Another new Leaf owner

Gumbo

Well, seems that this forum is getting busier and busier!

Nissan Leaf Tekna 24kwg & 3.3kw Charger.
Artic White.
June 2014 Registered.
57k km.
One Owner from new (I'm the second).
Usual SVE / Tekna Spec.
Solar Panel.
Chrome Pack (Mirror Caps, Door strips, Front Fog Surrounds).
Full Original Mats including the Boot Liner.

Left Dublin at 5.30am to catch a 7am Flight to Glascow.
Arrived and went to sellers house and was there for 10ish.
Spent an hour going through documents, car, talking and driving.

Seller gave me his Charge Your Car card, which he had recently renewed so I was free to use the public chargers.

Had to get from North Glascow to Cairnryan Port a little further South.
picked up car at 72%

Stopped at :

Kilmarnock Ayrshire Athletics Arena (KA1 3XF)
Got here with 16% remaining and first ever low battery warning, my first ever charger connection and truth be told, my first ever drive in a Leaf!

Girvan Harbour (KA26 9AG)
Got here with about 40%. I could have made the Port but I wanted to bump my charge so I had as high a % for when I got off the boat in Belfast (boat had no charger and I knew this in advance).
While I was charging here, I realised I was way ahead of schedule, I had originally booked the 7.30pm boat, but I called Stenna and they swapped me onto the 3.30pm boat for €7.50.

Got to the Port with 49%. I knew I had loads of time so I continued to Port Rodie in Stranlaer 5 mins further south to boost my charge as much as possible so I could get as far out of Belfast before I needed a charge.

Port Rodie Service Station (DG9 8EG)
It cost me 7% to get here, but by using the Ecotricity Highway App and paying £6 stg I got 30 mins charge and that bumped me up to 83% which meant I got to the ferry on 74% give or take.

Off the ferry in Belfast and hot almighty traffic :mad:

Fiveways Service Station Newry (BT35 6PW)
Got here from Belfast and bumped back up to 80%ish. Could use my PTSB Bank Card here to log in and out
Met a NI owner here with a Grey Tekna and 30kwh/6.6kw car.

Applegreen Castlebellingham
Another PTSB swipe and a charge to 83%ish. Met another owner here who is awaiting a home charger so comes there every evening to charge in the mean time.

Home with 20% remaining


All in all, I was delighted with the purchase. It was my first time driving a leaf and some people would be scared of that, but some motors forum posters here may know my car history, so I tend to jump from car to car with ease so I knew that it was something id have to get used to.
Comfy, rock solid, extremely well handling, better than I thought!

I didn't push it on too much as it was my first trip, but I didn't hang around either. I had my USB stick in the whole way playing Tiesto on that Bose system , I had my heater on the whole way 20/21.

Initial impressions that motorways zap the power, especially up around the 110kmh range. A/B roads in and around 80ish and the car travels a lot further.

Seller was a gent, but he just bought the car new and drove it, charged it, drove it. It needs a good clean, but that's something ill do over the weekend before I start loading in my personal items.

I have it booked into Hutton & Meade Nissan for the end of the month for a service, pollen filter and brake fluid change.

I'm going to look into new tyres and brake pads and possibly discs if required which i'll do outside of the dealer network.

The Sat Nav is fantastic, the postcode system in the UK is sublime and I can see the Eircode working in the exact same way if implemented properly!

I'll get some pics up later and update with any info I think I have forgotten about.

Water John

Congrats, well wear. You seemed to have a nice trip. Well planned in advance is key to ease of mind.

cros13

Another Motors regular converted! Happy motoring

Nice one, happy EV Motoring ! :-)

peposhi

Well done! Happy Leafing

unkel

Nice trip review. Sounds like a well planned and well executed operation

Was surprised that you'd never driven a Leaf until you went to buy it. But then I remembered that you'd driven your work Fluences quite a bit and I guess there wouldn't be a huge difference between the two.

cros13

And kceire had a spin in my i3 at one point

unkel

I think I would be disappointed in the Ioniq if I'd driven an i3

peposhi

You may well be, unkel lol

Gumbo

unkel wrote: »

Was surprised that you'd never driven a Leaf until you went to buy it. But then I remembered that you'd driven your work Fluences quite a bit and I guess there wouldn't be a huge difference between the two.

Leaf seems more solid, better planted to the road. Feels a bit better made if im honest, but I would say that now that I own one

cros13 wrote: »

And kceire had a spin in my i3 at one point

For months i've tried to trace who that was
Now I know.

That was a stunning motor.

Gumbo

I also got the Nissan Granny Cable and a 32A Cable. I assume the 32A cable is for public chargers and I suppose I could use this if I got an untethered home charger?

I'll read the Tyres thread for opinions later.

Anyone any idea on where to get a front drivers side Fog/DRL light replacement. The glass is broke on mine. Works perfect but its annoying me knowing its there.

unknownlegend

Congratulations

How did you manage the payment?

n97 mini

kceire wrote: »

I also got the Nissan Granny Cable and a 32A Cable. I assume the 32A cable is for public chargers and I suppose I could use this if I got an untethered home charger?

Unusual to get a 32A cable with a 3.3kw car, but yes, you need it at SCPs and if your home CP isn't the tethered type.

Soarer

unkel wrote: »

I think I would be disappointed in the Ioniq if I'd driven an i3

Not when you tried to carry to a 4th passenger.

Gumbo

unknownlegend wrote: »

Congratulations

How did you manage the payment?

Cash.
It was how I could get the car at such a bargain in my opinion. Less than 10k on my drive including flight and ferry and adding extra pocket money for food and tea etc

Gumbo

So with the crappy weather, I didn't really get any photos.
My main priority was to get inside clean to my standard so I could start the dress down of someone's else's car into my car (removal of dealer stickers, dirt and and anything that has dropped down the side of the seats).

Start getting my permits and insurance disc etc in and of course the baby seats.
I will get the exterior done in a couple of weeks as I want to get the PDR done (it has one dent) and I'll do a full detar, clay, and polish after it's been serviced etc















The boot is not that empty now, with my site gear etc...

Gumbo

Car also had mudflaps fitted from Nissan which I'm delighted with as I was pricing them up with electric autos for the other cars I was looking at.

Also, I'm not normally a chrome person, but I think the chrome pack on these cars wakes them up a little bit and makes them look a bit better. As my sister says, it looks kinda sporty, that's not the same car you were looking at last week?

So with the 32A cable. I suppose it makes sense to get a 32A home charger? Or should I get the 16A and if I ever charge car in the future, sure there be newer type chargers out. H then?

slave1

Can't see much higher than 7kw at home in the foreseeable future, I have a 3.3kWh Leaf coming but went for 32A charger

Water John

I would say go with the 32A.

Gumbo

Cheers. Not many places selling them?

unkel

+1

You're paying for it yourself. Might as well pay a tiny bit more for 32A. I'm getting the free install myself and have decided to stick with that for the moment, see how I get on. I never ever have to drive 150-200km, then be at home for a few hours and then again have to drive 150-200km, so it would be a bit pointless spending money on it.

Gumbo

I'll re-fit my dash cam tomorrow.
I have a möbius that I've been using for a few years now but I bought a new DDPai M8 before xmas so will stick that in and maybe throw the möbius into her car.

Alun

On the SatNav / Postcodes / eircode front, I have a Nissan Pulsar with the latest Connect system, and on that I can perform Google Maps searches from the Connect system via the Nissan Connect app on my Android phone, and now that Google supports eircode address lookups, you can also therefore, albeit indirectly, search for addreses using eircodes!

I've no idea if the Leaf system allow something similar however.

Calahonda52

Alun wrote: »

I've no idea if the Leaf system allow something similar however.

Having major problems with Nissan UK getting the N_C EV working, many hours on phone later still no joy.
They certainly know how to make a dogs dinner of the customer experience

The Leaf Sat Nav mapping rejects Irish Post Codes.

The OBD LINK LX Bluetooth does not work with my phone and neither does the specific app for it work either so I may as well have my old car out in the drive for all the connectivity I am getting.


in passing, for the eircodes the ESB use an app called autoaddress which allows you to position the cursor over a property and generate the eircode

peposhi

Kceire, if you are going 16A, i have a tethered one for sale /could get yoy a discount on the asking price/. I am moving to a 32Ð as I replaced the 3.3kW car with a 6.6kW one.

Gumbo

peposhi wrote: »

Kceire, if you are going 16A, i have a tethered one for sale /could get yoy a discount on the asking price/. I am moving to a 32Ð as I replaced the 3.3kW car with a 6.6kW one.

Cheers. I'm gona work out the costs involved in both options and what will be of benefit.

If you want to PM me a price I'll have a better idea I suppose.
I presume for the moment, 16a is more than enough?

What are the pitfalls if I install a 16a?
If I install a 32a, I get no benefit now but may in the future?

Gumbo

Actually I have to things I'm not happy with.
With my phone connected, I can make and receive calls no problem etc, but if I get a text I get no sound at all. The phone just vibrates.

Also, the auto/intermittent wipers just don't come on enough. I find myself clicking up to the next one or manually flicking up to do a sweep.

n97 mini

If you're going to keep the leaf for several years get the tethered one for (lots of) convenience.

Your next EV might be an Ioniq (which uses a different plug) so just sell the tethered one with the leaf. Then buy a 32a to suit your new car.

But certainly get the wiring etc for a 32a installed now.

macnab

kceire wrote: »

Actually I have to things I'm not happy with.
With my phone connected, I can make and receive calls no problem etc, but if I get a text I get no sound at all. The phone just vibrates.

Also, the auto/intermittent wipers just don't come on enough. I find myself clicking up to the next one or manually flicking up to do a sweep.

Welcome to the EV fold kceire (i think i recognise that name from the BMW forum?)
Im on my 2nd Leaf, 30kw sv now, 24kw gen 1 sv before that.
I agree about the wipers, they can be frustrating.
You will not regret going electric, its the way forward!!

Alun

kceire wrote: »

Actually I have to things I'm not happy with.
With my phone connected, I can make and receive calls no problem etc, but if I get a text I get no sound at all. The phone just vibrates.

Also, the auto/intermittent wipers just don't come on enough. I find myself clicking up to the next one or manually flicking up to do a sweep.

Same as my Pulsar. I use an app to read out incoming texts over Bluetooth but it should just display them. Nissan are slowly introducing Android auto on some new models starting in the USA, but no signs of them upgrading old head units.

Agree about the wipers too, seems like a general Nissan thing as it was the same on my Qashqai I had before.

isnottheword

kceire wrote: »

So with the 32A cable. I suppose it makes sense to get a 32A home charger? Or should I get the 16A and if I ever charge car in the future, sure there be newer type chargers out.

If possible, get the 32A version - unless someone presents you with a cracking deal on a 16A.
Whether you go tethered or untethered is up to yourself - your own preference. Tethered means more convenience. Untethered means that it will likely be more relevant into the future (different EV's have different connectors).

How convenient can you public charge? If you can bide your time, you can monitor ebay (and the speakev forum - classifieds section). You will get a 2nd hand one from a former EV driver in the UK or IRL for cheap if you can wait it out.
Got a new 32A Chargemaster in Manchester when I purchased my own car an hour away - collected the car and then the charger on the way back - bought it for £150. That sort of deal was exceptional. However, you should still be able to snag something for much smaller money than you can order one up for today.
Peoples circumstances change - so with that, it's plausible that perfectly good 2nd hand units will be sold off cheaply.

Gumbo

isnottheword wrote: »

If possible, get the 32A version - unless someone presents you with a cracking deal on a 16A.
Whether you go tethered or untethered is up to yourself - your own preference. Tethered means more convenience. Untethered means that it will likely be more relevant into the future (different EV's have different connectors).

How convenient can you public charge? If you can bide your time, you can monitor ebay (and the speakev forum - classifieds section). You will get a 2nd hand one from a former EV driver in the UK or IRL for cheap if you can wait it out.
Got a new 32A Chargemaster in Manchester when I purchased my own car an hour away - collected the car and then the charger on the way back - bought it for £150. That sort of deal was exceptional. However, you should still be able to snag something for much smaller money than you can order one up for today.
Peoples circumstances change - so with that, it's plausible that perfectly good 2nd hand units will be sold off cheaply.

Don't need it straight away as I will be putting it on the house during the summer during renovations. Not living there now so can't do it now either way.

I'll be making us of rapid charges maybe once a day or once every 2 days to tide me over. I had the granny cab,e plugged in for 2 hours today while I was cleaning the interior so I can grab a few hours on that here and there to keep her topped up.

slave1

Got my 32amp Podpoint for £149 delivered, just keep your eyes open, mine was never used and still in wrapper

isnottheword

kceire wrote: »

Don't need it straight away as I will be putting it on the house during the summer during renovations.

Well that means that you have the perfect opportunity to make a savvy purchase just like slave1 did. Check in daily with speakev forum classifieds and with ebay. One will come on the market sooner or later.

Gumbo

What should I be looking for. Keywords etc?

slave1

Sorry, meant to add, it was ebay

slave1

kceire wrote: »

What should I be looking for. Keywords etc?

I just did a daily search under the car battery charger section of eBay UK

isnottheword

I assume then that the seller has bought another EV given that he didn't try and flog you the chargemaster EV charging point?

Keywords on ebay may be a bit hit and miss - could be a couple of categories. Maybe search from time to time for 'chargemaster' or 'podpoint' or 'nissan leaf charger'.

I sourced mine off the classifieds section of the speakev forum. I guess it might be a bit more difficult to organise a trusted deal there - but you can always ask them to put it on ebay before you buy it (or they may also have it listed on ebay anyway) for your own protection in purchasing. In my case, I was just jammy in that the guy I sourced off was just an hours drive (in the general direction of the route back to the ferry) from where I picked up the car - so called in to him to collect on the way back.

n97 mini

The wipers have a speed dial on them. Twist one way for shorter delay, the other for longer. On the shortest delay they come in a bit too much!

ebbsy

Go in and explain your reason for not paying. Apologise.

You might get away with it.

KCross

kceire wrote: »

So with the 32A cable. I suppose it makes sense to get a 32A home charger? Or should I get the 16A and if I ever charge car in the future, sure there be newer type chargers out. H then?

The price of a 16A or 32A charger are practically the same so definitely get the 32A to future proof it.

If you dont get the 32A charger at least get the wiring to support 32A so that when you change the car in the future you have the option of a simple swap out of the EVSE without having to pull new wires.

6sqmm wire is the min required for a 32A charger.

Gumbo

Ok so I suppose this is going to be my thread for my car. Any changes I do, and mods I do I will update this thread.

Have a few little plans for the car, not much though.

Front discs and pads.
Booked in with Nissan for end of the month for a second service inspection (Oil, oil filter.......no hang on a minute, Pollen filter, Brake Fluid, Standard Service and check the catch on the charger flap as it sticks).
Rear discs and pads later in the year.
One dent removed by PDR.
LED Reg plate bulbs and side light bulbs (ordered).
LED DRL bulb upgrade (ordered).
New LED panel bulb for the interior dome light (ordered).
Replace the drivers side front fog / DRL assembly as the glass is cracked.
Full detail.
Would love to look at wheel options and lower it a bit

Anyway, while I'm home on a Sunday morning I'll let her trickle charge up.

KCross

Why the discs and pads?
Is it an aesthetic change?

Gumbo

KCross wrote: »

Why the discs and pads?
Is it an aesthetic change?

The fronts are worn which I knew before I flew over.
The rears have a good bit of meat left.

But the front and rear discs are corroded to hell. Could be a mix of the Scottish weather, road gritting and sitting up at times?

Water John

You forgot, a hitch, in that list!!!

KCross

kceire wrote: »

The fronts are worn which I knew before I flew over.
The rears have a good bit of meat left.

But the front and rear discs are corroded to hell. Could be a mix of the Scottish weather, road gritting and sitting up at times?

Pads worn at 60k km is unusual, I'd say.

The weather and salt in Scotland could have a part to play alright. They can also corrode from lack of use. If you do some heavy braking, in neutral so that regen doesn't happen, would it "clean" them up or are they beyond saving?

listermint

Possible a rubber cable Matt too if your trailing the charger cable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Tex-Rubber-Cable-Protector-Trunking/dp/B003QRMZ0C

Gumbo

KCross wrote: »

Pads worn at 60k km is unusual, I'd say.

The weather and salt in Scotland could have a part to play alright. They can also corrode from lack of use. If you do some heavy braking, in neutral so that regen doesn't happen, would it "clean" them up or are they beyond saving?

Possibly. I might go at the calipers with a wire brush and get a good luck at the discs then and see if they can be saved. The previous owner mention that he done a lot of driving in B mode, don't know if that made any dofference?

listermint wrote: »

Possible a rubber cable Matt too if your trailing the charger cable

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Tex-Rubber-Cable-Protector-Trunking/dp/B003QRMZ0C

Possibly too. J won't be in this house for long as I'm renovation my 'life' home so I only throw this granny cable on when I'm in the kitchen at the front and can keep an eye on it.

I'll be putting a charge point in the new house.

KCross

kceire wrote: »

Possibly. I might go at the calipers with a wire brush and get a good luck at the discs then and see if they can be saved. The previous owner mention that he done a lot of driving in B mode, don't know if that made any dofference?

Using a lot of B mode means he would have been using the brake pads a lot less so that might result in surface corrosion on the disc due to lack of use but that's in variance to the fact that you said the pads are worn so I don't know.

Are they close to the wear limit or is there another 20k on them?

Gumbo

KCross wrote: »

Using a lot of B mode means he would have been using the brake pads a lot less so that might result in surface corrosion on the disc due to lack of use but that's in variance to the fact that you said the pads are worn so I don't know.

Are they close to the wear limit or is there another 20k on them?

Another 5k ish maybe?

cros13

That would be more than the usual amount of wear for the mileage alright.