I’ve owned a 2018 Leaf SV for about 10 months. I traded in our 2015 Leaf SL for it. It’s been a perfect car for us locally. I’ve never had range anxiety like I did occasionally with the 2015.
BUT, I purchased a cabin in the woods about 120 miles from home. The drive across Florida from home to the cabin doesn’t have any charging stations and I’m reluctant to take the drive. It’s pretty much a trip with only 2 red lights in 100 miles of remote, rural, 2 lane 60 MPH roads. My dilemma is that
I’m not comfortable making the 120 mile trip without ability to charge on the way. At 60 mph for 2 hours would be a stretch for a 40 KWH Leaf.
Seeing the new 62 KWH Leaf Plus has me excited except for prices being quoted. My 2018 SV is paid off and they are offering $21,000 trade value and $42,000 for the 2019 SL plus. With fees, taxes and other BS costs it comes out to my car plus $24,000 out of my pocket. My tax situation qualifies to take full advantage of the $7,500 IRS credit but no other credits in Florida. So the bottom line is it will cost me a net $16,500 to make the swap.
I currently own another car (2018 Focus Titanium) that we use to make the trip and drive around there locally at the cabin area. It’s worth $15,000. I’m a big buy yet I can get in and out of the Leaf comfortably. The focus isn’t as comfortable to get in and out of.
What do you think? Should I trade the Leaf in on a SL PLUS? Perhaps trade both cars in on the SLPlus?
We also own a 2015 Lexus RX450h Hybrid and a F350 Diesel Truck to haul our RV so trading in the 18 Leaf and other small car on another Leaf wouldn’t leave us without an ICE car.
Here’s the 1st offering of the deal.