Classic Cars Nissan

Baby, it’s cold outside, and that means hot chocolate by the fireside, the holiday season with friends and family – and some of the deadliest road conditions of the year. Stay safe this winter by preparing your Nissan with these tips on how to make sure your visibility is at its peak, even though the snow is doing its best to obscure the road.

Many people do only a partial job on clearing snow and ice off their car, trusting that they can manage with only partial visibility until the defroster kicks in and does the rest of the work from the inside. While I know you don’t want to be outside any longer than you have to, bearing the cold for just a few minutes can save your life.

Clear your windshield, making sure to chip every bit of ice off. The ice can make visibility problems worse by creating a cold spot that contrasts with the warm air you’re going to have blowing from the heater. That combination will fog up your windows and make it harder to see.

Don’t neglect your other windows! You use those windows far more than you think to get a full vision of the road around you, and in wintertime you need to have absolutely no blind spots. If someone else loses control of their vehicle along your side, you’re going to want to be able to see them coming.

Make sure your rearview mirrors are clean of ice, too. You’ll need them to see what’s happening behind you, and it’s easy to forget about them until you’re already well on your way down the road.

Brush all the snow off the hood, roof, and trunk of your car. Many people only worry about the windows, but the snow on the rest of your car can actually be much more of a hindrance to your visibility than you think.

As your car warms up, snow and ice that had seemed pretty solid will start to slide off your car. For the stuff on your hood, that means it can fly right up against the windshield – and partially melted snow is likely to stick. You could wind up with no visibility just when you least expect it. If you’re doing 80 on the freeway, that’s not going to turn out well.

As for the roof and the trunk – the snow on the roof can slide down to obscure your rear window, but that’s the least of your worries. The snow along the top and back end of your vehicle can fly off and obscure the windshield of the person driving behind you, which can also cause an accident. If they brake suddenly and skid, they’ll sail right into your car.

So take that extra five minutes and make sure you have full visibility in your Nissan before you head out on the road. You’ll be three steps ahead of everyone else on the road – and that means you’ll be getting home safe and sound, instead of getting sideswiped because you couldn’t see.

And for the best Nissans on the road today, check out our new model specials here. You’ll be driving in style – and in safety.

In our final entry of Winterize Your Ride, we’ll go over packing an emergency kit for your vehicle. Regardless of the precautions you take in winter while driving, there is nothing stopping an accident from occuring if it wants to. Sometimes things just happen.

For this reason, it’s a good idea to always have an emergency kit with you in your vehicle at all times. 

In your emergency kit, you should make sure that you have a flashlight. And make sure it works. There is nothing worse than having a flashlight sit in your car until the moment you need it only to discover that the batteries have long since run out. 

Include jumper cables and know how to use them. I was once in the position to need to use jumper cables early on in my driving life, but I had no idea as to how to use them. Needless to say after a few ugly incidents and embarrassing conversations, I have since learned. Be equipped and be informed to utilize your emergency equipment.

A blanket, warm gloves, extra food and water, a window scraper, paper towels, a snow brush, snow shovel, and extra washer fluid and oil are also all good options for your emergency care kit.

If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the space below. Also be sure to check out your local Nissan dealer for more on all of your favourite Nissan cars.

Windshield Wipers

When it’s snowing or raining, your lifeline to visibility is your windshield wipers. While it may seem like common sense, it is of vital importance that your windshield wipers are working and that you have plenty of wiper fluid in the tank to get to where you need to go. Most wiper blades should be replaced once a year, as they become worn and cracked during the colder months. Check yours and make sure that they don’t need to be replaced.

Battery

The battery is critical, but while it may seem obvious to most, many people go out in the cold weather and have not checked their battery’s levels. The problem with a battery is that it gives little to no notice as to when it is going to break down and die. It simply stops working and stops taking a charge, leaving the owner stranded and confused.

For this reason, have your battery tested by your mechanic or by any certified automotive repair facility. They can measure your charge and ensure that you have plenty of juice to get to where you’re going. With the cold winter months upon us, you do not want to be stuck out there without a battery charge or power to your vehicle.

For more on winterizing Nissan cars, drop by your local dealer today.

Check the Oil

On top of the tires, your engine’s oil is of vital importance. You need to check the oil regularly during any time of the year, but regular checks of your vehicle’s oil levels are of special importance during the winter months. Make sure your levels are topped up and that you are running the right type of oil for the manufacturer’s specifications. As always, when in doubt, seek professional help.

You also need to check on your oil’s viscosity. Make sure that the oil is thin enough to work through the engine parts. With cold weather, oil can thicken up and become almost like a sludge. It is important to ensure that your oil can move through your engine, so check the viscosity of it frequently or have your mechanic give it a look.

Belts and Hoses

It is also important to make sure that all of your vehicle’s belts and hoses are in working condition and that they are connected properly. This can usually be done with the owner’s manual and a look under the hood, although some hoses and belts may need to be reached by a mechanic. As cold temperatures can age and wear belts and hoses faster than normal conditions, this step is especially important.

For more on checking your car over for winter or for any other information on Nissan cars, drop by your local Nissan dealer today.

Tire Pressure

Regardless of the tires you happen to be using, you need to keep your tire pressure in check during the winter months. Because traction is often at a premium in snowy or icy conditions, your tires need to have just the right amount of pressure to prevent slippage. A properly inflated tire will also help out against wheel damage, as the tire’s contact with the road could warp the rim.

Tire pressure could also drop because of the cold temperatures. This occurs because gas contracts when it cools, thus creating less pressure in your tires than you originally thought. Keep an eye on your tire pressure during the winter and follow all factory specifications to inflate the tires properly. If you aren’t sure, have a professional take a look.

4WD

If your vehicle has 4WD capabilities, you need to make sure that it functions properly. Most people don’t use their 4WD systems during summer months, so it is a good idea to check it out before you need it. Make sure that it is working effectively and that it operates the way it should. Have a mechanic look it over if you aren’t sure what to look for.

For more on how to winterize your Nissan cars or trucks, bookmark us or drop by your local Nissan dealer.

The cold weather is upon us and many of us are starting to be concerned with snow and ice on the roads. It is that trick time of the year, when additional travel and other errands can make for treacherous driving. For this reason, it is of vital importance to have your vehicle tuned up and prepared for the winter months. Even if you live in a place where snow isn’t typical, there’s no excuse to winterize your ride this season and make sure that you stay safe.

Snow Tires

One of the first things you’ll need to decide on is whether or not to use snow tires. Tires are critical during winter, of course, so deciding on snow tires will be one of the most important decisions you will have to make. If your tires are worn or have been used in high performance applications, you will most certainly need a pair of tires that can give you some grip in the winter months.

With diminished movement possibilities and control, winter tires are a must. At the very least, a good pair of all-season tires with good support should be necessary for getting through winter driving.

For more information on tires specifically designed for Nissan cars, drop by your local dealer today.

With the holidays upon us, it’s nice to have some comfort and some good news. And that’s just what Nissan boss Trevor Mann has given workers in a Sunderland plant. 

After praising workers for their patience and hard work over the past year, Mann told them “See you in the new year.” With many plants facing layoffs and uncertainty in the coming year of 2009, it is great news for the Sunderland workers that Mann said this. It gives comfort and adds security. For many workers at the Sunderland plant, it will be a very merry Christmas indeed.

For many others, however, it will not be as good of a Christmas as possible. There are still many layoffs this holiday season and many workers are facing work stoppages or production cuts. Many workers will not enjoy the holidays and will instead be plagued with uncertainty and concern.

Specifically with the Sunderland plant, there have been horror stories about production cuts and shutdowns, but Mann announced that he would be writing to each employee and ensured that the jobs were safe. With that, he sent the workers on their way to celebrate the holidays with their families.

Perhaps there is no greater gift this holiday season than the assurance that, for those making Nissan cars, a job will still be waiting after the break.

It seems that every day we are spending more time discussing news that automakers are cutting production output and are laying off workers. It is Nissan’s turn at the plate again, as today was the harbringer of doom for more production cuts. Nissan announced a reduction of 78,000 vehicles from January 2009, marking a move set to reduce industry as the world continues on the path to economic turmoil.

The company will add non-operating days and slow production lines at its factories in Japan. The car company, based out of Tokyo, released an email statement today that expressed news of the cuts and the furture plans. It will also cut 500 temporary jobs by March 31.

The job cuts mean that Nissan will no longer have any temporary positions at any of its factories by March 31, marking a fairly significant milestone in the company. The company’s domestic production cuts will increase to 225,000 vehicles for the year ending March 31, as industrywide Japanese auto sales fell 18% in November.

The cuts at Nissan cars are signficant, for sure, but other car companies in Japan are facing bigger numbers in terms of production cuts. Honda is cutting 314,000 production units worldwide and will lay off 760 seasonal workers by March 31. Toyota has not released any hard data regarding production cuts, but has announced a layoff of about 3,000 seasonal workers by March 31.

In the middle of this economic turmoil, it turns out that Nissan cars has even more tricks up its collective sleeve. The idea is to provide an influx of commercial vehicles to dealerships in the United States and to seriously move some units. Many are considering Nissan’s venture to be relatively optimistic, while the car company is just conducting business as usual.

Joe Castelli, Nissan North America’s vice president for light commercial vehicles and fleet, has called the move a “full court press” of commercial proportions. Nissan is aiming at loading up the small commercial vehicle market with new advances, starting with the  NV2500 commercial van and including at least one other commercial vehicle designed for small urban transit. The van is said to be based on the foundation for the Nissan Cube.

Nissan is hoping to begin releasing these commercial vehicles to about one third of dealerships across North America and will begin the operation in 2010.

It is believed that Nissan is gearing its commercial vehicle blitz in time to challenge Ford’s upcoming Transit Connect vehicle. Nissan is also working with Cummins to procure enough diesel engines for the output, with the company needing a solid and consistent supply of engines in order to complete the design process and begin production.

Alright, we get it. We’re deep within it, up to our elbows. Recession and economic turmoil haunts us at every turn and there isn’t much we can do about it. Cry, scream, throw yourself out of your office window…nothing is going to help at this point. The automotive companies and the banks and the lending agencies are all to blame. Nobody is immume, blah, blah, blah, and blah.

Have you heard enough about recession and economic downturn? It seems that there is very little to get excited about these days, especially if you’re within the automotive industry. But survival may soon be a fight to the finish and that fight could be, frankly, really exciting for all of us to witness.

Many analysts are predicting that there could be one car company to emerge out of this wreckage with actual sales, positive numbers, and *gasp* profits! The idea comes as foreign investment agencies line up to see which of the American car companies will collapse and who will win this proverbial race to the bottom of the pile. Foreign investment teams have a lot to work with, as the failure of the Big Three certainly guarantees at least some opening in the markets.

With this opening in the markets, an opportunity for a foreign car company arrives and someone will step through that rabbit hole. Many are asserting that it will be a car company with big brass ones like Nissan or Toyota. Regardless of what will occur, you can bank on the fact that every single company in the industry will be doing whatever it takes to survive.

Whether you’re into Nissan cars or Ford trucks, you can bet that it will be one hell of a fight to the finish.