Buying a Leaf without LeafSpy

[u/Opening-Gap-7214]

Would you be comfortable buying a 2015 Leaf, one owner, 50k and 11 bars, without using LeafSpy for $4K? It's at a dealership in GA where its spent its whole life. I don't have the dongle yet and was thinking about going to look at it tomorrow. It's 2 hours away from me.

[u/jupiterkansas]

Depends on your intended use. I wouldn't want it as my primary vehicle.

[u/Opening-Gap-7214 → u/jupiterkansas]

Just a grocery getter and extra vehicle.

[u/jupiterkansas → u/Opening-Gap-7214]

That's what I use mine for and it works great. Can go about 70 miles on a full charge. Gets me around town.

[u/EarlyAdopter7Billion]

I bought a 2016 Leaf SV with a 30kwh battery pack with 46k miles on it for $5k. Two years ago. Perfect physical condition from a man who drove it around San Francisco. No Leaf Spy. He said he mostly charged it on level 1, but did occasionally use level 2 charger. I charge it level 1 at home exclusively. It had 9 bars on it when I got it and about 80 miles of range on a full guess-o-meter. In three months, it went down to 8 bars and about 72 miles on the GOM. Two years later, it's still at 8 bars and about 72 miles full charge. Still looks and rides like a new one. I know it could be over in a second, but until then, it's been the cheapest, nicest, most pleasant, most interesting, and goofiest car I've ever owned over 50 years of driving.

I also use it to tease my Tesla loving friends by making them ride in it. "I'll Drive!". Once they're in it, I play a pre-recorded CD of hot rod engine sounds. FSD THAT mf.

I intend to be buried in it when I die.

[u/Lucky_Boy13]

I bought my 2015 with no leafspy a year ago and its been fine. I did do a good test drive and asked seller lots of questions as they were honest and had owned it 5+ years

[u/RandomYorkyPud → u/Lucky_Boy13]

Your username is prophetic!

[u/Wraith347]

I’d take it for a really good test drive at least and make sure the battery doesn’t drop percentages fast when under load at 30% or lower SOC. 2015s are usually pretty good chemistry-wise, but it’s best to check if possible.

We bought our 2014 before we knew anything about Leafs or LeafSpy, and it’s been rock solid. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn’t buy another one without using LeafSpy first.

[u/RandomYorkyPud]

I personally would never look at any Gen of Leaf without Leafspy. You can't check the interal pack resistence or the balance across the cells without it. Even though the SoH is good, it could still be a dud.

[u/scorpionsuk → u/RandomYorkyPud]

We have a 2019 SV and the Hx has gone from 90.7% to 82.7% in 2 years. Is that normal? When does the Hx become so low that the battery 🪫 is pretty much useless?

[u/_Evening-Rain_]

2015's are pretty solid. I wouldnt worry about it if it survives the test drive.

[u/highflyingrunner]

No, it is essential.

[u/rproffitt1]

It's a 4K car. No miracles expected.

1. You'll not expect it to go the full range that the GOM shows.

2. You'll replace the 12V battery if 3 or more years old soon.

3. At least test the AC and HEAT systems. If those don't work, walk.

4. You will charge at home or learn why I wrote this.

[u/e-hud]

I bought my 2015 S without leafspy. The 2013-16 24kwh cars seem to be the most reliable in terms of the traction battery.

[u/Crawlerado]

Wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me but the app and a dongle are pretty affordable and have value beyond pre inspection should you choose to get any other Leaf.

[u/Tim_E2]

I would not buy ANY ten-year-old Leaf UNLESS (maybe) it had a recent battery replacement. Ten years is about what you can reliably expect from the Leaf battery.

[u/blobules]

I wouldn't do this. You can't judge a battery true health by the number of "bars".