So there you are, standing at your local Nissan dealership, looking at all those vehicles glistening in the midday sun, and wondering to yourself: “What am I doing here!?” That sense of panic deep in your stomach as you feel increasingly overwhelmed by the number of options in front of you, that nameless dread screeching in the back of your brain in a primordial language created when we were being hunted by saber-toothed cats. All of that is completely avoidable, by just approaching car buying in the right way.
The name of the game is simple: information. The more you know and the better prepared you are before you step onto any Nissan dealership, the easier the actual process of buying a new car, truck, or SUV is going to be. Whether you want a brand new model, or a used one that is new for you, the more you know and the more you find out ahead of time, the better it will go. Don’t panic, don’t feel overwhelmed – instead, just follow a few simple steps to help you go into your next car-buying experience well informed and ready to shop!
Step 1: Decide on Your Type of Vehicle
Full disclosure, some of these steps may seem obvious to you – that’s fair, but this is a guide for everyone, so there’s going to be some stuff here that might seem common sense. The problem is that sometimes, once you’re deep into trying to figure out what car to get, or stressing about your possible finance options, you can easily forget about the common sense stuff. So think of this is a chance to take a deep breath and make sure you have all your bases covered.
Let’s start at the start, well before you approach any Nissan dealership, you’re going to want to see what Nissan has on offer and start to figure out what you want. There are nearly a dozen 2019 vehicles available from Nissan, which is great because it means there’s something for everyone, but it can also get overwhelming. While I’m sure you’ve never seen me standing wide-eyed in the bread aisle of a grocery store trying to figure out just the right loaf of bread to compliment my inactive lifestyle, I assure you it’s an expression of dumbfound confusion.
That same expression can quickly come over your face when looking at all the options available at a Nissan dealership. So to get started, just narrow down your options to the category that best fits you. To start off, do you want a car, a truck, or an SUV? It’s just that simple – start off with that question and then move on from there. So which is it: car, truck, or SUV? Got that sorted? Good, let’s move on…
Step 2: Research the Type You Want
Now that you know what type of vehicle you want, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Depending on what you’re interested in, you’re going to find either just a few options or a ton of different options within that category. Trust me; it’s easier to whittle this all down right now than when you’re standing at a Nissan dealership with a helpful salesperson wondering why you haven’t spoken in 17 minutes.
If you want a car, then you need to decide between either a four-door sedan or a two-door coupe. In other words, do you want something practical or something sporty? There are also a few hybrid and electric options available from Nissan, particularly in the sedan market, so keep that in mind too. If a 2018 or older model catches your eye while you’re doing all this looking, then make a note of it, because a used car might be a great option for you.
SUVs are a bit simpler because Nissan offers fewer of them overall. All of them have a lot of the same strengths, but it really comes down to how large a vehicle you want and can fit into your life. Look at smaller SUVs first, and go up from there, but look at each model so you can judge if it is too small, too big, or just right. Yes, this is the Goldilocks approach and it works!
Nissan only has a couple trucks on offer, so you really just have to decide between them. This will probably come down to how much power you need from a truck – how much of a workhorse you are looking for. Be sure to check out things like payload and towing capacity to see what would be your best choice.
Step 3: Research the Model You Want
Once you narrow down your choices to just one or two options, then take a deeper look into those particular models. Pay attention to different trim levels available on them as well as all the upgrades and available options they have. Once you visit a Nissan dealership, you’ll want to know what you want already, so you can ask about specific trims and options. This can save you a lot of time – since you can ask about these things right away and see if they have those options you are looking for.
Step 4: Look at Your Local Dealerships
Now that you have a sense of exactly what you want (and good job on that by the way!), it’s time to see where you can find it. Start off like you would when buying anything else: searching the internet. Go ahead and type in “Nissan dealership” and see what comes up. You can include your city or county to make sure you find locations that are near you.
Don’t just pick the one at the top, however, but look at the whole first page or two of results that come up. Take some time to check out the Nissan dealerships near you and make sure you pick the right one. How do you do that? Well…
Step 5: Research Your Nissan Dealership
Once you have a Nissan dealership in mind that seems right for you, then look closer and double check your results. Look for inventory on their website, which can help you eliminate lots that don’t even have the model or trim level you are interested in. Look for phone numbers and information about the dealership and the people who work there. While you’re not going to find everyone’s name, it should at least feel easy to access and get a hold of people.
Consider your financing options as well. If you know you have poor credit, for example, then look for information about financing for people with bad or no credit on the dealership’s website. All of this research online is faster and easier than going to a Nissan dealership only to find out they don’t have what you want or can’t work with you to get what you need.
Step 6: Shop with Confidence
Confidence is crucial when buying a vehicle. You should feel comfortable at the Nissan dealership you go to and never feel like you are being pressured into a purchase. The moment you feel like they are putting on the pressure or pushing you into something you don’t want, just leave. Seriously – you always have the power to just leave.
The right Nissan dealership won’t just have the vehicle you want but will treat you with honesty, respect, and appreciation for your business. You shouldn’t expect them to kiss your feet – but you should expect them to treat you how you would treat someone if the roles were reversed. If a deal seems way too good to be true or they’re trying to push you into something you don’t want, then trust your instincts, walk away, and shop somewhere else.
Step 7: Drive Away Happy!
Once you have the vehicle you want from a Nissan dealership that treats you right, then there’s nothing left to do but drive away happy. A lot of people dread buying a new car, but you can see the process isn’t that bad. You have more information at your fingertips than anyone has ever had in the history of the world – so use it and make an informed decision on your purchase. Shop with confidence and know exactly what you want, so you can get the vehicle you need and drive off the lot like a superstar!
