well, we are now on our third Leaf in two years, it's a little hard to wrap my mind around, this is not how we usually roll. I bought a 2011 orphan without the CWP in March of 2011. within a year it was clear that the CWP was critical for northwest both in terms of function and resale. so, last year, we traded up for a few extra grand to a 2012... then the second round of summer heat range freak out happened in the south and I became very nervous about residual value, even though the permanent and rapid range loss issue wont effect us up here directly. It was clear with the 2013 coming out that the residual value of the 2012 would get squeezed both by the next round of summer heat in hot climates and the upgrades to the 2013. the 2013 does not have options on it that make worth trading up to for us, the 2012 is just fine for now. I figured it was worth checking in with my dealer to see if my loyalty would get me a good trade in value for the 12, for, well, another 12, but a Lease. I had a bit of a presidential moment when I gave the speech to the manager and sales person about why they should make an exception for me and essentially allow me to swap the car out... I reminded them of my commitment to the brand, their dealership and the fact that I felt mislead about how much Nissan had tested this car in hot climates and that being the cause for the drop in residual value rather than anything I did to the car. I don't think this would have worked if I had not already bought a Leaf two years running.
We know that the car has value to us in it's 2012 iteration for the next couple of years, enough to justify the $375 no money down lease. If we were starting over, I would have vied harder for an even lower Lease, but all considering I felt good about the parachute we were offered. We have no plans of buying the car out after the Lease runs out. we will either start over with another Leased Leaf with more upgrades or buy a new one if I'm convinced the residual value has stabalized or change brands depending on what is out there in 2015. To keep us on board for the duration, Nissan needs to do two main things: 1. truly solve the Leaf's vulnerability to high ambient heat (to protect residual value-the new warranty does very little) 2. offer an extended range Leaf with substantially greater range, say a 40 kW Leaf, with enough range to get us 100 miles on a full charge in the dead of winter at normal highway speeds and with enough wiggle room to make the car useful even after it has "gradually" lost range with age.
For now, for the next two years, we get to enjoy the 2012 without worrying so much about it's value. and it being a second car to the Tesla S, we figure we will be using it more within it's intended range ideal of 30-50 miles a day. I expect we will enjoy not having to worry so much, it's a great car for what it's designed to do.