Hey guys,
I posted this thread on the Northeast forum as well, but decided to get the overall opinion of fellow org members on this issue. Here's the deal:

I need to ask for your advice. As some of you may know, I'm looking to buy a brand new 2003 Maxima SE, with leather package, titanium edition, meridian package, slip differential, splash guards, and wind deflector (MSRP ~$30,572). I live in MA (Boston area), but shopping a little in NH as well. The lowest CONFIRMED price that I found in MA is from Clay Nissan for $26,344 (includes 6yr/100,000 powertrain warranty free of charge)AND they have the car in stock. A couple of places (Ron Bouchard's Nissan and Coastal Nissan) said they can do it for $25,800, but they would need to go and find this car somewhere (do a swap). I also found this car up in NH for $25,778. It's a Sterling Mist, which isn't the color I was looking for (Sheer Silver or Polished Titanium). They said they would pull the trigger on the $25,778 price. I talked a little more to the salesperson over there, and it turns out that this car has 228 miles on it from transportation and people taking test drives on it. This, and the fact that I'm not sure about the Lemon Law in NH, makes me hesitant about doing business with the NH place. What do you guys think? Is it worth getting it if it already has 228 miles on it, which is roughly 20% of the break in period? Also, any of you know the Lemon Law specifications in NH?
Thanks for the help fellas.

 

Personallly the 200+ miles wouldn't really bother me, and if it's brand new you'll have some piece of mind with the warranty, but anyone who's ever bought a car w/ warranty knows how that can go. I don't know anything about NH lemon laws, sorry. But either way $25K is a pretty good deal. Good Luck !

 

For all of that 25k is a good deal. I wouldn't be too worried about the test drives. Just go over the interior well to check for scratches and stuff before you buy anything.

 

There were 225 miles on my Max when I bought it. 100 miles were put on moving it to my dealership. I didn't have a problem with that.

Now there was a 2K2 Altima 3.5 that I drove at another dealership that had 600+ miles on it...that bothered me. I wouldn't have bought a car as 'new' with that many miles.

Glad I got the Max!!! Good luck with getting yours!!

 

If Clay Nissan is offering all of that for $26,344 and are giving you a 6 year / 100,000 mile powertrain warranty, TAKE IT!! You are not going to do any better than that. Like I said before, make sure that is in the contract before you sign. Good luck and let me know when you get it. Congrats!

 

Hey kronnman,
What's so good about Clay's deal? If it's the warranty that you think ices the cake, then as far as I know from this board, getting anything fixed under warranty at Nissan dealerships is almost impossible. Also, if I can get that car from NH for $500 less, don't you think it's a better deal? By the way, Clay's car has 111 miles on it. I'm more concerned about the technicalities of buying a car in another state, and then having to deal with any warranty/lemon issues.

 

i would be hesitant of the car with 200+ miles...
we bought a 99 prelude for my wife...with 107 miles on it....
i am not sure about the break in period for a max....but.... this prelude started to smoke, and had to go into the shop twice with less than 15k miles on it to fix different problems with the motor...

if it has only been on test drives it may be ok....but...i found out after buying the car...that our car served as the delivery car to tranport drivers back and forth to a parking lot 1 mile down the road when our dealership was having their lot re-surfaced....

so...that means some kid probably floored it over 100 times as he made the trips back and forth...

 

try to find out the laws, 200 miles isnt so bad, i had 71 miles on mine, if something happens to the car, u can blame the 200+ miles that were on the car initially, dont know if it will help...

 

If you are talking about a $500 dollar difference and it comes down to which state has the better lemon law, then I would buy it from a dealer within your own state, in this case, Massachusetts.

Summary of New Hampshire Lemon Law


Summary of Massachusetts Lemon Law


You are right about New Hampshire's law being alot looser than Massachusetts'. Massachusetts gives more detail on what will be reimburst if your vehicle is determined to be a lemon.

 

exactly, I would be hesitant to accept transport because the person 'transporting the car' will probably beat the heck out of it en route.

 

So,
it's finally down to 2 dealerships. Coastal Nissan in Cohasett MA says they'll do it for $25,825 via a swap and they'll get it from southern NH. The 2nd place is Nissan of Natick, but they're slightly higher at $26,144. Anyhow, have any of you heard anything good/bad about Coastal Nissan? I am going down there on Wed to put down a $1000 deposit.

Also, I'm a little concerned why they are willing to go that low to sell the car, considering most other places can BARELY do low 26s? The salesman there has been calling me back multiple times, whereas other dealerships don't really call back when they say they will. Anyhow, could it be they're trying to rip me off somehow? What do you guys think? I'm almost there...

 

www.carbuyingtips.com take your time reading the chapters.

 

hey I know I am not helping this situation out but since you're buying this late in the generation years, why not just wait a week-month before the 6th maxima comes out? I am sure dealers will want to get rid of as many 5th gens as possible then. You can get a better price but you won't find all the options then.

Just my thought..