Need to make the decision on a big purchase today. Still have some concerns - Any advice?

11131 Views 222 Replies 21 Participants Last post by spicytea123, Apr 15, 2021

spicytea123

Discussion Starter · Apr 8, 2021

I've come across a 2014 24kwh Acenta which I managed to haggle down to £4750 (originally £5500) but the MOT history is a bit inconsistent. It would also be a 3 hour bus journey in order to collect it. Also probably worth mentioning it's SoH is 12 bars.

Currently my work is 16 miles away on the motorway and they have free charging ports. I live in Central Scotland where everything is quite close by. But I'm 19 and worried that if my circumstances change (as they do often at my age) the leaf will no longer be sufficient for my use. For example, if I move out of my parents into a flat in the city where there's limited spots to charge.

Do you reckon it's still worth considering or will there be better opportunities out there?

Reg number is VK14MWZ

1 - 20 of 223 Posts

80698

· #2 · Apr 8, 2021

If you are fairly confident about the range being enough for the foreseeable future, I wouldn't worry too much. The used values are pretty good now and you probably won't be taking much of a hit if you do need to sell it on in future. Living in the city without home charging isn't impossible either, so you could still give it a try and see if you could make it work should that happen.

MOT History does have a few fails. but it wouldn't personally put me off. I Know others will disagree, but the LEAF is pretty reliable anyways, and as long as the car is fine at the time of purchase I wouldn't be too worried at all.

As for if it is worth considering I would say yes. The days of super cheap EVs are unfortunately over. Sub-£5000 you are only otherwise looking at the triplets which I would argue aren't really worth the amount they are going for since demand shot up, and otherwise a Renault Zoe or Fluence - Which will have a monthly battery lease charge attached to them. The LEAF is a good EV as long as the battery is healthy, which it seems to be at 12 bars (though do expect to lose your first one very soon) and the range is within your needs.

See less See more

Woodulike

· #3 · Apr 8, 2021

Anything at that price sounds good for a 2014 Leaf.

What model is it and how many miles

What's the issue with the mot's?

modo

· #4 · Apr 8, 2021

Seems very cheap indeed if this is a 2nd gen Leaf (ie not the Japan built 'light interior' one). I dabble in the trade and trade prices are generally a fair bit higher than this for a 2nd gen. This one doesn't even have particularly high mileage. Seems like a good deal unless there is some other factor here like the vehicle being a repaired write-off.

80698

· #5 · Apr 8, 2021

modo said:
if this is a 2nd gen Leaf

It's a 14 Plate, and an Acenta trim level. So should definitely be a newer, UK Built model.

modo

· #6 · Apr 8, 2021

80698 said:
It's a 14 Plate, and an Acenta trim level. So should definitely be a newer, UK Built model.

Yes agreed, it must be UK built model. Just over a year ago I helped a friend buy one and whilst he was in a rush and didn't wait all that long - at the time there were no gen2's for under £7000. There do seem to be more about now so I guess that has brought prices down somewhat - but does seem a very good deal.

Marli

· #7 · Apr 8, 2021

ive been watching prices in the hope off getting a cheap top spec and replacing the battery but there seems to be a 5K floor.
ive seen people buy a written off leaf for 4k for the battery, so i suspect theres a second hand battery market keeping the prices up.
if that true you might even make a profit

As for MOT, cant see what could fail that isnt consumables.
Also if you move to within 35 miles of work sounds like you could still be quids in(in fact more so due to the extra fuel savings)

15 miles off fueil in a efficient golf is ~£70 a month
30% over 3 years deprication is about ~£40 a month

it would have to depricate at 60% for you to make a loss.

put the extra £50 away and if you do move out you will be able to replace it with a much better ICE than you can afford now if you wanted,.....or a much better EV

See less See more

spicytea123

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 8, 2021

Woodulike said:
Anything at that price sounds good for a 2014 Leaf.

What model is it and how many miles

What's the issue with the mot's?

24kwh Acenta. 56000 miles. The brake pipes are corroded, one of the tyres is close to minimum tread and there's a couple issues with suspension.

GOSPORT DAVE

· #9 · Apr 8, 2021

One important thing to establish, is: Are the battery's owned or are they on the flex lease plan, if they are leased then there is an on going financial commitment and makes the vehicle less desirable, when selling on.

Reactions: 1

80698

· #10 · Apr 8, 2021

GOSPORT DAVE said:
One important thing to establish, is: Are the battery's owned or are they on the flex lease plan, if they are leased then there is an on going financial commitment and makes the vehicle less desirable, when selling on.

Searching the license plate shows it as a regular LEAF, not a flex. But OP can confirm this as it will be noted on the V5 too when they sign it at the time of purchase.

Reactions: 1

donald

· #11 · Apr 8, 2021

If this constitutes a 'big purchase' then forget about EVs for now.

Lease one, sure.

But this is 'small change, have a laugh for the weekend' sort of EV money. Just go try to find a smaller deal!!

Or buy a Citigo type thing of the same age for less. Stick to well tested technology that will go on for years and/or cheap to fix, rather than a very aged EV with questionable credentials as to long term reliability and will ALWAYS cost £multi-000s and weeks to fix.

Reactions: 1

spicytea123

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 8, 2021

donald said:
If this constitutes a 'big purchase' then forget about EVs for now.

Lease one, sure.

But this is 'small change, have a laugh for the weekend' sort of EV money. Just go try to find a smaller deal!!

Or buy a Citigo type thing of the same age for less. Stick to well tested technology that will go on for years and/or cheap to fix, rather than a very aged EV with questionable credentials as to long term reliability and will ALWAYS cost £multi-000s and weeks to fix.

I thought one of the main selling points of EVs is that their long term reliability is very good? Also, what do you mean by "Just go try to find a smaller deal"? Isn't £4750 pretty small relative to its age, milage and battery health?

Reactions: 1

farmergiles

· #13 · Apr 8, 2021

My first EV was a Honda CRZ from 2013. It had an electrically assisted 1.5L 120bhp petrol motor with conventional 6 speed gearbox. Being a Honda, it was very reliable, great fun to drive and the 20bhp electric motor made a massive difference to the performance and driveability. You'd love it, but they are only a 2 seater coupe (there are rear seats but all passengers would have to be short and skinny!)

See less See more

2

modo

· #14 · Apr 8, 2021

spicytea123 said:
I thought one of the main selling points of EVs is that their long term reliability is very good? Also, what do you mean by "Just go try to find a smaller deal"? Isn't £4750 pretty small relative to its age, milage and battery health?

Absolutely I think the OP could do very well here, perhaps even sell the car for a profit after 6 months. The Gen2 LEAF is arguably the most reliable car on the planet. It's also one of the simplest, if not the simplest EV (possibly car) to have repaired. The absolute worst case scenario on it would be a battery or contactor issue requiring removal of the pack, but even so, with no battery cooling the job is unlikely to cost more than £1000. No ICE car even approaches the mechanical simplicity of this thing.

Reactions: 1

donald

· #15 · Apr 8, 2021

spicytea123 said:
I thought one of the main selling points of EVs is that their long term reliability is very good?

Where did you get this idea from?

EVangelists?

The technology is immature (especially in your target vehicle), the parts for that car are virtually unavailable compared to any other mainstream car, and I have simply never heard of an EV go into a dealer for repair that has come out within 2 weeks and would have not cost a fortune had it not been under warranty.

Get an EV out of warranty? I would be unable to get anywhere near punting that recommendation.

If you talk with EV enthusiasts then they will tell you EVs are the best thing since forever and never go wrong. This is total and utter bull shyte.

farmergiles

· #16 · Apr 8, 2021

donald said:
Where did you get this idea from?

EVangelists?

The technology is immature (especially in your target vehicle), the parts for that car are virtually unavailable compared to any other mainstream car, and I have simply never heard of an EV go into a dealer for repair that has come out within 2 weeks and would have not cost a fortune had it not been under warranty.

Get an EV out of warranty? I would be unable to get anywhere near punting that recommendation.

If you talk with EV enthusiasts then they will tell you EVs are the best thing since forever and never go wrong. This is total and utter bull shyte.

I don't know how you can say that the planets most experienced EV manufacturer has immature technology.
The Leaf are reliable and show me any threads where this is not true and have been off the road for weeks.

donald

· #17 · Apr 8, 2021

farmergiles said:
I don't know how you can say that the planets most experienced EV manufacturer has immature technology.
The Leaf are reliable and show me any threads where this is not true and have been off the road for weeks.

Because I am a reliability engineer and have worked on EVs since before lithium ion was an available battery, and well respected in the field for my contribution to early EV development.

Because I have been left stranded by 2 cars in 20 years, and both were EVs.

Because I have had 5 electric cars, two were rejected (one after it had failed, the other when it had no heating in winter), a third was scrapped, and one I had to sell because the manufacturer stated that they had to cancel a service appointment because they did not have a single trained technician current in post in a 200 mile radius who could work on the car.

I've done not far off 100,000 miles in EVs and I know these things.

Does that cover 'how you can say that'?

donald

· #18 · Apr 8, 2021

OP, you have my advice. You can buy the car and if it does not go wrong you can say either you think I was wrong or you got lucky (it'd be the latter, it always is when you buy an old car). If it does go wrong I will have no sense of satisfaction on that, I wish you well with it.

My point was that £5k on an EV is 'not' a big purchase. It is pocket money and will be a sum that will pale into insignificance compared to your first 3 repair bills for the car. I hope you have none, but no man made machine is perfect, and EVs have too little manufacturing history for people to really have refined the technology yet.

Use the money to find a good lease deal, is my recommendation.

Good luck!

Reactions: 1

farmergiles

· #19 · Apr 8, 2021

One Swallow doesn't make a summer. You can speak from your own experience but there's little evidence on here to back up your claims.
Presumably, you still drive an EV so can't have been put off by them.
Which actual EV's are you referring to?

spicytea123

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 8, 2021

farmergiles said:
My first EV was a Honda CRZ from 2013. It had an electrically assisted 1.5L 120bhp petrol motor with conventional 6 speed gearbox. Being a Honda, it was very reliable, great fun to drive and the 20bhp electric motor made a massive difference to the performance and driveability. You'd love it, but they are only a 2 seater coupe (there are rear seats but all passengers would have to be short and skinny!)

Oh, that sounds really good, how much did you pay if you don't mind me asking? Would it still be worth getting one today?

donald said:
Because I am a reliability engineer and have worked on EVs since before lithium ion was an available battery, and well respected in the field for my contribution to early EV development.

Because I have been left stranded by 2 cars in 20 years, and both were EVs.

Because I have had 5 electric cars, two were rejected (one after it had failed, the other when it had no heating in winter), a third was scrapped, and one I had to sell because the manufacturer stated that they had to cancel a service appointment because they did not have a single trained technician current in post in a 200 mile radius who could work on the car.

I've done not far off 100,000 miles in EVs and I know these things.

Does that cover 'how you can say that'?

Which EVs were these?

1 - 20 of 223 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.