Well it's certainly more than just a different set of wheels for the $8000 upgrade. But I'm sure your new wheels will look fantastic. Got of link to what you ordered?

I think if I were in your place, I'd get in line for the new Prius. That new Prius looks like it could be awesome. But I'm not in your place... I haven't commuted to work in 10 years.

And I can't believe I said "that new prius looks like it could be awesome", but I said it.

 

Yeah..... no offense but going from an STI to a Leaf is just...... there are no words.

This is just my personal opinion and I absolutely respect yours, and I hope that you are happy with the new car. Everyone has their reasons for changing vehicles and if the Leaf brings you satisfaction, then that's great!

But there is no amount of justification that would ever possibly cause me to go from a sports car to a Leaf unless it was a life crisis that was a physical limitation or a financial decision due to affordability. Are you sure you're actually happy with it or have you finally reached that "old person" point where you've admitted defeat and are trying your best to justify the decision? You're talking about things like "low center of gravity" and "50/50 weight distribution" but it's still a Leaf, man, come on. It just sounds silly to me.

Haha, I'm sorry if that sounds mean, it's not intended to be! I guess I couldn't find another way to word it. Maybe at 36 years old, I've been thinking about myself getting a bit older and what my future will look like in the next 10-20 years as far as vehicle choices go. I am of the mindset that I want to resist aging as long as possible without eventually turning into that "Corvette guy with jean shorts and long socks with loafers."

Now I will say that a Leaf could be an attractive option for my wife's DD and something I would drive every once in a while. I can see it being very economical yet a bit of "fun" at the same time.

 

I've heard almost exclusively good things about the Nissan Leaf.

 

Yes, very strange. Not many people use the terms "Nissan Leaf" and "fun sporty/sports car" in the same sentence.

And that is why I'm not rocking a M3 or CT4 Blackwing. While I'm sure they would be a hoot to drive, and I'd have mad street cred in the carpool line at school, I'd never use the car to it's potential, making it an expensive status symbol.

 

You would think! But you're way-y-y over-estimating interest and attention from the high school parking lot. Kids and staff are totally oblivious to what's around them.

Once an a while my girls would tell me someone asked, "Is that your dad's car?" But that doesn't mean it was a compliment, LOL

 

Lol, I’m not underestimating. I’m referring to probably 5-6 people

At one point, there was at least another 6mt sedan at my kids elementary school.

 

Of course. The big change is the SV Plus has a bigger battery with more range, but I already have twice the range that I had in my last Leaf that I had 11 years ago and that was enough for me. What I was getting at is the extra tacked on features like built in nav or a homelink mirror are not important to me.

The wheels I plan to get for the Leaf are nothing fancy. I was going to wait until the spring to get some nicer looking wheels with sticky tires, but I think I am going to get an ultralight set of wheels for the stock tires to see if it helps the range/drive at all by shaving 6-7 lbs off each wheel. Also, I cannot stand steel wheels with hub caps. As my service advisor said to me when I asked my labor cost for swapping wheels, "You're getting new wheels already? Tell me you're a car guy without telling me you're a car guy! Haha!"

Why would I get a Prius that uses gas and oil when I already have a Leaf that doesn't and costs a lot less to buy?

Yeah, I'm sure I'm not trying to justify anything since the reasons I listed for getting the Leaf obviously came before I bought it. Those types of comments must mean I am on to something. Do you seriously not understand the importance of mass and weight distribution as it relates to handling or are you just surprised that it is incorporated into a Leaf? Let me see if I can clarify this for you.

The Leaf bone stock with terrible low rolling resistance tires is already quicker than the STI Type RA in a straight line around town because it has full torque instantly, no shifting, and about the same amount of torque. It does not stick as well in corners yet due to the tires, but I feel instantly the much lower center of gravity and 50/50 weight balance around corners. This has an enormous impact on handling and would be nearly impossible to achieve on the STI. I can almost guarantee you that with sticky tires it will be faster around corners/roundabouts than the STI was. Not that it needs to be or has any right to be. I just love the fact that it is a total sleeper. Again, these are not the main reasons I got the Leaf. I just find it amusing that the Leaf is about 90-95% as fun to drive around town and fling around corners as the STI. Honestly, I was not expecting that. Again, this is an observation, not a justification.

I'm not saying the Leaf is an adequate performance car replacement for the STI. I do miss the stick shift and the sounds of the STI, but I sure don't miss the ride or the terrible mpg. Maybe you missed it, but the main reason to get the Leaf was the practicality and to drive it while I ordered a fun sports car and waited for it to arrive. I wanted to sell the STI before the used car market dropped again, and my timing could not have been more perfect for how quickly it sold.

And don't worry, I'll never be an old "Corvette guy with jean shorts and long socks." I've never driven a boring car and never will. The Leaf is an interesting car, just in a very different way than most of my past sports cars.

I had the 1st one in the valley 11 years ago when it came out and it was bulletproof. I have been selling them for just as long and have yet to get one complaint about the car. I have sold a lot of cars over the years, but I don't think any of them have been complaint free.

What can I say, I'm weird. But I do think I am onto something here. Time will tell once I get some sticky tires on it.

I agree with you on the M3 or Blackwing. Both awesome cars, but I feel like they would be wasted on me if I am not tracking them regularly. I even considered a CT5-V (non-Blackwing) as a daily driver (CT4-V does not come with the magneride suspension), but the interiors on all the Cadillac cars, including the Blackwing are "nice" at best. Then I climb into an S4 it is like a new world.

 

I don't fault you your reasons for getting the Leaf. Sounds to me like a perfectly reasonable, rational and practical decision. My only beef is with the looks and size of the car, which aren't appealing to me. That said, I bet you it will look a LOT better with some attractive wheels. Looking forward to seeing what you're doing about that.

You know, I've never driven a Leaf, and would like to, so my opinions aren't worth much beyond what I can see and read. Personally, I've only ever driven two EVs: a Tesla P100d and an Audi eTron GT RS... both of which are performance monsters and not a fair comparison to the little Leaf.

 

That's not exactly a shocker though. The STI is a dog around town because the engine makes its power at the top of the tach. It needs a redline launch to match the hero numbers the magazines put out. Would you consider that comparison still valid using a S4 or Golf R with the DSG instead of the STI?


I have my eyes on a S5 or A7 as a replacement for the wife's A4. Of all the cars I've been in the last few years, I think Audi has the best interiors and UI setup.

 

Maybe your G is a little too mild for the kiddos, because mine sure gets a lot of attention from them. I work for a school district. Your car is just too mature for them :P.

 

When I did car line for my daughter in the G, she's always know who was picking her up from a distance away. She could hear the car, even at idle. Thank you for making me the cool dad, FI.

 

@4DRZ Alton Brown/Good Eats always rants about unitaskers... but in the garage and on the road there aren't many swiss-army-knife cars or car tools. The closest I have to a multitasker tool is an old German Mauser barrel (never underestimate the utility of an unbreakable slightly springy pry bar) and the closest I've had as a car was a old Jeep Cherokee. Did nothing spectacularly, but did lots of things well.

Also - sporty DD with good mileage, easy to drive and smoother ride if left stock... Miata. You just can't bring home the new widescreen TV in it. Hitch-style bike rack and you're solid, though.

 

Yes the Leaf is extremely practical- especially being a hatch back. I forgot how nice that is. I was just excited to have much better performance and handling than I remember. The styling refresh on the front and back for 2023 is decent, even sporty-ish, especially compared to the 1st gen. All the recycled interior fabric is even nice with the blue stitching and trim. The light up Nissan emblem on the front is kind of cool. But I agree, the big doors, chrome door handles, and hubcaps are UGLY from the side.

So today I ordered the wheels (on backorder for a few weeks) for the stock tires I will use in the winter, black door handle covers, and an alcantara steering wheel cover. Tomorrow it goes in for tint. So it should hopefully look a bit nicer soon. Come summer I will get some sticky tires and different wheels (I might even go up to 17" oh boy!) and I don't think there are really any other mods to make. Maybe I get bored of the stereo at some point... The size is about 5" shorter than my STI so it is a little easier to park, but I was shocked to find that a GTI or Golf R is 7" shorter than my Leaf!?!

You're not missing much in driving a Leaf. Great commuter and surprisingly spritely around town off the line due it being electric, but not nearly as fast as the Tesla or Audi you mentioned. The handling is remarkably flat due to the placement of the battery, but the exceptional chassis will immediately make you wish for stickier tires.

The STI rpm range is a lot smaller than the G37 since it redlines at about 6,200. I think the Leaf might get the jump on the S4 or Golf R, but probably only up until about 20-30 mph. I think a good comparison to a gas car might be if they made a FWD Miata. They both have a low center of gravity and a near 50/50 weight balance so they handle well, but both will get smoked by most cars at higher speeds or race tracks with straights longer than 12 feet. The Miata is a lot lighter, but it is also slower off the line or out of a corner due the instant torque of the Leaf being electric. Again, I am by no means saying the Leaf is a sports car. It is a super practical city car that also happens to have surprisingly good handling and acceleration off the line because it is an electric car.

I agree that Audi has some great interiors. The S4 with the carbon fiber trim and suede inserts in their massaging seats is pretty nice. However, I am not in love with the new A3/S3/RS3 with all the sharp angles and vents up high next to the dash board surrounding the steering wheel. It looks like they are trying too hard just to make it look new.

I still have yet to find a perfect car, but the Leaf is close to the Cherokee in terms of practicality and it costs a lot less to own and operate. Funny, I was just comparing the Leaf to the Miata if it were FWD above. The Miata is fun to drive, but horribly impractical with no back seat, a miniscule trunk, RWD, and a convertible top. And they are not exactly cheap to buy anymore. The RX-8 was a lot more practical, but horribly unreliable compared to a Miata.

 

The man speaks truth.

 

@4DRZ Given the car sold so fast must mean you weren't asking enough for it..... ?

Did you get what you paid for it or more?