BrockWI said:
I am sure someone has run the numbers but even if you throw away the car at 60k miles what was the true cost of ownership over 60k miles and how does that compare to a volt or plug in prius or pick you choice of other vehicles.
That is about $0.50/mile just for depreciation. Roughly $30k car. Add $2000/year or $8000 total (@15k per year) for insurance and electricity. Some taxes, repairs and maintenance($1000 more). So call it $0.65 per mile total. This isn't out of reason, see:
http://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/04/cost-of-owning-and-operating-vehicle-in-u-s-increases-nearly-two-percent-according-to-aaas-2013-your-driving-costs-study/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Take a smaller new ICE. Total cost to run for 60k miles is about $30k, or somewhere around $0.50 (AAA gives $0.46) per mile TOTAL, depreciation, insurance, gasoline, taxes, etc. Of course, the ICE probably has substantial value as it is still worth a lot. The same car as a used car can be cheaper of course, until repairs start to increase. Cost for the next 60k miles might be closer to $0.35 per mile... Depending on repairs needed.
Without any tax advantages, the Leaf to only 60k miles is more expensive. With tax breaks, it is close.
In the PNW, where close to or more than 100k miles can be realistically expected, you might get down to abut $0.45 per mile total (assuming no replacement battery). The Impreza would be close to that over the same 100k miles. With tax rebates, of course, or a cheap replacement battery, the Leaf is cheaper. Even with tax rebates, I'm not sure you have a hope of driving a Leaf for the same cost as a good used car, at current prices.
Of course, the future is unknown. I don't know the price of gasoline 3 years from now, and you don't and I'll drop a boulder of salt on anyone that claims to. The cost of running an ICE, especially an older one, is very dependent on gasoline, insurance and repairs. The cost of replacing batteries is unknown. And then there is the whole question of value, and the questions of costs not included, such as air pollution, oil's political cost and climate change.