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Child Item

2011 Nissan Leaf

OU812

Guys, looking for some advice.

First car for an 18yo. Low budget, thinking of getting them an EV instead of a petrol car.

Obviously with a low budget we’re not going to get something great. Hopefully it would last two to three years before progressing.

Would something like this: https://www.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/nissan-leaf-nct-dec-2025-tax-march-2025/37958485 be suitable and what should I be looking out for that may be wrong with it?

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NIMAN

THe big question is "what sort of mileage would you need".

I don't think you could budget for any more than 60km on a warm day in that. And in the winter, less.

OU812

don’t think there’d be a lot of mileage done but that’s a lot lower than I realised it’d be.

any guidance on what to go for?

User1998

What about when they pass their test and want to go on a drive with their friends? They can’t do any sort of social activity in a 60km Leaf.

liamog

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707499#Comment_122707499

Whilst I'd agree that a Leaf with 60km of dependable range isn't an ideal situation to be in, I think it's hyperbole to say you can't do any social activity in the car. My first car of my own was a VW e-Up! with about 80/100km of range depending on time of year. It wasn't a car for doing road trips or tipping down to a festival but it was more than capable of operating in the local environs and getting me to where I needed to be. A few times I needed to fast charge because I'd a particularly busy day. The situation will depend a lot on where the driver is operating the car, if every social activity starts off with a 30km drive to the local town then I'd for sure avoid the cheap leaf.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707649#Comment_122707649

I don’t know where OP is living but being from Dublin myself the typical journeys you would take as an 18 year old after passing your test would be driving up to Sallys Gap, Dun Laoighre pier, Bray, Bull Island, maybe out to Dublin Airport viewing point. Stuff like that. None of these would be possible in Leaf, considering you have to pick your friends up and drop them off etc.

I dunno, I just think as an 18 year old you should be able to travel the open road and not be limited to a 60km roundtrip from your home, or have to worry about charging.

...Ghost...

A 60km Leaf will teach the 18yro to drive slow to conserve range 😄

loopymum

My 18yr old drives my old leaf. They are thrilled with being able to use it & cheap motoring. Insurance was cheap for them as well. 900euro on their own with me as named driver.

joe1303l

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122715248#Comment_122715248

What insurance company is that with, it seems very reasonable ? I assume that 18 year old has recently passed their test and is on N plates ?

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707661#Comment_122707661

You wouldn't be able to do an 11km journey from Dublin to Dun Laoghaire in a car that has a 60km range?

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716011#Comment_122716011

Dun Laoighre is 20km from Tallaght, so thats 40km plus picking up and dropping off your friends, you’d want to be leaving the house with a full battery and couldn’t even detour for some food or whatever even if you wanted to. Not ideal for an 18 year old IMO

loopymum

Allianz. It's very reasonable to be fair. In their own name. Just passed the test

SteM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716085#Comment_122716085

You didn't say Tallaght, you said Dublin so it's fair to assume you meant the city centre. Tallaght to Dun Laoghaire is easily done, that's just range anxiety kicking in. Bray too, just park on the seafront and charge while you're down at the beach.

User1998

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122716162#Comment_122716162

Yeah fair enough, just pointing out that if you live in the suburbs its barely doable even with a full battery. When you consider picking up/dropping off, maybe parking up for a bit, a small detour etc. Just not ideal for someone who has just passed their test IMO

ELM327

Leaf 2011-13 is a bit, peak EV, for someone just learning IMO. I have one! Fine for teaching them to drive - which I will be doing as soon as my 18 yo stepson and 17 yo niece pass their theory test - but for a first car they need something with a little bit more range. A 141 onwards leaf or a zoe would be fine.

In saying that, we live in the back-arse of nowhere and even a trip to the local shop is a 17km round trip. In Dublin we could walk!

I want to be able to teach the basics of driving, not also have to add, yeah connect your phone to leafspy too because the GOM is wrong!