Well, my 2012 Leaf is coming off lease. Been driven by out daughter since we purchased our third Prius last summer (2014 - 3). With discounts including $2,750 in lieu of 0% financing, this 2015 Prius 4 is less than $24,000. I've always added Homelink mirror and leather on an aftermarket basis but with that big a discount, I might as well just take care of it up front. This will be our sixth hybrid - 4 Prii along with Ford Fusion (it was okay) and 2014 Pathfinder (large vehicle always comes in handy) - and one Leaf (never again).
Battery capacity degraded significantly. When I took it new, I could get about 120 miles per charge - no highways and using all my fuel maxing skills. Now less than 70. Had it not been a lease, we'd shortly qualify for replacement but since it goes back in weeks and our daughter drives locally, I'm just looking to end this experiment.
All batteries will degrade over time. I think car makers should add $3000 to the MSRP of these cars, then offer a 1 time free replacement. That would cover the cost of the battery upfront and nobody will get a surprise in 10 years.
¿So they pocket the interest on $3000 plus the reduction in cost due to 10 years of process improvements and inflation? I kind of like the way costs of a car spread out over time. Ten years after buying it—several years after the last payment —it's often easier to find another $3k than it is right at closing. -Chap
well I'd certainly like to see 10-yr 150k miles CARB warranty everywhere. Non-CARB states Unite! I know you're with me LOLGuy
WADR, I kinda like being in a non-CARB state. The air quality is better and the gas is cheaper. Tesla plans on being a 50-state car company....and other companies are building BEVs. You can solve the battery problem without all of CARB whoop-di-doo. The enabling legislation for a BEV tax rebate will fit on a postcard. Use those instead of gargantuan bureaucratic empires.
It's almost the same thinking as online shopping that offers free shipping vs paying for shipping. More consumers will choose the items with free shipping (built into the cost of the product), than to have to pay for shipping separately. I don't know how that works but that's just how the thinking goes.
