thing possible.
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Post by Jim Hare on Feb 8, 2013 20:32:39 GMT 11
Welcome again Duncan! Love the collection!
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Post by duncan on Feb 8, 2013 20:50:47 GMT 11
Thanks for the welcome Jim. While I understand Nissan made a major investment developing the Leaf, Nissan Oz did not. Wikipedia may not be the most reliable source in the world, but check out the global price of leafs (leaves?) converted to $USD. I added the last column to show the premium each country's dealer is adding.  We are paying towards twice the price an American is for the same car. |
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Post by Phoebe on Feb 8, 2013 21:03:01 GMT 11
Some countries subsidise electric cars, so they appear cheaper than Australia, which doesn't. The price in Australia has now dropped to something over $46,000.
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Post by duncan on Feb 8, 2013 21:03:15 GMT 11
BTW, I don't really mean this to become a rant about Nissan Oz's policies, maybe that should go somewhere else  But it is hard to ignore the fact that 2012 was their highest sales since 1990 ( www.nissan.com.au/Discover/News/2013/January/02/IT-IS-OFFICIAL-NISSAN-SETS-A-NEW-ANNUAL-SALES-RECORD-IN-AUSTRALIA)...I wouldn't be happy if that was my company for the last 22 years. Don't get me wrong, I love what Nissan's engineers acheive (and vote with my wallet), but the local operation seems to have a real self-destructive streak. I have bought 14 nissans over years, but only 5 of those (Leaf, 350z, 200sx, Navara and 200b) were imported by Nissan Oz, the other 9 I have imported myself from Japan |
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Post by duncan on Feb 8, 2013 21:04:28 GMT 11
Hi Phoebe, those prices specifically exclude subsidies, refunds, tax breaks etc. And I paid $45something at the best price I could get...but Nissan still advertise the official price as $56k if you choose either of their finance offers www.nissan.com.au/Cars-Vehicles/LEAF/Offers |
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Post by Jim Hare on Feb 8, 2013 21:59:30 GMT 11
Sorry Duncan, can't agree. Aus price includes GST, US price is always listed ex-tax. Australia has HUGE import duties, high purchase costs due to a tiny population, and no government assistance.
My Dad was recently here from the US, loved my LEAF so we priced the same one up. Even with government subsidies it was something like $37K by the time he was finished, including a large California rebate.
Here you can now get a LEAF for $45k. This is probably the same price difference as any car between Aus and the US. Actually it's probably less.
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Post by Brian on Feb 9, 2013 0:23:41 GMT 11
Welcome, Duncan.
Your direct importing would explain why I have never seen / did not recognise the Cube or the nice looking ( for a Fossil Fuel Burner ) Stagea.
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Post by duncan on Feb 10, 2013 8:26:08 GMT 11
Thanks Brian It's a bit strange that there are more cubes and stageas on the road than there are leafs...hopefully that will change over the years |
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But it is hard to ignore the fact that 2012 was their highest sales since 1990 (