Taking your advice (paying $500 over invoice), my sales price would have been somewhere between $38,000 and $38,900. That's just the sales price, before taxes, tags, etc.

To see that, go to Edmunds.com and look up the MSRP and Invoice figures for the 2009 Nissan Murano LE once you add all the options I received with this vehicle: U01 NAV, J01 Dual Panel Moonroof, P93 Illuminated Door Sills, R92 Black Roof Rail Crossbars, B10 Splash Guards, L92 Carpeted Floor Mats (3 Piece Set), N93 Cargo Area Protector. If you leave out the destination fee of $780, the total MSRP is $41,090 and the total Invoice is $37,595. If you leave in the destination fee of $780, the total MSRP is $41,870 and the total Invoice is $38,375.

So again, by your method, if I pay $500 over the total Invoice for such a loaded vehicle as this, I would pay a sales price (before taxes, title, etc.) of somewhere between $38,000 and $38,900.

Why would I prefer your method when my method got me a much lower sales price of $35,220.36? Again, take note that this is my selling price for a 2009 Nissan Murano LE with the seven options I listed above (plus wheel locks that the dealer threw in, if you want to get really specific about it). Compare this to others who paid a sales price similar to this but for a Murano with less options. Once you do that, you realize how great a deal this really was.

Yet you would have me just simply call and schedule an appointment and go into the dealership and pay $3,000 more than I paid. I don't understand that kind of reasoning but you're welcome to it.

You seem to think I went through a lot of things to buy this vehicle ("I can't believe the things some of you go through to buy a car"). Friend, it was no effort whatsoever, I can assure you. The Internet makes it very easy to do all this. So it's easy and it's much better than your old-fashioned way of just going into the dealership, first things first, and paying $3,000 more than you really have to pay.

All I did was email 15 Atlanta area Nissan dealerships between January 21 and February 4. Easy as pie. I was put into email correspondence with most of them via Edmunds.com. As for the rest, I was able to get their email addresses simply by finding their individual dealership web sites via Google. It took no time whatsoever to be placed in email touch with all 15 dealerships.

I saved a lot of needless time, effort and gas money this way. I simply emailed all of them and was able to get them to confirm for me the breakdown on the offer they were making to me and confirmed the VINs for all the vehicles being offered to me.

By the time I was finally ready to make my first phone calls and visits to the dealerships (note: when "I" decided it was right for me to see them, not when "they" decided it was right for me to see them), I was in a very powerful position as a customer.

Final results: My sales price of $35,220.36 was whittled down to $34,720.36 (after the $500 rebate) and there was yet a further deduction of $320 for my 14-year-old junky trade-in... $34,400.00. After taxes, title and all other fees, my drive-out price was $37,200.00 (or $37,199.52 to be exact).

Again, compare the price I got for this FULLY loaded 2009 Nissan Murano LE with the prices you've seen others get for a 2009 Murano LE that did NOT have all the options I received.

And ask yourself... which method is better? Yours or mine?

Mine was time-saving, effort-saving, gas-saving, frustration-saving, confusion-saving and ultimately MONEY-saving. And it was all very easy to do... easy as pie.

Modified by johnsonbr333 at 11:57 AM 2/20/2009

Go ahead and ask my salesperson yourself whether he was happy with the deal we struck. His name is Michael Rezi and he's at Team Nissan of Marietta. I think you'll find that he (and his boss Dwight Parrish) was/were both pleased with the result of our negotiating. They can be reached at 770.422.4546.

Bottom line: I'm not running a charity. I'm trying to buy a car and get the best price for it. I don't worry about the salesman and the salesman doesn't worry about me. I worry only about myself... and I let the salesman worry about himself.

If the negotiating doesn't look to be a winner for a salesman, believe me he'll drop out of the bidding (as 14 other dealerships did). They don't need me to look out for them and worry about whether they are going to come out all right. They're all adults and perfectly capable of looking out for themselves. And believe me, they will look out for themselves. If the deal is too rich for them, they will drop out and move on to other customers like you who are willing to pay more in order to help them out.

After dealing with 15 dealerships, then whittling it down to four dealerships... Team Nissan of Marietta was finally the last dealership left standing. They simply had what it took to make this deal while the others did not. When the others couldn't do the deal, they simply dropped out.

Capitalism at its finest. It's part of what made this country great and if we don't abandon it completely and become a bunch of socialists (given the tough times we're in right now) then it will eventually help make us even greater.

Approach this stuff as a red-blooded American Capitalist and you'll succeed every time, my friend.

I always tip my waiters and waitresses 20 % of the bill. Always without fail, unless their service is horrible.

You and I (all of us) are selective when it comes to tipping. If we applied your rule of charity, we would be tipping everyone all the time. At the grocery store, we would be tipping the employee who showed us where the soup aisle is located, then we would be tipping the cashier AND the bagger, even if we carried our own groceries to our car without any assistance.

Do most of us do all that? Of course not. So we are selective about who it is that we tip and who we do not tip. In the case of buying the Murano, I chose not to tip my car salesman. You consider that wrong. But back that up... go ahead and call the salesman at the phone number I gave you earlier and ask him directly whether he thinks I owed him a tip. Then report back to us in this forum what he tells you.

We are free to tip those we wish to tip and to not tip those we wish not to tip. Most of us tip some here and there but not always. We do it selectively. I doubt you are an exception to that.

So by all means, go out and practice Capitalism ("Let's do it!" as you say). But please don't assume that practicing Capitalism means imposing a moratorium on all tipping. It doesn't mean that at all. It never has meant that and it never will.

Modified by johnsonbr333 at 7:35 PM 2/17/2009

It sounds like there are some very good deals to be had on the Murano. Nice work getting the dealers to DEAL!!!!! Congrats on the new rides!

Just as you say, there must have been some form of compensation that the dealership, Team Nissan of Marietta, was able to get that afforded them the opportunity to sell me this brand new Murano with the seven options at the low price we agreed on.

Even though they sold me this well-loaded vehicle at a price well below Invoice, there must have been good reason for them to do the deal or they surely would have dropped out like the other 14 dealerships eventually did.

If, in the end, the dealership actually did take a loss on this (that is, if there was no compensation for them even through my decision to take financing through Nissan or through some other kind of Nissan corporate reward for dealers) then that particular dealership simply decided it was better to let that particular vehicle go rather than keep it on the lot. Again, whatever the case happened to be here, obviously the dealer made a decision that it felt was in its best interest. That's what mature adult businessmen do every day in this country.

I just don't buy this nonsense that I have some politically correct obligation to watch out for the dealer and make sure he's getting a tip or something for his hard work. He's a grown-up and perfectly capable of watching out for himself. As a businessman, if it's not worth it to him to do the deal, then he simply won't do it.

Besides, I worked harder than the dealer did. He only had to deal with me. I had to deal with 15 dealerships. I worked harder than they all did to make this deal and I deserve the great results that I achieved. If anyone deserves a tip for working hard to make this deal happen, it's me!

If other customers want to gripe because they didn't do as well with their Murano deal as I did, then let them gripe. If they want to try to make me feel guilty because I had the nerve to watch out for only my own interests as a customer (and didn't watch out for the interests of the dealer too) then theirs is an alien philosophy that I certainly do not agree with.

So I think you are dead on, Cargal, and thank you.

Sorry, I'm not sure of the proper way to create a new posting, so I just hit Reply. Anyway, I'm looking at leasing my second Murano. I go to a dealership that wants to give me $100 over invoice on an SL AWD, with Tech, Prem, Leather. I've dealt with the same dealership forever, but have never questioned the pricing, as I am a "friend of the family". Well, my cynical nature has lead me to the NICO site. From what I'm reading, I might not be geting close the best deal I can.

A few questions:
What is a reasonable amt to pay?
Is "Invoice" really the amount dealers pay?
Below Invoice, how does the dealer make money?
Is Feb really the best time to buy/lease from Nissan?

Thanks!

Best way to test this deal being offered to you is to check with all the other Nissan dealerships in your area to see whether any of them can beat what's being offered to you.

Save yourself gas money, time, effort and a lot of nonsense-talk by emailing these other dealerships. You can go through Edmunds.com or other similar services that place you in touch, by email, with the dealerships in your area. Or you can go to Nissan's corporate web site and get a list of all the dealerships located near you and then get their individual email addresses by going to each dealership's web site.

However you decide to do it, make sure to get in email contact with all of them. It won't take much effort to accomplish that. Once you're in touch with them by email, simply outline all details of the deal being offered to you and ask each dealership to beat that deal.

Resist all efforts by the dealers to get you to call them or get you to visit them... until you have whittled your list of offered deals down to best ones. Once you know which dealers are really offering you the best deals, then it will be time to call them and visit them.

In the end, you might find yourself going with another dealership other than the one you're talking to now. Or you might find yourself able to get a much better deal from the original dealership than the deal they're offering you now (once they see you've done your homework and can get a better deal elsewhere).

So plan your work. Then work your plan. And you should do well.

All of this is amazingly easy. The Internet has revolutionized the whole process for you. It's now there for you to use. So use it. And you will be glad that you did.

Modified by johnsonbr333 at 1:49 PM 2/19/2009

Good luck and let us know how you come out.

My current lease is ending in May and I know Nissan currently has a special mf rate of .00154 for 39 months, low by today's standard. We want to lease a murano but really don't want to take the hit for the last 3 payments. We were going to wait until May to get a new car but the way the economy is, are not sure if mf rates will get better. The industry is moving away from leasing and I'm afraid Nissan will follow suit. For example, there are phenomenal prices on 09 RX 350's, 10k under MSRP however their financing, lease or buy, is very high, making payments up over $600/month for 48 months.

We are just not sure what to do. If this mf stays in place for the next 3 months then we are fine and we really want to lease. I just want to hear what your opinion is. Thanks all!

Welcome to NICOclub! I am the Moderator here and I want to formally greet you to the Murano Forum. We are glad to have you here!

Looks like the some members have already given you some fantastic advice! Nissan's fiscal year ends at the end of March, that is why you want to purchase/lease by then. Good luck, be sure to post what your end deal is. Let us know if you have any more questions!

I would rather "lose" the last 2 months of my current lease vs being financed out of a murano. Please advise, I also know that it's just your opinion and won't hold you to your opinion. Thanks!

I tend to agree with you on this one, loose the last two months of your current lease. I did that when I bought my Armada last year. My lease wasn't up until the beginning of April, but I found the exact Armada I wanted, at an AMAZING price, so I jumped on that. With the fiscal year end close, I would work the best deal possible, and pull the trigger on that.

The Nissan dealer holdback percentage is 2% of the total invoice.

The following web page gives you the Edmunds list of holdback percentages per Make...

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/....html

Modified by johnsonbr333 at 8:30 PM 2/21/2009

SL FWD
tech pkg
prem pkg
leather
moon roof
Navigation
splash and cargo MSRP $37750
Selling price $33905

Lease pmts at .00154 mf is $457.39 for 39 months.

$2913 out of pocket of which $1095 of it is shipping, the rest is 1st mo, tax tag, fees. Any opinions to this? I have a hard time with the shipping cost but the cost of the vehicle sounds like a good deal. Would love to hear your opinions. Thanks!

2009 Murano SL AWD
Leather/Premium Package
Technology Package

MSRP he quoted was $36,5xx, he met my internet deal from another dealer at $33,600 which included TTL. I have a trade in that brought it down to $30, 600..I did also ask if he can knock more off and meet me anywhere from $28-$29,000 and he met me and quoted $29,000 which includes TTL. Is this a good deal? I'm just trying to get the best deal that I can. Thanks!

Welcome to NICOclub! Glad to have you here in the Murano Forum!

Assuming your trade doesn't have a HUGE value, that is a fantastic deal! Snatch that one up quickly!

I would think that you could probably find one closer to you and avoid the shipping charge. Also, that seem like quite a bit down on a lease, personally when I lease I never put down more than $1000 at signing. If you drive it off the lot and total it, you are out basically whatever cash you put down. Good luck!

I leased a new 2009 Murano LE, Deep Sapphire (Blue) exterior, black leather interior. Options included were: Navigation Package, Dual Moonroof, Splash Guards, and Floor Mats. MSRP was $40,495 including the $780 Destination Charge. My price was $36,091 plus TTL. There were no dealership add-ons. Did a 36 month lease and the lease factor equates to a 3.7% interest rate.

I asked several local dealers for bids via email, and this was the lowest price by about $900. The Nissan dealer also agreed to handle the lease-return on my Infiniti FX so I was able to drive away in my new Murano. Total time at dealership was 2 hours. Very professional, no pressure in the sales area or in the finance office. A pleasant buying experience all around.

The Murano seems to sit a bit higher than my '06 FX, and ride is quieter and smoother. So far I'm very satisfied. I really like the fact that you can use voice activation to enter an address into the Nav system WHILE MOVING!

Welcome to NICOclub Mr. SG_Seattle!!!! Glad to have you here in the Murano Forum!

I hope you continue to enjoy your new Murano, it is indeed an enjoyable ride, especially for the price. What is the payment that you were able to get?

for 31960.00

Is this a good deal?
Also could i negotiate to drop prices more when i go see the the internet sales manager ? i have never done internet auto business before..

Welcome to NICOclub! Glad to have you here in the Murano Forum! Honestly, it sounds like you got a fabulous deal on your new Murano! Nice work!

It is possible to do further negotiations once you go in but it's much more difficult at that point unless you are already very good at negotiating. I think a lot of the Internet sales managers will expect you to pay the price you agreed to via email. If anything, you should be careful that they don't ask you to pay more by offering you rust protection packages, special fabric coatings, miscellaneous fees and the like. That sometimes turns some very good Internet deals sour on arrival. Especially since many use the Internet to deal because it is a much easier non-pressure environment vs being "on the spot" in the dealership.

Black on Beige
- Splash Guards
- Sunroof
- Floor Mats
- Cargo Area Protector
- Illuminated Door Sills
- Black Roof Rail Cross Bars
- Navigation
- Permaplate
- Window Tint
- Wheel Locks

The dealer said they lost $700 on the deal. What do you think? Did I get a good deal? I got wheel/tire insurance because I've been hearing about the difficulty tracking down tires for $8/month.

MSRP - $41,060
Purchase Price - $36,100

Came with just over 350 miles on the car. I refused to take one with over 1000 miles with similarly priced.

I'm always one for buyer's remorse...so input is appreciated.

What does the tire insurance cover and who is is underwriter?

Safe-Guard Products International is the Obligor/Administrator.

Still wondering about the deal though...

It was a first for me to see the sales mgr sweat He tried telling me the SL was the same as the LE as I had it configured (loaded except for the DVD players in the headrests). I disagreed.

I ended up financing a total of 32K having given them my 04 Pathfinder in trade (with 4K equity).

After a year of driving this beauty I know I made a good deal. BTW, did the tire deal include protection for the rims?

You got a good deal, no question about that, but I don't believe for one minute that the dealer lost any money on the deal. You truly did get a good deal, I would have passed on the tire insurance, but then again, $8/month isn't terrible either. Enjoy the ride and welcome to NICOclub! Glad to have you here in the Murano Forum!

09 Deep Sapphire SL AWD

Black Leather
Tech/Premium Package
Moon Roof

This Murano had an MSRP of $36,537...A bit of some haggling and a trade in I got the Murano for $30,876 out the door. Myself I think I got a good deal and I love this car...

Options are:
Moonroof
Illuminated door sills
Roof rail cross bars
and basics like Splash gards, Floor Mats, Cargo Area protector

MSRP was 38535.00
Price paid was 33,704
Final price after title, admin fee, and them having a remote starter added (they split the cost) was 34,301. They didn't install it, they use a place that they've approved, seeing the complexity of the starting options on the LE.

It had around 400 miles on it, and I was told it had been in their inventory for a few months and they wanted to get it sold. Got the 2.9 finance rate, so overall, I'm real pleased.

One question I have is if I build this vehicle on the nissan website, or do new vehicle pricing on edmunds, the MSRP with these options is 39,925.
I'm not complaining, I'm looking at it as getting a close to 40K MSRP for around 34K, unless I'm missing something.

WOW, those are some of the best deals yet! End of Nissan fiscal year here we come!!!! Nice negotiating!!!!! Enjoy the new rides, POST SOME PICTURES!!!!