Nissan Leaf

NIMAN

Anyone hear the CEO if Nissan Ireland on The Last Word tonight?

I missed it, was on way to work, but I heard it mentioned as coming up, and how he would be defending the introduction or progress of EVs in Ireland.

Wonder what he said, might listen back when it goes online.

n97 mini

Yeah. Listen to it. He was mostly on the ball.

bottar1

Anything I should look out for when considering a used leaf? Other than mileage? From my research fully charging a leaf from 2012 will get me at least my commute of 83km round-trip. Seems like a good switch to me unless there is some crazy battery degradation that would stop me from achieving my commute.

KCross

NIMAN wrote: »

Anyone hear the CEO if Nissan Ireland on The Last Word tonight?

I missed it, was on way to work, but I heard it mentioned as coming up, and how he would be defending the introduction or progress of EVs in Ireland.

Wonder what he said, might listen back when it goes online.

It was basically a rebuttal argument from the interview last week where @villain complained about a lot of things and he as good as said @villain was an eejit and got everything wrong.

He didn't announce Leaf II, if that's what you were expecting!

DrPhilG

DB01 wrote: »

Thanks for that. Doesn't look like it has the fast charger installed. There was just one time coming up for charging to 100%. On the plus side the car is like new and has 29,000 km not 32k. It also has a solar panel.

To be honest I think you should walk away.

The solar panel is worthless.

There are sure to be better deals than that.

KCross

bottar1 wrote: »

Anything I should look out for when considering a used leaf? Other than mileage? From my research fully charging a leaf from 2012 will get me at least my commute of 83km round-trip. Seems like a good switch to me unless there is some crazy battery degradation that would stop me from achieving my commute.

You need to borrow one for a day or two and be certain it will make the trip in winter. I think you are on the edge there if it's cold, wet, dark and the car is a gen 1 with the older battery that might already be down on range.

Any chance of you getting a work charger?

Villain

NIMAN wrote: »

Anyone hear the CEO if Nissan Ireland on The Last Word tonight?

I missed it, was on way to work, but I heard it mentioned as coming up, and how he would be defending the introduction or progress of EVs in Ireland.

Wonder what he said, might listen back when it goes online.

Ya he just wanted to say I was wrong and its all good, he either didn't listen to what I actually said or just wanted wash over the issues.

bottar1

KCross wrote: »

You need to borrow one for a day or two and be certain it will make the trip in winter. I think you are on the edge there if it's cold, wet, dark and the car is a gen 1 with the older battery that might already be down on range.

Any chance of you getting a work charger?

It may be possible, I'll look into it. Honestly, that would cure range anxiety which is the only issue. Teetering on the edge after a year or two of battery degradation.

n97 mini

Villain wrote: »

Ya he just wanted to say I was wrong and its all good, he either didn't listen to what I actually said or just wanted wash over the issues.

I didn't hear your clip, but I found myself mostly in agreement with him.

An EV isn't for everyone, which he acknowledged.

NIMAN

n97 mini wrote: »

I didn't hear your clip, but I found myself mostly in agreement with him.

An EV isn't for everyone, which he acknowledged.

But there might just come the time when they will have to suit everyone.

Soarer

bottar1 wrote: »

Anything I should look out for when considering a used leaf? Other than mileage? From my research fully charging a leaf from 2012 will get me at least my commute of 83km round-trip. Seems like a good switch to me unless there is some crazy battery degradation that would stop me from achieving my commute.

If you could get yourself the newer Leaf from 132 on, the updated battery would save you a world of worries.

DB01

DrPhilG wrote: »

To be honest I think you should walk away.

The solar panel is worthless.

There are sure to be better deals than that.

Thanks I appreciate the advice but I can't really wait to see if anything better comes up. Not in a position to head over to UK to purchase either. I see there's a place in Baldoyle that buys at auction in the UK but again I wouldn't be sure when I'd get delivery and I know nothing about the process. When I compare with what's available now in Ireland, it seems like the best deal around. He's knocked another €100 off so €13,750. The only other one that would be close is from a larger dealer i.e. chain. Its only a 141 with 42k km and they're looking for €13,995. It's not an import though.

I was disappointed about the solar panel ☹️️

isnottheword

DB01 wrote: »

Thanks I appreciate the advice but I can't really wait to see if anything better comes up.

If you can't wait so be it. However, you can be assured that you would get a better deal in the UK. A quick perusal of autotrader will confirm that for you. A flight over right now would be for buttons. You have the whole of the UK to source from (whereas there's only a handful of Leafs on the market in ireland at a given time). Ferry from Liverpool to Dublin is cheap as chips also.

Lastly, sterling weakened a bit once more over the last couple of days.

KCross

KCross wrote: »

Any chance of you getting a work charger?

bottar1 wrote: »

It may be possible, I'll look into it.

Even access to a 3-pin plug would do if the car comes with a granny cable.
6-8hrs on that would be enough.

Ideally though a proper charge point where you can pull the full 16A(or 32A) would be better.

DB01

isnottheword wrote: »

If you can't wait so be it. However, you can be assured that you would get a better deal in the UK. A quick perusal of autotrader will confirm that for you. A flight over right now would be for buttons. You have the whole of the UK to source from (whereas there's only a handful of Leafs on the market in ireland at a given time). Ferry from Liverpool to Dublin is cheap as chips also.

Lastly, sterling weakened a bit once more over the last couple of days.

Of course i can't help looking now! How does finance work?

isnottheword

DB01 wrote: »

Of course i can't help looking now! How does finance work?

Others here would have to advise for definite (any UK purchases I've made were for cash) - but I can't Imagine it could be any different. Get a cheque cut - then use an fx service like transfermate to do the fx conversion - pay and drive away.

DB01

isnottheword wrote: »

Others here would have to advise for definite (any UK purchases I've made were for cash) - but I can't Imagine it could be any different. Get a cheque cut - then use an fx service like transfermate to do the fx conversion - pay and drive away.

You paid by cheque, is this what you mean by cash? In general, here and UK, is there any benefit to the dealer if the customer pays cash? Would that be a bargaining tool or does the dealer not care either way? Wondering if I can haggle some more...

Soarer

When looking at EVs, I use http://www.autotrader.co.uk/

I then input the code of one of the ferry ports....
Holyhead - LL65 1DQ
Liverpool - L20 1BG
Fishguard - SA64 0BU

Then enter my criteria (2013 to get the first of the gen. 1.5, max. price, etc.), sort by distance, and go from there.

You can then work out how many charging stops, if any, will be needed to get you to the ferry.

Soarer

DB01 wrote: »

You paid by cheque, is this what you mean by cash? In general, here and UK, is there any benefit to the dealer if the customer pays cash? Would that be a bargaining tool or does the dealer not care either way? Wondering if I can haggle some more...

They'll only take so much in cash due to money laundering.

AFAIK, if you have a BOI account, there's no daily limit to your card usage. So you could just pay for the car out of your current account.

DB01

Soarer wrote: »

They'll only take so much in cash due to money laundering.

AFAIK, if you have a BOI account, there's no daily limit to your card usage. So you could just pay for the car out of your current account.

You mean I could pay with a visa debit card? Do they give any discount for cash?

Soarer

DB01 wrote: »

You mean I could pay with a visa debit card? Do they give any discount for cash?

Yeah to the card.

I'd say it depends on where you buy.

Back street dealer, probably.
Main dealer, probably not.

isnottheword

Use transfermate (or similar - but transfermate tend to have consistently the best rates much of the time). Don't depend on the banks for fx.

DrPhilG

I couldn't use debit card, can't remember why to be honest. I think it was a transaction limit.

I was dealing with a main Nissan dealer and had an email trail for everything so I actually paid the full amount in advance. I had already haggled and brought him down a bit by that stage.

Have you tried these guys;

http://www.electricautos.ie/used-cars.php
Based in Kildare. I have bought cables and other accessories from here and the service is top notch. Sources and imports from the UK but does all the work and registration etc for you. There are a few excellent cars there that are better value than the one you described.

http://www.electricautos.ie/vehicles/nissan/leaf/kildare/1646493
This one has higher mileage and is a year older, but it's the newer generation (better heater and battery life) and has the 6.6 charger. It's also the SVE/Tekna spec so leather seats, 360 surround camera etc.


http://www.eco-cars.net/aboutecocars.php
Based in Orkney but delivers to Ireland, or to the handiest Ferry port for you to collect there. I almost bought from him but ended up buying in Leeds, although Jonathan did offer advice on the car I was buying which was very friendly of him given that he was losing the sale.

isnottheword

DrPhilG wrote: »

I couldn't use debit card, can't remember why to be honest. I think it was a transaction limit

Some car sales dealerships won't accept that method of payment. Where they do, there's often a limit. If you do go down that road, Revolut would offer the best rates (so long as you carry out the fx Monday to Friday rather than at weekends. However, there's a limit of I think £7000 (or somewhere close to that figure).


Here's a comparison someone buying a car in the UK did last year => LINK


With regard to the 2 specialist Dealers that import UK EVs to Ireland for customers - both Phil and Jonathon are well respected amongst the Irish EV community. However, naturally, they have to get paid i.e. they need to add their margin.

If you are time poor and/or your time makes considerably more money if spent working your day job, then maybe its worthwhile going that route. If you are not a high earner and you need to achieve the best price you possibly can, take a day or two off - and drive the car back yourself.

grogi

DrPhilG wrote: »

Have you tried these guys;

http://www.electricautos.ie/used-cars.php

I really like what I see in those guys' website... They at least know what they are selling.

KCross

grogi wrote: »

I really like what I see in those guys' website... They at least know what they are selling.

They also seem keen on the 6.6kW charger as all 4 Leaf's have it! Thats very unusual and shows they are hand picking their cars and not just taking the cheapest thing they can find.

cros13

I've met both of them and certainly I'd recommend going that route if you want to be certain you are getting a car that's fully checked out and with a battery in A1 condition.

They add their margin, but for an EV novice that margin could be worth every last cent.

Balmed Out

isnottheword wrote:

With regard to the 2 specialist Dealers that import UK EVs to Ireland for customers - both Phil and Jonathon are well respected amongst the Irish EV community. However, naturally, they have to get paid i.e. they need to add their margin.

Anyone know would they take trade ins and is it possible to trade in an Irish car in UK?

isnottheword

Balmed Out wrote: »

Anyone know would they take trade ins and is it possible to trade in an Irish car in UK?

I'm sure Phil would - not sure about Jonathan. Both will engage if you're of a mind to make a purchase. I got in touch with Jonathan myself when I went Leaf shopping. He was helpful - but my budget was too tight for him in the end. Phil I was referred on to by a UK dealer that I contacted on autotrader. Traded a couple of mails with him but it was clear that the pricepoint (which I ultimately got myself) wasn't achievable from his perspective.


Don't get me wrong - there's very much a place for these guys. Some can't afford the time/effort of sourcing themselves - and deal with the logistics of importing the car. I had been through the process before so wasn't bothered about doing it myself. Moreso with an EV than an ICE. Not saying that you can't buy a lemon - but there's less scope for issues with an EV.

As regards trading in an Irish car to an actual UK dealer, I don't think that would be a runner. Phil is based over here so he would do you a deal. Jonathan is based between Orkney and Leicestershire - but has contacts over here - so again, I'd imagine he could facilitate that also.

Balmed Out

Probably a stupid question but anyhow:

If an EV has lost 50% of its battery capacity.
Would it then charge to its new limit in half the time and do so using half the electricity it would have before?