[jstanley]

> There is a $7500 federal tax rebate on a new electric car, so the moment you drive it off the lot, its blue book value drops an additional $7500.

But isn't that fine because you got the $7500 anyway?

[eloisant]

Maybe, but when you buy your car it's important to realize that these $7,500 are not just free money, they have a direct impact on your car resell value.

So if you buy a leaf that starts at $30,000, get rebates to $20,000, you must remember that since anyone can get it new for $20,000 that's the actual "new" value to take before you apply depreciation.

In other words you're not really buying a $30k car for $20k, you're buying a $20k car.

[komodo]

So it follows that right before the rebate ends is the best time to buy?

[MagnumOpus]

Correct.

But only if the reason why the rebate is ending is a breakthrough in technology that will cut the price of a new one by more than the rebate in 2-3 -- which is in a sense what happened with solar subsidies in a lot of places.