redLEAF
Well-known member
bigtlb said:redLEAF said:First PR notice I've seen by a Chicago area Nissan dealer ... I bought a car from a VW dealer in Libertyville back in '88 (a Brazilian made VW Fox) but haven't had any recent experience out that way. Anyone else stop by this dealer ?
http://www.prlog.org/10772338-chicago-nissan-leaf-to-be-synchronized-with-smartphones.html
Greetings All!
I am new to the board (just registered today). I have put my location on the Leaf map though. I have an early Leaf reservation, and can't wait! I've been waiting for a decent EV for years (I lurked on the Aptera Forum forever, but gave up on that vehicle about a year ago).
I am mildly concerned about what the winter weather (and road conditions) will do to battery range. I have a 60 mile round-trip daily commute.
I have used Libertyville VW for an oil change in my 2006 Beetle TDI, they were very friendly and prompt. This is near my workplace, so I would definitely consider them for purchase. If they get a charging point (maybe a fast charger) that would be sweet! It would also alleviate range anxiety for those Gurnee Mills runs from downtown.
BTW: I still plan on keeping my diesel beetle (can't beat 40 mpg) for those long trips.
Welcome -- Welcome -- Welcome
With how late the LEAF will finally arrive here I'm pleased to see there are more of us from the midwest still interested !!!
On your comments about Libertyville VW (it's actually Liberty Auto Plaza as you'll see below)
I wasn't sure that the Nissan dealer was connected with VW as when I bought my '88 it was on the other side of the street --- it is however now as:
http://www.libertyautoplaza.com/
so your more recent experience (not sure when they merged) should hold true. I actually also owned a TDI New Beetle (the first year out, a '98); it was a great little car but we outgrew it (back seat is really just for kids). Being a diesel, it did hold its value quite well and traded it in on a (new at the time) '06 Mazda3 5-door hatch which may be the car the Nissan LEAF replaces when they do finally arrive out this way. The Mazda3 doesn't get the mileage of the TDI but it holds tons of stuff and carries 4 adult size people with relative comfort and has proven to be very inexpensive to maintain versus the VW.
As far as the add on post as to what other EV's were being considered, the Tesla Model S sedan would have been great but I was hoping for a more main stream mfg (like Nissan) to become available. We do own another very small car (an '08 smart fortwo coupe) which will go to my son here very soon -- the smart ED (pardon the puns -- ED is for Electric Drive not the other thing, they really should have stuck to EV) looked promising but at such a high lease only price, just not a good value. The new to U.S. Fiat 500 EV will be out later than the LEAF (2012/13?) and others should be to market from other carmakers but nothing appears to come close to what Nissan has that I've seen yet.
As far as the cold weather -- not a concern for me as it will typically be stored overnight in a heated garage while it's charging, I have heard that Nissan is actively testing how extreme cold will effect battery range, etc. so perhaps that's another reason for the delay to colder weather states (although TN does get the occasional frost and snow, it's nowhere near as cold as Chicago most times).
Being a TDI owner, I'm sure you've properly prepared for winters with anti-gel additives (although the 1.9 TDI engine has fuel pre-heaters); the LEAF won't need these as its a pure EV but many in the far extreme north still 'plug-in' their engine heaters so the crankcase oil doesn't thicken so much -- could be some similar cautions for the LEAF but still too early to tell. I would think the cold will simply be something that will shorten the range (like extreme heat) and nothing else.