Used EV for daughter - Leaf or a Zoe
Discussion
My daughter has a Smart 4-2 which is on its last legs and I am finding it hard to source a replacement automatic car (she has an auto only license) for a modest sum of around £2.5K -£3K max. As she only does short trips and about 50 miles a week on average I started looking at used EVs. The most popular budget EVs are obviously the original Nissan Leaf or Renault Zoe. The latter however has an issue of most of them being battery leased. Anyway, I am ignoring the 22 KWh engined variant of the Leaf and looking at the 2015 onwards slightly bigger battery 30KWh model and also trying to find a 40e Zoe, not the original 22 version. This is because although she doesn't do many miles, for the odd longer trip, a little more than 60-70 miles range would be nice. Just looking for feedback really on these cars, any issues to be aware of and experience of what actual real world range people got. Cheers (PS have never driven or owned a BEV before).
I would suggest if looking at a Zoe make sure it is a model with CCS charging (which was an optional extra on the 40, and even initially on the 50). Battery leases cab be bought and I believe the cost is low so if you see a Zoe that looks good but has a lease, enquire how much it would cost to buy it out. With the Leaf just remember for DC it is Chademo charge, not CCS so if your daughter needs to do a longer journey and wants to public charge she may struggle to find a Chademo charger.
The 2013-2016 24kWh UK built LEAF is probably the pick of the range in this price point. Avoid early Japanese built ones and be very choosy on the 30kWh as the batteries are not as robust as the 24s. Some are OK but check carefully - in some cases it depends if they have had a software update from Nissan or not.
Personally at this price point I'd concentrate on the LEAF as they are more solid cars than the Zoe. Zoes are OK but have aircon/heater issues, some have drive unit issues and are generally a bit more fragile in my experience.
The LEAF can suffer from front top mounts and the odd suspension arm but are usually pretty solid. Expect pretty much all of them in your price range to have some bumps on corners and imperfect paintwork - it is just how they are used and the type of driver they attract.
Personally at this price point I'd concentrate on the LEAF as they are more solid cars than the Zoe. Zoes are OK but have aircon/heater issues, some have drive unit issues and are generally a bit more fragile in my experience.
The LEAF can suffer from front top mounts and the odd suspension arm but are usually pretty solid. Expect pretty much all of them in your price range to have some bumps on corners and imperfect paintwork - it is just how they are used and the type of driver they attract.
P675 said:
Personally I think the 3k max budget is danger zone for EVs. If something with the motor or battery goes wrong you're going to be looking at a massive bill. For that money I'd be going for petrol Toyotas.
Have you seen how much petrol automatic Toyota £3k gets you these days?P675 said:
Slim pickings I grant you but anyone can fix them and there's less chance of it becoming a paperweight stuck on the drive. I like EVs and own one, but I feel like a £3k EV is a brave pill.
LEAFs do seem to be standing the test of time. At £3k for a Toyota auto you are either talking 20 years old (Yaris, Corolla etc), Cat S, or if looking past 2010 basically its ex-taxi Prius with 300k or maybe the odd tatty Aygo. Not a lot else. P675 said:
confused_buyer said:
Have you seen how much petrol automatic Toyota £3k gets you these days?
Slim pickings I grant you but anyone can fix them and there's less chance of it becoming a paperweight stuck on the drive. I like EVs and own one, but I feel like a £3k EV is a brave pill.Edited by greenarrow on Wednesday 29th July 10:24
P675 said:
Slim pickings I grant you but anyone can fix them and there's less chance of it becoming a paperweight stuck on the drive. I like EVs and own one, but I feel like a £3k EV is a brave pill.
but you're not speaking from experience? your point point is broadly valid but the Leaf was well sorted by 2014. Its low price reflects the fact it's butt ugly and not desirable! The 24kw model has many happy 2nd/3rd buyers. Who on earth spent over 25k on a new one is a another story. My lad has just bought a 2018 Leaf
Top spec , with a good 150 mile range ( may be more ?)
He paid £6500 for it and honestly it looks to be a proper bargain
That range is more than enough for them
I will add it’s a facelift leaf which apparently is far better so a lower spec one might be hitting the £5k mark now .
Top spec , with a good 150 mile range ( may be more ?)
He paid £6500 for it and honestly it looks to be a proper bargain
That range is more than enough for them
I will add it’s a facelift leaf which apparently is far better so a lower spec one might be hitting the £5k mark now .
Avoid the 30kwh Leaf, those batteries have continually been problematic (not personal experience but as a Leaf owner of 12 years I read a fair bit about them).
The 24kwh one, which I've had from new, is excellent, but under worst conditions you won't get that 60-70 mile range (Or even close). If there is any chance that she can charge up during that trip then no problem of course, but at this price point there really is very little choice.
Leaf is very comfortable indeed, and spacious too. My son has a Model 3 and it is nowhere near as comfortable as the Leaf. Maintenance costs for me in twelve years have been near zero. The LCD centre screen can and will fail, but a replacement from Ali Express is £11-ish and a self-fit in an hour.
I've posted here many times about the Leaf, and I remain convinced that for short local trips, of which many people do a great number, they represent almost free motoring.
The 24kwh one, which I've had from new, is excellent, but under worst conditions you won't get that 60-70 mile range (Or even close). If there is any chance that she can charge up during that trip then no problem of course, but at this price point there really is very little choice.
Leaf is very comfortable indeed, and spacious too. My son has a Model 3 and it is nowhere near as comfortable as the Leaf. Maintenance costs for me in twelve years have been near zero. The LCD centre screen can and will fail, but a replacement from Ali Express is £11-ish and a self-fit in an hour.
I've posted here many times about the Leaf, and I remain convinced that for short local trips, of which many people do a great number, they represent almost free motoring.
I bought a 22kwh Zoe for my daughter.
Main reason? The insurance was 365 pounds per year (with her as a named driver)!
I bought just about the cheapest in the country, 1800 pounds. Unfortunately the aircon did not work, and fixing it cost 1000 plus another 750 on new tyres and bits for the MOT. So lets call it 3500 all in.
Despite the poor range (60-75 miles) she loves it. It is a great looking little car, and drives beautifully for a small car.
For me I am always a bit worried the aircon issue will come back. The aircon also cools the battery, so you have 2 huge long aircon pipes that go from the front to the back of the car, above the battery. So if they ever develop a leak, the whole battery has to be removed and costs a bomb in labour. The motors are also known to die 70-100k miles.
Main reason? The insurance was 365 pounds per year (with her as a named driver)!
I bought just about the cheapest in the country, 1800 pounds. Unfortunately the aircon did not work, and fixing it cost 1000 plus another 750 on new tyres and bits for the MOT. So lets call it 3500 all in.
Despite the poor range (60-75 miles) she loves it. It is a great looking little car, and drives beautifully for a small car.
For me I am always a bit worried the aircon issue will come back. The aircon also cools the battery, so you have 2 huge long aircon pipes that go from the front to the back of the car, above the battery. So if they ever develop a leak, the whole battery has to be removed and costs a bomb in labour. The motors are also known to die 70-100k miles.
The Leafs for sale on A/T, and elsewhere, often don't show the dash display indicating the battery SOH, for obvious reasons. Be suspicious of the full 12 bars, a plug into the OBD can reset it. 
10 or 11 would be acceptable to me (70 - 80 miles), but I've seen ones who have actually been honest enough to how 5 / 6, so a range of 50 miles, on a good day, less in winter!
There's been a Kia Soul EV for sale for a while that the seller admits has a range of 35 miles.
10 or 11 would be acceptable to me (70 - 80 miles), but I've seen ones who have actually been honest enough to how 5 / 6, so a range of 50 miles, on a good day, less in winter!
There's been a Kia Soul EV for sale for a while that the seller admits has a range of 35 miles.
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