Thinking of buying a leaf

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truckinusa

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2017
Messages
9
I saw this leaf near me and was trying to get the car dealer to come down a bit more than what they want at $10,300. I'm guessing $8,000 or less is what I would like to pay, but maybe that is unrealistic from a dealer? I may or may not succeed. I am not knowledgeable about specs on these cars. Does this particular car have all the desirable options? I know it doesn't have the quick charge port. I thought I read somewhere about different sized batteries? Just looking for any general advice, or specifics on what I might consider offering and any other things I may have missed.

http://www.westpointechryslerjeepdodge.com/used/Nissan/2013-Nissan-Leaf-for-sale-yukon-ok-3d07835a0a0e0ae97c078eb035325324.htm
 
It is a 2013 SV without Premium package. It was likely built before March of 2013, because it appears to be missing 4 capacity bars already. This car may well qualify for a free replacement pack. You need to confirm that it shows just 8 of the little white bars next to the much larger charge bars. You also need to confirm that the "in service" date was less than 5 years ago. If it doesn't qualify for a free replacement pack from Nissan, pass on it - it has little range left and will keep losing capacity quickly.
 
truckinusa said:
I saw this leaf near me and was trying to get the car dealer to come down a bit more than what they want at $10,300. I'm guessing $8,000 or less is what I would like to pay, but maybe that is unrealistic from a dealer? I may or may not succeed. I am not knowledgeable about specs on these cars. Does this particular car have all the desirable options? I know it doesn't have the quick charge port. I thought I read somewhere about different sized batteries? Just looking for any general advice, or specifics on what I might consider offering and any other things I may have missed.

http://www.westpointechryslerjeepdodge.com/used/Nissan/2013-Nissan-Leaf-for-sale-yukon-ok-3d07835a0a0e0ae97c078eb035325324.htm

Find out when the car was manufactured, it is on a label on driver door pillar. Based on what the display is showing, it will likely be between January and March of 2013. Call Nissan at 877-NO-GAS-EV with the VIN number to verify in-service date. Confirm that there are no issues with the car that will prevent the battery replacement under warranty. The battery capacity warranty is 60 months or 60,000 miles from the in-service date. Go one day or one mile over, and they will not cover it. Also, look at the CarFax report for any issues or incidents, and see where the car spent most of its life.

The display is showing only 8 of the 12 battery capacity bars (little ones on the far right). You can use this to your advantage at the selling dealer, as the battery capacity is less than two-thirds of when originally sold, reducing the range and value of the car. You can also use this to your advantage, if you purchase the car, as you can take it to Nissan (confirm before purchase) and get the battery replaced under warranty. This will essentially make it like new again.
 
The display is showing only 8 of the 12 battery capacity bars (little ones on the far right). You can use this to your advantage at the selling dealer, as the battery capacity is less than two-thirds of when originally sold, reducing the range and value of the car.

I'd be careful here, though. If the dealer realizes it qualifies for a free pack, they may raise the price, or pull it from the lot, replace the pack, and relist it for more. You can say that the range is down "quite a bit from new" according to the range estimator, and use that to negotiate.
 
baustin said:
truckinusa said:
I saw this leaf near me and was trying to get the car dealer to come down a bit more than what they want at $10,300. I'm guessing $8,000 or less is what I would like to pay, but maybe that is unrealistic from a dealer? I may or may not succeed. I am not knowledgeable about specs on these cars. Does this particular car have all the desirable options? I know it doesn't have the quick charge port. I thought I read somewhere about different sized batteries? Just looking for any general advice, or specifics on what I might consider offering and any other things I may have missed.

http://www.westpointechryslerjeepdodge.com/used/Nissan/2013-Nissan-Leaf-for-sale-yukon-ok-3d07835a0a0e0ae97c078eb035325324.htm

Find out when the car was manufactured, it is on a label on driver door pillar. Based on what the display is showing, it will likely be between January and March of 2013. Call Nissan at 877-NO-GAS-EV with the VIN number to verify in-service date. Confirm that there are no issues with the car that will prevent the battery replacement under warranty. The battery capacity warranty is 60 months or 60,000 miles from the in-service date. Go one day or one mile over, and they will not cover it. Also, look at the CarFax report for any issues or incidents, and see where the car spent most of its life.

The display is showing only 8 of the 12 battery capacity bars (little ones on the far right). You can use this to your advantage at the selling dealer, as the battery capacity is less than two-thirds of when originally sold, reducing the range and value of the car. You can also use this to your advantage, if you purchase the car, as you can take it to Nissan (confirm before purchase) and get the battery replaced under warranty. This will essentially make it like new again.
What does in-service date mean? The vehicle appears like it sold in May of 2013 and was manufactured sometime in 2012. It was sold in California and was brought to Oklahoma at some point in time. Looks like it came around the 30,000 mile mark.
 
If it was sold in May of 2013 then that day in May is the limit for the battery capacity warranty. (It also is the start of the factory bumper to bumper warranty, now expired except for the power train.) You have until May of 2018 (or 60000 miles) to establish that it qualifies for a free pack, and to have it installed.
 
LeftieBiker said:
If it was sold in May of 2013 then that day in May is the limit for the battery capacity warranty. (It also is the start of the factory bumper to bumper warranty, now expired except for the power train.) You have until May of 2018 (or 60000 miles) to establish that it qualifies for a free pack, and to have it installed.
Assuming it has 8 bars...Is that a lot of trouble to go through that process?
 
truckinusa said:
Does this particular car have all the desirable options?
Nah, for that you have to buy a Rolls Royce.
Like, the LEAF does not have a porta-potty. I don't know, that might be a deal breaker ?
 
Assuming it has 8 bars...Is that a lot of trouble to go through that process?

It isn't generally that bad, but you have to use a competent Nissan dealer to replace the pack. The horror stories all seem to involve bad dealerships.

As for 'desirable options': the car is missing the Premium Package, with Bose stereo and 4 camera parking system. You also said is has no Quick Charge, so the car is NOT optioned out by any means. It does have the heat pump heating system, and cruise control, and satellite radio.
 
LeftieBiker said:
Assuming it has 8 bars...Is that a lot of trouble to go through that process?

It isn't generally that bad, but you have to use a competent Nissan dealer to replace the pack. The horror stories all seem to involve bad dealerships.

As for 'desirable options': the car is missing the Premium Package, with Bose stereo and 4 camera parking system. You also said is has no Quick Charge, so the car is NOT optioned out by any means. It does have the heat pump heating system, and cruise control, and satellite radio.
Would you have any idea what a reasonable price range would be? Dealer doesn't seem to want to budge off $10,000, but maybe I have some ammo with the weak battery. It was listed for $8,900 at another dealer a year ago with 10,000 less miles lol.

Suppose I bought it with 8 bars, could I drive it until I got close to the 5 year warranty time period? Maybe it would be better to be right on the warranty claim? Do they usually mention things like this when you take the car in for service?
 
If the car is eligible, NIssan has not made it difficult to be approved for a new battery.
The uncertain part is how long you will wait for the battery to reach your dealership.

So long as the range the car currently has serves your needs for the next 6 months, I don't see a problem

As for price: a 2012 LEAF with a degraded battery down to 8 bars is worth around $3k, maybe $4k before the warranty is considered.
Price with a new battery ? Somewhere in the $8k range
 
Would you have any idea what a reasonable price range would be? Dealer doesn't seem to want to budge off $10,000, but maybe I have some ammo with the weak battery. It was listed for $8,900 at another dealer a year ago with 10,000 less miles lol.

Suppose I bought it with 8 bars, could I drive it until I got close to the 5 year warranty time period? Maybe it would be better to be right on the warranty claim? Do they usually mention things like this when you take the car in for service?

Prices vary by availability in an area, but a degraded "Base" 2013 SV shouldn't, IMO, be worth more than $8500. The pack you'd get for free would be much better than the one in the car (slower degrading unless the climate is really hot) so there isn't much need to wait, but if you had enough range you could do that. Just DON'T go past that warranty limit!
 
I bought the LEAF in my signature for $8300 a year ago, and it came with a pack in good condition.
 
What do you say to a car dealer that wants too much and offers you $300 off? Its the end of the month is all I know. I made it pretty clear I was interested by mailing a preapproval from my bank, although I may just pay cash.
 
truckinusa said:
What do you say to a car dealer that wants too much and offers you $300 off? Its the end of the month is all I know. I made it pretty clear I was interested by mailing a preapproval from my bank, although I may just pay cash.

How did it go? I just went through this with a dealership in my town yesterday. I thought what the heck, it's the last day of the month so why not try. They're asking $10,800 before taxes and fees for a 2013 S (built after March) with 40K miles. It's been on their lot for 170+ days. It has some physical blemishes on the interior. I wanted it for around $8000K out the door but they wouldn't budge below $10K. I tried to explain they're asking too much and it's just never going to sell for that, but the sales-person's reply was they have to consider how much they bought it for regardless of its value now. :roll: Oh well, maybe I'll try again at year end.
 
SyrinxTemple said:
truckinusa said:
What do you say to a car dealer that wants too much and offers you $300 off? Its the end of the month is all I know. I made it pretty clear I was interested by mailing a preapproval from my bank, although I may just pay cash.

How did it go? I just went through this with a dealership in my town yesterday. I thought what the heck, it's the last day of the month so why not try. They're asking $10,800 before taxes and fees for a 2013 S (built after March) with 40K miles. It's been on their lot for 170+ days. It has some physical blemishes on the interior. I wanted it for around $8000K out the door but they wouldn't budge below $10K. I tried to explain they're asking too much and it's just never going to sell for that, but the sales-person's reply was they have to consider how much they bought it for regardless of its value now. :roll: Oh well, maybe I'll try again at year end.
Sometimes I think they are in the business of storing cars until someone becomes desperate enough to buy one from them at an inflated price. I bought a Toyota Rav4 earlier in the year and I bought it new because they wanted the same price for a used one. Craziness.
 
Went and looked at another leaf with similar mileage. It has 47,000 miles to be exact. It has nine bars and the warranty runs out in July 2018. Any chance I could burn 1 bar in 7 months? The $10,000 one definitely has 8 bars and I could possibly get it for $9,000. They seemed like they might go down to that but I didn't put in an offer. The difference between the vehicles is one has navigation, less miles and aluminum wheels. The other has steel wheels, no navigation, quick charge port and 9000 more miles with 9 bars versus 8.

Leaf A $9,000 price tag possibly
39,000 miles
8 bars of battery life still in warranty
navigation
aluminum wheels

Leaf B $8,000 price tag possibly
no navigation
9 bars of battery life still in warranty until July 2018
quick charge port
 
I think Leaf A would be the obvious choice if you can confirm that it qualifies for a new battery pack. I would try to avoid bringing that issue up in the negotiation though, only the fact that it has a severely degraded pack and is obviously worth much less than their asking price. If they bring up the warranty, tell them to get it replaced before they try to sell it to you.
The only thing they other one has going for it is the QC port, which could be huge depending on your needs! I wish I had one, but I've never had a real reason to have one since my commute is so short.
 
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