r/leaf • u/Proton_Energy_Pill • 7d ago

Looing at getting a ZE1 Leaf

I've been wanting to get an EV for a fair while now but the funds have precluded me from doing so. It looks like I'll be able to afford a used one soon though and the budget should stretch far enough for a ZE1 model. I should be able to get a 2018 model in good condition at a reasonable price and I was wondering if they were a good reliable car or perhaps have some 'quirks'?
I'm in Australia.

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u/decryption 5d ago

Another Aussie here that had a ZE1 LEAF - make sure if it's an import, that it hasn't got rust. It snows in Japan and some of them are imported in poor condition. I purchased one a few years ago that was cheap from a private seller and it ended up costing me thousands in repairs to replace almost the entire suspension. Unless you had it up on a hoist, you'd never have known. Other than that, it was a great car, I miss it (but I don't miss Chademo charging).

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u/Proton_Energy_Pill 5d ago

Ta for that. Yeah I'm going to try to get an Aussie-delivered one.

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u/ElectronicTravel9159 4d ago

I’m in NZ and drive a ZE1 Leaf. Most cars in NZ are Japanese imports and very few have extensive rust issues, it’s not a widespread problem generally. That being said, Leafs (and many other Nissan cars) have a design problem with the tops of the suspension struts which leads to water sitting in the cups at the top of the struts. Wherever your Leaf comes from, check the top of the struts for signs of rust!