My Audi A4 changeover to Nissan Leaf story so far

FFred

So after a prolonged midlife crisis lasting seven years where I purchased three brand spanking new A4 diesels in a row :eek:, I took the plunge about two months ago and bought myself a new 2019 Leaf 40.

So far ...

Advantages:

- I love it
- It’s lovely to drive
- It’s saving me a shed load of money on fuel
- The bells and whistles even on my base model include sat nav , adaptive cruise control etc ..
- I love it
- Free parking in my local city centre
- Cheap tax
- I love it

Disadvantage
- The build quality of the Nissan is noticeably inferior to the Audi. This is immediately noticeable and also there is a lovely small rattling noise somewhere in the front passenger side dash. ...
But I love it (the car , not the rattle )

Thanks for reading...

unkel

FFred wrote: »

after a prolonged midlife crisis lasting seven years where I purchased three brand spanking new A4 diesels

If you think a manifestation of a midlife crisis is to buy an underpowered, overpriced diesel saloon, I think you haven't had your midlife crisis yet

WillyWonkaBar

unkel wrote: »

If you think a manifestation of a midlife crisis is to buy an underpowered, overpriced diesel saloon, I think you haven't had your midlife crisis yet

Agreed, I think THIS IS your midlife crisis :P

antoinolachtnai

Can you tell us a bit about your commute and how you use your car?

Patser

WillyWonkaBar wrote: »

Agreed, I think THIS IS your midlife crisis :P

Wait til he gets a Tesla

The advantages of the electric train like the effortless torque and lack of vibrations make BEVs so nice to drive compared to anything else and the LEAF is one of the quietest cars in general too. Agree with the materials and build quality which were markedly down even when moving on from '00 SAAB 9-5 to our first LEAF in 2015. The rear suspension is also not very dynamic or stable at high loads at high speeds compared to a multilink setup. But still love driving them after combined 100+ k between the two LEAFs.

Hope the love affair with the car continues for a long time.

FFred

unkel wrote: »

If you think a manifestation of a midlife crisis is to buy an underpowered, overpriced diesel saloon, I think you haven't had your midlife crisis yet

Not once, but three times. :eek:
But in defence of said cars, though overpriced, the build quality is top drawer.

Did I mention that I love the Leaf :pac:

FFred

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Can you tell us a bit about your commute and how you use your car?

I will give a detailed answer to this later when I get time ....

n97 mini

FFred wrote: »

But in defence of said cars, though overpriced, the build quality is top drawer.

The bits you can see. The bits you can't see are vastly better built in the Leaf....

FFred

n97 mini wrote: »

The bits you can see. The bits you can't see are vastly better built in the Leaf....

The bits you can ‘hear’ rattling in the Nissan after 2 MONTHS are also inferior to the non-rattling Audi’s after 7 YEARS on backroads

krissovo

I pick up a Leap in the next week or so, getting quite excited now.

FFred

antoinolachtnai wrote: »

Can you tell us a bit about your commute and how you use your car?

Myself and the good woman and the four young children share two cars.

Before:

2 ICE cars
400 euro a month on diesel between the two modern diesels doing decent mpg
One commute of 80km round trip on national/back roads
Other commute of 40km round trip on national/city roads
LOTS of children’s activities... every day... LOTS... I mean LOTS on a mixture of all types of road

After:

1 ICE and 1 new Leaf
150 euro a month on diesel
Probably going to be about 50 euro a month at the very most on electricity
We optimise the use of the EV. It has 6000 km on it already after 2 months :eek:

I hope this thread and this specific information helps others in their EV escapades

_dof_

There shouldn't really be anything rattling, you should bring it back to the dealer and they should sort that out.
No rattles in mine in over a year. There was a problem with the driver side wing mirror making a noise when foldinw, which I think samih had too. The dealer replaced it under warranty, no problems since.

_dof_

_dof_ wrote: »

There shouldn't really be anything rattling, you should bring it back to the dealer and they should sort that out.
No rattles in mine in over a year. There was a problem with the driver side wing mirror making a noise when foldinw, which I think samih had too. The dealer replaced it under warranty, no problems since.

Forgot about that mirror. The noise happens when the ambient is under maybe 5 degrees. Decided to just live with it for now.

No rattles here either.

Nikki Sixx

Suppose the biggest thrill is feeling current/ trendy? People who don’t own an electric car at a party will ask questions about it. You get to be this superior being who saves whales, seals and possibly polar bears, by just driving a car. Half of Hollywood apparently drives a Prius and the car puts you in the same bracket as an A-lister over there. If I had the money I’d go for an e-Golf and tell all how I drove CORK to Dublin on one charge, with a smug look on my face.;-)

banned from thread

Nikki Sixx

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Suppose the biggest thrill is feeling current/ trendy? People who don’t own an electric car at a party will ask questions about it. You get to be this superior being who saves whales, seals and possibly polar bears, by just driving a car. Half of Hollywood apparently drives a Prius and the car puts you in the same bracket as an A-lister over there. If I had the money I’d go for an e-Golf and tell all how I drove CORK to Dublin on one charge, with a smug look on my face.;-)

Or maybe, just maybe, the LEAF is a nicer drive than a diesel saloon for OPs usage? They are genuinely nice to drive after all and the electric drive has that really nice wholesome feel of limitless and effortless torque on the move. It just wants to go.

fricatus

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Suppose the biggest thrill is feeling current/ trendy? People who don’t own an electric car at a party will ask questions about it. You get to be this superior being who saves whales, seals and possibly polar bears, by just driving a car. Half of Hollywood apparently drives a Prius and the car puts you in the same bracket as an A-lister over there. If I had the money I’d go for an e-Golf and tell all how I drove CORK to Dublin on one charge, with a smug look on my face.;-)

No, that current/trendy thing is the biggest pain in the hole. Ever since I got my EV, I've had to put up with endless "saving the planet" comments, which is fine because most people stop there, but there's a percentage who feel it's their duty to point out that African children had to dig up the lithium for my car by hand, and that electricity is actually more polluting than diesel, and "oooh, you went to Australia, and here I was thinking you were Green", etc. etc. "I wish I could afford a new car like you, but I'll just have to pollute the city for a little while longer", blahdy blah.

No, the real reasons I bought an EV, and the reasons I won't be going back to fossil cars, are the following:
- cheaper to run
- nicer to drive

That's about the size of it!

FFred

_dof_ wrote: »

There shouldn't really be anything rattling, you should bring it back to the dealer and they should sort that out.
No rattles in mine in over a year. There was a problem with the driver side wing mirror making a noise when foldinw, which I think samih had too. The dealer replaced it under warranty, no problems since.

In all fairness it spends a fair part of it’s life on a bumpy country lane. I’m not overly bothered - Over the years driving these roads, I’ve had the Zafira rattle, the Espace rattle, the Passat rattle, the S40 rattle, the Micra rattle, the Almera rattle, the Primera rattle and now the Leaf rattle :pac: but NEVER the A4 rattle

biko

Nikki Sixx banned from thread

fricatus

fricatus wrote: »

No, that current/trendy thing is the biggest pain in the hole. Ever since I got my EV, I've had to put up with endless "saving the planet" comments, which is fine because most people stop there, but there's a percentage who feel it's their duty to point out that African children had to dig up the lithium for my car by hand, and that electricity is actually more polluting than diesel, and "oooh, you went to Australia, and here I was thinking you were Green", etc. etc. "I wish I could afford a new car like you, but I'll just have to pollute the city for a little while longer", blahdy blah.

No, the real reasons I bought an EV, and the reasons I won't be going back to fossil cars, are the following:
- cheaper to run
- nicer to drive

That's about the size of it!

I bought the first LEAF because I was interested in the technology side of it. The second I bought as the 1st one was a really nice car apart from the short range which has been sufficiently fixed with the L40 while the cost to change was sane. But in my dreams I've already replaced the L40 with slightly smaller (=LEAF size) "Model 3 LR estate" because that would be just perfect for us. Maybe some day a car like that is available in the price range that makes sense. Until then the L40 will stay.

biko

biko wrote: »

Nikki Sixx banned from thread

Must have been something naughty, pity didn't have chance to read it. Seems personal insults are now the norm which means that the friends of ICE have really started to feel insecure about their pure petrolhead views. Fight! (=stage 3 or denial) when somebody shares any positive experience of moving to the other side.

biko

Let's just leave that aside and focus on OP's story.

Johnboy1951

fricatus wrote: »

...

No, the real reasons I bought an EV, and the reasons I won't be going back to fossil cars, are the following:
- cheaper to run
- nicer to drive

That's about the size of it!

What was the difference in cost to purchase the Leaf compared to getting another A4 diesel?

FFred

Johnboy1951 wrote: »

What was the difference in cost to purchase the Leaf compared to getting another A4 diesel?

A4 Diesel between 39k to 43k depending on spec
New Leaf base model (which is very well specced for a base model) €30,290 on the road

MrMusician18

Does the new leaf still not fast charge properly or has that been fixed?

Gumbo

MrMusician18 wrote: »

Does the new leaf still not fast charge properly or has that been fixed?

This is the effect that rapidgate has had on the impression of the new Leaf. They’ve done something to address it alright but it’s still there.

But, if you only charge once a day then you will never notice it. It’s a slow down on the second or third charge that people rant about.

catharsis

MrMusician18 wrote: »

Does the new leaf still not fast charge properly or has that been fixed?

kceire wrote: »

This is the effect that rapidgate has had on the impression of the new Leaf. They’ve done something to address it alright but it’s still there.

But, if you only charge once a day then you will never notice it. It’s a slow down on the second or third charge that people rant about.

...or more succinctly - it has been fixed !

charlieIRL

FFred wrote: »

A4 Diesel between 39k to 43k depending on spec
New Leaf base model (which is very well specced for a base model) €30,290 on the road

I was quoted €31990 for a base model SV leaf yesterday. Can i ask what garage is offering that price? Would rather the few euro in my pocket than a garage!!!

Also, can you elaborate on your commute?
I also have an A4 thats due to be changed, 230K miles on it now! Have been looking at a a Zoe and a Leaf and the Leaf is a better fit for me - need the space. Prices in Nissan here go from €31990 to over €40 after the €5k rebate.
My commute is 10kms R road, 40-odd motorway and then 10kms R to work. Anyone else run an EV on a similar route? I used a Zoe for a day and was fine but wouldn't like to use the motorway everyday in it. Just a tad too small.

KCross

charlieIRL wrote: »

I was quoted €31990 for a base model SV leaf yesterday.

Prices in Nissan here go from €31990 to over €40 after the €5k rebate.

nissan.ie still has the base model 40kWh Leaf at €28690 on their website. The SVE top of the range is ~€32k. Not sure how you got to €40k??

Were they definitely quoting you for the 40kWh Leaf (as opposed to the 62kWh Leaf)?

mordeith

charlieIRL wrote: »

My commute is 10kms R road, 40-odd motorway and then 10kms R to work. Anyone else run an EV on a similar route?

Broadly similar. 15km R road then 30 km mixed dual carriageway and motorway. (that's one way). Running an i3 Rex (60ah). Set off this morning with 99km on the GOM. Reporting 57km left (46%). I can't remember the % this morning. Not at 100 anyway.

unkel

charlieIRL wrote: »

I was quoted €31990 for a base model SV leaf yesterday.

That's without pro pilot? Madness.

Luckylow10

We picked up our leaf yesterday. Windsor still have some leaf 40 at the cheaper prices.

charlieIRL

KCross wrote: »

nissan.ie still has the base model 40kWh Leaf at €28690 on their website. The SVE top of the range is ~€32k. Not sure how you got to €40k??

Were they definitely quoting you for the 40kWh Leaf (as opposed to the 62kWh Leaf)?

Yes they were. I just got the brochure out of my car to double check
SV - €31,990
SV Premium - €32,240
SVE - €33,240
Add €6700 on for a 60kWh battery version.

charlieIRL

unkel wrote: »

That's without pro pilot? Madness.

Pro-pilot was €1000 extra!

KCross

charlieIRL wrote: »

Yes they were. I just got the brochure out of my car to double check
SV - €31,990
SV Premium - €32,240
SVE - €33,240
Add €6700 on for a 60kWh battery version.

Those prices look odd.

On their website with their "old" pricing there is €4k difference between an SV and an SVE. Your new pricing only has €1200 between them... that is odd.

unkel

Very odd as the €1000 PP is standard on SVE? Or isn't it?

charlieIRL

KCross wrote: »

Those prices look odd.

On their website with their "old" pricing there is €4k difference between an SV and an SVE. Your new pricing only has €1200 between them... that is odd.

Do you know what other dealers are charging for them?
There’s no other Nissan around me to compare.

charlieIRL

unkel wrote: »

Very odd as the €1000 PP is standard on SVE? Or isn't it?

I’ll take a pic of the brochure they gave me with the prices wrote in on it and I’ll post it here.

Luckylow10

Here is the full price list on Windsor website if that helps.

https://www.windsor.ie/nissan/new-leaf/prices/

charlieIRL

Luckylow10 wrote: »

Here is the full price list on Windsor website if that helps.

https://www.windsor.ie/nissan/new-leaf/prices/

Similar to what I was quoted, also shows the pro pilot is €1000 extra.

charlieIRL

Apologies for going off topic OP

FFred

charlieIRL wrote: »

I was quoted €31990 for a base model SV leaf yesterday. Can i ask what garage is offering that price? Would rather the few euro in my pocket than a garage!!!

Also, can you elaborate on your commute?

Hi

Walsh’s Car Sales, Ferrybank, Waterford

Elaboration on commute was done here

https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=110519098&postcount=12


Hope this helps