3 ms·

Sounds an awful lot like a free ad for the leaf.

by cake 13y ago

cadab 13y ago
Doesn't really paint it in a good light though. Having to fight to buy one, struggling to get home even though it said it had enough range, not being able to use the heater.
- invaliddata 13y ago
  Regarding the heater, I'm not too familiar with the pre 2013 models, but all 2013s come with standard heated steering wheel and heated seats. This is because running the standard forced air heater uses a significant amount of power by comparison. Most 2013s (all except for the base model) also come with a heat pump instead of a resistive heater, so efficiency of the forced air heater has also improved relative to earlier models (and relative to other similar cars). For people who live in a mild climate, (sf bay area for me), temporary battery capacity loss due to cold weather, or permanent battery damage due to excessively high ambient temperatures, are not an issue, and given the plethora of chargers in this area, I'd say that almost 100% of the driving my family does outside the daily commute (my wife and I drive separately, and we only have one Leaf), is done with the Leaf. I was skeptical about the car initially, but the leases are inexpensive enough not to worry about and it's been a pleasant surprise.
koblenski 13y ago
I'm not quite sure how I should take that. If you mean I would highly recommend buying one if it fits your driving habits, then you're definitely right. If you mean I'm just a shill for Nissan, then I can assure you that the only connection I have to Nissan is being a Leaf owner and finding it awesome.
- cake 13y ago
  No offence intended but I don't see the value of your experience buying a Leaf. To me it lacks a critical opinion, thus looking more like free advertising.
  - koblenski 13y ago
    None taken, but can my experience only add value if I critique the shortcomings? I did relate the troubles I had and how they were overcome. To someone else thinking about buying a Leaf, it could be valuable to know more about how environmental aspects and road conditions affect the range of the car, and how you have to plan for more than just distance. I was intent on buying a Leaf, and I wasn't going to let this initial ordeal sour my opinion of the car because it had more to do with the dealership. I knew going into it that getting the car back to Madison was going to be a stretch, and then events conspired to make it a bit more difficult. I think the fact that I made it back in spite of that was actually a point in the Leaf's favor.
    - cake 13y ago
      but can my experience only add value if I critique the shortcomings Not necessarily only the shortcomings, I was thinking critical as in "analytical", I would have love to read about how the EV experience translated driving out of the dealership for example. It may not be new to you but I've never driven one and would have "extracted value" out of your post if you did describe it ;-)
      - koblenski 13y ago
        I think what you're looking for will be in my next post.
mikestew 13y ago
Admit it, you didn't read the post, did you? Because if you did, I'm mystified as to how you came to the conclusion it was an ad. It's hardly a glowing post about Nissan's pleasant buying experience.

Sounds an awful lot like a free ad for the leaf.

by cake 13y ago

Sounds an awful lot like a free ad for the leaf.

cadab 13y ago

Doesn't really paint it in a good light though. Having to fight to buy one, struggling to get home even though it said it had enough range, not being able to use the heater.

invaliddata 13y ago
Regarding the heater, I'm not too familiar with the pre 2013 models, but all 2013s come with standard heated steering wheel and heated seats. This is because running the standard forced air heater uses a significant amount of power by comparison. Most 2013s (all except for the base model) also come with a heat pump instead of a resistive heater, so efficiency of the forced air heater has also improved relative to earlier models (and relative to other similar cars). For people who live in a mild climate, (sf bay area for me), temporary battery capacity loss due to cold weather, or permanent battery damage due to excessively high ambient temperatures, are not an issue, and given the plethora of chargers in this area, I'd say that almost 100% of the driving my family does outside the daily commute (my wife and I drive separately, and we only have one Leaf), is done with the Leaf. I was skeptical about the car initially, but the leases are inexpensive enough not to worry about and it's been a pleasant surprise.

koblenski 13y ago

I'm not quite sure how I should take that. If you mean I would highly recommend buying one if it fits your driving habits, then you're definitely right. If you mean I'm just a shill for Nissan, then I can assure you that the only connection I have to Nissan is being a Leaf owner and finding it awesome.

cake 13y ago
No offence intended but I don't see the value of your experience buying a Leaf. To me it lacks a critical opinion, thus looking more like free advertising.
- koblenski 13y ago
  None taken, but can my experience only add value if I critique the shortcomings? I did relate the troubles I had and how they were overcome. To someone else thinking about buying a Leaf, it could be valuable to know more about how environmental aspects and road conditions affect the range of the car, and how you have to plan for more than just distance. I was intent on buying a Leaf, and I wasn't going to let this initial ordeal sour my opinion of the car because it had more to do with the dealership. I knew going into it that getting the car back to Madison was going to be a stretch, and then events conspired to make it a bit more difficult. I think the fact that I made it back in spite of that was actually a point in the Leaf's favor.
  - cake 13y ago
    but can my experience only add value if I critique the shortcomings Not necessarily only the shortcomings, I was thinking critical as in "analytical", I would have love to read about how the EV experience translated driving out of the dealership for example. It may not be new to you but I've never driven one and would have "extracted value" out of your post if you did describe it ;-)
    - koblenski 13y ago
      I think what you're looking for will be in my next post.

mikestew 13y ago

Admit it, you didn't read the post, did you? Because if you did, I'm mystified as to how you came to the conclusion it was an ad. It's hardly a glowing post about Nissan's pleasant buying experience.