My story is a little different than most of you who have posted because I didn't order one. I have been admiring the LEAF for awhile, especially since the 2013s are built in Tennessee, and reading a lot about it, but it just wasn't in my price range, even though I'm a teacher with a second job. I told my husband that one day I would own one, thinking that would be far in the future. I have been driving the same car for 15 years and I was starting to realize that it was time to pass that old subaru on to some teenager that likes to work on cars, but still didn't think I could afford a LEAF. Then, there it was in the paper: HUGE Nissan Sale! $6,500 off a new LEAF. The morning I saw that ad, I decided it was time to do some preliminary car browsing...should I test drive the Prius first, also on sale, or the LEAF? Decided to go to Nissan first and they had only one, a white SV. Only one person at the dealership had been to all the training about the LEAF and he was as excited as I was. You could tell he didn't get much opportunity to share what he had learned. I peppered him with questions and when they crunched the numbers for me, taking the 6500 off and then the 7500 rebate off the top as well, the price dropped down to the low 20s, which IS in my price range, and I decided to lease it. I've never leased before, but the thought of what LEAFs will be like in 3 years made me think I might want to get the new model at the end of the lease. It isn't just the zero emissions and no gas station visits, except maybe to fill up tires or pee, what really pushed me over to the YES! side was when I asked what the scheduled maintenance is: "Rotate the tires every 7500 miles, which we'll program into your car to remind you so you don't have to remember yourself." I waited for more and finally asked, "And what else?" "Well, you might need a new wiper blade once in awhile." Electric cars are simple and easy!!! My 15-year-old car, as wonderful as it was, was an old lady living in assisted living: new sensors here ($750), new transmission twice and maybe needing a third (thousands), 4 quarts of oil poured into it every 2 weeks, torn seats, almost time for new timing belt, etc. and I cringe to think of what her emissions are. Internal combustion engines are far too complicated, dirty, mysterious and expensive to drive. After I signed all the paperwork, they told me I was the first in Roanoke, Va to own one. They had only sold 2 others and they were to people in other towns in Virginia. People that I have shown have been very impressed but I am surprised at how uncomfortable many people are with new ideas. Driving without gas? I've had several people tell my how brave I am to make this commitment, which surprised me. I can think of a lot of other commitments that take a lot more courage: getting married, getting divorced, having children, getting a new mortgage, quitting a job, moving, signing up for a triathalon. Signing a lease on a car that you refuel at home and which is under warranty and free roadside assistance the whole life of the lease, really doesn't take that much courage.
Empty nesters should be jumping at the LEAF. We are not driving kids all over the place, so we pretty much know how far we'll be driving each day. We usually have another car that we can use for out of town travel. Are kids have flown the nest and we are ready for our lives to be simpler with more me time...at least for a couple more decades before our bodies start needing to be fixed. We've been concerned about the environment since the 70s and wonder what is taking us so long to change, we are a big part of the local foods movement, etc.
By the way, leasing this LEAF was completely my idea. My husband didn't even go with me to the dealership. I think he worried I was being foolish. Now he keeps talking about when he gets one.
