Cheapest way to go electric, with 2008 Swift trade in

rocky

Is a first gen leaf (2011) the cheapest way for us to get in an electric car? We want to replace a 2008 Swift, 3 door, low miles (60k km), more than its fair share of scrapes.

Ideally would like 4/5 doors, don't care too much about battery bars left(only do ~3k km a year in the Swift, used for local runs, getting kids to school/training etc) so even with (lets say) 80km range left we'd need to charge it fully less than once a week.

Probably keeping the Swift is the cheapest, but excluding that option, how much do you think we need with the Swift for a 2011 Leaf? We don't want to deal with selling the Swift privately and are prepared to pay a slight premium for this.

Does the 2011 Leaf come in Tekna/SVE, was there surround cameras as an option then? Don't like the light interior so would prefer to avoid that.

Thanks for any input.

unkel

The cheapest Leafs go for about €5k but it won't be easy to find one at that price, they are holding quite firm, have actually gone up in value a bit in the last year or so, despite being a year older. Negative depreciation

The 2011 / 2012 Leaf was made in Japan and all are the one spec level, the full works, very good spec.

You can EV cheaper. You should be able to find a Renault Fluence. These have brutal range, maybe 60km at this stage but you might find one for the same value as you could sell your Swift for. They do have battery lease though, I think about €80 per month. They can't fast charge. If they didn't have battery lease, they might be quite useful as a local second car for the shops, schoolruns, etc.

KCross

rocky wrote: »

Does the 2011 Leaf come in Tekna/SVE, was there surround cameras as an option then? Don't like the light interior so would prefer to avoid that.

AFAIK all the 2011-2013 (Gen 1) Leafs have the beige interior so I don't think you can avoid that unless you buy the Gen 1.5 (132+)

goz83

Realistically, you’re talking about 8k to get into a 2011/12 Leaf and with reasonably high mileage. The 10 year swift won’t do you much good unless you were using it for scrappage.

The stock you are looking at will mostly be down 2 bars. I’m lucky my 2012 is only down 1 bar. I’ve been thinking about going up a couple of years, maybe to a bigger battery. Always nice to have more range even if you don’t need it.

I would avoid the fluence and anything with battery rental.

What are you budgeting for?

ELM327

KCross wrote: »

AFAIK all the 2011-2013 (Gen 1) Leafs have the beige interior so I don't think you can avoid that unless you buy the Gen 1.5 (132+)

Almost, but not all. There was an option for a greyish black interior from 2012.

KCross

ELM327 wrote: »

Almost, but not all. There was an option for a greyish black interior from 2012.

I know there is an option to buy beige in the 2013+ models, which very few opted for. I've never seen a dark Gen 1. Have you seen a dark interior Gen 1?

Are you sure you haven't mixed it up?

goz83

ELM327 wrote: »

Almost, but not all. There was an option for a greyish black interior from 2012.

Plus, Lidl sell seat covers at great prices quite regularly

The beige interior wears really well though. I was worried about it with kids, but it hasn't needed anything more than the occasional removal of a sweet wrapper. That's helped by the fact that my little ones don't eat much junk food, but still....it's a good hardy wearing interior.

KCross wrote: »

I know there is an option to buy beige in the 2013+ models, which very few opted for. I've never seen a dark Gen 1. Have you seen a dark interior Gen 1?

Are you sure you haven't mixed it up?

There are some dark ones. Hens teeth though.

ELM327

KCross wrote: »

I know there is an option to buy beige in the 2013+ models, which very few opted for. I've never seen a dark Gen 1. Have you seen a dark interior Gen 1?

Are you sure you haven't mixed it up?

They do exist, no I haven't mixed it up.
They are unusual as they were a cost option and most people didn't seem to go for it.

Similarly you can get the "old" interior in the 1.5 model aswell.

Shefwedfan

Best option is 2012 Leaf Gen 1, I held out last year and ended up getting one with low mileage and no loss of bars. Give electricautos a shout and see what he can do for you. I gave him requirements last year and he found the car I wanted. I bought 2 cars last year from Phil and can recommend him......

A couple of other dealers are knocking around now, https://www.facebook.com/nextecocar/ I have talked a few times to this guy and he seems to be decent but I haven't bought off him.

If you have the money you can go up the range but again both dealers will be able to help......

goz83

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Best option is 2012 Leaf Gen 1, I held out last year and ended up getting one with low mileage and no loss of bars.

I agree, it's the best choice, but last years prices are very different. The prices have gone up a fair bit. Loads of the "battery owned" aren't actually owned. I tried a couple of them and both times the ads were copy and paste from other cars and the batteries were leased.

Last month, I spent Tekna money on an Acenta of the same year compared to less than a year ago. I haven't seen a proper bargain in a long time and I am always looking.

What did you spend on yours last year?

Shefwedfan

goz83 wrote: »

I agree, it's the best choice, but last years prices are very different. The prices have gone up a fair bit. Loads of the "battery owned" aren't actually owned. I tried a couple of them and both times the ads were copy and paste from other cars and the batteries were leased.

Last month, I spent Tekna money on an Acenta of the same year compared to less than a year ago. I haven't seen a proper bargain in a long time and I am always looking.

What did you spend on yours last year?

7k or so, was irish car, SV model. The cream interior is a bit of pain alright

The second hand 12 Leaf seems to be holding its value and not really dropping. If anything the good ones have gone up in price versus last year.

Some people are trading in Leaf v Leaf 2.0 but dont see any deals knocking around.....

goz83

Shefwedfan wrote: »

7k or so, was irish car, SV model. The cream interior is a bit of pain alright

The second hand 12 Leaf seems to be holding its value and not really dropping. If anything the good ones have gone up in price versus last year.

Some people are trading in Leaf v Leaf 2.0 but dont see any deals knocking around.....

You'd get 9k now for that. I don't mind the light interior at all. But unless you're selling (which you're not) the increase in value in mute as long as you keep the insurer aware of the hike in value.

Shefwedfan

goz83 wrote: »

You'd get 9k now for that. I don't mind the light interior at all. But unless you're selling (which you're not) the increase in value in mute as long as you keep the insurer aware of the hike in value.

It was a present for my mother.....I wonder could I convince her to sell it :P

She uses it for spinning around a farm, not the cleanest environment for a cream interior

goz83

Shefwedfan wrote: »

It was a present for my mother.....I wonder could I convince her to sell it :P

She uses it for spinning around a farm, not the cleanest environment for a cream interior

Lidl are selling seat covers

Shefwedfan

goz83 wrote: »

Lidl are selling seat covers

I bought a set from ebay and special floor mats with a large boot protector as well.....

mel.b

goz83 wrote: »

Lidl are selling seat covers

I didn't think you could use generic seat covers with cars that have side airbags?

goz83

mel.b wrote: »

I didn't think you could use generic seat covers with cars that have side airbags?

It's never stopped anyone from doing it. With a small amount of nip/tuck, they are perfectly fine.

rocky

Ahh jayzus I forgot about the Fluence, please leave it forgotten

Might need to increase the budget so, if the first Leafs only had light interior.

Shefwedfan

I would ring Electric Autos and get some ideas of what he would get for the Swift(he just trades them into garages) and then how much he is seeing the Leafs going for this year....he deals with them daily

unkel

Another consideration is that you will save money running a Leaf, so that might help you increase your budget? The facelift (very late 2013) model has a much improved battery. Also, many people who bought a Leaf as a second car have reported that they used it a lot more than they thought, taking mileage away from the "main" family car. This is also an additional saving.

Gumbo

unkel wrote: »

Another consideration is that you will save money running a Leaf, so that might help you increase your budget? The facelift (very late 2013) model has a much improved battery. Also, many people who bought a Leaf as a second car have reported that they used it a lot more than they thought, taking mileage away from the "main" family car. This is also an additional saving.

+1
I find us jumping into my car more often than not and leaving her 5 series on the drive.

unkel

Even a small trip is a few euro saved and EVs are just so easy to live with / drive.

rocky

unkel wrote: »

Another consideration is that you will save money running a Leaf, so that might help you increase your budget? The facelift (very late 2013) model has a much improved battery. Also, many people who bought a Leaf as a second car have reported that they used it a lot more than they thought, taking mileage away from the "main" family car. This is also an additional saving.

3000km/year x 9l/100km x 1.38 = 372.6

Assuming 80km range for a 24kWh early Leaf at 150Wh/km,
3000 km x 150Wh x .14 (day rate) = 63 euro
Or with a nightly rate (which we don't have yet)
3000 km x 150Wh x .7 = 32euro

Tax: 390 - 120 = 270
A total saving of 580-610 euro/year.

Probably optimistic, if I could get a Leaf for Swift + 3000 I'd go for it.

But I find myself looking at mk1.5 for the better battery, then Tekna/SVE, etc... and I'm at 15k very quickly.

I'll get the Swift through the NCT and if it passes might keep it for a few months in the hope SH Leafs will depreciate a bit more with the increase in availability of Leaf mk2 and people trading up their mk1s.

If it fails the NCT... hello Mr Windsor Galway (where we bought the Swift from all those years ago) - only 1 Leaf in stock?? https://windsorgalway.nissan.ie/used-cars/passenger#make=118&model=280
Would they be amenable to get a Leaf delivered from another Nissan dealer I wonder?

I'll also check out Electric Autos.

Thanks.

unkel

rocky wrote: »

But I find myself looking at mk1.5 for the better battery, then Tekna/SVE, etc... and I'm at 15k very quickly.

If you're on a tight budget there's no need to even spend 10k on a mk1.5 Leaf. But you have to accept it might not be the very perfect colour and trim level

Nissan were selling brand new Leafs for under €20k recently. SVE. And that was the advertised price, before negotiations

Would you consider bringing one in from the UK yourself? Pretty easy to do and the market is far bigger there. Would also save money.

goz83

unkel wrote: »

Would you consider bringing one in from the UK yourself? Pretty easy to do and the market is far bigger there. Would also save money.

Low end values in UK are comparable to here right now.....moreso after travel expenses. I've been keeping an eye out and the cheapest ones I found are battery rental, or finance owed. Everything else was the same price as here. Odd, considering they have Leaf 2 now.

unkel

Not that odd. See the thread I posted today about the Times article. Negative depreciation on EVs

You did well with your second one. That literally is almost a free car

Shefwedfan

rocky wrote: »

3000km/year x 9l/100km x 1.38 = 372.6

Assuming 80km range for a 24kWh early Leaf at 150Wh/km,
3000 km x 150Wh x .14 (day rate) = 63 euro
Or with a nightly rate (which we don't have yet)
3000 km x 150Wh x .7 = 32euro

Tax: 390 - 120 = 270
A total saving of 580-610 euro/year.

Probably optimistic, if I could get a Leaf for Swift + 3000 I'd go for it.

But I find myself looking at mk1.5 for the better battery, then Tekna/SVE, etc... and I'm at 15k very quickly.

I'll get the Swift through the NCT and if it passes might keep it for a few months in the hope SH Leafs will depreciate a bit more with the increase in availability of Leaf mk2 and people trading up their mk1s.

If it fails the NCT... hello Mr Windsor Galway (where we bought the Swift from all those years ago) - only 1 Leaf in stock?? https://windsorgalway.nissan.ie/used-cars/passenger#make=118&model=280
Would they be amenable to get a Leaf delivered from another Nissan dealer I wonder?

I'll also check out Electric Autos.

Thanks.

If you are at 15k quickly why not go up a few k and get yourself a beautiful eGolf:p....I seen someone has one up for sale

Beautiful car

rocky

unkel wrote: »

Would you consider bringing one in from the UK yourself? Pretty easy to do and the market is far bigger there. Would also save money.

I've no issues going to the UK if there's savings to be had (more than 1k euro)

Shefwedfan wrote: »

If you are at 15k quickly why not go up a few k and get yourself a beautiful eGolf:p....I seen someone has one up for sale
Beautiful car

Nice car, a bit too expensive, may as well get an i3 for the money

Soarer

rocky wrote: »

Nice car, a bit too expensive, may as well get an i3 for the money

I think there's someone on here that's bought an i3 relatively recently. He seems fairly happy with it. :rolleyes:

Shefwedfan

Soarer wrote: »

I think there's someone on here that's bought an i3 relatively recently. He seems fairly happy with it. :rolleyes:

Oh my God.....you have started it now:p

ELM327

It has 11kW AC capability and a Rex - don't you know.

Ha bloody ha ha ! :P