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Hi, I am considering buying an imported (probably Japanese) late model LEAF through an Auckland dealer. Are there any scams etc to be aware of? If it has 5 airbags is it ANCAP 5 star? They say they can replace the head unit but not on the model which has 360 cameras, however they can fit a 360-camera separately for an extra charge. Would this cause any problems with warranities etc?
Also does the 3 year battery guarantee from Nissan apply in NZ? I thought it was the result of a USA court case?
Thanks
Hi there,
Nissan NZ doesn't seem to offer much if any warranty assistance for imported vehicles as with most vehicle manufacturers.
I'm not aware of any recent scams around Auckland EV sales.
Imported domestic spec (most used Japanese) vehicles are not crash tested for ANCAP and hence do not have any ANCAP safety ratings. The amount of airbags is only one safety item to consider and doesn't determine ANCAP or not. ANCAP is specific Aus/NZ crash testing and rating based on safe vehicle guidelines and assists fitted to a new vehicle designed for our market.
Here is a link to some Leaf facts: https://samholford.github.io/leafguide/
Note: all leafs are currently Gen 1 and if they mention Gen 2, they are talking about the facelift model. The new generation model is coming soon.
Thank you, how does the lack of a local ANCAP safety rating affect the ACC levy and registration cost?
Also, is it still worth getting an ACC check if you don't do a battery check (leaf spy etc?) I read something about some importers resetting something to make the battery appear better than it is.
Hi There,
The ACC levies are given by analysis using a collection of University obtained real-world crash data between Aus/ NZ so the more cars that are on the road and involved in crashes, the lower the rating may be. For cars with a lower amount on the road, the ACC levy defaults to the vehicle year.
The AA check gives an overview of the vehicle as a whole and would be able to indicate the condition/ operation of the vehicle and check if there are any visual clues of accident damage or repairs.