Nissan Advice

There are no deals on the just released, all-new version of the market-leading Toyota HiLux ute but big discounts have emerged on rivals fighting over the scraps. Here are the best deals — down your tools and go and kick some tyres.Ford RangerDiscounts on the Ranger are extremely rare, so we had to double check this one wasn't a misprint. The workhorse XLS grade 4WD four-door ute may lack the bling of the XLT and Wildtrak but it has the same strong 3.2-litre five-cylinder diesel engine and all the other Ranger attributes (including 230V power adaptor). The price of $45,490 drive-away after a $500 bonus is super-sharp. The RRP is $48,090 plus on-roads, so this is a discount of nearly $5000. Auto adds $2200.Nissan Navara RX 2WDNissan has a headline price of $36,835 drive-away for the base model four-door ute but there are a few caveats. This price is for the 2WD, not the 4WD, the 1 per cent finance deal must be repaid over just three years — then there's the massive balloon payment of $19,795, more than half the purchase price. Best to arrange your own finance and haggle harder on the price.Mazda BT-50Need a workshop runabout? The Mazda BT-50 single cab with 2.2-litre turbo diesel and factory dropside tray can be had for $26,990 drive-away, or $1500 less than the Ford Ranger equivalent.Mitusbishi TritonThe new Triton was well priced at launch earlier this year but buyers have avoided it in droves, due to either its ungainly looks or its mainly carry-over chassis. So Mitsubishi has made the price even more compelling. The GLX 4WD four-door is $36,990 drive-away, including alloy wheels, reversing camera and five-year warranty (which the Colorado lacks). But the best buy is the $39,990 drive-away GLS with Super Select (4WD can be used on sealed roads), larger alloy wheels, rear-view camera in the central display screen, sports bar, hard tonneau cover ... the list goes on. If Mitsubishi fitted the new Pajero Sport nose to the Triton it would have a winner on its hands.Holden ColoradoThe Colorado — one of the first cars to suffer from General Motors cutbacks during its development in the global financial crisis — has been in permanent discount mode since it went on sale a couple of years ago. It is not rated as highly as newer utes. But the basic LS 4WD four-door (pictured, LS-X) at $35,990 drive-away (after a $1000 bonus) is sharp buying if you're on a budget. At that price, the equivalent Isuzu D-Max ute can't get close.Ford Falcon XR6 UteWant to buy one of the last homegrown utes? The XR6 ute limboes to a new low: $31,940 drive-away after a $500 discount. That's with six-speed automatic transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, alloy sports bar and eight-inch colour touchscreen. This is about $5000 off the full RRP for the XR6 ute and about $10,000 less than the Commodore SV6 ute.

Dealers are sharpening the pencils for the end of the year — and these are the best buys.December is a great time to buy a new car as dealers try to clear stock before 2016 arrives.Many buyers are away on holidays so the dealers sharpen their pencils to try to get people in the door and cars off the lot. This year is no exception.Before highlighting the best new-car deals, we should clarify what "2016 Model Year" means.That's the car industry's way of describing when the model is planned for sale, even though they're often released in the second half of the previous year.The contrived confusion is aimed at blunting the need for sharp discounting as the new year rolls around.But regardless of what you are told, the only date that matters is not the model year or the compliance date but the build date of the car.If your car is built in November 2015 but it is being marketed as a "2016 Model Year", it will be regarded as a 2015 model at trade-in time, even if it's at the very same dealer trying to convince you it's next year's model.Does it matter? Not really. But you should know. Besides, the discount you're getting now will likely be worth more than the slight dip in resale.One more caveat — be wary of some low interest rate finance deals.Nissan, for example, has 1 per cent finance on most of its model range. Its cheapest model, the Nissan Micra manual, is $49 a week or $15,850 drive-away. But in the fine print you'll find the repayments must be made within three years — and there is a whopping "balloon" payment of $8210 at the end, more than half the car's cost.On the other hand, Toyota's zero finance deal on certain models is spectacularly good. It is over four years, there is no balloon so, as we discovered, they're practically giving money away.Now, let's go shopping...Small CarsSharp deals are customarily hard to find here because the profit margins are so low — the cut to the dealer on one popular small car is $450.The Suzuki Celerio - is the cheapest mainstream model, still at its launch pricing of $13,990 drive- away with automatic transmission. Learn to drive a manual and pay $12,990.Slightly larger, the trusty Suzuki Swift is good buying at $16,490 drive-away with auto.Toyota's Yaris — with seven airbags and reverse camera — is back at $17,990 drive-away with auto and four years' roadside assistance.The Mazda2 initially looks good at $16,990 drive-away for the manual. Auto brings the price to $18,990 drive-away, which is not as sharp.Honda and Mazda say there are "free on-roads" for the Jazz and Mazda3 respectively, dealer delivery is still in the mix and the prices aren't that sharp.Kia's Cerato sedan and hatch are still at an incredible $19,990 drive-away for auto (metallic paint is expensive at $495). They have a seven-year warranty, front and rear parking sensors but no camera.The Hyundai i30 hatch auto is $21,990 drive-away and you can swap December's $1000 Eftpos voucher for $1000 off the car, so at $20,990 it's good buying. The Elantra stablemate is the same price but will be in run-out within a few months.Toyota's Corolla Ascent Sport hatch is fair buying at $23,990 drive-away with auto.For a little more bling and a good drive, the refreshed Ford Focus Trend is $25,490 drive-away after the $500 test drive discount. That includes auto, satnav, rear camera, alloy wheels, cruise control and a super efficient 1.5-litre turbo engine.Family carsThe most metal for the money at the moment, the just-released new Toyota Camry can be had for $28,990 drive-away at zero finance over four years. It has the cheapest servicing in the business and is economical to run and easy to drive. Standard fare includes seven airbags and rear-view camera.The stablemate Aurion V6 is just $1000 more at $29,990 drive-away, also with the same equipment and the same terms. Warning: this car has so much grunt it can lose traction when accelerating in the wet.The Holden Commodore SV6 "Storm" edition is $39,990 drive-away with auto but $2000 bonus from Holden trims the price to $37,990 drive-away. That's the cheapest VF II yet (though the VE II dropped to $34,990 and $35,990 a couple of years ago).SUVsThe city-sized Holden Trax LS is priced so sharply that dealers have almost run out. More stock is coming late this month and early January.The headline price says $22,990 drive-away with a free auto upgrade — for this month, take off a further $1000, bringing it to $21,990 drive-away or about $6000 off the original RRP.The Mitsubishi ASX LS manual is $25,000 drive-away but there is a free auto upgrade this month, about $5000 off. It has seven airbags, five-year warranty, 18-inch alloys, touchscreen, rear camera and sensors. Good deal.Need a seven-seater? The Mazda CX-9 Classic is still super sharp at $39,990 drive-away; the nine-year-old model will be superseded in February.Much newer but about the same price, the Toyota Kluger seven-seater can be had for $42,990 drive-away.Looking to buy a Holden Captiva 7? Be warned, a refreshed model with a new look and Apple CarPlay is just around the corner.Want to go bush? The Holden Colorado 7 LT will get you there and leave more money for camping gear: with $1000 factory bonus it comes down to $42,990 drive-away, or about $5000 off.Mitsubishi Pajero is also really good buying for the Big Trip. At $55,000 drive-away with auto and five-year warranty, it's a solid choice at a sharp price.

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Nothing comes for nothing, they say, and that applies especially to attractive finance offers on new cars. Some can save you thousands of dollars while others have a lump sum at the end.Experts have warned buyers to beware of low interest rate finance offers on new cars in end-of-year sales.While some deals are sharp and can save you thousands of dollars, most of the December deals lock customers into a lump sum payment at the end of the life of the loan -- equivalent to more than half the original purchase price of the car.For example, the Nissan Micra is available for just $49 per week with a 1 per cent interest rate, bringing the total drive-away price to $15,850.But at the end of the three-year loan, the buyer is lumped with a bill for $8210, more than half the original purchase price.The same lump sum, described in finance terms as a “balloon payment”, also appears in the fineprint of the Nissan Navara offer.The Nissan ute can be had for $110 per week with a 1 per cent interest rate, bringing the total drive-away price to $35,991.But at the end of the three-year loan, the buyer is lumped with a bill for $19,795 -- or 55 per cent of the purchase price.Dealer finance experts say on average most residual or “balloon payments” are about 20 per cent of the purchase price, so buyers are not caught out “upside down” owing more than the car is worth at the end of the loan.A spokesman for the National Roads and Motorists’ Association, Peter Khoury, said buyers need to read the fine print of special offers and make sure there are no hidden extra costs.“One of the problems with a balloon payment is that a lot of people can’t afford it and then they have to take out another loan to pay that remaining portion,” said Mr Khoury.In contrast, the current 0 per cent Toyota Camry offer is available without a lump sum payment at the end and can be carried over four years.A $28,990 Toyota Camry costs $140 per week over four years but then the buyer owns the car outright, with no lump sum at the end.A $29,990 Toyota Aurion V6 sedan costs $144 per week, with nothing left to pay at the end of the four-year loan.“When it comes to financing a vehicle, if you are not confident you understand the terms and conditions, make sure you show someone who does,” said Mr Khoury.“Otherwise buyers may not see the loopholes and commit to something they can’t afford. Always shop around and get more than one quote, and that applies to a quote for financing the vehicle.”Dollar dazzlersNissan Micra manual$15,850 drive-away1 per cent finance offer$49 per week over three years and a $8210 balloon paymentNissan Pulsar auto$22,507 drive-away1 per cent finance offer$67 per week over three years and a $12,095 balloon paymentNissan Navara ute$36,835 drive-away1 per cent finance offer$110 per week over three years and a $19,795 balloon paymentToyota Camry$28,990 drive-away0 per cent finance offer$140 per week over four years, no more to payToyota Aurion V6$29,990 drive-away0 per cent finance offer$144 per week over four years, no more to pay

If you're in the market to buy a new ute, you may want to hold off for a moment.

Are you sitting down? The car industry has come to the realisation customer service is the key to its future success and perhaps – just perhaps – it hasn't always got it right in the past.You're forgiven for being skeptical given we've heard it all before, but this time we're assured it's different.Most of the big brands now acknowledge, apart from the design of the vehicle and the badge on the nose, there's not much that distinguishes cars these days.Most new models have similar levels of safety equipment, creature comforts and fuel economy, all for a similar price – which is why customer service is the new battleground.Every one of the Top 10 brands – and most of the big luxury marques – are in the middle of overhauling the way they treat customers before, during and after the car-buying experience, from the way you're greeted at a showroom, how easy it is to get your car serviced, or how quickly a warranty claim is fixed.Ford and Holden are facing their largest restructure since they set up shop in AustraliaTo date, Ford and Holden have been the most vocal about their changes, but others are set to follow.With the factories that once produced the majority of their sales closing within a couple of years, Ford and Holden are facing their largest restructure since they set up shop in Australia in the first half of last century."As the car market becomes more fragmented, and the big brands that used to dominate no longer dominate … more companies are realising that when products are very similar and there's no real big differentiator, a customer's experience is what differentiates their loyalty," says Michael Filazzola, Holden's executive director of aftersales.Holden's director of customer experience Narelle Stack says raising customer service standards "is not new" but admits there is "a new level of focus" across the company and the dealer network.Late last year Ford embarked on a multi-million-dollar overhaul of its showrooms – benchmarked on Apple stores.Ford took the unprecedented step of retraining all sales staff at its 200 dealers nationally, distributing more than 1000 iPads for use by customers, and streamlining the service check-in process by emailing owners a fixed quote before they hand over the keys.Ford dealers are also in the process of appointing a concierge to greet customers rather than thrust a brochure in their hands.We need to do a better job, we want to do a better job"I don't want you to quote me saying (we're) going to put the customer first. To me that's like discovering your thumbs," says Graeme Whickman, Ford Australia's new boss."(But) people have expectations based on their experience at a computer store and that has left an impression on people's minds and we're going to try to live up to that and exceed that. We need to do a better job, we want to do a better job."Ford sales staff are apparently being retrained to take a gentler approach rather than trying to crunch a deal.Because almost every car brand has drive-away pricing on its website (although it should be noted, some drive-away prices are more negotiable than others), buyers already have a good idea what they're up for before they get to a dealership."Customer requirements and expectations are in a different space now and we need to change with them," says Whickman.As part of Ford's plan to be even more transparent, it is giving buyers access to the same detailed data the car industry uses internally when comparing models.It's a brave call. The data comparisons go into much more detail than what is typically available, including differences such as whether a car has a full-size spare tyre, a space-saver spare, or a tyre inflator kit.The data also distinguishes which cars have rear-view cameras, parking sensors – or none of the above.It's designed to lay each car bare to the customer, because the company knows the truth is only ever really a click away.However, for all its efforts at transparency, Ford will only let you look at this information on iPads at its dealerships, whereas Hyundai offers the exact same forensic "JATO" data on its public website.Complicating the industry overhaul is the fact that all but a handful of dealerships across Australia are independently owned, and the brand they represent has little control over what happens once their car is unloaded off the truck and in the dealer's hands.But many car companies have changed – or are about to change – their level of influence on how a customer is treated at a dealership. Many are rewriting dealer agreements so that independent customer service audits count towards the dealer's hidden bonus scheme.In other words, if the dealership scores poorly for customer service, it pockets less of the incentive money dangled in front of it by the car company.Get the thumbs up from customers during independent audits and customer surveys, and dealerships stand to earn big bonuses, which will go some way to covering their vast overheads.Air-conditioned showrooms, marble flooring and all those service bays don't come cheap. And that's before the dealer has paid anyone a wage or covered the electricity bill.Given that Australia is the most competitive car market in the world – more brands are represented here per vehicle sale than the US, the UK, Europe and Japan – the industry is now clambering to overhaul its customer service experience from the showroom to the workshop.More than ever before you're going to be asked to fill out "a quick survey" after you've bought a car or had it serviced.If our experience is anything to go by, some dealer staff will ask bluntly "please give us a good score", with a hint of desperation in their voice.Other outlets have a long road ahead. A Mazda dealer recently quoted a CarsGuide reader $500 for a routine service on a Mazda CX-5 that should have been $294 according to the capped price servicing scheme.The customer didn't know until they queried the cost with us, but the dealer was happy to overcharge until the error was pointed out.Isolated examples like this will hopefully be stamped out in the near future.Not all capped price servicing deals are created equallyAt least one leading brand is so concerned about overcharging on capped price service deals that it is in the process of rewriting dealer agreements so the dealer's entire annual bonus is voided if a single customer is overcharged.Attempting to bill a customer an extra $50 on a service could cost the dealer $2 million in incentives. That is not a misprint. That's how seriously it is taking the matter.Capped price servicing, introduced by Toyota in 2008 but since followed by the rest of the Top 10 brands, was the start of the shift to making the dealership experience easier for customers.But, as we've reported, not all capped price servicing deals are created equally.Toyota, Holden and Hyundai are among the cheapest, with service costs ranging from a total of $600 to $800 over three years, while Nissan and Subaru are at the other end of the spectrum, with servicing costs in excess of $2200 over the same period on certain models.Frustratingly, many capped price service deals expire just before the big ticket items are due to be replaced, leaving the customer with a massive bill after several years of price certainty.We have it on good authority from dealers and car company insiders that pushing the dearer services outside the capped pricing scheme is not an accident.Little wonder the consumer watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, has taken an active interest in service pricing.The schemes that were designed to take the guesswork out of service costs has wandered a little off script at some dealerships.That's because dealers make most of their profit from parts and service (typically more than 50 per cent, according to industry analysts Deloitte), about 30 per cent from finance and insurance, about 15 per cent from used cars, and only about 5 per cent from new car sales.Is a smiling face as we walk into a dealership enough to make us buy one brand over another?In service centre waiting areas across Australia, tea, coffee and biscuits have been joined by raisin toast and muffins at some dealerships. What's next: croissants? Lar-de-dar.But is a spot of brekkie, free wifi, a loan car or a shuttle bus enough to take our mind off the bill and inspire us to keep coming back?And is a smiling face as we walk into a dealership enough to make us buy one brand over another? Only time will tell.But make no mistake: every one of the Top 10 sellers and all the big luxury brands are in the middle of overhauling their customer service experiences.Here's hoping they mean it this time. Because then we'll all be happy.