Nissan

YOUR IMPARTIAL BUYER'S FAQ FROM NISSAN

Buying a new car can be confusing. There are lots of choices to make, and with such a big decision, you want to be sure you're getting real value.

That’s why Nissan has put together an impartial Buyer’s FAQ to help you pick the options that are right for you.

BEFORE YOU BUY

• What are the issues to consider right at the start of choosing a new car?

  Think about who will drive the car – is it just you or other members of your family? Different driving styles may require different performance and safety features.

  Then you need to consider who will travel in the car. Family, pets, co-workers, customers? This will tell you how much luxury or room you'll need.

  For commuting, comfort is a primary concern. Road trips require convenience and performance. Going out on the town calls for style. Whatever your destinations, make sure to keep these factors in mind. Heavy work, such as hauling equipment or towing, or lots of active, off-road driving have their own special requirements. Even just shopping for groceries or home improvement supplies mean you may need a vehicle with extra capabilities.

PRICE

• How do I decide how much can I afford?

  Firstly, this covers what level of monthly payment you think you can afford.

  There is also the value of any trade-in that you may have to consider, and how large a down payment you’re able to make.

  You also need to consider what it will cost to insure the car, and the expense of fuelling and maintaining it.

QUALITY

• Where can I find impartial information about the vehicle?

  Look at other sources of information about the car. These could include:

  • Consumer Magazines or web sites
  • Car Magazines/Sites
  • Owners Clubs: Online clubs or newsgroups devoted to a particular automobile, where bulletin boards discuss owners' vehicle experiences.
  • Motor Shows: Compare models side-by-side.

  Discuss all of the above questions and considerations with friends or family members, as well as experts such as your Nissan dealer. Then, narrow your selection to three or four cars. To make your final decision, visit the dealer and explore each car in person. How does the car make you feel? Does it speak to your needs? Can you picture yourself in the car?

  Relationships with vehicles often extend beyond the practical; take the time to find the one that matches your unique personality and needs.

AT THE DEALERSHIP

The key to a pleasant and successful dealership experience is preparation and making sure all of your questions are answered. Come prepared with questions in mind and goals for making your visit to the dealer an enjoyable experience.

• How can I prepare myself for a visit to a dealer?

  Before visiting a dealership, schedule an appointment. If you want to trade-in a car, bring the current loan, lease or title papers.

  Be sure you've done your research: sales consultants can answer questions, but it helps if you know what to ask.

• What questions should I ask in the showroom?

  • Does it fit my lifestyle?
  • Does the car fit me, or is it too big or small?
  • Is it easy to enter and exit?
  • Do the front and back seats feel comfortable?
  • Does it offer enough cargo and passenger space?
  • Do the interior features feel right; are controls where I need them?
  • We recommend you test drive a vehicle before buying, no matter how others may praise it.

• What are the top tips for making the most of a showroom visit and test drive?

  • Book your test-drive appointment in advance, particularly for popular cars or on a weekend.
  • Thoroughly examine the vehicle's exterior and interior in daylight or in a well-lit area.
  • Most dealerships require a sales consultant to accompany you. Consider this an advantage: the consultant can answer questions and demonstrate features while you drive.
  • Drive carefully but, where possible, tackle hills, rough surfaces, parallel parking and tight turns. Put the acceleration and brakes to the test. If possible, test drive the vehicle at motorway speeds.
  • Use the stereo, turn on the air conditioning, and generally determine how easy it is to adjust controls while you drive. Also, check for visibility or noise issues.
  • By taking these factors into consideration, you'll be better prepared and more likely to have an enjoyable experience while looking for your new vehicle.

PERSONAL FINANCE

• Can Nissan help me to finance a car?

  Nissan offers a range of different finance packages to ensure that the way you finance your car is right for you. We’ll work with you to create the ideal package for your new car. And if you’re running your own business, you can also benefit from our finance specially designed for businesses.

• What type of personal finance packages are available to me?

  • Preferences: Nissan’s Personal Contract Plan (PCP)
  • Hire Purchase

• What is Preferences?

  Preferences offers you the freedom to drive away the car of your choice every two or three years (subject to status). We’ll guarantee what the value of your car will be at the end of the agreement, you simply pay the deposit of your choice and the remaining balance over the agreed period.

• How does it work?

  • Choose the car you want, decide how much deposit you want to pay and agree a repayment period; your dealer will calculate your fixed payments and the car’s Guaranteed Future Value (GFV).
  • You can select any level of deposit or period of agreement (within our limits) to suit your own individual needs.
  • The GFV is the minimum amount the car is estimated to be worth at the end of the agreement term.

• What happens at the end of the agreement?

  You can choose from one of the following options:

  • Part exchange the car with your Nissan dealer and drive away a new car using any amount over the GFV as part of your deposit on the next agreement.
  • Pay the GFV and take ownership of the car.
  • Simply return the car to Nissan Finance with nothing more to pay (subject to final mileage and condition of the car).

• What is Hire Purchase?

  Hire Purchase is the traditional way to finance your new car - you simply choose the deposit amount you wish to pay and the length of the repayment period.

• How does it work?

  • You pay for your car over a pre-agreed period, during which time the balance and interest are repaid by fixed payments.
  • You can select any level of deposit or period of agreement (within our limits) to suit your own individual needs.
  • The interest charged is calculated at the beginning of the agreement and will remain unaffected by any future changes in interest rates, allowing you to plan your budget with confidence.
  • When all the payments have been made at the end of the agreement, you own the car.
  • All Nissan Finance products can be tailored to meet your individual needs.

BUSINESS FINANCE

What finance options are avilable for businesses?

• Business Purchase

  Sometimes known as Lease Purchase, this product is based on the traditional form of financing, Hire Purchase. You pay an initial sum in advance then pay for your vehicle over a pre-agreed period in fixed monthly instalments. To reduce the monthly payment, you can defer a proportion of the purchase price to the end of the agreement. This amount is known as the final (balloon) payment.

• Business Leasing

  Often referred to as Finance Lease, this product means you share in the risks and rewards of ownership. You make an initial payment, then pay a fixed number of rentals over the remaining period of the agreement, this amount is known as the final (balloon) payment. To reduce the monthly payment you can defer a lump sum to the end of the agreement. At the end of the agreement you can either sell the vehicle on behalf of Nissan Finance and receive a share of the sales proceeds (called a rental rebate) or you can extend the agreement into a ’secondary’ period of rental for a nominal annual fee.

• Contract Hire

  Contract Hire is the way to operate a vehicle fleet. It removes much of the financial uncertainty and the administrative burden, leaving you free to concentrate on running your business. You make an initial payment, followed by a fixed number of rental payments over the remaining period of the agreement. At the end of the agreement you hand back the vehicle and there is nothing more to pay (subject to mileage and condition).

INSURANCE

What insurance options are avilable through Nissan?

• Payment Protection

  We offer a wide range of Payment Protection plans, helping you rest assured that unforeseen changes in your life will not affect your Nissan ownership.

• Gap Insurance

  If your car is written off by your insurer as a result of damage, fire or theft, there’s always a chance that the amount you receive may fall short of the original price of the car. Gap Insurance takes care of this problem.