Purchasing a new vehicle is a very exciting time and when you choose to drive home a new Nissan, that excitement doubles. Whether you are in the market for a new SUV, pickup truck or sedan, we have an extensive inventory that will allow you to choose your dream Nissan with ease! If you’re looking for amazing savings, be sure to check out last week’s blog on our February offers and how you can sign and drive while keeping that cash in your wallet.

This week, we are bringing you our top 10 questions you should be asking when it comes time for you to stop into our dealership to purchase your next new Nissan! Below, you’ll find questions that are both helpful and informational to ensure you know exactly what you are signing and paying for. Also, don’t forget to ask or bring up any additional questions you may have. We are here to helping you select the best vehicle for your needs and no question is a silly one. So, check out those questions below and hurry on over to see the team here at Loughead Nissan to find your dream Nissan! We hope to see you soon!

1. What is the term (duration) of the loan and what is the interest rate?
2. Had the car been used previously as a demo?
3. Is this an authorized repair center?
4. What are the “mandatory” fees?
5. Am I happy with this vehicle?
6. Can I take the vehicle for a test drive?
7. Does the vehicle have any damage?
8. Is there a warranty? What are the perks?
9. Is this the best deal you have to offer?
10. What is the total after fees and licensing?

Are you in the market for a new vehicle? Then don’t look much further because here at Loughead Nissan we have an impressive line-up of Nissan cars, trucks, and SUVs that we think would be perfect for you! With ten offers this month we are confident that we can help you get behind the wheel of a vehicle you’ll love! We even have Nissan favorites like the new 2019 Nissan Altima, 2019 Nissan Maxima, and the Nissan Rogue available for AMAZING deals you won’t find anywhere else!

So whether you’re looking for your dream Nissan or you’re looking for the perfect gift for that special someone, there has never been a better time to stop into Loughead Nissan! Check out all of our specials below and once you find the perfect ride for you schedule a test drive or stop on in, we can’t wait to see you!

Car Specials:

The 2019 Nissan Sentra S:

• Lease for only $139/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $16,733*

The 2019 Nissan Altima 2.5 S:

• Lease for only $154/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $21,371*

The 2019 Nissan LEAF S:

• Lease for only $211/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $31,244*

The 2019 Nissan Maxima S:

• Lease for only $298/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $31,373*

SUV Specials:

The 2019 Nissan Rogue Sport S:

• Lease for only $155/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $22,749*

The 2019 Nissan Rogue S:

• Lease for only $229/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $23,630*

The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder S:

• Lease for only $242/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $28,832*

The 2019 Nissan Murano S:

• Lease for only $264/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $29,847*

Truck Specials:

The 2019 Nissan Frontier SV:

• Lease for only $297/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $30,141*

The 2019 Nissan TITAN SV:

• Lease for only $354/mo*

Or

• Buy for only $41,233*

*All offers expire 2/28/2019. For more information check out our specials page!

Being a safe driver should always be our #1 priority as drivers. And although we all vow to be safe drivers, we sometimes fall short. Whether it’s answering that phone call, looking at our texts, fumbling around with the radio instead of keeping our eyes on the road, even something as crazy as applying makeup! Now if I asked you if those were safe things to do while driving, regardless if they are things you do, I think we could all agree that they are unsafe to do while driving. However, one thing many of us might forget to add to that list is road rage. Now it’s easy to get annoyed by other drivers, especially when they cut you off,  when they are driving really close, or when they are driving really slow when you’ve got places to be! But the truth is, many of us can’t roll with the punches. In fact, many of us have pretty short fuzes and tend to jump to yelling and road rage pretty quickly. But the truth is, road rage is just as dangerous as all the other things we listed before.

Road rage is an act of aggression and stress, which leads to dangerous driving situations. When we drive aggressively, we tend to forget about everything we learned when it comes to defensive driving. So staying calm, even when you’re really annoyed, is really important to the safety of you, your passengers, and other drivers around you. This week I wanted to help give you some tips to keeping come and carrying on safe driving. Check them out below and for more information on defensive driving, be sure to check out your local DMV website.

Steps:

• Take Time and Be Prepared

• Safe driving starts the night before. Morning rushes increase the chance of accidents. Not only can driving drowsy be as dangerous as driving under the influence, but it makes for raw nerves that quickly flare.
• Breakfast in bed is romantic. Breakfast in the car is a recipe for disaster.
• Take your time! After drunk driving, speeding is the second leading cause of fatalities.

• Be Your Best Neighbor

• Give that driver who suddenly changed lanes the benefit of the doubt
• When aggravated, take a few deep, slow breaths. Your daily drive is a great time to practice patience and find your inner Zen.
• Mind your manners, no tailgating, yield to the right-away, leave the left lane for passing only, respect traffic rules, be polite, and understanding

• Tune Into Calm Sounds Of Bliss:

• Research has shown that listening to some types of music or conversational sounds can reduce stress
• Keep audio and passenger volume low to medium.

• Scents of Sensibility

• Certain scents produce blissfully calming effects and increase focus.
• Lavender promotes healthy relaxation to reduce stress and anxiety and energizes focus
• Citrus boosts alertness while inspiring positive, stress-reducing feelings
• Vanilla promotes calm, comfortable feelings of happiness to elevate mood, making smiling away aggression that much easier
• Peppermint or cinnamon reduce frustration and promote driver alertness without the jittery hazards of caffeine

It’s no secret how important a car seat is to the safety of your little bundle of joy. It will be one of the most important purchases you make in your child’s first year. However, car seats tend to be a little tricky to understand and figure out. Because car seats don’t tend to be ‘click it in and go’ like a regular seatbelt, a lot of mistakes tend to happen. And even if it is a tiny mistake, the outcome can be a big one. If your baby’s car seat isn’t properly installed they could fall out, tip over, stay strapped in but the seat could roll around, all leading to your baby injured or worse.

This week we wanted help new and veteran mom and dads finally conquer the car seat, the correct way. Below we have outlined the top car seat mistakes and how to fix these mistakes. If you find that you have fallen victim to the car seat, be sure to fix the issue before putting your child back in the seat. Also be sure to have the car seat instruction manual near you. Every seat has variations and you want to make sure that you install properly for your specific car seat.

Car Seat Do’s and Don’ts

The child is turned face-forward too early:

• Babies must ride facing the rear until they are at least 1 year old or weigh 20 pounds or longer!

The seat isn’t installed tightly enough:

• When jiggled in the area where the safety belt is pulled through, the chair should not move more than 1 inch in any direction.

Harness straps are too loose:

• The strap should be so tight that an adult’s thumb and forefinger can’t fit in between

Infant seat angled incorrectly

• The seat should not be reclined more than 45 degrees from vertical to ensure that the child does not flip over

Harness straps are in the wrong strap

• In rear-facing position, straps should be in slots at or below the shoulder. In a forward facing position, straps should come through the uppermost slots

The harness retainer clip is out of place

• The clip should ALWAYS be at armpit level

The locking clip is out of place

• If needed, it should be positioned no more than an inch from the safety-belt latch.

The safety belt isn’t in lock mode

• Check vehicle’s owner manual to determine what type of belts you have. Then follow directions regarding how they must be used with a child-safety restraint.

We’ve all had a bad day where everything just seems to fall apart, I know I have. If you seem to fall into back luck and find yourself locked out your vehicle, don’t panic, don’t start anxiety crying…Just me? Just take a deep breath and remember these tips I’m about to tell you!

Locking yourself out of your vehicle is really annoying and it’s a very common mistake a lot of us have made. However, there are a handful of tip and tricks that could get you out of this sticky situation. However, if you cannot successfully get your vehicle unlocked, we suggest calling the police or a family member that might have a spare key.

Troubleshoot your locks:

• Simply check all of the doors. Sometimes we are so frantic we forget to check all of our options. Try ALL of the doors, the trunk, even the sunroof if you have one!

Phone a friend:

• Don’t hesitate to give a friend or family member a call – being locked out of your car can put you in a vulnerable position, even if it does not seem like a full-blown  emergency
• Best case scenario,  one of the people you contact has a spare key you can use to get the car open without further incident
• Even if they do not have a key, they may be able to bring you some supplies to help you manually unlock the door.

Use your shoelace:

• This method requires your car to have post locks
• Eyeball around 5 inches from the middle of the lace, and tie a slip knot at that point
• Work the shoelace between the door and the doorframe of the car at the midpoint
• Holding one end of the lace at the top of the window, and the other end on the side where the door would open
• Using a flossing motion, you should be able to loop the slip knot around the post lock. Then pull on both ends of the shoelace to grip the post and pull upward!

Reach tool inside:

• Don’t have post locks, no problem I have a DIY trick for you too!
• You will need a wedge-shaped object (a rubber door stop will suffice), and a thin, strong, rod-like tool
• Create a gap between your door and the door frame with the wedge and then insert the long-reach tool into the gap to try and manipulate the lock
• You’ll want to place a small piece of fabric over the wedge so that inserting it does not scuff any part of the car. Also, do not make the gap too wide or hold it open too long, as this could damage the door or the window glass

Get professional help:

• If you have roadside assistance it might be time to give them a call
• Call the police. They can usually help in this situation
• Call a locksmith

Are you in the market for a new ride? Then once you find your dream vehicle you have to take it for a test drive! Test driving your vehicle is an important step in the car buying process, if you don’t test drive if you don’t know if it’s comfortable to you, you don’t know how it drives, and you don’t know a lot of the functions that come in the car!

Test driving isn’t just important when you’re purchasing a used vehicle, it is just as important to test drive a new vehicle. Many people feel they need to test drive a used vehicle to make sure it is running properly, but you need to do the same for a new vehicle! So this week we want to help your test drive go smoother by giving you some tips to look out for. You’ll want to test the comfort, design, smoothness of the ride during the test drive. And no matter what anyone one says, go into a test drive with an open mind and allow yourself to form your own opinions.

When you have decided on a vehicle test drive be sure to bring your driver’s license and proof of insurance. In order to take a test drive, we will need to know that you are a licensed and insured driver. Don’t forget these or you may have to wait to take a spin around the block!

Tips:

• Entering the vehicle: Is the vehicle easy to get into? Do you have enough room to enter and exit the vehicle without bumping your head? Can you maneuver easily? – These are important things to note. If you are having a difficult time, you may want to look at a vehicle with a little more space. Sometimes comparing two different sized vehicles can help you decide which is a better option to fit your lifestyle.
• The Ride: How does the vehicle ride? Is it easy to steer? Is there any cabin noise or blind spots that hinder your sight? How does the vehicle brake, do you feel comfortable with the vehicle’s ability to come to a stop? – The ride is one of the most important things to look at during a test drive. You want to feel comfortable and confident in the vehicle you take home, it is important to test for features that will enhance this.
• After The Test Drive: What is the maintenance schedule and how much are those services? Does the vehicle have a warranty? – Asking questions after the test drive will give you a better feel for the vehicle and how much maintenance the vehicle needs and what you may need to pay for. Your salesperson can answer all and any questions that may come up during the car buying process. Don’t be afraid to ask, you need to know all the details about the vehicle that you are purchasing.
• Take Time: There is no rush when it comes to buying a vehicle, our goal is to sell you a vehicle you love for a price your wallet will appreciate! If you need to take a second test drive, by all means, take one! We are here to help you get into the perfect vehicle.

If you’re traveling this weekend, you might be a little nervous about the weather you could be hitting. Although some winter storms can be unbearable, most of them are not as bad as we think. In fact, if you know how to properly drive in winter storms you might not run into any issues. Just because it is winter does not mean you cannot travel. It just means you have to take extra precautions and it’s really simple to do. So, take a few minutes and check out some helpful tips we’ve put together for you.

If you have any question or concerns about your vehicle, be sure to call us or come on into Loughead Nissan and we will help you with all of your vehicle needs. Be sure to have a fun but safe getaway!

Don’t count on technology to keep your car under control:

• Don’t count on technology to keep your car under control, if you’re traveling in any snow or ice we suggest slowing down! It might take a little longer to get to your destination, but there is a better chance of you making it there safe!

• Your anti-lock braking system is great for bringing your car to a smooth stop but there still needs to be enough road between you and the next vehicle to stop you in time. We suggest you leave extra space between you and other vehicles!

Prep your vehicle for a winter road trip:

• Be sure to check the heater, defroster, brakes, lights, oil levels, and exhaust system.
• Make sure the condition of your tires is prestige.
• Make sure the quality of your windshield wipers is good enough to see without a problem. This means no streaks, smears, skipping, etc.
• A car traveling in winter can’t survive without antifreeze in the radiator; make sure all of your vehicles fluid levels are properly filled.
• Bring your vehicle in for a tune-up and let the mechanic know you’re planning on traveling long distance. Don’t be afraid to ask them to pay a little more attention to be sure everything is in tip-top shape.

Planning before you hit the road:

• Keep an eye on the forecast for several days, if it is predicted there will be a storm we suggest rescheduling.
• If you’re Planning on taking a trip that will take several days, plan to drive for a shorter amount of time. During the winter there are fewer hours of sunlight and winter driving can be more tiring. It would be smart to plan out stops, breaks, and sleeping ahead of time.

Servicing your vehicle is a necessity, but keeping on top of all the things that a car needs is a lot to handle. The truth is you could bring your vehicle to the dealership to get serviced every time you need something done, but a lot of things your car need are simple enough for you to do from the comfort of your own home. The best part, you can save yourself a little money when you do some DIY work. Although, that doesn’t mean all projects can be done yourself. If you find that your vehicle needs attention that you can fix on your own, we suggest calling the professionals to eliminate any additional costs or damage.

Like we said above, there is a lot of this that come along with servicing your vehicle, and remembering to keep an eye on it all can be impossible. That’s why this week we did the hard work for you and we created the ultimate winter car checklist! From short-term check-ups to long-term check-ups and even seasonal check-up! So take a second to make sure you’ve checked off all of the boxes. If you will be traveling this holiday we suggest you stop in for regular maintenance and to make sure your vehicle can make the trip.

If you find that your vehicle needs any work that you might not be able to handle yourself or you just don’t have to do, schedule an appointment with us through our online service scheduler. We have certified technicians that can help you get your Nissan back on the road in no time!

Winter Car Checklist:

Short-Term Check-Ups

1. Check oil and coolant levels
2. Replace air filters
3. Make sure your vehicle’s tires are filled to the recommended pressure level
4. Check Tread depth and make sure it is thick enough to make it through the winter
5. Check all of your lights, this includes headlights, turn signals, brake, and parking lights
6. Oil and filter replacement
7. Rotate your tires
8. Waz vehicle to protect exterior paint from cracking in winter weather

Long-Term Check-Ups:

1. Transmission fluid level
2. Transfer case fluid
3. Inspect shocks and struts
4. Coolant fluid exchange
5. Check spark plug
6. Serpentine belt
7. Front and/or rear differential

Season Check-Ups:

1. Replace windshield wipers
2. Battery performance check
3. Change Tires
4. Check coolant levels