Shopping for our first EV--updated

[Lulu KC]

Last edited Sun Jul 28, 2019, 04:10 PM - Edit history (1)

2015 Leafy is in the garage, all charged up and ready to go about 80 miles. I think we got a good deal. Now if I can only figure out how to work the XM radio. We must be at the end of the previous owner's subscription. Lots of learning with this car already; probably good exercise for the brain.


Anyone out there already worked through all this, eager to share your own insights?


Where we are after three days:
Tesla: No, thanks. Personal bias against Elon Musk.
Chevy: Need to go try the Bolt, but would prefer a higher seat.
Leaf: Heavy duty lease talk from new car dealer depicted them as becoming obsolete after three years, so he'd be "eating the depreciation for us." Handed us the keys to keep the car for a couple of days and fall in love with it. Yes, I have fallen in love with it, but he totally manipulated us and also insulted our intelligence btw. I think the smartest thing to do would be to buy a 2015-16, including some that just came off a lease. They are available for around $10-12k. Yes, we'd lose all the credits for new cars, but it still comes out to be much less and we don't need a bigger range. (9-year old Prius going strong for longer trips.) My understanding is that batteries were sketchy prior to 2014.
Kia Soul EV: I like the look of the Soul but can't find any near me to check out.
VW e-Golf: Can't find any nearby to check out.

What I have heard from friend with Leaf is that Carvana, CarFax, and CarMax are the ways to go for EVs.

[Sherman A1]

1. Good luck with your search

I’m sure you have and will do lots of research. I would like to go with an EV, but being retired we don’t really drive as much anymore. She has a new suv for the road trips when we do them and I have an ‘08 Yaris that uses about 2 gallons a week if that as it mostly sits in the driveway.

[Lulu KC]

2. Thanks!

[Pachamama]

3. Audi E-tron or Porsche ...

If you can afford it, its one of the nicest out there and backed by companies that will be around....

I love Teslas - but I am not a big fan of the Model 3 - the bigger question is whether Tesla survives as a company....

BMW also is coming out with some incredible Electric Cars....watch for those too and same applies to them that I said for Audi and Porsche

[Lulu KC]

10. They are lovely!

And reasonable at around $20K +--but 2X as much as a Leaf of similar ages/mileages. Pondering.

[customerserviceguy]

4. My brother-in-law

is the service manager for a major Nissan dealership in the Pacific Northwest, and he's pretty excited about the technology used in the Leaf. He's a smart, no-nonsense guy, and wouldn't just parrot marketing BS.

Your idea about the used one is good, I'd either buy one from an authorized Nissan dealer, or get the service department of a Nissan dealership to inspect a car that you'd buy from a private seller. They train their people pretty extensively on the Leaf.

[Lulu KC]

9. Very impressed with them

Now if I can find one in Sky Blue, ready to sign on dotted line right now. Would prefer to work with our nice Nissan dealer than Carvana etc. My husband's best car ever was a Datsun!

[bbrady42]

5. Did you look at the Hyundai Ionic? (Nt)

[Lulu KC]

7. Cannot find anywhere near us

I'd be willing to fly to a coast to pick one up, but it would take too long to drive back with charging! Would be fun after retirement, but, unfortunately timing doesn't work. I will add to Carvana list, though. People do move here, after all.

[DonaldsRump]

6. Ford Fusion Energi

Try this vehicle out if you are looking for a plug-in hybrid. Ford is giving healthy rebates for this, and plug-in hybrids have the benefit of running all electric (for around 20 miles or so) and then going into a hybrid gas-electric mode. Useful if there are not many charging stations around, long trips etc.

[Lulu KC]

8. Yes--a friend mentioned that

and said it works for her 6'4" hubby, too.

[DonaldsRump]

11. It's a nice car. It comes fully loaded

so about the only add-on is a moonroof. If you have a 240v plugging station at home and many EV charging stations in the areas you are driving in, electric is not bad. However, my biggest fear with a pure EV has always been not having enough charge to get to places. Having to keep up with charging your car is not the easiest thing to manage with so many other things to think about.

Depending on your needs, the plug-in hybrid is a good mid-way point.

Tesla is one of the very few cars that gives you a range similar to a hydrocarbon vehicle. It's very expensive in relation to other EVs, but you get the luxuries and the long-range of a Tesla.

When EV or hydrogen technology improves to longer ranges, I would seriously consider switching to one of those.