Month to Month Leasing of Nissan LEAF a Good Alternative to Buying a Used One

Yesterday I asked about the residual value of a used Nissan LEAF. Obviously several factors, like market conditions and battery technology, determine it. While the prices of used LEAFs are falling, some LEAF owners suggest a month to month leasing as a viable option instead of buying a used one.

Here are few responses from current Nissan LEAF owners from my question in the SF Bay Area Nissan LEAF Owners Facebook group. And this is my original article discussing what determines the residual value of Nissan LEAF.

Month-to-Month lease

"Check with Nissan Financial," replies LEAF owner Brian Henderson. "The rumor is they allow month-2-month extension at same lease payment amount. If you commit to 12 months (different offer), they'll give you 2 free months. Same annual mileage, and the residual will be adjusted based on extended term you choose."

"Yes, that's what they offered me," replied Kenneth A. Ribet, who had asked suggested that the residual value of the 2013 Nissan LEAF is the difference between the car's current value and the estimated value of the car one year from now. "But it seems like my current lease payment is based on the completely arbitrary choice of how much I put down two years ago. If I had put down $1000 more in 2013, my monthly payment would be $42 less than it is now, and Nissan would be charging me $420 less for the third year. That makes no sense to me," Ribet writes.

It's based on the original contract amounts including the residual vehicle value at that time, replies back Brian Henderson. He also added that the current residual values are lower and likely to remain so for the next year, or two (while new EV incentives remain).

He also suggested several factors for consideration. For example;

• Are you planing to purchase post lease (take gamble the Nissan may be offering a residual adjustment)?
• How your current payment compares to a new lease with a much lower (current) residual value?

"Remember both you an NMAC are hedging future (commodities) bets on your used LEAF's residual value. The alternative option is leasing month-to-month and finding a similar, or better condition used LEAF (with market valued residual) to purchase," Henderson explains. Since the conversation was in the San Franciso area Nissan LEAF Owners' group, he also wanted to note that Electric Cars purchased or leased later this year in California will likely not come with HOV stickers (which has some market value).

As you can see there is no easy answer. What's your best guess for the anticipated drop in Nissan LEAF's value?

Also See: Nissan Leaf Owner Says His EV Didn't Cost Him Anything for the 1st Six Months