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Nissan Altima
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Comments
I don't get charged an advertising fee when I go clothes shopping or food shopping or major appliance or electronics shopping.
What's next? Do I have to pay for their pens and pencils.
For me, paying $400 for an advertising fee would be a deal breaker.
-juice
My dad farms and gets 2.00 dollars a bushel for corn but we have to pay 4.50 for a box of corn flakes.
Grand High Poobah
The Fraternal Order of Procrastinators
Been here for about four years
If Nissan insists on charging everyone $400 for advertising then, at a minimum, they shouldn't sell any car for less than $400 over invoice. Then they would get their "fee" and still make a few bucks from holdback.
After all, they are not the only "game" in town.
-juice
FWIW, there was no advertising fee itemized on my purchase. Came out to negotiated cost of the car + tax + license fee + documentation fee.
Packing .75
Plastic Liner .10
Box .20
Advertising .75
----------------------------
3.05 invoice
4.50 MSRP
Their Advertising is included on their invoice just like every Nissan.
2.5S, convenience package, abs, fog lights, mats, etc. 200 above invoice, and 8300 for my trade on 99 mercury cougar. I wanted it in peuter and black interior. I put $100 on the deal. 6.39% interest rate.
I called them when i saw an offer for 0.9% interest and that I was going to check it out and see if it was applicable to the altima, and told him that when I called they said they could give me a better deal, and I told him that I owed it to myself to at least check it out. He said that they were lying and there was no better deal and that he had given me the best deal. He talked about the it for about 15 minutes. I told him that i owed it to myself to check it out, and if it was the truth that I couldn't find a better deal, then he had nothing to worry about. He called me twice when i was on the way to the dealer's, making statements about how his deal was the best
In the mean time I went to the dealer that was offering 0.9%. They offered me $300 more for my trade, invoice on the car, $100 dollars additional, to compensate if I didn't get the money back from the other dealer, free scotch guard because the interior color was not the color i originally wanted, and 5.0% financing. So I went with this dealer of course.
The intitial dealer called me and told me that i had to pay 5% of the car that I was going to buy. Is that true or was he just trying to scare me into not making the deal with the other dealership. I am afraid that I will have to pay this.
Thanks for any response
To find out what rights you have, the best advice might be to contact your state AG's office. In particular, you might enquire about your states Right to Rescind laws. Also, be sure to read all the fine print on any contract you signed.
Since it sounds like you already consummated the deal in good faith, a better approach might be to see just how amicable the first dealer is to renegotiating the deal. He/she might rather rework the numbers a bit rather then get involved in any nasty legal shoving match with the ultimate result of an unhappy customer.
Bottom line, you obviously thought your original deal was a fair one. It's unfortunate that a better one happened to pop up after the fact. But, you shouldn't be too upset if you have to live with it as it stands.
It reminds me once again of why I typically stop shopping once I've signed on the dotted line. The exception being when it's understood and in writing at the time of purchase that I have some period of time to find a better deal and the original seller will compensate me for any difference. A selling tactic used by many Appliance dealers.
But if I negotiate an out-the-door price and then get hit with an advertising fee I'm walking. If they can pay their advertising bill with the numbers we've agreed on then fine.
Now, if they disclose their add fee before you agree on price, then fine. Just be sure to add that to their price.
If they try to surprise you, get them back. Tell them you charge a "Putting up with dealer crap" fee for $400, to offset their surprise price padding. This of course after the price was agreed on.
If they say that's ridiculous, tell them "exactly".
-juice
After all, that stuff on your car is "free" advertising for the dealer.
IMHO, the Altima gets too expensive when you get into G35 territory, i.e. $28k+. From $24k to $28k, you have to decide whether you want the similarly-priced Maxima or the Altima. Prices are about the same because the Maxima is heavily discounted. I chose Altima for 4 main reasons:
1) The Maxima wasn't available with a manual when I bought my Alty.
2) Alty exterior looks better to me.
3) The Maxima is going to be redesigned in a year or two, but the current Altima will be around for the next 4+ years.
4) Altima has an independent rear suspension.
I think the Passat is too little engine for the money, but that's my opinion. I'd still choose the Altima over it even at the $28k MSRP price point.
Rumor has it that the interior quality of the Altima has improved in the last few months and will be further improved for '03. I know for a fact that there is better quality leather in the recently built Altys, for example. You might want to check out the Altima yourself and see what you think of the interior before writing it off. Maybe even wait for the '03 MY and see if Nissan improves it further.
But even at a $28,500 MSRP, you're looking at $26k and change street price. You can't get a G35 with leather for that.
-juice
This way you know exactly what the price is.
No playing with the numbers or extra adds.
I don't like the rear view either. The coupe is much nicer looking, which is odd because they are kind of similar. I guess the coupe just got the details right. I like it better even than the Z.
I sat inside at the NY show, and it's roomy but the Altima actually has more space. I also didn't like the fake metal trim, the wood was nicer on the G (though I prefer the non-wood interior on the Altima).
Inside, the G is probably about where the Altima should be, i.e. nice not very luxurious.
-juice
This car in the mall was grey, not white.
-juice
Maybe you are thinking of the Cadillac CTS they had. It was diamond white or something like that. That was the only white car I saw there though.
The CTS was near Nordstroms, and I'm sure you're right in that I'm mixing up the colors.
-juice
I plan to purchase a 2000 Altima SL automatic with options included.
ABS & Airbag Package, Cold Package, Floor matts
In-Cabin Microfilter, Splash Guards, Sunroof.
Any one have an idea what would it cost?.
I live in Northern California.
If so, about a couple hundred over invoice.
-juice
Thanks,
Rob
The site also has bumper basher tests, and the Altima got a "Marginal" on that one. That's for costs after fender benders, not safety related.
-juice
Altima placed 3rd out of all the "inexpensive midsize" cars in the IIHS test. Camry was 1st and Subaru Legacy was 2nd. There's a link somewhere in that article I posted.
Looks like it was tested twice, and didn't do well the first time because of the airbag problem. Interesting that the first test showed why Nissan had to retrofit the airbags. Doesn't give me total comfort in having to require a second try, but manufacturers have that right under the IIHS testing system.
Nowadays I don't think it's particularly difficult for a vehicle to score "Good" on the IIHS test. The parameters of the test are well known and manufacturers that spend the money on solid design and internal crash testing can get great scores. I find it more surprising when a new model does NOT earn a "Good!"
The Altima didn't quite perform well enough to earn a "Best Pick" designation. Thus the Camry (new and previous gen, interestingly enough) and older Legacy design still rank ahead of it, and we'll have to see where the next-gen Accord fits there as well. One thing I didn't like was the seat-tipping. That usually suggests some structure beginning to yield -- which could be more problematic in more severe conditions.
Nevertheless, it still did well, though Nissan needs to address the side impact issues after the NHTSA test. I'm sure Nissan is relieved!
-juice
Anyway, I have some questions regarding the Altima:
1) To the owners of the 02 Altimas: are you satisfied with them? Why or why not? Have you encountered any problems? how is the feel of the car? on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being best, how would u rate it?
2) How reliable are these cars?
3) What is the resale value (residual) of the Altima?
Thanks in advance.
I suspect it's a pretty safe car too. However, there are vehicles that get 5-stars side impact even without side airbags. Given that the Altima's structure doesn't seem up to that particular type of impact, I'd rather wait for the NHTSA to perform the same test on a side-airbag-equipped Altima. There's obviously the chance that it won't improve the score significantly.
I didn't buy an Altima, BTW, we got a Legacy wagon (with pretty solid all around crash test scores).
-juice
Granted that Subarus tend to do well in side-impact tests without the head protection, but those tests do not currently measure what happens when you get hit higher, like with an SUV or minivan. This is especially critical in sedans and coupes, where one's head is at a lower point. The NHTSA side test only simulates something the rough size of a Corolla banging into you, and nowdays there are a heck of a lot of SUV's and minivans on the road.
IIHS says it is working on a test where the side impact simulates a larger vehicle than what the NHTSA tests for. If they start those tests up, I'll bet that we'll see side curtains and other head protection devices appear pretty quickly. Like the Altima, the new Camry has them available too, and I can't imagine Honda releasing the next-gen Accord without them. Subaru will have to follow suit, though I hope it's not just with dual-chambered bags for front passengers only.
So I'd pick the tougher safety cage before the air bags, personally.
Also, the full-time AWD, 4 channel ABS, 4 disc brakes with twin piston front calipers will hopefully allow us to avoid needing those. :-)
Plus, we got a wagon and that would force us into a too-pricey Pathfinder.
-juice
Thanks!
Altima or Passat? Two good choices. The Passat feels like a near-luxury car, over-engineered as it is. Price is higher than average, and the leather seats are hard, but there's not much to complain about.
The 3.5 SE has some torque steer and a clunky shifter, and some don't like the interior (it's OK to me), but again not much to complain about.
It's like ice cream: Rocky Road or Fudge Swirl, which do you prefer? Odds are you'll be happier if you pick the flavor you like best, not us.
-juice