I don't know if this is helpful at all, but my parents are in California and were offered an $80/mo lease on the new Leaf after $500 deposit. I believe it was a 2-year lease although I could be wrong. They ultimately passed because they already own a Leaf (older model) and wanted their second car to be able to go camping.

Thank you, 5:54, for the real first-hand info, and for the link!

The dealers want you on the lot. That's the issue honestly.

Truthfully though if you are being frugal, leasing is a bad idea.

Totally agree with you in general, and leasing is not something I would ordinarily ever consider. We buy our cars and drive them into the ground. We're replacing a 2002 Prius.

But the word in the press is that leases on EV's right now are very affordable, a better deal than buying for idiosyncratic reasons, like (a) manufacturer incentive to just move units (to be able to divide R&D and start-up costs by a greater number of units, making the cost per vehicle look better); (b) a bigger than usual need to move year-end inventory right now; and (c) the $7500 federal tax credit distorting the usual economics--it increases the immediate depreciation hit you take by owning, and the manufacturers/dealers are willing to price the leasing as though you're getting the tax credit, so you get the economic benefit without having to purchase and take the depreciation hit.

I'm interested in comparing actual offers and finding out if any of this really measurse up. The manufacturers all say on their sites, "click here--get a quote." But no one talks to you unless you walk onto a lot. And I'm not there yet. If they won't cough up some info, I'm staying at home and fixing the old one.

We just got a Leaf SV (with quickcharge and premium packages) in June from Koons in Seven Corners. We got a 24 mo lease at $261/mo. for 12,000 miles/year.

My DH used mynissanleaf.com to get a sense of what others were paying for their leases in the area and around the U.S. We noticed the inventory seems to move pretty quickly, which may be why the dealers aren't working too hard to secure your business.

LOVE the Leaf - what I pay for the lease is less than my monthly gas bill for my Volvo. We're very happy! Would love to see more on the roads!

The dealers want you on the lot. That's the issue honestly.

Truthfully though if you are being frugal, leasing is a bad idea.

OK, 00:12, I thought that was pretty funny, and grinned. I assumed it was tongue-in-cheek. But +1 poster, really? Seriously?

How about I rephrase: Because our family believes in living frugally and not beyond our means, and we do not want to commit more than necessary to a monthly car payment, we choose to forgo the luxury of a Tesla, and want to drive something smaller and more practical.

Surely that viewpoint has some adherents even on the money and finances thread?

BTW, I've received the same response from Ford, Chevy, Nissan, and Mitsubishi dealers that I've received here: crickets. The Nissan dealer sent no quote, just asked when I could come in for a test drive. When I responded I wanted a quote first, he said he'd get it to me by Wednesday. The Ford dealer sent no quote, said come in or call when you have a chance. Happy to do that, but I'm trying to compare quotes. The Chevy and Mitsubishi dealers: crickets.

Meantime, I think we've decided to fix the Prius. I guess those electric cars will just stay on the lots, waiting for some other way to clear year-end inventory and make room for 2014. It's a shame, because I'd really like to lease one. But I don't have time to play the sucker-walks-onto-the-lot game.

Anonymous wrote:if you are posting here you can afford a Tesla. Buy it and shut up!

+1

if you are posting here you can afford a Tesla. Buy it and shut up!

You can buy cars from out of state you know...

Since it'll be an EV, you just need to install the charger at your place.

There are supposed to be some good year-end incentive deals, if you believe what you read in the WSJ. What did you lease, what deal did you get, or if you passed, why?

Not interested in a debate on the pros and cons of electrics versus others. We're seriously in the market for an EV and want to shop deals. We can't afford a Tesla, so are looking at Volt, Leaf, and i-MiEV. Would love to look at Focus EV if they'd ever bring them to our area.