OK, so our 2012 lease is coming due and since gen 2 EVs are not out yet (Leaf gen 2, Bolt), we're considering our options. One option is to buy a later model Leaf since they are so dirt cheap and hopefully the batteries are a bit more solid (we lost 2 bars by 12k miles).
So, I found a couple 2013s that a local dealer recently got from auction and were selling cheaply. They drove well, but I found I really didn't care for 2 items:
1) Black interior: While I don't love the easily stained seats in our 2012, I found that having an all black interior really cheapened the feel to me. Pieces looked more plasticky to me, but they are the same construction in the 2012 vs 2013 -- its just the variation of colors in the 12 gives it a more premium look to me for some reason.
2) Ride quality: The 13 was definitely more brittle over road irregularities. I know some people didn't like the soft ride of the early models, but its not like this is a sports car, so why make the ride rougher? I'm a driving instructor for the bmw club and appreciate a nice handling car, but honestly I can hustle our 12 around any corner given the low center of gravity and really appreciate the cush ride quality.
So for me, the combination of a cheaper looking interior and a worse ride quality kind of kills the attraction of later model Leafs. Our 12 is kind of like an undercover lexus with the interior colors and plush ride, but the 13 felt like a honda civic to me - cheap and unsophisticated ride. Since we must have the seat heaters, that leaves just the 2012 model with a new battery as the only one we'd really want, which is a total unicorn.
Nissan, where is the Gen 2???
So, I found a couple 2013s that a local dealer recently got from auction and were selling cheaply. They drove well, but I found I really didn't care for 2 items:
1) Black interior: While I don't love the easily stained seats in our 2012, I found that having an all black interior really cheapened the feel to me. Pieces looked more plasticky to me, but they are the same construction in the 2012 vs 2013 -- its just the variation of colors in the 12 gives it a more premium look to me for some reason.
2) Ride quality: The 13 was definitely more brittle over road irregularities. I know some people didn't like the soft ride of the early models, but its not like this is a sports car, so why make the ride rougher? I'm a driving instructor for the bmw club and appreciate a nice handling car, but honestly I can hustle our 12 around any corner given the low center of gravity and really appreciate the cush ride quality.
So for me, the combination of a cheaper looking interior and a worse ride quality kind of kills the attraction of later model Leafs. Our 12 is kind of like an undercover lexus with the interior colors and plush ride, but the 13 felt like a honda civic to me - cheap and unsophisticated ride. Since we must have the seat heaters, that leaves just the 2012 model with a new battery as the only one we'd really want, which is a total unicorn.
Nissan, where is the Gen 2???