Advance Auto Zone

Following the launch of the all-new Altima and its hybrid variant, production started last Monday on the new coupe version which is a sportier version of Nissan’s best-selling model that was primarily designed to draw in new customers to their abode.

The Japanese automaker celebrated the Altima’s third launch in seven months at its Smyrna plant which is located just 20 miles south of its relocated headquarters in Nashville. Dubbed as “true coupe,” the Altima comes as a two-door model that has a shorter wheelbase and a lower profile than its four-door counterpart.

The 2008 Nissan Altima coupe is set for release on the 25th of this month. The coupe, which was officially launched at the 2006 Los Angeles Auto Show, is engineered to compete against the Toyota Camry Solara, Honda Accord coupe and the Pontiac G6 coupe. The coupe is equipped with reliable Nissan brake pads, and a sport suspension that is mated to two engine choices - the updated VQ35DE, a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6 or the QR25DE, a 175-horsepower 2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve inline 4-cylinder. Also, the driver-centered interior offers a 6.5-inch traffic navigation screen, a rearview monitor, as well as a keyless entry and ignition and hands-free phone system.

“There’s a lot of coupes on the market, some of which are merely shorter versions of their sedan counterparts, but we didn’t want to do that,” said John Curl, the regional product manager for Nissan. “It has the proportions of a coupe and not just a 2-door sedan.”

Karl Brauer, the editor in chief of Edmunds.com, said that the coupe’s almost completely new body panels add sophisticated styling that differentiates it from the sedan. “My first impression was that it looked very upscale,” Brauer said. “It will cost you considerably less than a G35 and sends a lot of the same messages.”

The Nissan Altima coupe will be priced at $20,490. Its price is far below the company’s most comparable model, the Infiniti G35 luxury coupe, and the Z sports car. “In less than a month, we’ve had a thousand orders, which is fantastic,” said Michelle Erwin, a senior manager in marketing. Japan’s No. 3 automaker needs the new coupe, along with the Altima hybrid, to compete with rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. as well as to use it to boost dragging profits. “We’re optimistic that we’re going to get a lot new owners because we’ve not had a vehicle in this segment at this price range before,” Erwin said.

With a broad base of existing Altima customers, Brauer said a coupe was the next logical step to bring in new buyers - especially when sales are down. Nissan marked its first drop in annual profit in seven years in the January-March quarter, the first such setback under the leadership of Carlos Ghosn, who salvaged the Japanese automaker from collapse. “A lot of people would readily admit that they’ve slid,” Brauer said. “They’ve stagnated in terms of product and had some duds in terms of sales.” The third largest Japanese automaker was in a product lull for over a year before the launch of the new sedan in September.

“Sales for the Altima have been strong since the introduction of the new sedan model” in September, said Catherine Madden, an automotive analyst with Boston-based Global Insight. “Unfortunately other products have lagged.”

Auto analysts expect Altima’s styling to do well against models already on the market, like the Toyota Camry Solara and the Mitsubishi Eclipse. “Nissan has distinguished itself with the consumer and many of their designs have been ahead of other Japanese companies,” Madden said. “We’re expecting strong sales for that product.”

Honda also plans to roll out a coupe for the 2008 model year. The production could put a cramp in Nissan’s first-year sales. “That’s where you’re going to see a pretty interesting divide” among consumers, Brauer noted.

Ryan Thomas is a native of Denver, Colorado. He grew up in a family of car afficionados. He now resides in Detroit where he owns a service shop and works part time as a consultant for a local automotive magazine.You can also visit shopnisparts.com/nissan-brake-pads/” title=”Nissan brake pads Nissan brake pads for more information.

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There are many potential mistakes someone could make when fighting a speeding ticket in the court room. With this in mind, I’ve prepared some of the common pitfalls many people make, so you can avoid them and get your case dismissed.

Here are the mistakes to avoid:

Never motion the court before the trial for any documentation. You don’t want to tip the fact that you are (hopefully) prepared for the case.

Never motion the court for their evidence before your trial. One of the key ways to fight a speeding ticket is what is known as trial by ambush. You want the prosecution to be unprepared, so don’t tip your hand early.

Never testify. Even if the prosecution is challenging you to testify, you should refuse. If you were to take the stand, the prosecution would be allowed to cross-examine you, and they will most likely trap you into admitting you were speeding. If this happens, you will lose.

Don’t make any statements about your speeding. Don’t let the prosecutor lead you into making any statement. They are there to find the proof, don’t make their job any easier by making comments like “I wasn’t going that fast”.

Don’t let the prosecutor know what your game plan is. Remember that they don’t have the time or inclination to gather all the information they need for each and every case. Most of the time they are just relying on you wimping out.

They are used to trials not lasting more than a few minutes. If you tip your hand to the fact that you know what you’re doing, they may very well decide to do a little preparation for your case. Don’t let that happen. Keep your cards close to your chest.

Never object to anything the police officer says when he is making his testimony. If you object early in the game like this, the prosecution will know what you’re up to, and you’ll lose your advantage.

Don’t bother to ask for a jury trial. If you do this, the prosecution will prepare themselves. Also, what many people don’t realize, is that the prosecution can easily ask for the biggest punishment allowed…which could mean serving jail time just for a little bit of speeding. That’s not good for you.

Also, at a jury, you can still be found guilty even if there is no evidence. In a jury trial, people will be much more annoyed at your offence because you’re taking up their time.

Learn more about beating your speeding ticket at:

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The world has really gone cyber one can fly, find a date, buy a house, make arrangements to move and rent car online, great conveniences at the click of a button. As a consumer you must find out all the pros and cons of renting a car and carry out “comparison” shopping.

1. Visit company websites to determine what is on offer. Look for competitive rates and great facilities.

2. Try and locate a rental company close to where you intend to use the car it will save you money.

3. Before you proceed list your needs: what kind of car, how many people will travel, how many days you need the car and so on.

4. Use a reputed agency and call on their toll free number. Be sure to read all the terms and conditions carefully. Make sure you use a safe payment gateway and that you receive a confirmation e-mail. Some well known companies are Hertz (https://www.hertz.com), Dollar, Alamo, and Avis ( avis.com). Or, try travel sites many have great offers for clients who book hotels, air tickets, as well as cars.

5. Ask for packages and find out when rates are cheaper.

6. Be sure to ask for an agreement.

7. Ask about the age of the car, its condition, and how many miles it has been driven. If you expect to drive in bad weather be sure to check about tires, snow chains, and other equipment.

8. To rent a car online keep handy your driver’s license, passport, photo-ID, and proof of address. Ask about travel insurance and whether the car has a current insurance.

9. Check the charges carefully and whether any additional payment will be charged for drop off and pick up.

10. Check whether your driver’s licence is valid for the state/ country you wish to drive in or whether you need to obtain a new license.

It is a competitive world and online there are company’s like Fox Rent a Car foxrentacar.com that offer discounts, reward points, coupons, hotel discounts and more. Check as many sites as you can to get a great deal. Popular companies are: Yahoo travels, priceline.com, and Travelocity. Be a discerning consumer and hire a great car at a great price. Many car rental companies offer special rates if you are a member of one of their affiliate clubs or professional organizations.

Before you drive away in the rental car find out as much as possible about traffic rules, laws where you intend to drive, and safety norms. If your family is with you then choose a safe and comfortable car that will accommodate luggage, boisterous kids, and pets. If you intend to drive alone then you could opt for a compact car. Gauge your needs before you make a choice and carry your driver’s license and insurance papers with you at all times. As a precaution inform a friend, family member, or the office of your travel plans. Cary a mobile phone for emergencies or arrange to call in at specific times. Enjoy your rent-a-car experience.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for 1866Cars.com 1866Cars.com, the premier website to find help on Cars including topics on car rental, national car rental, thrifty car rental, online car rental, pickup trucks rental, cargo van rental and more. He also freelances for the premier Car Insurance Quotes site 1888Carinsurance.com 1888Carinsurance.com

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