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2012 Nissan LEAF Pros and Cons at TrueDelta: Silent Power at One Tenth the Price of Gas by KlnAir4U

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Introduction

You absolutely MUST actually drive this car to appreciate its remarkable silent power. It's something that I cannot explain because there is nothing to compare it to. It is something that is completely new. Silent Power; Silent Acceleration; we have never experienced this before.

Reviewed: 2012 Nissan LEAF

4dr Hatch 107-horsepower Electric 1-speed automatic FWD

Why the 2012 Nissan LEAF?

Quietness

It is not quiet ... it is absolutely SILENT!! Sometimes I actually turn the radio off so that I can listen to ... nothing. Actually, you may hear a very slight whirr of the motor, but the radio has to be off and the windows up and no conversation to hear it ... and you need good hearing. It's a real blast to be "roaring" down the road at 111 KPH and only hear the sound of the wind and tires. You don't feel like you're going that fast.

Powertrain performance

It's instaneous; it's powerful; it's silent; and it's vibration-free. All that you know when you push down on the accelerator, is the silent power push you back in your seat as the car takes off.

Fuel economy

You will NEVER fill up with stinky gas at a gas station again ... you'll only stop at a gas station to use the washroom and get a coffee. However, on the subject of "fuel", it is very efficient with the clean electrons. And the feedback is excellent. You always have access to how well you're driving technique is. Plus, you get more information when you look it up on Nissan's LEAF website of your personal driving efficiency and how you did relative to other LEAF drivers in your country or around the world. When comparing purchase prices or lease payments, you must take into consideration that your electric bill will be ONE-TENTH the price of your gas guzzler's gas bill. That means that your $300 per month gas credit card expense will become a mere $30 on your electric bill.

Warranty, maintenance cost

Furthermore, your maintenance costs will virtually evaporate.

  • No Brake jobs every 30,000 to 50,000 Km;
  • No exhaust system repairs;
  • No expensive catalytic converter to replace
  • No Engine job;
  • No spark plug relacement;
Basically, maintenance is limited to tires and wiper blades. Brakes should last the life of the car because mostly, you'll be using the motor as a generator to stop the car. The batteries are designed for the life of the car or at least as long as the A/C.

Audio & nav systems

The Audio system is above reproach, especially since the engine is non-existant and the motor is silent. The Nav system not only finds your destination, but it finds all of the Charging stations long the way and near your current location or near your destination. The Audio and Nav system also keeps you informed of your driving efficiency, range remaining and maps out your range.

Why Not the 2012 Nissan LEAF?

Color choices

In the 2011 & 2012 models, the interior colour can be a choice of light beige or light beige or light beige. And it's way too light a colour to be practical for more than a month or two. Be sure to ScotchGuard it.

Dealer practices

If you get your LEAF from Maple Nissan, do NOT let them sell you the "Green Package" because it's not much more than $400 for Nitrogen in your four tires. That's $100 per tire and is a clear rip-off. Do NOT get "taken".

Other Features of the 2012 Nissan LEAF

Past personal experience

After driving an All-electric Car like the LEAF, I cannot imagine myself going back to a gas guzzler. I would probably stop driving if I were forced to give up my Electric LEAF. It is so empowering to be able to charge up my own car in my own private garage or driveway. And have the great feeling of knowing that every single morning I have a full tank of electrons. Two other important notes:

If you have two cars in the family, do NOT think of this Electric LEAF as your second car. This will immediately become your primary number one car and your other car will become your second car, only to be used if this LEAF is already out on the road. This is an important differentiation to make.
"Range" is only an issue to those that do NOT drive an EV and the dumb car journalists. As an EV driver, you will always know what your range is because the LEAF shows you on the dashboard. And, because you plug in every night, you have a full tank every single morning.

Conclusion

All you have to do is plug it in every night that takes 15 seconds (just like your cell phone), unplug it in the morning for another 15 seconds and rest assured that you have a full tank of electrons every single morning.

As I have already said, you absolutely MUST actually drive this car to appreciate its remarkable silent power. It's something that I cannot explain because there is nothing to compare it to. It is something that is completely new. Silent Power; Silent Acceleration; we have never experienced this before.

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