Possible Buyer

[Martini]

I have been researching my first car and I think it's coming down to the Nissan Versa. I go for a test drive tomorrow. I'm wondering while I'm down at the dealership if there is anything to look for on the car or any specific important questions to ask? I am a first time car buyer!

I like the Versa for safety, it seems to have much more room then some other cars in the class, I like the look (hopefully once I test drive it I will like the feel too!) and the gas mileage seems pretty good too!

Hoping to be qualified for the 4.9% interest for 48 months promotion.

Looking at cars around the $14,000 range but wondering advantages over CVT? Is the reported extra few miles worth it?

Any advice would be great! Also, I will be buying in Oregon where we have no sales tax.

- Marty

[DreamU]

There are a lot of resources available on the web which have summarized the top buying tips:

http://www.theautochannel.com/....html

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/car-buying1.htm

http://www.dcu.org/streetwise/auto/10command.html

My best advice is always remember that "you are in charge". That last link contains the ten commandants of buying and summarizes this same advice as "Stop the transaction if you feel pressured or confused". We purchased both new and used vehicles in Portland, OR and our biggest regret was being pressured into buying a station wagon for my wife - she never liked the car. If your gut is sending you signals - take a breather, walk around the block, come back the next day, etc. Oftentimes there may be some pressure on buying the extras like undercoating, oil for life, etc. Decide before-hand whether you need those things than you can more easily 'stay in charge'.

[Deke40]

but wondering advantages over CVT? Is the reported extra few miles worth it? - Marty

When it comes to transmissions it is pretty well up to the individual's preference. Car & Driver did their test on the CVT and it did not get better gas mileage over the stantard.

I have a bad left knee so I choose the CVT for the obvious reason and also the smoothness of the CVT when going up and down inclines on the highway. The CVT will cause the rpms to go up, how much is dependent on the % of grade. Anything above about 3600 rpms you will start hearing the engine a little bit.

Standards are always a little quicker in the various speed tests but let's face it 122hp isn't really going to smoke anybody with either transmission.

Good luck on your purchase.

I am 9 days short of two months in my Versa and have a little over 4000 miles on it so you know I must be a happy camper.

[KimberKenobi]

check the fit and finish really well... I've found a few things that are out of place and I'm trying to get the dealership to take care of them... It's much easier to line that up before you leave the dealership...

[Martini]

I just went in today for the test drive. I absolutely loved it!

I test drove two Versas and a Sentra. I did not like the Sentra at all!

I'm down to the bone here. The dealership is offering a SL with floor mats, splash guards, remote key entry (not the intelligent key) and ABS for 16,684.48.

I'm wondering if this is about right? He actually showed me his invoice paper and its about $700 profit he is making. The financing there sucks since I am a first time buyer but there isn't anything I can do about it unfortunately.

Car insurance has been tricky too. $180 quotes have been given to me! I just did an online for Farmers Insurance and they claim around $102 a month so I'll be giving them a call in the morning.

They had an S model down there with ABS and remote locks for 15,175. Thinking about taking that too. CVT doesn't do much other then smoother ride and doesn't necessarily give more mileage. I liked that it had an arm rest but not much I'm missing.

Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks for the support so far!

[Bubs daddy]

I'm down to the bone here. The dealership is offering a SL with floor mats, splash guards, remote key entry (not the intelligent key) and ABS for 16,684.48.

That's baically the car I have. I've been very pleased. I like the CVT because it's, well...a CVT!

Big difference between the SL and as far as materials. Good luck. Sound like a good deal to me.

[Ever Victorious]

I'm down to the bone here. The dealership is offering a SL with floor mats, splash guards, remote key entry (not the intelligent key) and ABS for 16,684.48.

Go to Nissanusa.com and build the same Versa on the web site. Something doesn't sound right about that.

I bought my SL 6-speed with Convenience package for just shy of $16k... and I paid full MSRP. ABS and CVT, minus the Convenience package, should be about $600 more if I am correct... so it sounds like it might even be a bit high for MSRP.

[Martini]

MSRP for the SL Versa CVT from the website (including destination charge...is that negotiable?) is $16,165. Adding in splash guards, floor mats, and ABS is $16,675.

They have one there with the convenience package (does that come with ABS) for a little over $17. I like that particular one cause of the intelligent key, although not something I really need to have. It's just neat. And now just typing that out I think I won't get it based on that fact. Ha!

[pingflood]

I'm down to the bone here. The dealership is offering a SL with floor mats, splash guards, remote key entry (not the intelligent key) and ABS for 16,684.48.

For what it's worth, I paid $15,400 for the same setup here in GA.

[Ever Victorious]

Destination charges are't negotiable, they're one of the few "fees" added on by the dealer that's actually legitimate.

Convenience package does NOT include ABS... and to get both together requires a whole ton of packages together, which would put it at like $19k.

So it depends on which is more important... bluetooth and ikey or ABS.

anyway, you should be able to negotiate them down from the price they are giving you. Maybe not a huge amount, but definitely below MSRP.

[Martini]

What do I do? How do I get that price down?

Also, I'm more then certain they have a SL HB with convenience there for 17. That seems like the "best deal" cause it also includes ABS. Am I wrong?

At the Dodge store I went to they offered me a tank of gas every month. How can I work this into my little deal? Hehe

[pingflood]

What do I do? How do I get that price down?

Also, I'm more then certain they have a SL HB with convenience there for 17. That seems like the "best deal" cause it also includes ABS. Am I wrong?

At the Dodge store I went to they offered me a tank of gas every month. How can I work this into my little deal? Hehe

It really depends on how much time you're willing to spend and how eager you are to get into a new car.

Here's what I would do:

Fax/email all dealers within a given distance from your house. Tell them exactly what you are looking for (SL, what options you require etc) and ask them to flat out give you their lowest possible price. Don't do any back/forth with them like 'oh, how much are you looking to pay' etc -- just tell them that you are requesting their best possible price on the car. Don't go in there in person because they'll start trying to pressure/bother you a lot more.

Next, pick the two lowest prices. Call the second lowest price one and tell them something like 'Hey, I got a price from you guys and I hear you're really nice to deal with, so I wanted to give you a shot at beating this other dealer's quote...' and see what they'll do. If they come back with a lower number (don't buy into 'oh, just come in and we'll beat whatever you have'), call the other dealer and pull the same thing. Then call some of the other ones that gave you quotes if you're so inclined...

Eventually you'll wear them down to the point where the number just isn't going to get any lower and you should have a fairly decent price at that point.

If you really want to be a hardass about it you can always go into the dealer at this point and get all the numbers lined up then drop it another few hundred and do the 'walk out' if they say they can't do it. Don't be afraid to walk out, if your offer wasn't completely out of line chances are they'll call you in a day or two to accept...

All this can be a pain and some people don't want to deal with it, but it does save you $.

Also, NEVER EVER pay for any type of 'paint protection package' or whatnot. Most dealers around here charge like $500-800 for it and it's really not more than a wax job... also a lot of them slap on locking lugnuts and mark the hell out of those too.

[br4dysays]

sounds good so far.

i paid 14,400 for an S , with auto (no cvt), power pkg, blah blah blah some other add-ons.

sticker was 15,100.

likin it so far

wish i had the SL at times, but i like the payment being lower

[Martini]

Just called to another local Nissan Dealer and they can offer me an S with Power Package (unsure if it comes with ABS but I'm crossing my fingers) for $14,665.

This is $500 less then the other one I looked at.

Priced this at $15,080 (pwr pkg and ABS) and consumer reports bottom line is listed at $14,193 and that includes floor mats.

This is getting more difficult every time I call back or go down!

[Ever Victorious]

By the way, I've noticed a couple times you referring to convenience having ABS as part of the package... I just want to clarify that is NOT the case.

ABS is ALWAYS separate package. If you want ABS *and* Convenience at the same time, you ALSO have to get the sunroof or sport package as well.

Edit: since the ABS package is $250, I would guess that the one that is $500 less does NOT include it.

[Martini]

Seriously, so confusing.

I've decided to go ahead and wait a few more months until I have more of a down payment. I'll also be upgrading to the extreme daddy package - everything! That sunroof is -awesome-