Stil_1

I used to go that route. I just plugged in the leaf in standard 110V at night, was fully charged in the morning. Nothing rigged.

Paid 174/month for the lease payment, 30 bucks a month on electricity. ~20 mile commute each way.

In my M3, was paying ~300-400 bucks a month in gas alone for the same commute. I did my dirty accounting and just said I was paid to drive the leaf

KenTO

I drove a Merc C400 as my winter car and I hated it. I traded a CLS 63 for it because It had AWD and it was cheap. Major regrets driving a car I don't enjoy. That's why I ordered a Targa, so I can drive it all year round, life's too short to spend half the year in a beater.

MJG911

plus the federal tax credit, and for a while in Georgia we had an additional 5000 state tax credit, so the lease was more than free. My friend had 2 and only used a regular 110 house plug in on them.

Georgia was the highest state for Leaf sales for a while.

Porsche Jeff

Cadillac SRX AWD lease for me.

Hurricane

I put winters on mine, too. If it gets really nasty I have an SUV I can drive but I would much rather drive my 911 if given the chance!

manitou202

I'm on my second EV lease for my daily driver. I had a Nissan Leaf originally and now a BMW i3. Lease payments were in the mid $200 range and very low running costs ($20 / month electricity and no maintenance). You can get away with just using the 110V charger that comes with the car, but if you are going to go the EV route for the long run, then it's worth paying the $1500 ($500 charger + $1000 installation) for a 240V charger. It reduces the full charging time from 24hrs to about 4hrs. Not a big deal for a short commute, but it's nice to have to get home and have the car filled back up and ready to go a few hours later.

Depending on your state there might be additional tax credits. Also you get a tax credit for the 240V charger as well.

The Nissan Leaf was pretty slow and boring, but I have to admit the i3 is a blast to drive. Tons of instant torque, carbon fiber shell, and tons a gadgets. Go test drive one and you'll be pleasantly surprised.

blschaefer1

I recently leased a Subaru Forester XT as a daily/whatever rig. They lease incredibly well as the residuals are set very high. This thing has the 2.0 turbo flat four from the WRX. It zips pretty good - plenty of power. Large inside, AWD, high ground clearance, comfortable, not much more you could want. I'm in SoCal, so a winter rig is not really an issue, but this would be the perfect setup for those in rough climates.

I'm paying $250/mo including 8% CA tax.

Peruna

I went to Emory for grad school, this would explain all the Leafs I saw rolling around Decatur. Thanks for the advice, I'll be looking at i3s and leafs soon for a lease.

miporsche

My C4S... is my winter beater.

jbdmd

you could rent a front wheel drive or suv for a week at a time if snow is coming. probably only cost you a grand or so a year.

jbirdie6

I appreciate your optimism and see you are in Phoenix. Have you ever been to Cleveland? It's typically a snowy, frozen hell on earth from November to April. Potholes the size of a Smart ForTwo, salt and sludge galore. It's really a mess. I'm looking at the cheap lease as an insurance policy against any damage the crappy Cleveland weather could do to my C2S.

I really need to move...

ace37

There you have it, no lease required!

PJ Cayenne

It's not just the weather and risking other drivers know what they are doing in the slop. Do like taking your 911 to Costco or leaving it the airport for a few days? Tons of places I would rather not take my Porsche or Mercedes even in good weather. I'd rather load the errand and any work miles on the beater.

WellDressedCar

Luckily, I review vehicles as part of my job. I get a new one every monday (all makes/models). The trick is trying to arrange for them weeks in advance of tricky weather. Last winter I did pretty well with my timing...I received a Land Rover Range Rover Turbodiesel 6 cylinder right before the big east coast blizzard. It was fun testing that one!

jbirdie6

Yeah that too.