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Got a Leaf...anyone want it?

Discussion in 'Nissan/Infiniti Hybrids and EVs' started by Zacher, Aug 17, 2011.

  1. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    Hi!
    I just bought a brand new Leaf as a walk-in customer at Wilsonville Nissan. I'm a long-time Prius driver, and was really excited to get the Leaf, especially without being on the ball enough to get on any reservation list (don't kill the messenger- I'm sure that there were people waiting who should have gotten this car before me)!

    Anyway, and surprisingly, I'm suddenly unsure that I want the car! It's factory mint, driven straight from the dealer to my garage, where it sits with 50 miles on it. The floormats aren't even unwrapped and the thing is truly showroom condition.

    I'm not trying to sell it here, but I am curious as to whether there's any interest? Are there still people waiting for Leafs? I assume there are, since the demand seemed sky-high at first. I live outside Portland, but for someone closer in, this car would be perfection, in my opinion. For me, it would work...MOST of the time, and I'm just not certain I want to take this leap after all. How's $35K for an impulse purchase? :) I very much support what the car represents, and the fact that it can be run on 'homegrown' energy is cool.

    Yes, I know there are Leaf forums, but these are the long-term "eco-drivers," in my opinion, so I wanted to come here first!

    Any thoughts?
     
  2. usbseawolf2000

    usbseawolf2000 HSD PhD

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    Since the tax credit is not transferable, I think you'll have to file it when you do your income tax. The price you sell should take that into account.

    2012 model will come with heated seats and battery heater. The price also increased so keep that in mind.

    Good luck!
     
  3. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    Roger that. If I do sell it, it would be via auction, and I wouldn't expect to get the full price. But I'd let it go for that today (that's a friend price, and it's only good today)! :)
     
  4. wick1ert

    wick1ert Senior Member

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    If I needed and could afford it, I'd totally jump at this. Unless, you want to keep making the payments and let me have fun with it? :)
     
  5. Eoin

    Eoin Active Member

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    Did you pay a lot of sales tax? What a waste!
     
  6. caffeinekid

    caffeinekid Duct Tape Extraordinaire

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    There are several of these on eBay right now. As for selling it above $30K, well......there's one born every minute and maybe you will be fortunate enough to meet the right one.
     
  7. ETC(SS)

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

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    That's one heck of an impulse purchase alright!
    Don't feel too bad about it though.....there are Harleys sitting in garages all across the country that were 'impulse purchases" and aren't being ridden very much, since they just didn't fit into their owner's idea on what owning this type of vehicle would really entail... ;)
    Good luck.
    FWIW, since you've already signed your life away on this car, and it's already "used", you might as well get some stick time with this vehicle to fully determine that it's not going to work out for you.
    I'd hate to see you replace 'buyer’s remorse" with 'seller's remorse', and putting a few hundred miles on this vehicle will not significantly reduce its street value. You've already changed it from a new car to a used car----despite the fact that you only have 50 miles on it.
    JMHO.

    Like I said before....
    Best of Luck!
     
  8. J5A

    J5A Active Member

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    I agree - keep it a little longer and try it out an additional 400 miles or so. It's not going to affect its resale value. Sounds like buyer's remorse - usually it goes away with a little more time. :)
     
  9. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Off topic, but I've been seeing this White Leaf running around town here. Often see him on Alvarado Niles Road.

    Good to see them out and around.
     
  10. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    Well, it's not really buyer's remorse per se, I'm just wondering if I might want to stick it out with my Prius for another 2 years or so. I'm sort of vacillating on selling or keeping. Down here in Lincoln City for a visit, (we brought the gas-guzzling Prius), I just dragged the kids up to the public parking lot to check out the two
    charging stations (both vacant). On a side note, it's 96 miles from home to Lincoln City, and it would have been fun to see how it did at that range.
     
    1 person likes this.
  11. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Agree w/ETC(SS)'s suggestions.
    Oregon has no sales tax. I'm not 100% certain if this also is the case w/cars there.

    Also, FWIW, from Alternative Fuels and Advanced Vehicles Data Center: Alternative Fueling Station Locator, it appears that Portland, OR is only place in the Pacific Northwest with level 3 (DC) fast chargers.

    Side note: What would be the ultimate for some is to live in Vancouver, WA (not BC) which is right next to Portland, OR. WA has no state income tax but then avoid sales tax by doing all your shopping in OR.
     
  12. skilbovia

    skilbovia Member

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    Somebody's making too much money....
     
  13. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    That's correct- there's no sales tax, including on vehicles.
     
  14. evnow

    evnow Active Member

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    Actually you will see that a lot of Leaf owners in MNL are not "eco-drivers" - like me many are coming to Leaf directly from real guzzlers.

    If you have access to another ICE, may be your spouse's car, (or can rent one when you need) you should keep Leaf. Once you drive it for a few days I'm sure you wouldn't want to go back to Prius.

    BTW, initially there were auctions on e-bay where someone got close to MSRP (with tax credit being all profit). But with orphans easily available (even if at a primium over MSRP), I don't think anyone wants to buy it from you for MSRP - though someone from out of town where Leaf isn't sold yet, might.

    There is some debate as to whether selling quickly would be considered "buying for reslae" and thus you won't get tax credit (and the guy who buys from you won't either).
     
  15. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    oh! That's an interesting wrinkle! I would certainly have no problem defending myself to an IRS agent, though, since that was NOT my intent. Whether that would convince her is another matter, I suppose. Keep it up, Guys, you've almost talked me into keeping this cool car! ;)
     
  16. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    If you do decide to sell, just be sure the IRS hasn't defined "purchase for resale" of an electric car in a way that would catch you.
     
  17. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

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    The leaf would be a good car for those who live near a big city. Here in Seaside its about 75 miles or so to the Porland Oregon area and I just don't know what effect the 1640 foot passes on Hwy 26 would do for battery charge....

    alfon
     
  18. rcf@eventide.com

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    The Leaf seems to be a perfect second car for someone with a Prius. Us it for local driving/shopping and use the Prius for real trips. The extra Prius bonus is that you can use it to recharge the Leaf if it ever runs out of battery a few miles from home.

    Richard
     
  19. Zacher

    Zacher New Member

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    I agree! I just don't think my single-income/single driver household can justify the two vehicles. However, I'm thinking of asking the other local (rural) Leaf owner if he might want to car-share my used Prius!
     
  20. GSW

    GSW PRIUS POWER

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    :D:D:D LOL! Now thats funny!