Where Are Nissan Cars Built? A Nissan Car FAQ

Nissan cars manufactured for the Nissan North American product line are generally produced in one of six manufacturing facilities located in Japan, the United States and Mexico. Japanese Facilities include the Oppama, Kyushu and Tochigi locations, while the American manufacturing locations include those in Canton, Mississippi and Smyrna, Tennessee.

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Where Are the Different Nissan Models Built?
The highest performance models Nissan currently sells include the GTR and 370Z. Both of these models are manufactured at Nissan's Tochigi facility where highly skilled technicians capable of hand building such masterpieces as the VQ38DETT GTR engine are located. Production of the smaller and more entry level models such as the Versa, Cube and even the higher performance 350Z coupe are handled at the Oppama manufacturing facility. To round out manufacturing on the Japanese front, Nissan's Kyushu facility handles production of the Rogue and Murano crossover SUV model lines.

Nissan North America's Smyrna and Canton facilities are tasked with the bulk of production of Nissan's passenger sedans and SUV models. These models include everything from the Altima and Maxima sedans, to the remainder of Nissan's Truck and SUV lines which include the Titan, Frontier, Armada and Xterra. In addition to these, the Nissan Quest mini-van is also manufactured in the Canton Mississippi plant. The manufacturing location of Sentra models is unique in that it is manufactured in Aguas Calientes, Mexico, the only North American product manufacturing plant not located in Japan or America.

While the current Nissan product line is rich with variety, over half of those destined for the North American market are built right here in the United States, with manufacturing almost evenly split between the Tennessee and Mississippi locations. Given current sales figures, if you drive a new Nissan, chances are your car was like built right here in the heart of America.

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How Does the Nissan Sentra Sedan Compare to the Other Nissan Models?

The Nissan Sentra sedan is a popular Nissan model. It is a compact car, but because of the roomy interior, it is considered a mid-sized sedan. Many sedan drivers consider this the best of both worlds: the dependability and roomy interior of the Altima, but smaller, cheaper and easier to fit into small parking spaces. Sentras are also well-known as reliable and get great gas mileage. The Sentra debuted in 1982, and at that time its design was very boxy and plain. Now, however, the design is much sleeker and more attractive to buyers.

• Sentra SE.The Sentra SE is a sporty model. It can reach up to 60 miles per hour in just 6.7 seconds. The Sentra SE comes equipped with a 2.5-liter engine that packs 200 horsepower. It also has 17-inch wheels and a much taller interior than most sports models. It is actually an inch taller than the larger Nissan Altima. The Nissan Versa is a bit taller than the Sentra, though the Vera has less horsepower and a narrower body. The Sentra SE has leather bucket seats, though the interior in general is not very flashy. The Sentra SE now comes equipped with a navigation system
• Sentra SL.The Nissan Sentra SL comes with 16-inch wheels, a leather steering wheel and bluetooth capabilities. With slighty less horsepower than the Sentra SE, the Sentra SL is still a powerful car with great pick up. Many car buyers consider the loss of horsepower worth the smaller price tag. The Sentra SL is also available with a navigation system and satellite radio. A rear view camera is also available if you have the navigation system
• Sentra Spec V. The Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V is the highest trim level of all Nissan Sentras. This model is available with six speed manual transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels and performance tires. The interior is sportier and more stylish than the interior in the Sentra SE. The exterior is sportier as well, with a spoiler on the trunk. The ceramic cylinders have reportedly caused a higher instance of engine failure. To help avoid engine failure you will need to change the oil more frequently in the Sentra Spec V than you would with other models. The Spec V is also available with high end Brembo brakes

An Overall Comparison to Other Nissan Models
The Sentra is smaller than the Altima, but larger than the Versa. Buyers will need to decide how important space--particularly exterior space--is to them before deciding on their Nissan model. Also, the bigger the car gets, the smoother the ride will be, so this is another factor to take into consideration. All Nissan models do enjoy a reputation for reliability.

When car shopping, it can be difficult to find the model that is right for you. The Nissan Sentra sedan comes in various trim levels, so there are many options available for those interested in a mid-size sedan.

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What Should You Do When Buying a Nissan Import?

If you would like to buy a Japanese Nissan import and have it shipped to the United States, you'll have to make sure that you comply with all laws and rules governing the importation of cars into the country. Nissan produces popular models that are already made to be sold in the United States.

For instance, an Altima import may have been produced to be sold in another market or country. Therefore, the foreign made Nissan may require modification before it can be driven inside the United States. So, here is a short list of tips that will help make the job of importing a Nissan car a little easier.

Get the Car Inspected in Japan
Before importing your Nissan car, have a qualified garage or shop inspect the vehicle thoroughly. While you should definitely have them inspect the car for road worthiness and drivability, you should also have them do some sort of testing that will ensure the vehicle can pass American standards for smog or emissions testing.

If the vehicle is having emissions problems, make sure to correct them before having the vehicle shipped to the United States. If you are purchasing a vehicle from an exporter, most reputable Japanese exporters will ensure the vehicle can meet emissions standards so that you can simply take the vehicle in for testing and begin driving it on American roads and highways.

Find out How Much the Tax Will Be
Before you have your Nissan car shipped to the US, you will want to make sure you have enough money on hand to pay any import duties or taxes that will be required. Most of the time, you can expect to pay about 2.5% of the value of the car in duties and taxes when importing a Maxima import or other Nissan vehicle.

Sometimes duties or taxes on certain vehicles can change without notice or warning, so you may want to contact the Bureau of Customs to find out what the duties or tariffs will be on your model Nissan car. Make sure you have the money for the taxes before the vehicle arrives. You don't want the Bureau of Customs to possibly seize and auction off your vehicle.

Have a Qualified Company Clean the Undercarriage
Make sure you have the vehicle undercarriage thoroughly cleaned before the car arrives in United States. Although the Bureau of Customs will verify that the undercarriage has been cleaned, this is actually required by the United States Department of Agriculture in order to help keep contaminants out of the country.

Again, if you're purchasing a vehicle from an exporter, the export company should handle this for you. However, if you are importing a vehicle you already own in Japan, you'll want to make sure you arrange the service be performed and you have the receipt or invoice available so you can show it to the Bureau of Customs.

Save Time with a Forwarding Agent
You can save yourself a lot of time and frustration by using a freight forwarding agent. Once you contract with a forwarding agent, the company will prepare all the documentation needed to assist you in claiming your Nissan car. Most forwarding agents will also help you arrange delivery to your location.

You'll need to provide a forwarding agent with an authorization to claim the vehicle for you as well as proof of ownership for the vehicle, and the original bill of lading from the shipping company. Most reputable forwarding agents should be able to tell you everything you will need to make importing a car as easy as possible.

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How Do You Get the Best Deal on a Nissan Minivan?

Although the minivan price range varies from $25,000 to $36,000 depending on the year and model you choose, you can buy a Nissan minivan for much less, if you negotiate the price with the dealer. To get the best deal on a Nissan minivan:

• You should go online and get quotes from multiple dealers in order to determine the going market rate. There are many dealers that offer quotes online and the stiff competition amongst these dealers can help you buy a minivan at an affordable price
• The manufacturer offers rebates to customers from time to time and it's wise to check on the minivan rebates offered, as you can end up saving as much as $3,000 to $4,000. The dealer will try to convince you that the rebate price is the best deal you can get. However, verify all the special incentives and rebates available, to stay in the know
• Find out the invoice price of the minivan. The invoice price is the price at which the manufacturer sells the minivan to the dealer. This is much less than the selling price of the minivan, as it's not inclusive of the dealer's profit. When negotiating with the dealer, it's advisable to offer a price much lower than the invoice price so that you leave room for further negotiations
• If you have built a relation with dealers in your neighborhood, contact them to find out if you could get any special rates
• In addition to rebates, there are incentives secretly offered by the manufacturer to the dealer and such minivan incentives can help you buy the minivan at a good price. To find out more about the latest rebates and incentives, research the Kelley Blue Book, U.S. News Rankings and Reviews and NADA Guides

You can buy a Nissan minivan for much less than the price quoted to you by the dealer if you use these rebates and incentives.

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How Does a Nissan Extended Warranty Work?

The Nissan extended warranty provides coverage that exceeds that provided by the general standard warranty that comes along with your new or used Nissan vehicle. Like the factory warranty, the extended warranty serves as a guarantee from the manufacturer that the vehicle that you've just purchased is of high quality and built from solid parts. The company assures you that it will pay for any damages or malfunctions that are due to faulty construction or assembly error.

Unlike standard factory warranties, most extended warranties from this particular manufacturer are unavailable for Nissan warranty transfer, the process by which the warranty remains valid and active when ownership of the car changes from one person to another. Nonetheless, extended warranties are an excellent way to get added peace of mind on your purchase after you've bought a new car from Nissan.

Nissan Security Plus
The first level of extended warranty for Nissan vehicles is called Security Plus. This warranty program provides coverage on your Nissan vehicle that is similar in nature to the standard bumper to bumper warranty; Nissan assures you that they will enlist trained Nissan service workers to help maintain your vehicle in the event that any of the component parts of your car should break down during the period in which the warranty is valid.

Security Plus comes in several different forms. All of them offer added coverage to additional parts of the car that are not yet covered under the standard warranty protection plan. Most of these extended warranties increase the lifespan of the vehicle's warranty by five years or 60,000, although you can pay additional money to extend the lifetime of the warranty beyond that as well.

Nissan Quality Guard Plus
Quality Guard Plus is a separate type of Nissan warranty that is valid for pre-owned vehicles that have been certified. Your Nissan will likely need to meet certain requirements for overall condition and quality in order to qualify you for this particular warranty program. These requirements vary according to the type of car and the model year, so you'll need to check in with a representative from Nissan in order to get more information.

Nissan Maintenance Plus
Maintenance Plus is a unique type of extended warranty protection plan that covers different types of maintenance that may need to be performed on your car. In addition to providing roadside assistance 24 hours per day, investing in a Nissan maintenance plus option for your warranty protection entitles you to free or discounted basic maintenance of a variety of types, including oil changes, routine inspections and more. Most Nissan Maintenance Plus plans are valid for up to five years or 60,000 miles; the longer the warranty lasts, the more expensive it is to you.

If you have any additional questions about how to begin a warranty protection plan with Nissan, or about any of the different coverage plans, consult with a representative from Nissan or from your third party warranty provider today.

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