Nissan Leaf - what do we think?

[MrGrumpy]

All the cars have got bigger. Is the Kodiaq the new Yeti ? I bet it's bigger than its predecessor.

Funny I remember going to Loch Lomand camping when I was nipper. We went in my mums Mini Clubman estate . It was a bit tight for space. I also remember going to Scarborough in another Mini Clubman Van . My sister and I sat on the rear wheel arches in the back .
Think there’s a reason cars have gotten bigger and safer.

However driving standards may have dropped before anyone piles in

 

[Grant Fondo]

I actually quite liked the look of the original one but it was 10 years ago

The new one looks like a million other cars, dull.

 

[TheDoctor]

Well, we actually went for a Pug 308 1.6 hdi SW in the end.
We like it so far, although everything is done via a touchscreen.
It's very unlike our old Megane, where switches appear to have been thrown at the cabin and fitted where they landed.

 

[CXRAndy]

Well, we actually went for a Pug 308 1.6 hdi SW in the end.
We like it so far, although everything is done via a touchscreen.
It's very unlike our old Megane, where switches appear to have been thrown at the cabin and fitted where they landed.

Bit late,

We have a 40kW Leaf 2018. We use everyday as a workhorse car. 100-120miles per day during the week. It has all the features bar LED lights. Auto steering, heated everything- which is lovely on the cold winter mornings, everything is warm and car defrosted whilst I'm sipping my coffee. Pretty nippy, will out accelerate most cars due to instant torque up to motorway legal speeds. Space is decent, boot ok plenty of room folded seats. 360 cameras and sensors front rear.

We are moving next year, I've seen a piece of kit which allows car to grid energy supply. There is every chance we will strip the Leaf for its battery to effectively have 3 Tesla power-walls. Solar charge during the day feed back at night.

I need to way up value of shell and al the bits left or just park the vehicle in a shed and link it that way.

 

[TheDoctor]

I'd have thought it was worth selling the Leaf and buying batteries?

 

[CXRAndy]

I'd have thought it was worth selling the Leaf and buying batteries?

Tesla power-wall 3 13.5kWatt 5-9kWatt peak demand storage circa £10k plus additional wiring up
Around £30k minimum for equivalent Nissan Leaf 40kW storage.

Wall box Quasar has an 'indicated' 7.4kwatt capability to run the property from Nissan Leaf

EDF have teamed up with Nissan too, but I'm still looking for the specifications for their system


On the face of it its looks cheaper to go with vehicle to grid route.

 

[Archie_tect]

That's a lot of money to invest in technology that will be redundant in a few years Andy- wouldn't you be better just using the Leaf as a car and selling the Tesla?

 

[CXRAndy]

That's a lot of money to invest in technology that will be redundant in a few years Andy- wouldn't you be better just using the Leaf as a car and selling the Tesla?

The Nissan will be towards 100K miles next year. I'm not expecting a great resale price. However if battery pack is in good order-I can check with Leaf Spy software. It may be worth investing in a V2G charger box to provide power when Solar stops. I'm also investigating a small wind turbine to help top up battery and keep house running overnight.

 

[Drago]

I followed a new style Leaf home from Daughters the other night. They were using the same back route I do to avoid rush hour traffic. Despite myself I actually found myself liking the look of it. It didn't hang about either, certainly quicker in the mid range than the average non hot-hatch. The Volvo has 450NM and kept up ok, but I was surprised that I was having to pay attention to stay with it (it was an unlit country road and their headlamps were far better than mine, so I was trying to stay close enough to benefit!)

 

[CXRAndy]

I followed a new style Leaf home from Daughters the other night. They were using the same back route I do to avoid rush hour traffic. Despite myself I actually found myself liking the look of it. It didn't hang about either, certainly quicker in the mid range than the average non hot-hatch. The Volvo has 450NM and kept up ok, but I was surprised that I was having to pay attention to stay with it (it was an unlit country road and their headlamps were far better than mine, so I was trying to stay close enough to benefit!)

Lots of driver just use ECO mode, but switch it off and yes, from 20 to 70mph the Leaf will match a hot hatch. I once was entering a dual carriageway from a roundabout. I floored it and then noticed a Porsche Boxster just beside me, granted an older model, but he wasn't able to out accelerate me till he carried onto to very high speeds, I backed off at 70, with a little

 

[cougie uk]

I rarely take it out of eco and I got beeped at lights by another car - presumably for racing away from them. I really wasn't but electric is so much quicker around town.

Press pedal and you're already gone.

 

[CXRAndy]

All modern ICE vehicles are programmed/tuned to get into the highest gear as soon as possible, especially the semi flappy paddle autos. This is to maximise fuel economy. However they're almost always way below the power band or spooling turbo. This leaves them floundering for a few seconds against an EV. By times the ICE car has geared down or built boost, the EV has literally gone.

Only big engines with lots of low down torque are a match for little EVs.

Powerful EVs are now kings of the road in way of performance

 

[Drago]

My car has the polestar map, and not only sharpens the engine it alters the transmission behaviour - and being a true slush, albeit computer controlled, the torque converter acts as a multiplier.

As I say, I was keeping with the Leaf ok, but was having to pay very close attention. It was pretty quick but not eye wateringly so. Mrs D's Polestar 2 would have left it for dead.

 

[MrGrumpy]

All modern ICE vehicles are programmed/tuned to get into the highest gear as soon as possible, especially the semi flappy paddle autos. This is to maximise fuel economy. However they're almost always way below the power band or spooling turbo. This leaves them floundering for a few seconds against an EV. By times the ICE car has geared down or built boost, the EV has literally gone.

Only big engines with lots of low down torque are a match for little EVs.

Powerful EVs are now kings of the road in way of performance

So we have replaced speeding fossil fuel cars for speeding EVs ??!! At least with the petrol engines you can hear them coming !! Not so much with your turbo charged milk float

 

[cougie uk]

So we have replaced speeding fossil fuel cars for speeding EVs ??!! At least with the petrol engines you can hear them coming !! Not so much with your turbo charged milk float

Do you ride a bike ? You can hear EVs just as well as ICE cars. It's the tyre noise that you'll hear more than the engine. Has an EV ever sneaked up on you ?

Ok they're quiet at low speed but most modern cars are.