"Ok, I admit it, I stole the Leaf from my husband after I vetoed it every step of the way in the ordering process (and he promptly ignored me).
Me: We're not buying a first generation of ANY car… let alone the first "real" electric car…
Him (at computer): Yeah, but it will be really cool and there are all of these incentives (as he places the reservation on line)…
Me: Well I am not giving up my space in the garage for the thing to plug in, so forget it….
A few months later….
Him: Hey, cool, we can place our order!
Me: What??!?!! We aren't getting that weird thing! I told you already, I know it sounds cool, but let's let other people be the guinea pigs…
Him: Ok, well, let's just see how the car is when it actually gets in the US (as he puts down the $99 to reserve the car)
Many months later
Him: Hey, we can go test drive one of the Leafs…
Me: Why are you still looking at that? I'm the next one to get a car and I think I want a Murano….
A week later
Me: (Driving the Leaf at the Nissan Drive event) Hey, it drives like a real car… what's the range on this thing..?
A few months later, a few days before the car is due to arrive at our local dealer
Him: Hey, I was thinking, if you want, you can have the Leaf, and I will drive your car, and we'll sell my Civic….
Me:
And, now, here we are 4500 miles later, and I have to say I LOVE the Leaf. Everything about it. My friends have accused me of becoming a gear-head. But I mostly love that it's quiet, we're doing our part to save the planet, my kids think I am the coolest ever, I can go to Costco and buy everything I need and still fit it in the car, and it is a nice drive that is crazy cheap to operate. $29/month for "fuel" So my car payment is about what I used to pay for gas each month. In a year or two once we pay off the car, we'll actually be ahead, given the Leaf requires no maintenance.
I got used to the range issues, and really have only had to stress about it a few times, when I had to carefully plan my driving for a day. I commute 16 miles each way to work; drop and pick up kids at school and do an errand or two after work and I don't come very close to the low bars (unless I am running late and hit the pedal a little harder than I probably should!)
I'm actually surprised there are not more women driving Leafs yet. I think it's a very natural market. Post-minivan women (a new term?) will like the Leaf for its zippy pick-up and great turn radius, while being flexible enough with the hatch/trunk/fold down seats to still carry all you need.
It's Zen to drive, and I can't imagine ever going back to an ICE, and 6 months ago I would NEVER have believed I'd own a Leaf. "
Em: http://www.mynissanleaf.com/viewtopic.p ... 6&start=10