Posted by Beverley Satchell at FJ Chalke Nissan LEAF
I’m Beverley, the Electric Vehicle Sales Manger for the Nissan LEAF at FJ Chalke, Wincanton. We are very proud to be in partnership with Dorset Energized.
This revolutionary new car is the world’s first affordable 100% electric car with zero emissions and has impressed the media and potential customers alike, as well as picking up two of the motor industry’s biggest accolades by becoming both the European and World Car of the Year 2011 which, seeing as it is the first electric car to ever achieve this, shows just how good it really is.
I haven’t been in car sales for long at all, and the Nissan LEAF is the first and only car I have ever specialised in. Customers sometimes are too afraid to walk into a dealership in case they are thrown into a massive sales pitch, when all the really want to do is take a look at a car, and possibly test drive it. So to celebrate Climate Week, FJ Chalke will hold a test drive open week for the Nissan LEAF 12th to 17th March. No strings attached, just come in, take a look at the LEAF and getting a feel for the car by taking it for a test drive and experience the real deal for yourself. All we would ask for is feedback.
Personally, I thoroughly enjoy driving the LEAF when I get the chance to. I only live 5 minutes away from work, so I walk, but at the weekends if one of the cars are available for me to use, I will take full advantage of it.
I love the fact there is no engine nose and it’s a very stable driving experience. I also like the fun factor of trying to keep my miles up through regenerative driving, and the easy to use satellite navigation & CARWINGS system… oh and the fact I don’t ever have to go to a petrol station!
People’s perceptions of an electric car are very misguided. After speaking to people of my age bracket (I’m 28) their general opinion is that the car is slow, very sluggish and boring to drive. How more wrong could they be!!! The only way to convince them is to get them to sit with me in the car and go for a spin. My friends eat their words afterwards!
For customers that I meet day to day, I find what puts them off about the LEAF is both the price of the car, and their anxiety about the range and if the car will run out of electric. There are so many charging points that are being installed all over the country everyday, you just need to plan your route first before you trek out in the LEAF. Not hard because the CARWINGS system will tell you where all the charging points are via route.
The price is more then most cars on the market, but what you need to take into consideration is that you won’t be paying any tax, you never have to buy any petrol, a full charge at home for the Nissan LEAF it would cost you just £2.00 – £3.00. You have all the top gadgets in the car which in most cases would be optional extras, so I think it’s a really good deal. Plus you are helping the environment. What more could you ask for?
My personal opinion is that this is the car of the future. Within time, more and more people will come to understand the Nissan LEAF. Yes, it is a lifestyle change but things do change. Once where we were listening to cassettes, we are now listening to CDs and downloaded music on iPods. Where we once watched our films on VHS, we now have DVDs.
This isn’t a sales pitch, this is my genuine opinion, and I would advise anyone interested to come to FJ Chalke Nissan in Wincanton, and try the Nissan LEAF for themselves.
For more information visit the Climate Change website at http://www.climateweek.com/event/nissan-leaf-test-drive-week or our own website on http://nissan.fjchalke.com/newcars/nissan-leaf.aspx.
