I have a 2018 Nissan Titan PRO-4X and absolutely love it. Got an unbelievable deal on a loaded truck. Ran my first Titan for over 14 years and it sold it for 25% of what I paid. Very underrated vehicle with great deals currently available. Nissan is currently offering $4,000 customer cash on a 2021 Titan, plus a $500 military discount - and all of that is after your best negotiated deal.
Some have already provided great advise - here are a few things I do ahead of time:
- Research the exact models of interest, configuration and options desired. Do enough research to know a good/great deal when you see one.
- Narrow it down to a few different makes, and test drive them all on the same day (makes a huge difference).
- Once the precise vehicle is identified, ID dealers with that precise vehicle in stock. Then email the internet sales manager “tell them you already know the exact truck desired and are buying this week” and get a firm quote on a “driving away price” including 100% of taxes, charges, fees, and a full tank of gas. Tell them you will walk away if the price changes $1 from the quote. Many will want you to come in prior to giving a quote (don’t take the bait). Don’t waste 30 seconds on the guy who tells you to get your best deal and they’ll beat it by $50. To get the best deal you need to be committed to walking away from bad or mediocre ones.
- once the quote is offered, then is the time to spring the additional manufacturer to consumer incentives on them.
- pre-arrange loan approval with your financial institution prior to going to the dealer. This is important = You‘ll want a ”simple interest loan with no pre-payment penalty.” The kind of loan makes a huge difference. It‘s in the dealer‘s interest to match whatever your bank offers - loan commissions and incentives are big part of their business.
- most of the extended warranty, pre-paid maintenance, etc stuff is not with it. My Titan came standard with a 5/yr, 100k powertrain warranty.
- the above formula worked pretty well for me. The key is to keep razor-focused on the “driving away” price of the truck and resist getting distracted by the shell game. No trades, and don’t let them weave “manufacturer to customer“ incentives into the discount the dealer is giving. Be firm but let them know you are ready to buy.
- above all the car buyer’s only superpowers are showing up, staying through the pitch, and executing the deal. Make them earn every part of that, be willing to walk, and willing to buy if the price is right. It also helps that this is the best time of year to buy a car - end of month and end of year incentives and goals are a big motivator for the dealer to move those cars off the lot, not to mention pending interest and taxes.
Sorry for the dissertation, but it’s a complex undertaking. Good luck.