Ok guys, after reviewing a few threads on the subject, I wanted to get specific input. I am looking for an 03 Auto. I am willing to take a totally stripped SE - what should I pay for one of those? Possible to get it for $20k or maybe even less? What about one with the titanium package? Add $1,000? I do not want leather or a 6 spd, so I should have some choices. What has anyone paid for an SE in the past month or so? Please include your options. Any input is much appreciated. THANKS!!

 

i'm pretty sure you can get one for around $20k... i got mine 5 months ago for $22.. that was before the new model was even out... so now... i'm thinkin if u hassle the dealer long enough... $20k should be no problem... mine didn't have the TE tho..

 

I'll agree with SKANDALOUZ--you should be able to get it for around $20, or maybe even a shade under that. You're VERY "fortunate" that you're looking for an auto rather than a 6sp, since there are many more of those still on dealers' lots than the manuals. As a result, you should have more bargaining room with the salesmen.

Call up or email local dealerships, or better yet, visit their websites (if they have them) and do an inventory search. See if they have suitable cars, and then start emailing all of them, telling them you're shopping around and will go with the best deal. Basically, start a price war amongst them, and you should be able to work out a deal.

For the TE package, $1000 is MSRP on it, so you can add it into the price for less. Maybe even try to get a TE for $20K.

 

Just picked up a 2K3 SE. 6spd (auto is a no cost option, so price would be the same) It has a sunroof and HLSD. 23,094 out the door, all fees, taxes, and registration.

 

My car is approximately 2 weeks old. I have a 03 Se Super black (auto). Its the titanium package, no sunroof,no leather (from factory) I ended up buying custom leather. It had about 1,000 miles when i purchased it. (previous people tried to buy the car didnt get approved by the bank) Got it for 21,000 (sticker price was about 26,000). Theyve been lowering the prices alot because of the new model 04 maximas. So you should easily find one for around this price.

Good luck and happy shopping!

 

I have a used 2002 SE and I got it in August of 2002 with 16,000 miles on it. I paid $20,019 for it, but it has Leather, Sunroof, heated seats, and the stereo controls in the steering wheel. I checked out cars.com and autotrader.com and they have 2002 anywhere from 18,000 to 25,000 depending on what you want in it. If you see a 2003 that is really cheap it probably came from a rental place and they have to get rid of it or it will loose its value. Hope this was a help.

 

21119
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...&category=6400

 

Is it just me or is it pretty sad to see a Maxima being sold for such a cheap price when you consider back in 1999 when the 5th gen first came out how much people were paying and the A.E. Maximas which were being sold for 30K and no budging...

Makes you wonder what the 6th gen Maxima will be going for in about 4 years can you say 35K Maxima must go leftover for 21K

 

Thanks again for everyone's input. I have found a dealer that isnt too far from here with "several" left over 03 SEs on the lot. They advertised in the paper today 03 SEs with sunroof starting at $20,900, so it doesnt seem like I will have to fight to hard to get the price down. I talked to what sounded like an inexperienced female salesman, who spoke perfect english (no small feat these days at a dealership). I am optimistic I can work over pretty good. Going in on Sunday, so we shall see.

 

You can't get a TE for 20k bud!

 

Blame it on Nissan for dumpning them into Hertz and Enterprise and Budget, even with that 02 sales didnt top 95,000 units. Also with all of the incentives going now their are lots of used cars on the market so prices are lower. On the TL board they are complaining about the same thing, we just tak more notice because its the Max. I wonder how many 02's would have sold if it werent for Hertz,Ent,Budget. I dunno if it will sell for 21k in 4 years remember some 99 Maximas had MSRP's of 31k or so and 4 years later you can get one for 13k or so. Its a buyers market, less so for sellers.

 

go to www.edmunds.com

there you can configure your ideal max. you get the msrp and invoice there. you should easily get the car any way its configured for $2000 below invoice. nissan is offering $2000 dealer cash! plus you can combine it with 1.9% for 60 months!

only speak with the internet/fleet manager!!!!!!!

dont underestimate the newbie female salesperson. many times they fake being inexperienced so you drop your guard. email me if you have any questions.

good luck

 

Well, I wasted about 3 1/2 hours today at 2 dealerships. The first one was a Silver w/black cloth titanium with the trunk mat and splash guards. I was trying to really low ball them. The Sales Manager immediately came over after my first offer of $21,000 out the door, which he said was ridiculous, which I countered that his first offer of $27,800 plus taxes tags, etc was equally silly. He said the best he would do is $23,500 plus taxes tags - essentially $25k out the door, which is where I went. Second dealership had a Silver with frost cloth - sunroof, splash guards. They offered it for $22,500 plus taxes and tags. My counter was $21,700 out the door. Told my salesman that was my top offer, take it or leave it. One trip to the sales manager, and I was told to have a good day. Oh well, unless they call back, guess I am going to be getting an 02 instead.

 

If I were you, I'd go April 30th about 2 hours before they close. Go in there, firm about the price you are willing to pay for the exact model you want. I bought mine back in Oct. with just splash guards, trunk mat, and floor mats for $23,500 before ttl. I know that wasn't much of a deal, but I'm happy with it. You should easily be able to get the price you want, especially if a sale's person wants to fill their quota.

 

How much below invoice were your "take it or leave it" offers on these two vehicles?

As a previous post suggested, you should be able to get $2000 under invoice immediately. You should also be able to cut a few hundred into holdback after that. Where I live, if you're able to get it for $2500 under invoice (before ttl), it was a good deal.

 

Gave 24000 out the door for my 2k3 SE with no options and a six speed but that was on january 25th i would say for an auto with no options 21000 out the door would be a good deal

 

WHY the F'ck did you talk to a salesman? Call/email the dealership FIRST and ask to speak to the Internet/Fleet manager ONLY!!!!!!!!

base invoice(+dest) on the max SE is $23,993. add the base plus the options. then subtract $2000 (dealer cash).

i.e.: 23,993+898(titanium)-2000=the highest you should be quoted (AND VERY FAIR PRICE!). you should try to knock off another $1000-2000 off if you negotiate well. but never give him an 'out the door' price. your offer should never incl tax,title,etc. ONLY extra charge he should put on the contract is $50(max) for doc fee!

Add Code /Option Name /Invoice
U01 /Navigation System/ $1,734
X03 /Leather Packag/e $1,347
G01 /Titanium Edition Package/ $898
J01 /Power Glass Sunroof/ $779
W08 /Meridian Edition/ $346
T01 /Traction Control System/ $259
M95 /Painted Splash Guards/ $91
L92 /Floor Mats/ $61
R93 /Sunroof Wind Deflector/ $46
A94 /Trunk Mat, Carpeted/ $41
A95 /Trunk Mat, Carpeted/ $41

DONT FORGET (if you qualify)- you can get 1.9% FINANCING FOR 60 MONTHS ON A NEW MAX!!!!!!!!!

edmunds.com com is a good resource(TONS OF INFO)
carbuyingtips.com is great also

 

At the second dealership, I was trying to deal directly with the internet manager, but he pawned me off on a salesman. I did not realize until the very end that the guy that was writing up everything was actually "my" salesman. I thought he was new, and was just helping out. Kinda funny actually, he was trying REALLY hard to make conversation with me, but I was not being overly friendly - just very straight to the point. He tried the "this is exactly the car you want" business with me. I told him I wanted an 02 or 03, but only at a price I would be satisfied with. I am going to put $10k down, so I actually was looking at the 0.9% for 36 month for the balance. I don't think it makes any difference what price I am trying to work off - its easier to deal with out the door, because that is the final bottom line. If I had negotiated the price of the car, I am 100% sure they would have tried to tack on several bull$hit charges. Their first offer included $895 in dealer installed options. I was like what costs $895? - you trying to tell me you guys put the sunroof in? He said that is for the wheel locks, paint protection and detailing. I took a pen and crossed that out. In retropsect, I was probably a bit too adversarial with this guy, but I get easily annoyed with all the games that car salesmen have to play. When I first got out of grad school, I was a new car mystery shopper, so I have seen all this crap many times before. Anyways, thanks again for everyone's input. I will be just as happy with an 02 with 20k miles for $16k to $17k (just have to make sure I dont get a former rental).

 

there is also a 600$ dealer holdback which u can get into
the is how we got my moms GXE for 2400$ under invoice

 

Yes, talk to the internet manager. That is what I did when I bought my Max. I got a price that was $1400 lower than my local dealership with the 'No Haggle' policy-what a bunch of crap that is. '03 Max SE w/moonroof option $22,400. There were no extra charges either ZERO!!! and I did get 1.9% financing for 60 months.

I drove up there on a Saturday in my trade (that is the only thing we had to haggle over). I had to really haggle with them to get them to pay off my leased Toyota Tundra but they finally relented. I had to cough up $180 which was the difference between what I owed on the truck vs what the payoff was. They started about $2k below that on the trade when I went in there.

I got there around 11:30AM and was out the door in my Maxima by 2:30PM. Most of the time was spent waiting for the internet manager to finish with another client and waiting for them to prep the car-it still had the plastic protective sheeting on it when I test drove it.

 

How about a Used 2002 SE. Black on Black, automatic, moonroof with new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S on it. 25,600 miles on the odometer. Like new, needs a nice Zymol polish after winter but other than that it is perfect.

Contact me @ mattstevenson@westernstartrucks.com for more info

 

Thanks for the offer - dont want black, or leather, otherwise, sounds good. I am sure you will have no trouble selling it provided you ask for a reasonable amount. good luck...

 

I got my car in January and with the help from the good, knowledgable people on this board, I got some very sound advice. Basically I faxed about 11 dealerships in the area stating the exact specs of what I was looking for (color didn't matter - options did). I got some calls from some people how obviously didn't read the fax - they got dismissed quickly. Some dealers wanted to "work with me when I come on down" but I wasn't wasting my time with that.

My fax said that I'm looking to buy in 48 hours. It came down to one dealer who my uncle spoke to (he's a hard, but fair negotiator). A salesman couldn't handle my uncle so he handed him off to the manager of the place. We took an appointment for that evening and went down. I drove the car and then we sat down with the numbers. We didn't even deal with the salesman - the manager sat with us from minute one. We had paperwork - he had paperwork. It all came down to a little more than $600 than I wanted to spend. Then my uncle said: "If this is what you really, really want after looking so hard....do you really think it's worth it to walk away for $600?"

Needless to say, I took the car. Afterwards, I had to chuckle because the dealer offered my uncle a job there because he said "it would be nice to have someone like you on out die of the table."

 

LOL - the internet manager left me a message on my cell phone asking me to call back ASAP - "I have good news" he says. Well, busy at work, so he will have to wait until tomorrow.