Shop Online to Find the Car That’s Right For You

For some of us, shopping for a brand new ride or a good, solid used car can be a frustrating, time-consuming and inconvenient experience – but it doesn’t have to be. In fact, with a little know-how, you can use the Internet to turn what might otherwise be a downright overwhelming experience into a manageable, and dare I say it – “enjoyable” – experience.


The Internet is a great resource to assist you in reducing the stress of car shopping, and it can actually help increase the likelihood that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for.

The online shopping search starts with giving some serious thought to the basic things you want in a new or used car. Ask yourself the following questions as you begin your search:
* Do I want a new, used or certified pre-owned vehicle?

* Do I want a car, an SUV or a truck?

* Is this car going to be just for me or for the entire family?

* Do I have a favorite vehicle manufacturer?

* How important is fuel economy?

* Do I want a hybrid?

* How important is the vehicle’s current mileage?

* What am I willing to sacrifice?

* Do I have any color preferences?

* What’s my budget?

* Do I need a loan and if so, can I get pre-approved?

* Am I a cash buyer?

* Do I have money for a down payment and if so, how much money do I have?

Narrowing your preferences on at least a few things and getting a grasp on your overall financial situation will minimize frustration and help to steer you in the right direction.

So, now you need to know where to look. Visit consumer-friendly web sites such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, Auto Trader.com, and CarsDirect.com for news, reviews and comprehensive vehicle overviews.
One of the great things about using the Internet to shop for your next vehicle purchase is that it allows you to search for cars in your area on your own schedule, when you have time, without regard for the dealerships’ hours of operation.

Automotive web sites that allow you to save car listings and searches will help you save even more time, since you can go back to where you left off instead of starting fresh each time you visit, and once you’ve reduced your search to a few select vehicles, do a side-by-side comparison of the cars. With just a few clicks, you can quickly compare up-to-date vehicle information and reviews, features, benefits and costs of several vehicles you like. Automotive Web sites such as AutoTrader.com allow visitors to personalize their car search, and registered users of the My Auto Trader function, listed on the company’s website, can save up to 10 searches and up to 25 cars in their personal space and refer back to the searches at a later date. In addition, the comparison tool allows you to compare your top three car choices.
More information in less time is a bargain we can all afford to appreciate!

You can shop online 24/7 at Benmynattnissan.com!

5 Tips for Choosing the Best Vehicle for Your Teen

Statistically, teenagers have the highest death rate of any age group on the road. That’s a scary statistic when you’re a parent trying to decide on a vehicle for your child. Here are a few basic guidelines for choosing a safe and reliable vehicle for your teen.


Avoid Fast Vehicles

A sports car or heavily modified car encourages teens to speed and drive recklessly. Pick a car that is low profile and reduces the need for your teenager to speed.

Avoid SUVs

Although SUVs can be an extremely safe vehicle, they can also be highly unstable in the hands of a inexperienced driver. Because they can be prone to rollovers when over-corrected, you should avoid SUVs for your child until they become an experienced driver.

Avoid Older Vehicles

Parents sometimes have the belief that an older, larger vehicle will protect their teenager more efficiently in a crash. However, today’s cars are more effectively designed for crash protection and have more safety features such as air bags and anti-lock brakes.

Avoid Small Vehicles

When picking out a car for your teen it’s always a better option to choose mid to full size vehicles which provide more crash protection than a smaller one would. You can always search for safety ratings before you purchase a vehicle, which is actually a must before you sign on the dotted line.

Choose Crash Protection and Safety Features

You should always pick out a vehicle with at least front air bags, anti lock brakes and side airbags if available. It’s important to keep your teenager as safe as possible while they’re on the road, so make sure you get the most safety features possible as well as a vehicle that has high crash test ratings.

Don’t Keep Driving: Three Times You Should Always Pull Over

As a girl I am often a bit confused by a clunk or clink that turns out to be nothing. Just some random thingamabob or dohickey settling into place or just getting old.

But every one in awhile things really go wrong on the road and everyone should be prepared.

It’s so much easier to pretend like you didn’t hear a noise, smell something funny or notice that something feels different while you’re driving. However easier isn’t always better and in the instance that something could potentially cause an accident or damage your vehicle, you’re best bet is to pull over immediately. Here are three times when you should always slow to the side and evaluate the situation.




1. Losing something important



I think we’ve all had that moment while driving when we realize we’ve dropped something we were either using or about to use, perhaps a tube of chap stick or a CD. The problem is that when you drop something while operating your car, you seriously run the risk of wrecking. At highway speeds, you could end up in the ditch or even hitting another driver. It’s simply not worth the risk. Pull over onto the shoulder, pick up what you needed and return safely to the road.



2. Suddenly hearing a loud noise



While you’re on the road, you car shouldn’t be making any loud, sudden or strange noises. Often times, you may have just hit debris in the road, however there’s always a chance it could be something more significant. The way I see it, if you pull over, it’s better to be safe than sorry. If you hit something that was in the road and it was a one time noise, then you can inspect your tires to make sure there’s no immediate damage. If it’s something more serious, such as your engine, then it’s better to discontinue travel as opposed to continuing on and doing more damage.



3. A Change in Handling Ability



I think everyone, well at least those of us who live in areas where the weather changes drastically on a frequent basis, are used to slowing down when the roads become snow packed or icy. However most of us also probably believe driving slower will eliminate risk when handling abilities change. If you notice something feels different while steering, then you need to pull over. Not only can weather cause a change in handling ability, but a tire blowout or loose tire rods could be the culprit and are far more detrimental than weather.

Questions to ask when buying a Pre Owned Vehicle

With any purchase, it’s important to know what you’re buying. Especially if its been used, worn, lived in or driven! Before you buy anything, you need to know the basics: The who, what, when, where and why’s. It’s the same with a used car.


Here’s some things you should consider before you purchase a used vehicle:


Number of Owners

How many owners has it had? Has it been a rental? Ask about the person who sold the car. Did they mostly use it for daily commuting? Were they good about keeping up with regular maintenance?


Vehicle history

Has the car been in an accident or ever been in a flood? CARFAX is known as being the best record for the history of a vehicle. You should also ask for any service or maintence records on the car. We at Ben Mynatt Nissan offer a complimentary CARFAX on each vehicle we sell. ( That sounded like commercial material but its true! )



Vehicle Inspection



Ask what the dealership does to inspect used vehicles. What does that inspection include? Ben Mynatt dealerships perform a vehicle inspection on every used vehicle before it hits the lot. It has to pass the inspection in order to be sold.



Certification


Is it a certified vehicle? Each manufacturer offers a different certification, so make sure to ask what is covered.


This is just a starting point. For more ideas, check out 10 Questions to Ask When Buying a Used Car on Cars for Girls.

What question do you wish you would have asked before buying your last used car?

I want your input...

Feedback from you, the Customer, is the best resource I have to make your time spent here at the dealership as pleasant as possible.

If you have had bad experiences in the past you may not believe me, but there is no better feeling that making sure you are happy from the moment you step onto our lot all the way to the tenth oil change you get from our Service Department.

Yesterday I got a quick email from a customer thanking us for making the process so easy for him and his wife. She is the proud new owner of a 2010 Nissan Rogue and they were in and out within two hours.

Another customer thanked me for providing chat on our website. He is on the phone most of the day with his job so he was unable to discuss details on the phone with me or come in but we found the right vehicle for him and had it waiting when for him when he arrived. Just adding a feature where he could shop during the day without disrupting his work made all the difference.

I can't tell you how much making people happy makes my job worth it.

I want to know how I can make each car shopping or service that much easier for each of you.

Do you need us to bring you the vehicle? Would you rather get service coupons through Twitter?

I want to be the first dealer to provide a real Customer Experience, not just customer service.


.....I am listening:)

lbuzze@gmail.com
704-216-2126

Accessories!!!

Have you been to our Parts Department? Welcome:

Accessories for your car are like accessories for your clothes. You add earrings, a belt and lime green purse and your look is all yours.

Well, throw in a splash guard and some leather and your ride is all your own, too!

After spending some time with Ben Mynatt Nissan Parts Director Tracy Sharpe, I gotta tell ya that I am impressed.

This is a genuine Nissan Accessory and Parts Store — it’s the real deal!

So, what are some of the most popular accessories and parts purchased from our Nissan Store?

Running Boards: For our truck lovers out there!
Tonneau covers and spray-in bed liners
All weather floor mats

Hats

Chrome License Plates

Clocks

T Shirts

Crazy Trade In Offers

Most times, when a customer purchases a new or pre-owned vehicle from us, they’re trading in something, too. Being an auto dealership, you’d assume that would mean vehicles, right?


Not always! When I asked several of our longtime employees about the strangest trade-in offers they’ve received, I was blown away by their answers. Here are the top-10 craziest offers:


A golf cart and snowmobile
A 1955 Chevy Bel Air and 1957 Ford Country Sedan
A boat
An RV
Jewelry
A computer
A vacuum cleaner
Two Peterbilt Semis
A horse and buggy
Land
A VCR



Are you preparing to trade in a vehicle? And, what’s the craziest thing you’ve traded in?