Looking for a 2nd Hand Leaf

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jadrake

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2018
Messages
46
Location
Coquitlam, BC, Canada
Hi All,

I'm a total newbie, and so am here for advice and recommendations.

I'm in Vancouver, BC, and am looking to purchase a 2nd hand Leaf. I'm aware of LeafSpy and have ordered a compatible adapter, which I'm planning on taking along when I check out cars.

Would you mind hitting me with some recommendations for what to look out for? I want to get this right.

Thanks in advance!

Adam
 
Can you update your location info via your user name in the upper right > User Control Panel > Profile tab? That way, we don't need to ask in future posts/threads or do sleuthing to deduce it.

What are your daily driving needs in terms of miles? How much city vs. highway? Will you have the ability to charge at your work/destinations?

https://www.facebook.com/notes/seattle-nissan-leaf-owners/a-guide-for-buying-a-used-leaf/1100737373291032/
http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26662

Unfortunately, Canadian trim levels on some (most? all?) years don't exactly line up with US trim levels of the same year in terms of what's included or not included.

If buying Leafs originally intended for the Canadian market, you'll want to look at tables like the Specs tab of https://nissannews.com/en-CA/nissan/canada/presskits/ca-2017-nissan-leaf-press-kit to see what's standard, optional, etc. Change the year to the model years you're interested in.

Most of us here are only familiar w/US trim levels, the differences between them and the model years.
 
Thanks for leaping right in, guys.

I've check out your links - much appreciated. Also, I've added my location.

Mileage: The car is for my wife to drive around our area when she works at the local schools, so probably no more than 50 miles per day. We plan to recharge at home overnight.
 
That sounds like mainly low speed driving, so any 11 or 12 bar 4/2013 through 2015 Leaf should do fine. I strongly suggest a model with heat pump for your climate.
 
The 2015 "Lizard" pack is the best, but most of the advantage is its durability in moderately hot (but not Arizona hot) weather. The pack that preceded it, which I call the "Wolf" pack, is almost as good, especially in milder temps. The middle and top trim models, called the SV and SL in the US, have the heat pump.

If you need back seat heaters for kids, BTW, you have to get a pre-2015 Leaf, IIRC. I also suggest one with the 'Premium Package,' which consists of a better stereo and a great 4 camera parking monitor system that shows a synthesized overhead view of the car, making back parking and getting into parking lot spaces very easy.
 
Don't know how accurate this is, but according to this listing that LEAF is originally from Fremont, California:

https://www.carsalehistory.com/cardetail/1N4AZ0CP0FC332455.html

So, it likely has higher pack degradation that a PNW LEAF would normally have.

The process to import a LEAF into Canada isn't too difficult and costs less than $1000 if you do it yourself.

https://goo.gl/jp6MjA

Some of their LEAFs are imported from California too, so check the CarFax history (link in on the page for each car listed)
 
jadrake said:

That is an S, with no heat pump. Since it's a 2015 it MIGHT have a good enough battery for your needs, but it would suck more power for heat than an SV or SL in all but frigid temps.

One slip as I was writing. Avoid Arizona & Texas cars, Florida cars, Hawaii cars, and those from the hotter parts of California. Look for cars from US states with climates like yours. Be wary of dealer listings with lots of photos that don't show the dash charge bar / capacity bar display. You could actually get by with a good 11 bar Leaf if you want to spend less, but because of the way the bars "drop" you wouldn't know without LeafSpy if a 12 bar car is really "just over 11" a 10 bar was "just over 9" etc...
 
I lucked out and purchased a higher mileage 2013 SV from Paramount in January of 2017 for $8000 US. All in, it was $10,550 but the prices have risen a bit since then. My car spent its entire life in WA.
 
Another S. If you are going to consider the S model in Canada, drive a hard bargain, and assume a 10 or 11 bar range in Winter for a 12 bar car. Avoid more than cosmetic rear damage, and avoid repainted cars that may have had the batteries "cooked" in the body shop.
 
The 2014 SV would still have roughly a year (or less) left on the powertrain warranty, and has the Premium Package. I'd choose that over a '15 S. IIRC, though, in 2014 you could choose Premium Package, or Charge Package (DC fast charge and LED lights) but not both. In other years you could get either or both on the SV.

You look for the same things with the S - it is the same drivetrain with fewer comfort and convenience features than the SV.
 
alozzy said:
Don't know how accurate this is, but according to this listing that LEAF is originally from Fremont, California:

https://www.carsalehistory.com/cardetail/1N4AZ0CP0FC332455.html

So, it likely has higher pack degradation that a PNW LEAF would normally have.

A quick check of Google shows that Fremont's average high temperatures in the summer are 79 degrees. So I wouldn't worry about it too much. Now if this car came from the Central Valley, that's a different story.
 
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