Thoughts on Buyback Vehicle

[KrisZ]

Dealers are known liars, I would not trust any report they have on such a vehicle.

 

[JTK]

The way I see it, if this large, expensive Nissan SUV or truck is $4-5K less than comparable vehicles, your trade-in allowance down the road could potentially be $4-5K less. That "savings" just carries right on through. I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all.

In terms of the specific buyback, I'm sure they can't show you the paper trail that led up to it. That would be too nice. All you have is the carfax, etc.

In a way, every vehicle is a gamble. This could be a good one, or maybe not.

 

[HoosierJeeper]

Thank you for all input thus far everyone. I am somewhat apprehensive on the buyback. I am not concerned about the actual issue that is was bought back for, but the potential trade in value down the road. This would be a vehicle that I intend to keep for quite some time but I know life can cause pivots sometimes.

For a little context on the truck, it is a loaded model that goes for about 65k new. They are selling for 41k(its 1.5 yrs old with 13k miles).

There is another model available locally that I am also considering. Although it is a lower trim level w/ a few options, for about 3k less.

Lots to think about, and I won't be hasty!

I would look at what one goes for at 6-7 years old and see if you can find a lemon lawed one and see what they go for at that point.

I've bought 2 buy back vehicles. A 2015 Cherokee (lemon lawed in NY) and a 2019 Jetta (lemon lawed in MD or VA, can't remember), both bought with under 5k miles and a year old, Cherokee was $23k (new MSRP was $38k), Jetta was $19k, new MSRP was like $26k). Cherokee had to get the tranny replaced under warranty before it was bought back, Jetta had an AC drain issue. Neither issues ever came back. Only thing with the Cherokee was that an O2 sensor was cross threaded during the trans replacement and gave a code about a few months after we bought it. Still under warranty, it got the whole exhaust system replaced. Then they didn't hang it right, so it had to go back again to get it re mounted. And they lifted it wrong and ripped out one of the body plugs. Kept it till 82k and the trade in value was terrible. A non-lemon one would've been $15k trade in or $18-20k retail, dealer and carava offered like $3k. This was in 2022, so the market was still hot, so was able to sell it private party for $15k. Got lucky there.

Wouldn't do it again if it's something you would want to trade in after a few years. If you're going to keep it and run it into the ground, then it's probably okay depending on the issue.

The way I see it, if this large, expensive Nissan SUV or truck is $4-5K less than comparable vehicles, your trade-in allowance down the road could potentially be $4-5K less. That "savings" just carries right on through. I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all.

In terms of the specific buyback, I'm sure they can't show you the paper trail that led up to it. That would be too nice. All you have is the carfax, etc.

In a way, every vehicle is a gamble. This could be a good one, or maybe not.

Using my Cherokee example, I got about a $15k discount, so about 40% off of MSRP, but the trade in value was only 20% of what a normal one would've been. Lost $12k on trade, so did okay, but that was a sellers market and it was a desirable trim and color combo. Wouldn't bank on that luck again. Plus, lots of people will flat out not buy a buy back or their bank/credit union won't loan money on an older one. I think the financials aren't worth it if it's something that you're not planning to keep a long time. Once something hits probably 10 years old it doesn't matter much.

 

[CKN]

The way I see it, if this large, expensive Nissan SUV or truck is $4-5K less than comparable vehicles, your trade-in allowance down the road could potentially be $4-5K less. That "savings" just carries right on through. I wouldn't worry about that aspect at all.

In terms of the specific buyback, I'm sure they can't show you the paper trail that led up to it. That would be too nice. All you have is the carfax, etc.

In a way, every vehicle is a gamble. This could be a good one, or maybe not.

Nissan is on the edge of at least pulling out of North America- or going out of business altogether. That's a consideration.

 

[mikeduf]

I will chime in here, I just went through a buyback with Mercedes-Benz on a 2024 GLC. I did talk to quite a few folks about a lemon law stigma and it does follow the car for its life. It's up to the perspective buyer to do enough research to see if it does have that stigma attached to it.

Oh lemon law BuyBacks are specific, mine was a very elusive electrical problem. So bad that it left me stranded twice. And it did multiple other quirky software or component related issues. After the fourth time at the dealership I requested Mercedes buy back and they graciously agreed so I did not have to pull in a lemon law attorney.

Being retired now and I bought that as a retirement present, I have lost all patients for piles of crap for high prices. But the old saying goes sometimes you get a good one and sometimes you don't!

 

[panthermike]

I will chime in here, I just went through a buyback with Mercedes-Benz on a 2024 GLC. I did talk to quite a few folks about a lemon law stigma and it does follow the car for its life. It's up to the perspective buyer to do enough research to see if it does have that stigma attached to it.

Oh lemon law BuyBacks are specific, mine was a very elusive electrical problem. So bad that it left me stranded twice. And it did multiple other quirky software or component related issues. After the fourth time at the dealership I requested Mercedes buy back and they graciously agreed so I did not have to pull in a lemon law attorney.

Being retired now and I bought that as a retirement present, I have lost all patients for piles of crap for high prices. But the old saying goes sometimes you get a good one and sometimes you don't!

Thank you for your input sir!

I got more detailed information on the vehicle today. Called the service department where it was last repaired (different dealer than dealt with initial complaint) and a nice gal looked at the detailed records for me. It was indeed only "heated seat doesn't get warm enough". Customer brought the truck in 3 times and it was reported by the service department as "could not duplicate". After truck was reacquired, an a/c switch was replaced with the note "switch replaced and confirmed that heated seat is functioning as it should".

This does make me feel a lot better about the buyback reason. Of course, still a potential issue with longterm value.

 

[panthermike]

Nissan is on the edge of at least pulling out of North America- or going out of business altogether. That's a consideration.

Yes I've been following that closely as well. Although I have a hard time believing they'll go out of business. There are interested investors, and if not them; Japanese government? I could be wrong on the second part though.

 

[JTK]

Nissan is on the edge of at least pulling out of North America- or going out of business altogether. That's a consideration.

I realize this and have read about it, but I'll eat my hat if this actually happens.

My local Nissan dealers have been selling every variant of the Rogue and the Pathfinder as soon as they come off the truck and it's been this way for years. I drop my father-in-law off at the Nissan dealer every few months as he insists on having all his maintenance done there for their 2021 Rogue and 2017 Frontier. Tons of activity, always.

I like my hat. Hope it doesn't happen.

 

[CKN]

Yes I've been following that closely as well. Although I have a hard time believing they'll go out of business. There are interested investors, and if not them; Japanese government? I could be wrong on the second part though.

The Japanese government orchestrated the dialog between Nissan and Honda (most likely). Nissan has zero leverage (the Frontier alone doesn't make it a viable company). The talks have ended because Nissan didn't want to be a subsidiary of Honda-with no controlling interest. Big egos-with no product (business case) to support it.
IMHO-it' makes a better business case for investors for Nissan to be bought than Chrysler. (Or whatever their name is).

 

[CKN]

I realize this and have read about it, but I'll eat my hat if this actually happens.

My local Nissan dealers have been selling every variant of the Rogue and the Pathfinder as soon as they come off the truck and it's been this way for years. I drop my father-in-law off at the Nissan dealer every few months as he insists on having all his maintenance done there for their 2021 Rogue and 2017 Frontier. Tons of activity, always.

I like my hat. Hope it doesn't happen.

Your neighborhood Nissan dealer is in no way anecdotal of Nissan's financial situation.
quote- (Nov.27th 2024)
According to a new report by the Financial Times, unnamed senior officials near Nissan note that the automaker is beginning to exist on borrowed time as it seeks an anchor investor to get it through the year.

“We have 12 or 14 months to survive,” the senior official told FT. "This is going to be tough. And in the end, we need Japan and the US to be generating cash."

_______________________________________________________________
Can't run a car business without cash flow-or any business for that matter.

https://www.thestreet.com/automotive/nissan-execs-sound-the-alarm-on-increasingly-dire-situation

 

[JTK]

@CKN One of us will be wrong at some point.

 

[CKN]

@CKN One of us will be wrong at some point.

I'm book marking this page-here is another source
BTW-another source (talking about the Nissan/Honda merger)

This applies to all the “experts” who predicted that the Honda-Nissan marriage would not only go through, but that it could very well be a triumph. Wrong. There was no way that it was going to happen, first of all, and any notion that Nissan wouldn’t be subservient in the linkup was pure folly. And the fact that it now isn’t happening should be a giant relief to Honda, because the further Honda operatives delved into the inner workings of Nissan, they were horrified, and the more they realized that the company was well and truly a flat-out, irretrievable mess.

https://www.autoextremist.com/

 

[macarose]

I'm book marking this page-here is another source
BTW-another source (talking about the Nissan/Honda merger)

This applies to all the “experts” who predicted that the Honda-Nissan marriage would not only go through, but that it could very well be a triumph. Wrong. There was no way that it was going to happen, first of all, and any notion that Nissan wouldn’t be subservient in the linkup was pure folly. And the fact that it now isn’t happening should be a giant relief to Honda, because the further Honda operatives delved into the inner workings of Nissan, they were horrified, and the more they realized that the company was well and truly a flat-out, irretrievable mess.

https://www.autoextremist.com/

As someone who knows a lot of high ranking employees at both North American operations, the bigger issue was the absolute lack of synergies between the model lines.

Honda's greatest issues as it applies to product, here and abroad, is in three areas.

1) A lack of penetration in the luxury segments.
2) Virtually no truck offerings
3) An inability to have a healthy footing in the EV and hybrid segments.

On the finance side I could probably list about 30 issues. They are a legacy automaker with all the problems that every other non-Chinese and non-Tesla competitor has to deal with.

If Nissan gets merged or bought out, it will likely be after the bankruptcy.

If Honda gets merged or bought out, it will likely be GM.

 

[fdcg27]

If Honda gets merged or bought out, it will likely be GM.

That sounds like a fate worse than a merger with Nissan.

 

[joekingcorvette]

I seen quite a few C8 Corvettes that were buybacks. Some had transmissions that couldn't be replaced due to a high demand for new cars selling at full MSRP. They would sell for about $10,000 or more less than the same car without a buyback. I noticed they were not "certified". I personally would be a little fearful of buying a C8 without a warranty due to the new styling of the vehicle and they are so expensive to repair. It's hard enough getting a simple vehicle service properly in many shops and dealerships.

 

[joekingcorvette]

Oh, and as far as the Nissan/Honda merger I sure hope it doesn't happen.

 

[Allaned]

The Japanese government orchestrated the dialog between Nissan and Honda (most likely). Nissan has zero leverage (the Frontier alone doesn't make it a viable company). The talks have ended because Nissan didn't want to be a subsidiary of Honda-with no controlling interest. Big egos-with no product (business case) to support it.
IMHO-it' makes a better business case for investors for Nissan to be bought than Chrysler. (Or whatever their name is).

I don’t think you

Thank you for your input sir!

I got more detailed information on the vehicle today. Called the service department where it was last repaired (different dealer than dealt with initial complaint) and a nice gal looked at the detailed records for me. It was indeed only "heated seat doesn't get warm enough". Customer brought the truck in 3 times and it was reported by the service department as "could not duplicate". After truck was reacquired, an a/c switch was replaced with the note "switch replaced and confirmed that heated seat is functioning as it should".

This does make me feel a lot better about the buyback reason. Of course, still a potential issue with longterm value.

All that makes me think you should buy it. But you should realize I keep vehicles forever (never traded) and have never worried about trade in value. So take what I say as a biased opinion.

 

[CKN]

Oh, and as far as the Nissan/Honda merger I sure hope it doesn't happen.

So you want Nissan to go bankrupt? Nissan doesn't have enough operating capital.

 

[joekingcorvette]

So you want Nissan to go bankrupt? Nissan doesn't have enough operating capital.

GM went bankrupt at one time and since I do not own a Nissan I would hope another company would buy them out or merge. I just feel the Honda brand would be somewhat tarnished if it would merge with Nissan. I don't like to see any company go bankrupt but am happy to hear Honda is not going to merge with Nissan at this time.

 

[panthermike]

Update on this:

I decided to not go for it despite the big savings. Just couldn't get past that feeling of what if? Trusted my gut and will wait for the truck I really want and I know it will come . Also will give time to see how things play out on the near future for Nissan.

Many guessed it anyway (Nissan) but it is a 23 or 24 Titan XD. Looking for a Pro4x or Platinum Reserve model.