Not mine but I just helped a friend buy a really nice used 2013 Armada with just 30K on it to replace his 06 Ford Expedition he was ready to move on from. He was also looking for a new( to him )family sedan for the wife and for trips and such. He is an older gentleman and this is probably his last big SUV.
He always comes to me for help with auto stuff as he knows I worked in that field and know a lot about it. So, I did some research and showed him comparable models to his Expedition( fit his needs well )I thought he might like( Armada, Tahoe, Sequoia ). I included some Expeditions even though he wanted something different this time( he is fed up with Ford ). Found multiple used of each in the area we could go see but as it turns out he fell in love with the 1st one we went to see. It was the Armada( truth be told of all the ones I found him I felt this was the one he would pick in the end - I did not bully or lead him to it either - all his choice ). He didn't even want to see any of the other Armadas never mind the more $$$ Tahoe's or Toyota's.
The one he bought had fewer options and "gizmos" as he calls them than all the other ones I had for him to look at. That is one of the main things that sold him on it as he dislikes all of the fancy electronics in cars these days. The one he got still has plenty of features and gadgets just not as many as the others. I think if he ordered one this is what he would have got. It being a 1 owner, accident free, well maintained vehicle helped as well( Carfax ).
I have to admit I really like it as well. I have never been a big Nissan fan( they are okay IMO )and I actually had never been in an Armada before so it was a first for me. I have been in a Titan and though they are the same basic thing it is still different. I didn't really like the Titan's I have driven but I Love the Armada my friend just got. That thing is saa-weet! It's like a living room on wheels! Huge, comfy, and surprisingly the ride is very smooth. It is also extremely quiet. It can also turn on a dime as well. The turning radius on that thing is ridiculous. Not a huge powerhouse like a HEMI or the new GM motors but it is no slouch and it has a lot of low end grunt which is perfect for towing his trailer and boat. Would run away from and tow circles around the Expedition.
I really think he will love it long term. Like all mfg's and vehicles I know they have some issues before anyone chimes in with that. You can't buy a 100% reliable vehicle these days even brand new. The common issues they have are not major ones as a rule so if something does develop it isn't a fortune to repair. I also made sure he got a good warranty so he will be fine no matter what happens. I do a lot of stuff for him and I will be curious to see how I like it( driving )when he has me do an errand for him.
While we were there I suggested he check out the cars to see if they had something he liked. He was thinking of going after a Camry or Buick ( Lacrosse? )initially. I said he should at least see what they had as buying a car along with the Armada would give us more leverage in negotiations. So we looked around a bit at the Sentra, Altima, and Maxima. Sentra was too small and the Maxima's too $$$. I had looked online before we went down and saw they had a really nice 2015 Altima with just 6K on it so I suggested he look at that. It wasn't exactly what he wanted( funny how in cars he likes more "gizmos" but in suv's fewer )but we test drove it and he liked it well enough that he decided to inquire.
I am really glad I went with him and was there for the negotiations. Like every dealer on the planet it seems they always have to try something "iffy". The advertised prices online changed( went up ). I pointed that our right away and got them back to the online prices for the START of our negotiations. Then they tried multiple ways of presenting numbers to make it look like they were offering a different deal even though it was the same in the end. I was able to stop that too and make them explain each line price item and what it did and did not include to my friend so he could see how they were just swapping one here for one there. They were swapping stuff around like someone playing find the marble under the 3 shells.
*** disclaimer - I am actually not saying the dealer was nothing but crooked. Actually they were very nice and I would return. Like all dealers though they play with the numbers to try and confuse the buyer so they make more. That doesn't work on me.***
I am really glad I was there to explain what they were trying to do so my friend better understood and to block them. I also helped him negotiate with them on bringing the price down on the pair as a deal. They hemmed and hawed about how they were both already discounted online and how they didn't have any wiggle room but he held firm. I had him prepared before we even went in to walk if they didn't agree to a price that was good. I can't even remember now how many times they came back with a new deal and we said NO this is what we will do before they finally gave in. Maybe 5 or 6?
In the end I saved him over $5K above and beyond what he was prepared to pay for the 2 cars. His negotiations would have ended much sooner if I wasn't with him. The deal also included 100K B2BPTW's as well for both. I feel really good helping my friend get the vehicles he wanted at such a good price. It was funny, as we were ready to leave the salesman approached us and said " when I am ready to buy a new car will you come with me?". That really made me laugh. I guess I gave the sales manager a near coronary and stroke before we finally reached a deal I told my friend was acceptable.
So, not my vehicles but I am happy all the same.
He always comes to me for help with auto stuff as he knows I worked in that field and know a lot about it. So, I did some research and showed him comparable models to his Expedition( fit his needs well )I thought he might like( Armada, Tahoe, Sequoia ). I included some Expeditions even though he wanted something different this time( he is fed up with Ford ). Found multiple used of each in the area we could go see but as it turns out he fell in love with the 1st one we went to see. It was the Armada( truth be told of all the ones I found him I felt this was the one he would pick in the end - I did not bully or lead him to it either - all his choice ). He didn't even want to see any of the other Armadas never mind the more $$$ Tahoe's or Toyota's.
The one he bought had fewer options and "gizmos" as he calls them than all the other ones I had for him to look at. That is one of the main things that sold him on it as he dislikes all of the fancy electronics in cars these days. The one he got still has plenty of features and gadgets just not as many as the others. I think if he ordered one this is what he would have got. It being a 1 owner, accident free, well maintained vehicle helped as well( Carfax ).
I have to admit I really like it as well. I have never been a big Nissan fan( they are okay IMO )and I actually had never been in an Armada before so it was a first for me. I have been in a Titan and though they are the same basic thing it is still different. I didn't really like the Titan's I have driven but I Love the Armada my friend just got. That thing is saa-weet! It's like a living room on wheels! Huge, comfy, and surprisingly the ride is very smooth. It is also extremely quiet. It can also turn on a dime as well. The turning radius on that thing is ridiculous. Not a huge powerhouse like a HEMI or the new GM motors but it is no slouch and it has a lot of low end grunt which is perfect for towing his trailer and boat. Would run away from and tow circles around the Expedition.
I really think he will love it long term. Like all mfg's and vehicles I know they have some issues before anyone chimes in with that. You can't buy a 100% reliable vehicle these days even brand new. The common issues they have are not major ones as a rule so if something does develop it isn't a fortune to repair. I also made sure he got a good warranty so he will be fine no matter what happens. I do a lot of stuff for him and I will be curious to see how I like it( driving )when he has me do an errand for him.
While we were there I suggested he check out the cars to see if they had something he liked. He was thinking of going after a Camry or Buick ( Lacrosse? )initially. I said he should at least see what they had as buying a car along with the Armada would give us more leverage in negotiations. So we looked around a bit at the Sentra, Altima, and Maxima. Sentra was too small and the Maxima's too $$$. I had looked online before we went down and saw they had a really nice 2015 Altima with just 6K on it so I suggested he look at that. It wasn't exactly what he wanted( funny how in cars he likes more "gizmos" but in suv's fewer )but we test drove it and he liked it well enough that he decided to inquire.
I am really glad I went with him and was there for the negotiations. Like every dealer on the planet it seems they always have to try something "iffy". The advertised prices online changed( went up ). I pointed that our right away and got them back to the online prices for the START of our negotiations. Then they tried multiple ways of presenting numbers to make it look like they were offering a different deal even though it was the same in the end. I was able to stop that too and make them explain each line price item and what it did and did not include to my friend so he could see how they were just swapping one here for one there. They were swapping stuff around like someone playing find the marble under the 3 shells.
*** disclaimer - I am actually not saying the dealer was nothing but crooked. Actually they were very nice and I would return. Like all dealers though they play with the numbers to try and confuse the buyer so they make more. That doesn't work on me.***
I am really glad I was there to explain what they were trying to do so my friend better understood and to block them. I also helped him negotiate with them on bringing the price down on the pair as a deal. They hemmed and hawed about how they were both already discounted online and how they didn't have any wiggle room but he held firm. I had him prepared before we even went in to walk if they didn't agree to a price that was good. I can't even remember now how many times they came back with a new deal and we said NO this is what we will do before they finally gave in. Maybe 5 or 6?
In the end I saved him over $5K above and beyond what he was prepared to pay for the 2 cars. His negotiations would have ended much sooner if I wasn't with him. The deal also included 100K B2BPTW's as well for both. I feel really good helping my friend get the vehicles he wanted at such a good price. It was funny, as we were ready to leave the salesman approached us and said " when I am ready to buy a new car will you come with me?". That really made me laugh. I guess I gave the sales manager a near coronary and stroke before we finally reached a deal I told my friend was acceptable.
So, not my vehicles but I am happy all the same.
