How Much Will a Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt Cost to Buy?

I hear the Leaf will be about 26 to 33 thousand dollars.

 

That's what I heard also...but that's only for the vehicle. You'll have to lease the Li-Ion batteries separately.

The Volt it appears will include the batteries in the price but that price..before taxes and fees and dealer markups...will be just under $40000. My guess is that initial buyers will be looking at a price of about $45000 Out-the-Door on the Volt in Yr #1.

 

I thought they said leasing the battery pack will just be an option on the Leaf, but you can still buy it outright if you wish.

I'm pretty sure the battery pack is still the sticking point for the final pricing and release to market of these vehicles. I'm very interested in whether GM will really be able to manage Li-Ion packs that are good for 10 years of relatively heavy use with probably moderate cycling as well. Say what you will about GM and say what you will about the Volt, but I think it will be a real achivement if they pull that one off.

 

Big "if"...

 

tax credit on the $40K volt is $7,500 making its msrp after credit at $32.5K. I am not sure what options that includes.

 

True except that as many herein found that tax credit normally disappears if the taxpayer is subject to AMT. Who is subject to AMT? The wealthier buyers who can afford to pay $40000 for a commuter vehicle; the wealthier buyers who are the very ones most likely to be subject to AMT anyway.

But at the time of purchase the buyer(s) will have to pay GM, it's dealers and the local state taxing authorities upwards of $45000 out of pocket ( or financed ).

This brings up another issue. With the stricter lending requirements since the crash, which buyers can reasonably be qualified to finance a $45000 vehicle? At a normal interest rate of ~5% that's a payment of about $800 per month for 60 months. Not in today's economic environment.

 

I am betting that the Volt will be $40,000 - $7500 = $32500.

Even with stricter lending requirements car loans will be available to those who can pay for them. Car loans in the past have been way to easy to get. Anyone with a job could walk into a dealer and buy a car with a payment of half their take home pay! People with $40,000k jobs were buying new Escalades.

Now you need a reasonable down payment OR a good credit score to buy a car on credit. Come to the table with $5000 and an ok credit score and you can be in a $40,000 car or no down payment and a good credit score.

 

We learned ourselves here with the Prius that the tax credit can't be netted out at the time of purchase. It gets refunded back to you next year on your taxes, subject to AMT of course and subject to you having paid enough taxes to cover the credit.

So at the time of purchase one in say California would have to pay
GM.................................. = $40,000
Cali State & Local taxes of 9% = $3600
Any dealer markups ( !! ) = $1000 - $5000

Then the following year one could claim the $7500 as a tax refund. Subject to AMT of course. Now if the rules change that's a different issue.

 

Can you find any market research that says the target of the volt is buyers subjet to amt? ANd they would buy at $32.5K but not at $40k?

I just was putting out the real figures and where they came from. I wasn't trying to make up wierd scenarios in my head. A question was asked, I put out the correct answer. You could add the line for amt if you want, but I really don't see the point as I already pointed out it was a tax credit.

 

Let's say you have $10,000 available to put down and at least $2,500 to cover state taxes for the purchase. 5-year loan with 0% financing would have monthly payments of $500.

If you have less cash handy or the financing isn't zero, you're going to see much higher monthly payments.

$40,000 for a plug-in, even with a federal credit the following year, is simply priced way too far out of reach for the average joe.
.

 

While I am not one of them, there are a whole lot of 'average joes' out there buying in the $40,000 price range. I am not saying they SHOULD be spending that much on a car, but they do.

There are going to be states that offer tax credit for electric cars as well though we will have to see.

Md. Senate Backs Tax Break For Electric Vehicles - wjz.com

 

That is why I figured the loan amount at $40,000k. I feel sorry for you paying 9% sales tax on a car, that is pretty dam high!

In Maryland we would get an additional $2000 off and pay 6% sales tax.
Electric Car Benefits By State - The Car Electric

 

That certainly describes my financial situation. Even if I had the inclination and the financial resources to purchase such a car .... I would be extremely hesitant to do so with the US economy in the shape it is in. I do not believe any of us can imagine what health care is going to cost us.

 

Or you could just change your W4 in the tax year that you receive your Volt so that $7500 less is withheld form your paycheck all year. Then you don't have to wait so long for your refund.

 

The latest and greatest technology is always high priced to start with. Why do you think it took till late 2009 before I got a Prius?
The question for many of us will be--how much will EV's like the Leaf and Volt cost about 5-10 years after their introduction?

On a similar note: How much do you think Prius Plug-ins will cost 5 years after their introduction, when I may be looking for a new car . . .?

 

Nobody knows - or even has an idea as to what either of these autos are going to cost. However, there is ONE thing we all know - and we know it right now.

One is made by GM, the other is made by Nissan. I already know my choice. Shockingly it's not for the auto made by a company on the bubble of closing its door due to building crappy cars that nobody will buy.

Of course that's just my opinion.

-Brad

 

NISSAN TO SELL LEAF IN JAPAN FOR 3.25 MILLION YEN ($40,000 US)

 

Yep - $40k. Running some rough numbers gives a ROI of about 25 years compared to a Prius at $25k (assuming a full charge only costs $2, and gas stays around $3/gallon - neither of which will stay flat). Probalby more like 10-12 years compared to a similar non-hybrid.

And of course, shorter if the price of gas outpaces the price of electricity.

Net net: it's a tie compared to a typical ICE (which is as good as a win), but a fail compared to the Prius. (at least from the financial angle)

From the carbon side, it's a win IF you use clean electricity - although that will cost more and lengthen the ROI.

 

Nissan LEAF Electric Car | Home | Nissan USA Official Site

$32780 less rebate from Uncle Sam of $0-7500

$399 per month for 36 months lease ($1999 due at signing including first month's payment)