First off let me say I did not lease but bought the 2014 model to be delivered later this week.
After scouring the ev forums I find it amusing that people are adamant about leasing this tech versus buying. Indeed even the dealerships are pushing this.
I can understand the paranoid (range anxiety) customers but why are the dealers pushing this so hard?? Nissan the car-maker doesn't care they just make the cars.
Here is some food for thought:
By leasing you, basically give the fed tax credit ($7500 currently) to the dealership (owner) and let them decide how much they want to pass on to you via crafty lease numbers and upgrade perks.
Think about that for a moment, do you really think in the end you will get the full $7500 value back via this method?
By leasing you basically rent the vehicle from the owner who is the dealership with mileage restrictions of course and in the end of your 3 year lease and all those thousands of dollars you paid you having nothing to show for it. No trade-in value, nothing, zilch. Now the dealer on the other hand....
Just what does the dealership owner get out of it?? Aside from all that rent money, they get an average mileage or better 3yr old car in good (possibly excellent) condition with one catch, the batteries are 3 years old and probably at the 75% mark.
Hmm, as a dealer owner what would I do? Hmm, what to do what to do, I know, why not call the Tn. Factory who makes the batteries in bulk get a dealership discount and have them ship those new/refurbished batteries over and I will have my mechanics install the new batteries and put these pre-owned cars on the lot with a big old sticker saying "batteries just like new/ 6 year warranty" and sell them for at least $20k and watch them sell like hot cakes.
And better yet what if, maybe just maybe, the battery factory comes out with enhanced battery packs with extended range like say 120 mi. How much do you think the dealerships will be able to sell these once leased 2011 cars for?? $20k, $23k, $25k??
Keep in mind the higher-end infinity cars will be seeing the really-enhanced packs before the new leafs will so the best bet for those looking for a real bargain are going to be these bad boys.
Now for the early adopters, leasing wasn't a bad strategy because in about 2-3 years from now as an owner of a 2011 model you might be looking at the $100 dollars a month deal to keep your leaf going because by then the batteries are spent and out of warranty.
Chances are the battery factory won't be selling to the public these battery packs directly so you are stuck paying that 100 bucks a month which if you think about it, is like having a $100 a month gas bill. Hmm, kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you went this course.
Ah but the dealer will tell you as an owner you could always trade in for a new leaf And of course the dealership will then get that pre-owned puppy you traded-in out there with new/refurbished batteries in no time! Cha-ching! Dealerhip gets the bonus once again.
You see why Nissan is offering that 100/month deal now? Basically leading the sheep to get fleeced by forcing them to trade up or live with $100/month e-gas bill.
But what about now? Chances are in 4-5 years we could be looking at all kinds of after-market options for an owner. I am betting my paycheck (literally) that either the battery factory or after-market companies are going to offer enhanced (200+mi range) battery packs for under $8k directly to the public by then. This all depends on the market of course but considering that just 6 years ago, no one thought electric cars were going to work on a large scale, hmm makes you think doesn't it?
Remember in 4-5 years every car maker on the planet will have their answer to the Tesla's much promised model-E with 200 plus milage and an under $30k price tag.
If you don't think secondary markets (superchargers,15-min charges, enhanced batteries w/150+range) for these older cars are'nt going to be red hot think again.
This market by the way is what will force the Nissan battery maker to finally sell batteries to the public.
To lease or not to lease .....hmm
After scouring the ev forums I find it amusing that people are adamant about leasing this tech versus buying. Indeed even the dealerships are pushing this.
I can understand the paranoid (range anxiety) customers but why are the dealers pushing this so hard?? Nissan the car-maker doesn't care they just make the cars.
Here is some food for thought:
By leasing you, basically give the fed tax credit ($7500 currently) to the dealership (owner) and let them decide how much they want to pass on to you via crafty lease numbers and upgrade perks.
Think about that for a moment, do you really think in the end you will get the full $7500 value back via this method?
By leasing you basically rent the vehicle from the owner who is the dealership with mileage restrictions of course and in the end of your 3 year lease and all those thousands of dollars you paid you having nothing to show for it. No trade-in value, nothing, zilch. Now the dealer on the other hand....
Just what does the dealership owner get out of it?? Aside from all that rent money, they get an average mileage or better 3yr old car in good (possibly excellent) condition with one catch, the batteries are 3 years old and probably at the 75% mark.
Hmm, as a dealer owner what would I do? Hmm, what to do what to do, I know, why not call the Tn. Factory who makes the batteries in bulk get a dealership discount and have them ship those new/refurbished batteries over and I will have my mechanics install the new batteries and put these pre-owned cars on the lot with a big old sticker saying "batteries just like new/ 6 year warranty" and sell them for at least $20k and watch them sell like hot cakes.
And better yet what if, maybe just maybe, the battery factory comes out with enhanced battery packs with extended range like say 120 mi. How much do you think the dealerships will be able to sell these once leased 2011 cars for?? $20k, $23k, $25k??
Keep in mind the higher-end infinity cars will be seeing the really-enhanced packs before the new leafs will so the best bet for those looking for a real bargain are going to be these bad boys.
Now for the early adopters, leasing wasn't a bad strategy because in about 2-3 years from now as an owner of a 2011 model you might be looking at the $100 dollars a month deal to keep your leaf going because by then the batteries are spent and out of warranty.
Chances are the battery factory won't be selling to the public these battery packs directly so you are stuck paying that 100 bucks a month which if you think about it, is like having a $100 a month gas bill. Hmm, kind of leaves a bad taste in your mouth if you went this course.
Ah but the dealer will tell you as an owner you could always trade in for a new leaf And of course the dealership will then get that pre-owned puppy you traded-in out there with new/refurbished batteries in no time! Cha-ching! Dealerhip gets the bonus once again.
You see why Nissan is offering that 100/month deal now? Basically leading the sheep to get fleeced by forcing them to trade up or live with $100/month e-gas bill.
But what about now? Chances are in 4-5 years we could be looking at all kinds of after-market options for an owner. I am betting my paycheck (literally) that either the battery factory or after-market companies are going to offer enhanced (200+mi range) battery packs for under $8k directly to the public by then. This all depends on the market of course but considering that just 6 years ago, no one thought electric cars were going to work on a large scale, hmm makes you think doesn't it?
Remember in 4-5 years every car maker on the planet will have their answer to the Tesla's much promised model-E with 200 plus milage and an under $30k price tag.
If you don't think secondary markets (superchargers,15-min charges, enhanced batteries w/150+range) for these older cars are'nt going to be red hot think again.
This market by the way is what will force the Nissan battery maker to finally sell batteries to the public.
To lease or not to lease .....hmm