I looked at a local Nissan dealer's web site. They're pretty firm on their fixed prices. A new Altima like you mentioned goes for about 18,495 and they have about 75 at that price. Too lazy to work the details but if you don't take the 500 rebate and get a low interest rate maybe the payments are the same???
Personally for 1,000 bucks I'd buy a new one.That's gotta be only a few dollars more a month.
Appreciate your input, Steve. We are going back to the dealer today and see what else he'll do. We also checked with a bank to get their rates. Banks around here aren't that interested in lending money for cars these days. Lowest I could find was 6.5%. We will go to another dealer or two before we go back to this guy. I'll let you know what we do, but we were over our limit and budget at the 17,400 price. Don't know if we could go another 1000 more.
Didn't want to do a lease, but thanks for the information. We thought about it and decided to go to a different dealer and not buy the new/"used" car with 6000 miles already on it that was a program car. We actually did a little better than the demo car I think because we got the 2005 S with the mats, mud flaps and the ABS/Side airbag package that listed for 21180 and got them to do a deal for 17,600. That was with a dealer incentive and some other rebate totalling 1000. But the bottom line to us was 17,600. With what we put down, plus tax our payments are around 280/mo. for 5 yrs. and we own the car vs. lease. Rather do it that way. They got us a better interest rate than our own bank would give us. We thought we got a pretty good deal. To all those that answered our question, thanks for your help and insight.
I live in northern California, Eastbay area. The current best price I have on an Altima 5-speed 2.5 S is an internet price quote of 17128 ($250 below invoice, minus $1000 rebate, but including destination charge). I selected no options.
A fellow posted an 18,8 drive out price for a 2.5s with convenience package... if his tax rate is anywhere close to CA 8.25%, then he's getting a much much better deal than I am.
Anyone have any tips on getting a great price on the 2.5s base or with abs, in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay, South Bay, etc)?
Also, do you guys think that if I waited a couple months a better deal might come along? I heard july-september is a great time to buy cars because manufacturers and dealers are making room for the model year. Is there still better sales during this period despite Nissan already selling its 2005 line?
Feedback for those of you looking at '03 models. 20200 OTD for '03 2.5SL 36k mi 84K bumper-to-bumper increased from expired factory 3-36(better than Certified Vehicle) Tax, Tag, fees
They started with 19,998 Sales price (not OTD). It took six rounds with the salesman going --> <--to the mgr (they tried more than once to double talk me). Getting an extra 48k B2B warranty was what I really wanted b/c the factory B2B had run out. I walked out once & salesman came out to get me, which told me I had them and could stick to my price.
Not sure if it was a good/bad price but for $200 I got OTD Price and a 48k B2B warranty.
hi everyone,my brother just purchased a 05 altima and they tried to sell a 7yr 0 deductible for 1600+.can anyone tell if these numbers can be lowered? thanks for any input on this matter and have a great day.
The price doesn't sound that bad. It's about what they go for in San Diego. You might be able to do better? The Nissan dealers here only have 05 so the is no need to move anything out. But if other car dealers start slashing prices to get rid of their 04's maybe Nissan will offer better incentives to stay competitive.
On the subject of extended warranties. I've owned a Nissan(17K) and presently an Infiniti (40K)(both mfg'd in Japan)and reliabilty has been outstanding. Have yet to go to the dealer for any repairs. I would only buy an extended warranty if I had certain American or European brand cars. But if it makes you sleep better at night by all means do it. Like having insurance probably wont use it but if you need it's good to know you have it.
I just bought a Nissan Altima 05 SE with sport plus package, TCS and airbags, side sills and splash guards, and mats. I got it for $25,633, which is $200 below invoice (including destination). Then got $1,000 in incentives, through college grad plan.
Tips: Dont pay above invoice. Get internet quotes, try autobytel.com. Also make sure the dealership can really get you the car that the quote is for-Big Problem I Had!
Did anyone else have problems getting an 05 Altima SE without any sport options? I had to get the sport plus package to get my car.
Feedback for those of you looking at '03 models. 20200 OTD for '03 2.5SL 36k mi 84K bumper-to-bumper increased from expired factory 3-36(better than Certified Vehicle) Tax, Tag, fees
They started with 19,998 Sales price (not OTD). It took six rounds with the salesman going --> <--to the mgr (they tried more than once to double talk me). Getting an extra 48k B2B warranty was what I really wanted b/c the factory B2B had run out. I walked out once & salesman came out to get me, which told me I had them and could stick to my price.
Not sure if it was a good/bad price but for $200 I got OTD Price and a 48k B2B warranty.
I've been in the market for a manual altima 2.5s in the East Bay Area in northern California. For some reason, very few dealerships actually have any to test drive, and most of them don't even want to carry them.
Is there a reason why? I don't get it at all, it makes me afraid of buying the car.
Also, what're your general thoughts on a 5-speed manual altima 2.5s versus the automatic?
I tried the shifter, it wasn't that great even compared to an accord.
There are a few 5 spd Altimas here in Orlando, but for the most part people seem to prefer an automatic, especially since you can shift the automatic like a manual if you want. Even the V-6 manual doesn't seem very popular. Quite a few complaints about the "feel" of the shifter.
If you are determined to buy a 5 spd, I would suggest that you look at the Mazda 6 which has an excellent manual transmission. Also, since the Mazda 6 is considered more of a "driver's" car than the Altima by some enthusiasts, the resale on the Mazda 6 manual should be better than that of an Altima manual.
Thanks for the input. So because of the manumatic function , the manual is an unpopular option (as well as the feel of the shifter)? Aren't the manumatics only available in 6 cyl?
I don't really know much about transmissions, but I heard from somewhere that you can change the shifter aftermarket. Given that, are there any problems with the manual transmission itself that can't be fixed by replacing the shifter with a short-throw shifter?
Hi everyone! Just purchased an '05 Altima 3.5 SL. Had a good buying experience on it, because I did my home work. First, I consulted Edmunds.com to check dealer invoice including options. At that time I also noted Edmund's "what others are paying". Next, I used the web and searched high and low in my area for the best price. As it turned out, CARMAX, (yes, they sell new at certain locations), had the best posted price. I also noted that the Carmax price was below the Edmund's TMV, and also below the dealer invoice. I made an assumption that Carmax was sharing some of the dealer "holdback" with the customer, OR they had gotten some other type incentive from the factory. And I'm not talking about a rebate -that'll be discussed later.
Problem was that Carmax only had two SL's, and I didn't care for the color on either. Nevertheless, I decided to use those cars as "ammo" in going to a dealer closer to me, and one which had a better selection of color. After all, the local dealer didn't have to know my dislike of the Carmax colors, and the fact that I didn't relish the thought of going to a dealership 35 miles away, right?
O.K., still not done. Next was the question of financing. That was easy. Capital One Auto Finance is easily accessed on the web. Edmund's advertises this company for good reasons - very low rates, and extremely easy and prompt to deal with. Using the internet, I applied for a loan at 4.49% for 48 months, and in less than a week after the approval, (which only took 15 minutes), I received a "package" from Capital which included a blank check - good at any new dealership.
Sorry, still not done! Next, there was a question of my trade-in. I first referred to Kelly Blue Book, and gave them an HONEST condition of my old car - an '00 Sable. It came back at $5800. However, realizing that this was only "paper" talk, I decided to travel the 35 miles to Carmax to get an HONEST appraisal on my car. I've had previous good experience with Max on this aspect. They quoted me $6600, ($800 over Kelly), AND PUT IT IN WRITING.
Now then, I'm ready for my local dealer. (By the way, I should mention that I had test driven an SL previously and was convinced to buy one.) There is some truth about getting your best deal on a car at the end of the month, so I waited for the last day of June. When I arrived at the dealer, I asked them, "Will you match a Carmax price and trade? - all of which I had documented. They looked and saw I was an informed buyer. They asked, "Are you buying today?" With that I pulled out my personal checkbook, Capital's blank check, my old title and the lien release, and my current insurance policy. I said, "does this convince you?" With that, I went out in their lot, picked out a car, (dark blue), and the whole thing was over in less than two hours.
THE DEAL - The MSRP was $27,810 - it included three little options - floor mats, splash guards, and wind deflector for sunroof. I paid 24,714 plus a $500 rebate for a net of $24,214 plus tax, title and tags. Perhaps there is a lower price somewhere else, but I was pretty happy with this one.
The point of this rather long message is this - DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST. My thanks to Edmunds for their free reference material, and to Capital One for their "blank check method" of buying a vehicle. And I guess I should mention this is the third vehicle I've bought using Edmunds, and two of those three were financed using the Capital One method. I highly recommend both. Love the car, and love the simplicity of buying it.
Appreciate the post. Have you posted your initial impressions of the car - now that you have owned it for 2 whole weeks-ish? Thanks, - Ray Impressed with a test drive in an SL 3.5 several months ago . . .
Ride - Firm, smooth & precise- not "cushiony" like big Mercurys
MPG - Took a 150 mile drive - one way - half on I-95 non-stop, the other half on old RTE 40 numerous stop 'n go with lites - trip computer said I got 30.5 MPG. Usually drove 5-10 MPH over speed limits. Around town mileage - 25.4 - premium gas
Wind Noise & Road Noise - Very little wind noise - good aerodynamics. A critic at Edmunds.com complained about "excessive road noise". Frankly I failed to see the basis for that statement. Perhaps it was his/her road surface and/or tires.
Cabin - well laid out - roomy & comfortable - gives one the impression of driving a "big" car. I'm 6'1" 230 lbs - plenty of room.
Squeaks & Rattles - None
Interior Finish - some little things Nissan could have done a little better at practically no extra cost. Very minor.
Acceleration - Excellent with 250 HP 3.5 V-6 - Quiet too! 65-75 MPH absolutely effortless. No torqueing when you "step on it".
Transmission - smooth, quiet, and precise.
Braking - Very smooth - no pull to left or right.
Visibility - Excellent - no glaring "blind" spots. Electrochromatic mirror does what it says it will do. No more day/night flipping.
Electronics - all systems "go". Bose CD/stereo very good, but not absolutely the best.
Service Problems - Simply too early to tell. None at the moment.
The more I think about the buying process the more I confuse myself. I think I get it, then I'm not quite so sure. I have been lurking on this board for some time and have come to respect input of the members. Can anyone give me an idea what I should offer or what would be fair for the following before<b/> tax and tags: 2005 2.5S 4cyl Auto Base Invoice: 18284 Convenience Plus: 2168 ABS/Side Airbag: 694 Floor/Trunk Mats: 112 Splash Guards: 91 Sunroof Deflector: 54 Destination: 560 Total Invoice price with destination: 21963 I would also take the 1000 cash rebate. Also what is a fair amount for doc fees? Thank you in advance.
OTD at $17500 in NJ for 2.5S includes splash guards and 5 piece mats, refused $1000 rebate prior to negotiations, got the great price plus 1.9 finance for 60 months, color smoky gray with charcoal interior, car looks and drives beautiful! very happy! msrp was $20,380 / invoice $19047
Wow! That's a really good price. Was that auto or 5spd? I'm looking at the exact same car and hoping for the price you got. Would you mind giving more details on how you negotiated to $17500?
The car is an automatic, I had checked carsdirect.com and their price was $17497 so I knew that I wanted to be at $17500. My experience goes like this, walk into dealer and ask for test drive, then I told him that I was interested in a second car and wanted to know what the best price would be on the Altima. He came back with his manager and bought the invoice price sheet with him which was $19043 give or take a few dollars. He asked me if I would purchase it for $300 over invoice and I said no, he then said how much are you looking on spending,'I said around $17000' he then said well let me check with my boss, he came back with $17999, I then said what are all the 9s for? he said thats our best price and we are selling at a lost! I said the best I could do was $17500 but I would have to check with my wife on your price, I shook his hand and I said I'll call you later, he then let me walk about 10 feet and said would you buy it now for $17500 and I said yes...., 3 hours later I was driving the car home...remember decline the rebate, swing your best deal and get 1.9 finance, if done right, it will be equal to getting the rebate and the low finance together....good luck Rick
Thank you so much for that info and advice, Rick! I'm wondering if the car you bought had any extras on it (floor mats, splash guards, etc.)? I can't seem to find anything near me without at least those (worthless to me) additions, which start to add up! If yes, did you ignore the cost of those during negotiations?
htownpimp786, Could you tell me which dealer offered you this price? and also if this price includes the $1000 rebate that Nissan is currently offering?
I am being offered $22,700 - $22,900 for a basic 3.5 SE Auto with Splash guards & floor mats. This is before rebates & tax, ttl. What should I be asking for?
Nissan World Springfield / I declined the rebate and took the 1.9 for 60 mo. , my deal was equal to getting the rebate and the low finance, best of both...good luck
extras include; 5 piece mats [you will need them] and they look great! also splash guards / yes I did ignore those options but, just remember the dollar amount where you want to be and stick to it, you'll be happy / the dealers will probably also tack on a price for window ething $159 on your invoice along with administrative fees, I know its a rip off but they all do it.
>>OTD at $17500 in NJ for 2.5S includes splash guards and 5 piece mats
Rick, 17,5 out the door? Do you pay sales tax? This includes all the other fees?
In California with 8.25% sales tax, the pre-tax/fees price would be like 15,8 to get a price of 17,5. That's crazy...it makes me wonder what kind of hidden incentives they get.
$17500 does not include NJ 6%sales tax, title, or registration, we cant get around these fees. $17500 was my final price for the vehicle, I did not include sales tax or other fees because it will be to hard for out of state people to figure out the true final price...hope thats clear
I am curious as to what kinds of residual values and money factors those of you who have leased a 2005 Altima 2.5S have been getting for 36 month 12k. Car_Man suggested that the residual should be 60% (for 15k) and 0.00193 money factor. Just wondering if anyone has gotten that, or better. Thanks for any help you can provide!
I will be purchasing the 2.5s with convenience package tomorrow. The price I negotiated was 18500. I am in Pennsylvania(7% sales tax) so with taxes and other fees the dealer quoted my OTD price as about 19945 give or take $20 depending on how I want them to do my tags. I did all the negotiations via email, as I do not like to visit dealerships except for a test drive. Also, my price includes the $1000 incentive plus $500 college grad rebate.
I was at the dealership last night and offered 21,000 for an '05 Altima SE. I told him I was still waiting for prior approval on my financing and deciding what I want to do with my car. Do you think 21,000 is a good deal for an SE with an MSRP of 24,580...cloth interior and doesn't have a sun roof.
Check the TMV for your area, although that seems like a pretty good price as I don't think you'd be able to go any lower than 21. In my area, people are paying about $21890 for an SE with no options which is about 5 or $600 under invoice. ($21890 includes the $1000 incentive)
I went shopping this morning and got a price of 19300 for 2.5s altima around Indianapolis area: ABS & side airbag package foor mat this is before rebate and tax, I am taking the special APR, They don't have one in stock but they'll find one for me this Monday for this price, is this a good deal or not? I didn't ask for 2.5s basic model, but I think that's probably 18800 before rebate and tax. I don't know if it's a good deal.
2005 Altima SL with ABS & Side Airbags Sun roof Side sill & Splash guards Fog lamps Floor Mats Invoice price - $24,377 MSRP - $26,370 and I was offered for $500 Less than the invoice and no dealer fees. The OTD Price is $24,500 and this includes $1000 rebate.
I paid 21,700 before the property tax, which is an additional 1400. Lease payments of 260/month with 1700 down. I advise anyone interested in the Dallas area to stay away from Trophy Nissan. Many salespeople and managers were plain a-holes and no one at the dealership cared about anything besides making the deal. We were lied to and misled until after we had made the deal. If you value your money and your buying experience, go to another dealership like Bankston or Nissan of McKinney. The only reason I purchased from Trophy was because they were the only ones within 700 miles with the car I wanted. I regret my decision, though I am pleased with the car itself. I will guarantee you, though, that I will never do business at Trophy again.
That sounds like a great deal. Did you use the $1,000 incentive amount or did you lease through NMAC? Did they say anything about additional property taxes that will be billed to you later (on top of the 3% tax)?
How does the car drive with the 4 cyl manual? How is the shifter/clutch feel?? I haven't seen any equipped this way, although have seen a few 3.5 manuals.
It included the $1000 incentive. I went in with my own financing so that was not part of the equation. No additional fees. I gave them a check for $17,500 total.
I'm from Canada, can any of you U.S. Altama lovers help me? I was at my local dealer checking out the Altamas. They have several 05 models on the lot and are sold out of 04's. However, they do have two new 03 2.5s from over stock. Both are automatic, one has the convenience package. Both have less then 600 miles (1000 kilometers). I think I could make a real killing on a low price ,can any one suggest an offer price (In Canadian Dollars) I could give the dealer? I don't want to find out too late that I've paid too much for a "new" car that has already depreciated TWO years when I drive it off the lot. I wouldn't be suprised if the fluids in the engine are still original. If I do but one (the convenience pkg no doubt) what fliuds should I have the dealer replace? Could the brake lines dry out from, in reality, two years of outdoor storage? Thanks!!
This is the advice I always give to anyone pondering the purchase of a "brand new" one or two year old car: Don't.
There is no way the dealer can discount the unit enough to make up for the monstrous depreciation you will encounter the moment you drive it off the lot. In addition, should you have an accident in one of these cars, you would probably need gap insurance to cover the payments if you financed most of the cost (I think gap insurance has a different name in Canada).
If you want a bargain, track down a nice used 03 or 04. There are a bunch of them out there here in the states, and there should be a few floating around north of the border.
If you are buying a new car, then buy one of the current model year editions. Here in the states the 05s have a $1,000 rebate. A much better deal IMHO.
I bought mine yesterday with all this and fog lights for $19300 with rebate, but I live in Northern California. It was the best deal I could get in the Bay area but I had to go to a "Super Store" to get it. LOVE THE CAR.
I purchased the 2005 2.5s with mats and wheel flaps(or whatever) had a sticker price on $20308. The newspaper was advertising for the mid $16000. I went with the newspaper ad for $16388. That included the rebate which they thought was only $500. Right before the deal was completed the sales manager stated there now is a $1000 rebate. My salesperson tried increasing the price by $500 but I told her the advertised price was $16888 before the $500 rebate. They then lowered the price to $15,888. I did not believe I could get such a dealer but they singed it and got that price . With sales tax and fees I got out for under $18k.
The lowest price I have seen in the East Bay of California is $16,888
The dealer's offering a 2003 Altima 2.5S with 29k miles, convenience pkg and ABS/ side bags for $16,700 plus taxes and tags. No additional extended warranty or other bonuses, but it is dealer certified. Location: mid-Ohio.
Comments
Personally for 1,000 bucks I'd buy a new one.That's gotta be only a few dollars more a month.
Steve
We will go to another dealer or two before we go back to this guy. I'll let you know what we do, but we were over our limit and budget at the 17,400 price. Don't know if we could go another 1000 more.
2004 Altima 2.5S Auto — 36 MONTHS — $261/MONTH — $999/INITIAL PAYMENT, that I saw on the Nissan web site
2005 Altima 2.5S auto 280/mo 999 down, 36 month, saw this here on Edmund's web site.
Good luck!!!
Steve
Didn't want to do a lease, but thanks for the information. We thought about it and decided to go to a different dealer and not buy the new/"used" car with 6000 miles already on it that was a program car. We actually did a little better than the demo car I think because we got the 2005 S with the mats, mud flaps and the ABS/Side airbag package that listed for 21180 and got them to do a deal for 17,600. That was with a dealer incentive and some other rebate totalling 1000. But the bottom line to us was 17,600. With what we put down, plus tax our payments are around 280/mo. for 5 yrs. and we own the car vs. lease. Rather do it that way. They got us a better interest rate than our own bank would give us. We thought we got a pretty good deal. To all those that answered our question, thanks for your help and insight.
I rented an 03 for a week in Seattle and drove all over the place and loved every minute of it.
What color did you get?
Congrats again, I drive an Infiniti and am very fond of Nissan Motors Co.
Steve
I live in northern California, Eastbay area. The current best price I have on an Altima 5-speed 2.5 S is an internet price quote of 17128 ($250 below invoice, minus $1000 rebate, but including destination charge). I selected no options.
A fellow posted an 18,8 drive out price for a 2.5s with convenience package... if his tax rate is anywhere close to CA 8.25%, then he's getting a much much better deal than I am.
Anyone have any tips on getting a great price on the 2.5s base or with abs, in the San Francisco Bay Area (East Bay, South Bay, etc)?
20200 OTD for
'03 2.5SL
36k mi
84K bumper-to-bumper increased from expired factory 3-36(better than Certified Vehicle)
Tax, Tag, fees
They started with 19,998 Sales price (not OTD). It took six rounds with the salesman going --> <--to the mgr (they tried more than once to double talk me). Getting an extra 48k B2B warranty was what I really wanted b/c the factory B2B had run out. I walked out once & salesman came out to get me, which told me I had them and could stick to my price.
Not sure if it was a good/bad price but for $200 I got OTD Price and a 48k B2B warranty.
The price doesn't sound that bad. It's about what they go for in San Diego. You might be able to do better? The Nissan dealers here only have 05 so the is no need to move anything out. But if other car dealers start slashing prices to get rid of their 04's maybe Nissan will offer better incentives to stay competitive.
On the subject of extended warranties. I've owned a Nissan(17K) and presently an Infiniti (40K)(both mfg'd in Japan)and reliabilty has been outstanding. Have yet to go to the dealer for any repairs. I would only buy an extended warranty if I had certain American or European brand cars. But if it makes you sleep better at night by all means do it. Like having insurance probably wont use it but if you need it's good to know you have it.
Congrats to all the new Altima owners.
Steve
Tips: Dont pay above invoice. Get internet quotes, try autobytel.com. Also make sure the dealership can really get you the car that the quote is for-Big Problem I Had!
Did anyone else have problems getting an 05 Altima SE without any sport options? I had to get the sport plus package to get my car.
20200 OTD for
'03 2.5SL
36k mi
84K bumper-to-bumper increased from expired factory 3-36(better than Certified Vehicle)
Tax, Tag, fees
They started with 19,998 Sales price (not OTD). It took six rounds with the salesman going --> <--to the mgr (they tried more than once to double talk me). Getting an extra 48k B2B warranty was what I really wanted b/c the factory B2B had run out. I walked out once & salesman came out to get me, which told me I had them and could stick to my price.
Not sure if it was a good/bad price but for $200 I got OTD Price and a 48k B2B warranty.
SL with options:
abs/air bags
protection package
splash guard
power sun glass
fog lamps
floor mats
reference:
http://www.carsdirect.com/build/options?zipcode=61820&acode=U- SB50NI
C041B0&restore=false
MSRP Price:$26,240
Invoice Price:$24,280
The offer I got: $24280 - $1000 rebate (or 1.9% APR) - $500 recent graduate
rebate
out of door: $24495
Is there a reason why? I don't get it at all, it makes me afraid of buying the car.
Also, what're your general thoughts on a 5-speed manual altima 2.5s versus the automatic?
I tried the shifter, it wasn't that great even compared to an accord.
If you are determined to buy a 5 spd, I would suggest that you look at the Mazda 6 which has an excellent manual transmission. Also, since the Mazda 6 is considered more of a "driver's" car than the Altima by some enthusiasts, the resale on the Mazda 6 manual should be better than that of an Altima manual.
I don't really know much about transmissions, but I heard from somewhere that you can change the shifter aftermarket. Given that, are there any problems with the manual transmission itself that can't be fixed by replacing the shifter with a short-throw shifter?
Had a good buying experience on it, because I did my home work. First, I consulted Edmunds.com to check dealer invoice including options. At that time I also noted Edmund's "what others are paying". Next, I used the web and searched high and low in my area for the best price. As it turned out, CARMAX, (yes, they sell new at certain locations), had the best posted price. I also noted that the Carmax price was below the Edmund's TMV, and also below the dealer invoice. I made an assumption that Carmax was sharing some of the dealer "holdback" with the customer, OR they had gotten some other type incentive from the factory. And I'm not talking about a rebate -that'll be discussed later.
Problem was that Carmax only had two SL's, and I didn't care for the color on either. Nevertheless, I decided to use those cars as "ammo" in going to a dealer closer to me, and one which had a better selection of color. After all, the local dealer didn't have to know my dislike of the Carmax colors, and the fact that I didn't relish the thought of going to a dealership 35 miles away, right?
O.K., still not done. Next was the question of financing. That was easy. Capital One Auto Finance is easily accessed on the web. Edmund's advertises this company for good reasons - very low rates, and extremely easy and prompt to deal with. Using the internet, I applied for a loan at 4.49% for 48 months, and in less than a week after the approval, (which only took 15 minutes), I received a "package" from Capital which included a blank check - good at any new dealership.
Sorry, still not done! Next, there was a question of my trade-in. I first referred to Kelly Blue Book, and gave them an HONEST condition of my old car - an '00 Sable. It came back at $5800. However, realizing that this was only "paper" talk, I decided to travel the 35 miles to Carmax to get an HONEST appraisal on my car. I've had previous good experience with Max
on this aspect. They quoted me $6600, ($800 over Kelly), AND PUT IT IN WRITING.
Now then, I'm ready for my local dealer. (By the way, I should mention that I had test driven an SL
previously and was convinced to buy one.) There is some truth about getting your best deal on a car at the end of the month, so I waited for the last day of June. When I arrived at the dealer, I
asked them, "Will you match a Carmax price and trade? - all of which I had documented. They looked and saw I was an informed buyer. They asked, "Are you buying today?" With that I pulled out my personal checkbook, Capital's blank check, my old title and the lien release, and my current insurance policy. I said, "does this convince you?" With that, I went out in their lot, picked out a car, (dark blue), and the whole thing was over in less than two hours.
THE DEAL - The MSRP was $27,810 - it included three little options - floor mats, splash guards, and wind deflector for sunroof. I paid 24,714
plus a $500 rebate for a net of $24,214 plus tax, title and tags. Perhaps there is a lower price somewhere else, but I was pretty happy with this one.
The point of this rather long message is this - DO YOUR HOMEWORK FIRST. My thanks to Edmunds for their free reference material, and to Capital One for their "blank check method" of buying a vehicle. And I guess I should mention this is the third vehicle I've bought using Edmunds, and two of those three were financed using the Capital One method. I highly recommend both. Love the car, and love the simplicity of buying it.
Have you posted your initial impressions of the car - now that you have owned it for 2 whole weeks-ish?
Thanks,
- Ray
Impressed with a test drive in an SL 3.5 several months ago . . .
Ride - Firm, smooth & precise- not "cushiony" like big Mercurys
MPG - Took a 150 mile drive - one way - half on I-95 non-stop, the
other half on old RTE 40 numerous stop 'n go with lites - trip
computer said I got 30.5 MPG. Usually drove 5-10 MPH over
speed limits. Around town mileage - 25.4 - premium gas
Wind Noise & Road Noise - Very little wind noise - good aerodynamics.
A critic at Edmunds.com complained about
"excessive road noise". Frankly I failed
to see the basis for that statement.
Perhaps it was his/her road surface and/or
tires.
Cabin - well laid out - roomy & comfortable - gives one the impression
of driving a "big" car. I'm 6'1" 230 lbs - plenty of room.
Squeaks & Rattles - None
Interior Finish - some little things Nissan could have done a little
better at practically no extra cost. Very minor.
Acceleration - Excellent with 250 HP 3.5 V-6 - Quiet too! 65-75 MPH
absolutely effortless. No torqueing when you "step
on it".
Transmission - smooth, quiet, and precise.
Braking - Very smooth - no pull to left or right.
Visibility - Excellent - no glaring "blind" spots. Electrochromatic
mirror does what it says it will do. No more day/night
flipping.
Electronics - all systems "go". Bose CD/stereo very good, but not
absolutely the best.
Service Problems - Simply too early to tell. None at the moment.
2005 2.5S 4cyl Auto
Base Invoice: 18284
Convenience Plus: 2168
ABS/Side Airbag: 694
Floor/Trunk Mats: 112
Splash Guards: 91
Sunroof Deflector: 54
Destination: 560
Total Invoice price with destination: 21963
I would also take the 1000 cash rebate.
Also what is a fair amount for doc fees?
Thank you in advance.
Thanks!
Thanks again!
Could you tell me which dealer offered you this price? and also if this price includes the $1000 rebate that Nissan is currently offering?
Thanks.
also splash guards / yes I did ignore those options but, just remember the dollar amount where you want to be and stick to it, you'll be happy / the dealers will probably also tack on a price for window ething $159 on your invoice along with administrative fees, I know its a rip off but they all do it.
Rick, 17,5 out the door? Do you pay sales tax? This includes all the other fees?
In California with 8.25% sales tax, the pre-tax/fees price would be like 15,8 to get a price of 17,5. That's crazy...it makes me wonder what kind of hidden incentives they get.
Jana
ABS & side airbag package
foor mat
this is before rebate and tax, I am taking the special APR, They don't have one in stock but they'll find one for me this Monday for this price, is this a good deal or not?
I didn't ask for 2.5s basic model, but I think that's probably 18800 before rebate and tax. I don't know if it's a good deal.
ABS & Side Airbags
Sun roof
Side sill & Splash guards
Fog lamps
Floor Mats
Invoice price - $24,377
MSRP - $26,370
and I was offered for $500 Less than the invoice and no dealer fees.
The OTD Price is $24,500 and this includes $1000 rebate.
Is this a good deal????????
The car is a 2.5S with the following:
automatic transmission
ABS & SAB/SCAB package
spoiler
five-piece floor mats
mudguards
interior wood trim
convenience package
I paid 21,700 before the property tax, which is an additional 1400. Lease payments of 260/month with 1700 down. I advise anyone interested in the Dallas area to stay away from Trophy Nissan. Many salespeople and managers were plain a-holes and no one at the dealership cared about anything besides making the deal. We were lied to and misled until after we had made the deal. If you value your money and your buying experience, go to another dealership like Bankston or Nissan of McKinney. The only reason I purchased from Trophy was because they were the only ones within 700 miles with the car I wanted. I regret my decision, though I am pleased with the car itself. I will guarantee you, though, that I will never do business at Trophy again.
No options, except floor mats.
There is no way the dealer can discount the unit enough to make up for the monstrous depreciation you will encounter the moment you drive it off the lot. In addition, should you have an accident in one of these cars, you would probably need gap insurance to cover the payments if you financed most of the cost (I think gap insurance has a different name in Canada).
If you want a bargain, track down a nice used 03 or 04. There are a bunch of them out there here in the states, and there should be a few floating around north of the border.
If you are buying a new car, then buy one of the current model year editions. Here in the states the 05s have a $1,000 rebate. A much better deal IMHO.
The newspaper was advertising for the mid $16000. I went with the newspaper ad for $16388. That included the rebate which they thought was only $500. Right before the deal was completed the sales manager stated there now is a $1000 rebate. My salesperson tried increasing the price by $500 but I told her the advertised price was $16888 before the $500 rebate. They then lowered the price to $15,888. I did not believe I could get such a dealer but they singed it and got that price . With sales tax and fees I got out for under $18k.
The lowest price I have seen in the East Bay of California is $16,888
The dealer's offering a 2003 Altima 2.5S with 29k miles, convenience pkg and ABS/ side bags for $16,700 plus taxes and tags. No additional extended warranty or other bonuses, but it is dealer certified. Location: mid-Ohio.