Test Driving tomorrow (6/2) - should I buy?

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lmjpdx

New member
Joined
Jun 1, 2021
Messages
2
Location
Portland, OR
Hi all first post.

I tried to update my profile with location etc, but can not seem to share the important details so they are below:

I live in Portland, OR
I currently work from home and most of my driving is to the grocery store, child related errands (softball games/camps), and occasional social visits. I would say a long drive for me would be 30 miles round trip.

There are tons of EV chargers around town.

I live in a condo and am looking to install a charger in the parking lot b/c I cannot park in front of my home (road/fire lane)

I'm looking at a 2012 SL w/10 bars and 44,338 miles

It has a CHAdeMO port

Can I put the link in here? https://www.rontonkinalfaromeo.com/inventory/used-2012-nissan-leaf-sl-fwd-4d-hatchback-jn1az0cp7ct027284

I currently drive a 2003 Chevy Cavalier with 209,000 miles on it that is soon to need at least $3,000 of repairs. I am not a mechanic and don't have mechanic friends.

In Oregon, I can get a $2,500 rebate for purchasing an EV through this dealership.

I make enough money for the monthly car payment and have already been preapproved for a loan.

This will be my first time ever purchasing a vehicle from a dealership (I'm 45).

Help!! Are there any pit falls to avoid? I already know a newer battery version would be ideal, but it's not in my price range.

Thank you in advance for any feedback.
 
I would strongly advise against borrowing money for a pre 4/2013 Leaf. The reasons are in the document I'm going to link below shortly, but basically the '12 has a terrible battery that might degrade enough to be an issue before you pay off any loan.

https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26662&p=538030


$8000 for a '12 is a poor joke. That car is worth no more than maybe $4500 because of the battery. Look instead for a Leaf made after March of 2013 (the build date is on the driver's side door sticker). Higher mileage isn't an issue, just battery health. The bars on the dash provide a rough estimate of that, but they can be reset. Anyway, read my buying guide.
 
LeftieBiker said:
I would strongly advise against borrowing money for a pre 4/2013 Leaf. The reasons are in the document I'm going to link below shortly, but basically the '12 has a terrible battery that might degrade enough to be an issue before you pay off any loan.

https://mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=26662&p=538030


$8000 for a '12 is a poor joke. That car is worth no more than maybe $4500 because of the battery. Look instead for a Leaf made after March of 2013 (the build date is on the driver's side door sticker). Higher mileage isn't an issue, just battery health. The bars on the dash provide a rough estimate of that, but they can be reset. Anyway, read my buying guide.

Thanks for the link to the longer post. So glad I asked.
 
LeftieBiker said:
$8000 for a '12 is a poor joke. That car is worth no more than maybe $4500 because of the battery.
STRONGLY agree with the first statement. That is insane.
LeftieBiker said:
Higher mileage isn't an issue, just battery health. The bars on the dash provide a rough estimate of that, but they can be reset. Anyway, read my buying guide.
Yes.
 
Just one example of how much better a deal you can get on a newer LEAF with 12 bars:

https://bit.ly/3yRu86m

Keep shopping...
 
alozzy said:
Just one example of how much better a deal you can get on a newer LEAF with 12 bars:

https://bit.ly/3yRu86m

Keep shopping...
However, it is mislabeled as an SV.

It's an S trim. It's got the lizard pack (search https://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.php?t=17168 for lizard). And, although it doesn't show the inlets, since it has 3 charge time estimates (240V 6 kW, 240V 3 kW, 120V), it has the charge package which adds the CHAdeMO inlet and 6.6 kW OBC (see bottom of Specs tab of https://usa.nissannews.com/en-US/releases/release-513847a8aeeb48d480a52a8fbdcdbd93-us-2015-nissan-leaf-press-kit). 3.x kW OBC Leafs US Leafs (S trim w/o charge package) should only show 2 charge times (single 240 volt + 120 volt). The latter is what was on '11 and '12 Leafs with only 3.x kW OBCs.

From the Autocheck link near the bottom of the listing, it looks like it always resided in OR, which means good news from a battery degradation POV.
 
lmjpdx said:
......
In Oregon, I can get a $2,500 rebate for purchasing an EV through this dealership.

I make enough money for the monthly car payment and have already been preapproved for a loan.

This will be my first time ever purchasing a vehicle from a dealership (I'm 45).

Help!! Are there any pit falls to avoid? I already know a newer battery version would be ideal, but it's not in my price range.

Thank you in advance for any feedback.
I was able to snipe a better image from them.
Basically 10 bars, not bad given the age. If it had a BMS reset, it must have not been too recent I suppose? :?

The $2,500 rebate puts it more in line for $5,500 price, still kind of steep.

Ask the dealer if the "traction" battery has already been replaced and when. As the others here have said, if you can get the price down to the under $4,000 range if it has. If it is still running the original battery from 2012, I wouldn't recommend buying it unless you are going to have the main battery replaced with a new one in the near future (along with all the cost to do it), otherwise, me personally, I wouldn't buy it.
xDBzxJM.jpg
 
So glad I asked.

You did the right thing, looking for information before buying the car. So very many people buy an '11 or '12 or early '13 Leaf and then come here to ask why they only get 30-40 miles of range. At that point it's usually far too late..

Feel free to print and share my guide with others. Just don't change it or remove the attributions.
 
The original sales sticker trick works on the LEAF I mentioned in my last post.

To confirm what cwerdna said, it is an S trim but a 2015 S c/w with the charging package and 12 capacity bars for under $8k is a decent deal. Anyways, it was just one example. As I said before, the OP needs to keep shopping as there are better deals to be had for under $8K than the 2012 he/she found...
 
It's obvious that all of the tax credit money is flowing to the dealer.
Private sales will be a better value.
 
Check with the Oregon DEQ...The application is on the site.Be sure to check.. .This is not instant 2500.00 discount at the dealer imho.Be wary if the dealer says they will take care of it.Try to wait if possible ..check your local Cl or or ev club,for a leaf with a replaced battery.Also on Cl in Seattle a nice 12 bar soon to be 11? 42k miles 2013 SL ocean blue for 8k,private sale.The dealers usually do not get the best cars with healthy batteries.
 
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