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Goodbye Prius, hello Leaf

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by GrumpyCabbie, Jun 24, 2015.

  1. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    I've only gone and done it. After nearly 6 years of Prius ownership I've chopped her in for a Leaf.

    I know there are pro's and con's to both vehicles, and I did find the Leaf a wee bit slow compared to the Prius at the 50 mph+ range, but it does go like the clappers upto 30.

    Horses for courses, but ultimately I've always wanted to go fully electric (for many reasons) and when the PIP was released here in the UK it was overpriced and thus a bit of a disappointment. The gen4 Prius is just too far away and probably too expensive here in the UK too. I don't do 30k miles a year any more so a Leaf will work just fine for me - I hope!?!

    The new motor hasn't arrived yet so I can't say what it's like to live with, but it's a car so will be ok I'm sure. I can always go back if I've made a dreadful mistake. :unsure:

    So I guess it's a case of so long and thanks for all the fish. I'll pop back and see what's the latest and whether there's any news on the gen4 later this year. We always get the RHD version about 6 months after the US models, so I'm guessing early 2016 for us. Shame.

    Nce knowing y'all.
     
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    Congratulations. Something tells me you'll still be around here for a while though.
     
  3. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I just don't like the idea of reduce battery capacity as the car ages. So if it goes down to like 80 miles per charge, you would only be able to go 40 miles out before you have that uncomfortable anxiety of needing to charge or you won't make it back home. It also won't let you take a unplanned detour or get stuck in traffic that doesn't move

    That reason would really discourage me in going full electric with a short range.
     
  4. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    But most commutes are 40 miles or less. Which is why GM targeted that number for the first Volt. Then the average commuter distance is even less in Europe.
     
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  5. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    LA is a great big freeway apparently. Here the cities are closer together so we don't have to drive as far and if going 200 miles I'd go by high speed train.

    Anyhoo, I have Mrs Cabbies petrol car if we need to go further.
     
  6. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    congrats gc! don't be a stranger, i'll miss the toy bashing.:p all the best with the leaf, sounds like the right decision. fill us in on price details if you're willing, and keep us updated. it's been a pleasure.(y)
     
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  7. Silver bullit

    Silver bullit Right Lane Cruiser

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    I hope you enjoy your new ride. Hey no oil or transmission fluid to worry about. Everyone's situation is unique and you should get the best thing for you. Isn't a new generation Leaf coming soon?
     
  8. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

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    Fair Winds and Following Seas, friend!!

    Best of luck with the leaf.
    Pictures, please and don't forget to pop in every now and again.

    Somehow....PC would not be the same without your rolling advertisements for Yorkshire! :)
     
  9. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I missed the traffic scenario.
    While the BEV will have its range reduce from the repeated stops and starts, it doesn't idle the motor while stopped. So the range loss is small compared to how an ICE car's fuel efficiency plummets in those conditions.
    Now, the situation is different with heavy use of cabin climate control.
     
  10. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    Yes sitting in traffic, using climate control, headlights, brake lights, tail lights, listening to music......anything that will further drain your charge.
     
  11. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    my first question is, what's the winter range with heat? and that depends on where you live.
     
  12. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Grumpy Cabby doesn't live in the heat of Southern California, so his AC use will be lighter. By this thread, My Nissan Leaf Forum • View topic - A/C and range, AC can reduce range up to 10%. The heater can suck down the heat though, but I don't GC sees winters as harsh as I do, and then preconditioning the car from the wall will reduce the amount of range lost on the drive.

    Ever measure how long it takes your Prius' SOC to go from 'full' until the ICE kicks on while stuck in LA traffic? That is 0.26kWh of electricity the car used creeping along. A Leaf has nearly 100 times as much juice in its battery, and its AC, radio, and lights are likely more energy efficient than what is in a gen2 Prius.
     
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  13. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    Congrats Grumpy, it'll be great to see the back of you here on PC lol

    EVs make a lot of sense for so many and going from a hybrid will be easy for you. You're right re the PIP, it's huge money here and almost impossible to justify the price.

    The range on the latest leaf is much improved since the first ones and since most on here watch your right foot, I'm sure you'll be able to keep the range to a max by good driving

    Re the battery life, I know of a leaf here with 125,000 Kms and he's just lost his first bar, out of twelve, so the life isn't too bad

    You getting a charger at home or hoping to use public chargers? Our public ones a
     
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  14. m.wynn

    m.wynn Senior Member

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    You're a big part of this place, Grumpy, no need to go anywhere. Please stay and and tell the Leaf like it is.
     
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  15. JC91006

    JC91006 Senior Member

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    I have compared my 2006 to my 2010 to my 2015 on draining the Prius SOC. As time goes by and the capacity reduces, the battery drains at a much faster rate. That is my point to having lower capacity and a Leaf down the road (a few years)

    There are reports that Nissan is kicking in a few thousand dollars ($6000?) to help from getting all their leases back. They want the owners to keep them. The residual on the lease returns are at around $20k when the used car lots are selling them for $14,000 and auctions even lower around $10,000. I think the range anxiety on the cars as they age is a big problem.
     
  16. Tony D

    Tony D Active Member

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    Buy one, drive for 3-5 years and go again if range anxiety is an issue
     
  17. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    I think the problem is more the fact that the cars coming off lease now were models with a higher price when new than the new ones of today. Between the federal tax incentive and California's rebate, a new Leaf could be out the door in for $16k to $18k for the base trim. Why not get a whole new car for a couple thousand more than buying off the lease of your current car? That would likely be a tough choice with any car. Since incentives have made new cars 'cheap', used ones are going to have to sell for even less.

    Condition of the battery pack is a concern with a used BEV, particularly in the case of Leafs from a hot state, but all used cars have a level of wear on their suspension, brakes, and drivetrains. In the snow belt, rust can also be an issue. I think that by the time most BEVs will need a replacement battery, it will be at a time when a major repair should planned for with any car. BEVs will likely just depreciate faster as they get older with an original battery than an other car.
     
  18. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    ....anything that makes Grumpy happy is a good thing...
     
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  19. jdcollins5

    jdcollins5 Senior Member

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    Congratulations. It would be nice to have you hang around and give us your take on the pros and cons of the Leaf versus the Prius.
     
  20. GrumpyCabbie

    GrumpyCabbie Senior Member

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    Oh it's not a new one :( But one off a 3 year PCP by the look of it. Nissan have had quite a load come back off PCP (a sort of lease for our US friends) and are dumping them. A new Leaf on PCP is for peanuts, so an early Leaf is almost being given away. I just swapped the Prius.

    The dealer said they've sold loads to Ireland this week alone and a significant number of the RHD models are disappearing to Ireland, Singapore, India etc where perhaps they're not sold new. So if they're not being snapped up by the likes of me, they're getting exported.

    The UK (and Irish ;)) weather is fine for an early Leaf. Not too hot, not crazy cold. Rain doesn't bother the battery. To be fair, the miles I do today, this car should (lol - fingers crossed) last a few more years yet.

    No more petrol, lower electric rates (my electric company offer a discount for EV owners - probably knowing they'll get it back later) and free motorway chargers :D
     
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