Nissan Leaf
Parent Q&A
We have a Nissan Leaf (purchased used) that we love - the hatchback trunk makes it easy to load strollers and other kid gear easily. We also rarely drive long distances, so range was not a huge concern for us and we were able to buy it cheap. Very happy with our purchase!
I would highly recommend an electric cargo bike. We are a one car family and our electric bike is our primary form of transportation for anything under 5 miles. If your schools are close, e-bike is a great way to do it, possibly even quicker than driving depending on traffic and parking. And way more fun. It truly replaces a car for local trips - I can carry two kids and all their stuff or a week's worth of groceries and don't worry about hills with the pedal assist. We have a Radwagon, which is one of the more affordable ones (and there is a showroom in Berkeley!) but depending on your needs there are A LOT of other options out there - I'd be happy to share more about other models if you want or direct you to some resources for researching them.
I can also share a little about our EV experience. We have a 2015 Nissan Leaf with a range of about 80 miles. We got it cheap because it's an older model (EVs are advancing fast so 2015 is old) but of course we pay for it with the low range. We priced it out and decided that it would be better financially to get the cheaper EV and then use the money saved to rent a car any time we need it for a longer trip.
Archived Q&A and Reviews
August 2015
RE: Electric car?
We've had a Leaf for 15 months and really like it. It drives like any other car - highway acceleration is no problem. The range is still the same (and closer to 100 miles, if you believe the dashboard - depends on speed), but we're only 15 months in. We have another vehicle for longer drives to places we can't charge, but use the Leaf as a family on most weekends, and for a commute daily. We generally charge overnight (offpeak), but I believe we can charge about 25 percent in an hour with a 220v charge.
I have a Nissan Leaf. It's been wonderful for daily use. The only issue is road trips, because of the short range and how long charging takes. But otherwise the Bay Area is a great place for it. You do have to do a little more planning around car usage. I recommend looking at some common routes you take and seeing if there are charging stations nearby. http://www.plugshare.com/ If the battery is completely empty, charging takes about 21 hrs with a regular 120 V outlet, and about 2.5 hrs with a 240 V charger (this is what you would use at public charging stations - you can also get a charging station installed in your house but it costs). (There are Quick Chargers now which can charge your battery to 80% full in about half an hour, but they are not everywhere.) I will just add that, at least for us, the car is rarely completely empty. So normally I plug it into the outlet in our garage when I get home from work, or even later like 10 or 11 at night, and it's ready to go in the morning. My car is 2 years old and I haven't noticed any change in the charging range. ''Get up and go'' on the highway is great. The Leaf has an ''eco'' mode (turned on and off with a button) which uses less energy and gives you a little less accelerating power, but in the regular mode especially it has great acceleration. It feels like a regular car. Electric Mama
Nissan Murano
Aug 2005
Anyone out there driving a Nissan Murano? We have a one year old, thinking about having another, wanting a car with lots of cargo space but not quite ready for the minivan and trying to avoid an SUV. Any other cars that we should consider? Mimi
My in-laws have a Murano. They love it, however, I can't stand it. I'm not sure exactly what the Nissan folks were thinking when they decided to only have ONE REAR TETHER FOR A CARSEAT! How stupid is that?! I've already joked with my in-laws that they'll have to get another car if the ever want to take more than one grandkid at a time! Sad but true.
We have a Honda Element that we just adore, though...none of that pesky carpeting or fuzzy fabric upholstery that get crudded up with kids in tow...plus the carge room is fantastic! room behind the back seats and room on the floor in between the front and back. One caveat though it only seats 4...but hey Honda was smart enough to include rear teathers on BOTH backseats! mz
Reliable shop for late-model Nissans
June 2004
I'm looking for a recommendation for a reliable and honest independent shop who service late-model Nissans, preferably in Berkeley. Art's Automotive and Oceanworks both have two year old listings in the archive. Does anyone have recent Nissan experience with either of these shops, or any others worth considering? Thanks, Sam
Recommendations received:
Nissan Quest
March 2002
Has anyone had any expiriences they would like to share about they're nissan quest? We are looking to buy a new one, and would be intrested in the good and the bad. thanks cris
I don't own one, but...
A couple of years ago a brand new Quest rear-ended my 91 Ford Taurus at a red light - the results where quite suprising, the Taurus had some scratches/gouges and paint damage to the bumper (the bumper was inspected and pronounced undamaged) but the whole front bumper/grille molding of the Quest was shattered. He hit me pretty hard, and no doubt his front end was supposed to crumple like that, but it looked like a very expensive repair for a minor collision. Minor collision damage can be very expensive on many newer cars with big plastic molded bumpers painted to match their bodywork. Having bragged about the sturdiness of the Taurus, you should know that the Quest is assembled by Ford in Ohio, and is basically a Mercury Villager with minor styling differences - Ford's other front wheel drive minivan (the Windstar) does not have a good reliability record.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that when Japanese manufacturers start assembly operations in the US they don't always manage to maintain the usually excellent build quality/reliability of the vehicles assembled in Japan.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety crash tests give the Quest a poor rating - see www.hwysafety.com for details. This model is several years old and this is probably the last year before a complete redesign.
Personal Opinion: Some minivans are just a big shoebox shaped body dropped onto the manufacturers existing mid-size sedan running gear - that body and all the stuff piled into it take a lot of hauling - the engine / transmission / brakes etc. are working hard and wear out quicker. Unless you have a LARGE family you might be better off with a full-size sedan, a wagon, or (dare I say it!) one of the newer SUV's
The best website for comprehensive, impartial advice on new and used cars is Edmund's at www.edmunds.com Sam Evison
We have a '97 GXE model which is fully loaded. I don't know the current arrangements b/w Nissan and Ford but this model is a hybrid (Nissan engine/drivetrain/chassis and Ford body/components). Our experience seems to bear out this combination.
1. Mechanical/Structural Problems Encountered
a. Air-conditioning formed mildew when run with air being re-circulated (1997). This caused a vinegar-like odor. Unit was cleaned with acid and odor has not recurred but we run it using outside air when possible to reduce mildew formation. Fixed under warranty. b. Hinge on one of the side windows was slipping-out due to misapplication of adhesive (1997). Fixed under warranty. c. Squeak behind dashboard (1997). Fixed under warranty. d. Pinhole-sized air-bubble in paint on roof (1997). Fixed under warranty. e. Airbag warning light stays on (1997). Airbag OK, light switch faulty. Fixed under warranty. f. Rear windshield washer pump burned out (2001). Out-of-warranty repair cost $140. g. Footbrake warning light comes on intermittently when disengaged (2002). Not being repaired. h. Power antenna failure (2002). Estimated out-of-warranty repair cost is $120. i. Recall on fuel tank connector (2001). Fixed under recall. j. Paint fading under clearcoat in one spot on the roof (approx 1 inch in diameter) (2002). No action being taken.
2. General Likes/Dislikes Most of these problems were minor and I very much anticipated their sort after researching this model in Consumer Reports. There tends to be a little more wind-noise than one would expect but that was also minor and may have been fixed in the new models. Overall, we've been very happy with our Quest and it's taken us on lots of long road trips with a great deal of comfort. This model was one of the best minivans available with a V6 engine in late 1996. It has since been eclipsed by V6 models from Toyota and Honda which (based on last year's Consumer Reports) have better overall reliability records. Faced with a decision to buy a minivan in '96, I would still have bought the Quest. If I had to choose today, I would probably go for the Honda Odyssey. Anonymous in Pleasanton
WE have a 96 nissan quest. I agree with a previous replier: (to paraphraze roughly)It was a great minivan choice at the time - if it was now '96 I would make the same choie - the Honda Odessy is MUCH improved since '96 and I would now buy an Odessy.
With my Quest I like: its integral child seats (may not still be offered); its remote controlled back corner windows; its rear window that can open independently of the rear door; its tinted side and rear windows. What I would change if I could: make moving the rear seat easire, make the wind noise less, have doors on both sides. We have had some minor mechanical problems, one windshield crack and some minor paint problems. All in all - it's apretty darn good van for us.
We use Art's Automotive on San Pablo near Ashby for mechanical stuff and Panel Craft (in same area) for body work. happy quest driver
From: Kim
We bought a new Quest minivan in fall '94 and have been very happy with it since. We drive to northern Louisiana each winter holiday (three seasons so far) with two kids (now 7 & 12), a grandma, and the two of us. We always have a fun trip! Desert on the way there and snow on the way back (northern Arizona). Really easy to drive; it feels like driving any midsized car to me. It drives so smoothly uphill and down in all weather conditions. The Quest feels so roomy inside (seats 6 really comfortably-but will take 7); everyone feels like they have enough of their own space (we do have a Thule rack on top for the suitcases). The space inside the back door of the van for looks small, but you can really fit so much in there also. We did spend the extra money for many options - I'm pretty sure it's a heavier suspension and stronger shocks, so I don't know if that helps on the ride. We have not had any major problems - only a few noises and a broken reading light that the warranty fixed. We tend to go to smaller car repair shops for tuneups, but have had pretty good service on this van with the local Nissan shops for the initial warranty repairs.
Trustworthy mechanic for Nissans
August 2002
I am looking for a trustworthy and reasonably fair auto mechanic in Berkeley for my Nissan Pathfinder. It's like finding a needle in a haystack. Can anyone help' Thanks... Sean
Recommendations received:
- Albany Hill Automotive
- Art's Automotive (2)
- Marty's Motors
- Oceanworks (2)
- RC Imports
Independent shop for Nissan service
May 2002I'm looking for an independent shop in the Berkeley / Oakland area that knows how to service and repair Nissans and doesn't charge main dealer rates. I have a late model Pathfinder. Any recommendations (positive or negative!) based on recent experience of using a local shop would be appreciated. Thanks. Sam
Recommendations received:
- Sid Guthrie
- Oceanworks
Hello! A Nissan owner Sal Cameli has this great website for Nissan Leaf owners https://nissanleafbatteryreplacement.com. There is a garage in Hayward listed there, so maybe they can help you. I am thinking of bringing my Leaf to them to upgrade my battery, so if you do use them, let me know how it goes. Best, eks
P.S. Sal Cameli also maintains a FB group page for Nissan Leaf owners at https://www.facebook.com/groups/LEAFs. You could also post your question there.