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Matt: Welcome back, listeners. It’s your hosts. I am Matt with TC Productions, and I am here at Metro Nissan of Redlands. I got a very special guest for us today, a man full of knowledge. I know that’s what we need on this podcast so I’m anxious to get started and ask this guy some questions. Let me introduce you guys to a friend of mine, Rudy Estrada. Rudy, how’s it going, man?
Rudy: How’s it going, everybody? Doing good. Doing good.
Matt: Doing well. So, hey, I know a little bit about you, man, but obviously, our listeners might not. So why don’t you go ahead and just tell us about what it is that you do?
Rudy: Okay. I’m a sales and leasing consultant here at Metro Redlands. And been doing it for about 10 years now. So any kind of sales or leasing questions you guys have, I’m here to help out.
Matt: And that’s exactly why we got you as a guest today, bro. So really, what I want to get into is obviously, 2019 is here and we’ve seen some beautiful vehicles coming up. The lineup has changed just a little bit, man. We’ve got the new Sentras out. But one of the cars that I’ve actually seen while I’m roaming through the lot is the Altima.
Rudy: Man, the Altima and the Sentra, those are two bread and butter basically for the Nissan lineup. But, I mean, if you ever get a chance to– when you’re here, stop by, take a look at that Nissan Sentra Turbo. Boy. Boy. Nissan’s come a long way. I mean, the technology in these cars, it’s bar none. You got to check out the technology. I mean, like they say in the commercial, the most technology you’re going to have at home is in your driveway.
Matt:I like that, man. Okay. So let’s go ahead and talk about it then. So you got the 2019 Nissan Altima. Obviously, that has changed from last year’s model just a little bit. And then you also have the ’19 Nissan Sentras. Both these vehicles, honestly, they look good. They feel great when you’re behind the wheel. But if I’m a shopper, let’s say, and I’m torn between the two, how do you help me decide which one is for me?
Rudy: Well, that’s a good question, I mean, and it’s actually pretty simple. It’s depending on the size of your family, depending on the needs that you have. Obviously, the Altima is just a slightly bigger vehicle than the Sentra. So depending on what type of consumer you are, if you’re the single family or the single guy, depending on what direction I’m going to kind of lean towards you, you know what I mean?
Matt:Got you.
Rudy: The good thing about both vehicles, though, is that you can’t go wrong when it comes– again, I’m not going to stress the technology enough. The safety features on it is just out of this world, you know what I mean? So you’re not going to go wrong when it comes to the safety or the technology on either/or. I think depending on size of your family or what you’re going to be using the vehicle for, I think that’s kind of– depends on which way- if you’re going to lean towards a Sentra or more towards the Altima.
Matt:Yeah. I mean, so you’ve already mentioned quite a bit already about the technology that each of these car are equipped with. Excuse me. Can you kind of tell us what stands out as far as the technology?
Rudy: Oh, man. Like I said, the technology has come so far from the original Sentra that pretty much had no– other than just a radio in it, you know what I mean?
Matt:Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
Rudy: You’re kind of a young guy. You might not even remember that but–
Matt: Oh, man. I remember. Yeah. A ’91 SER.
Rudy: Oh. Wow. Okay. So you know how it is. Back then, I mean, the only kind of technology you had was make sure you AC worked and make sure your CD player didn’t skip, you know what I mean? But nowadays, it’s beyond that. You’re talking about 360 view camera, you know what I mean? You’re talking about blindside monitoring. You’re talking about reverse camera. You’re talking about just all the safety features that it comes with now. You’re talking about front-end collisions sensors. So, I mean–
Matt: Yeah. And both of these are coming with both vehicles, right?
Rudy: Yes. Yes. Yeah. So, I mean, like I said, you can’t go wrong when it comes to either the Sentra or the Altima. I think it just depends on the size. The funny thing is a lot of people have said, “I can’t buy the Altima because it might not fit in my carport or it might not fit in my garage,” you know what I mean? So that’s why I say depending on those things. But as far as the features, you’re going to get the same features almost on a Sentra and an Altima, you know what I mean? So that’s why I say you can’t go wrong with technology. You can’t go wrong with the features, just depending on the size, what you need, what you’re going to use it for. Some people have put snowboards in the back of their Altimas. So like I said, I mean, depending on what you’re going to be using it for would be kind of the way I kind of guide you on your path, whichever way is going to help you once you leave the dealership, obviously, you know what I mean?
Matt: That makes sense. So I’ve done some reading. I’ve read a bunch of articles about the Altima being pretty much at the top of the list when it comes to mid-sized vehicles.
Rudy: Absolutely. I mean, you can just look at all the JD Power Awards that it’s received.
Matt: Yeah. So, I mean, you agree then that it should be at the top.
Rudy: Absolutely. I mean, I drive one. My family drives one. My friends drive one. I mean, I have no reservations putting my mom into a Nissan, you know what I mean?
Nice. Yeah. Yeah.
Rudy: So like I said, if I could sit here and tell you that my mom drives a Nissan, then obviously, I would put anybody in a Nissan.
Matt: Obviously. Yeah. Yeah. So appreciate that, man. That’s some honest stuff. And that’s probably one of the questions that we should be asking dealers when we’re out there. Would you put your mom in it? I think that’s a really good way to put it.
Rudy: That’s how I’ve always felt about working here. If I could put my mom in a car, I could put a customer in a car, you know what I mean?
Matt: So we’ve got–
Rudy: Safety-wise.
Matt: We got your feedback. We talked about some different awards that they’ve received, articles that I’ve read. So now, let’s talk about just the general public. How has the reception been on the both vehicles?
Rudy: Oh. The public opinion is even better than anything I could have asked for, you know what I mean? It’s easy because all they do is look at a pretty car, right? I mean, it’s a beautiful car. So you already won right there. Then you top on all the sprinkle, like I said, with the safety and technology. I mean, it’s almost like a grand slam every time, you know what I mean? The easiest thing is the eye test, right? So if the customer looks at it and is like, “Wow. That’s beautiful.” “Oh, by the way, it’s safe. Oh, by the way, the technology. Oh, by the way–” I mean, it just makes it a wonderful vehicle. I mean, like I said, honestly, you can’t go wrong. Sentra, Altima, just whatever’s going to fit you best at home but, I mean, you’re going to win regardless. Like I said, when it comes to the safety, when it comes to the technology, it’s a win-win. And obviously, a gorgeous-looking car so.
Matt: Yeah. All right. Let’s touch on the Sentra just a little bit. Now, earlier, you mentioned the Turbo. That’s obviously one that appeals to people my age.
Rudy: Right. More of the younger audience, I would say. But, I mean, it’s definitely affordable vehicle. So, I mean, it’s not just for one type of person, I believe.
Matt: Now, correct me if I’m wrong but you have the Turbo and then you have the Nismo model, right?
Rudy: Correct.
Matt: Okay. So they are different. How about when it comes to some of the lower level trims that there are like the S, SV, SR, and SL.
Rudy: Oh. Those are phenomenal vehicles. I mean, yeah, obviously, the Turbo’s more for your racing enthusiast, right? But don’t get it mistaken that an S or an SV is not going to have power. Trust me. It’s got plenty of power. It’s got plenty of horsepower. It’s got plenty of get up and go, you know what I mean? Again, sprinkle on the safety. Again, sprinkle on the technology. I mean, it’s going to sound funny but you almost don’t even feel like you’re driving a Nissan. You almost feel like you’re driving a high-line luxury vehicle.
Matt: Yeah, man. I was actually looking at the SL earlier. And I was looking at the inside, and I was like, “You know what?” Just even the little details–
Rudy: Oh. Absolutely. Yeah.
Matt: –in the interior, it’s all there. The stitching.
Rudy: The stitching. Yep.
Matt: Yeah. Exactly.
Rudy: Exactly. The stitching is there.
Matt: The two-tones. It’s a beautiful car, man. I mean, are you going to be able to give me a test drive?
Rudy: Absolutely.
Matt: That’s what I’m talking about, man.
Rudy: Absolutely. And here’s the funny thing is don’t get mad at me if you leave home in a car because test drives usually end up being a lot more with these cars, you know what I mean? Before, it used to just be that new car smell but boy, literally, when you sit in these cars, you’re going to act like a little kid because you’re going to be touching every little thing almost to the point where you don’t want to get out of the car. So, I mean, if you’re ready to take this bad boy out to test drive, you’re almost ready to take it home. I’m just warning you. Just warning you.
Matt: Nobody’s ever told me that before. Now I’m going to start thinking that.
Rudy: I’m warning you. I want to be friends after that. I don’t want you to be like, “Man. I can’t believe you got me on a podcast and now I’m taking home–“
Matt: I know.
Rudy: –“this Sentra SL.”
Matt: How crazy would it be? Well, we’ll figure out, man. I mean, I’m not saying no. We’ll see what happens. I do also want to test drive the Altima, though, because we talked about the Sentra a little bit–
Rudy: Oh. Absolutely. Absolutely.
Matt: –and then [crosstalk] the Altima. Now, I don’t believe they have a Turbo version but they do have a platinum version, right?
Rudy: Right. Yeah.
Matt: Okay. Okay. So that one’s like their top of the top.
Rudy: Yes, sir.
Matt: Okay. Now, obviously, the trim level– and listeners, if you’re out there, you don’t have to just come to Metro Nissan Redlands. If you have a phone by you at all, do yourself a favor and just pull up, do a Google search, ask Siri. Whatever it is that it takes, man, just look up the 2019 Nissan Altima. Have a look for yourself. The style has changed.
Rudy: Oh, my goodness.
Matt: Yeah. It looks so nice, man.
Rudy: Like I said, I mean, not only does it drive and feel like a luxury car, but if I took the emblems off, you would think that Altima was probably I would say a Lexus. It could be a– it could be a Infinity. I mean, if I took the emblems off and you just did an eye test, I guarantee you would think that’s like a Infinity, a Lexus, a Mercedes. You wouldn’t know what brand it is.
Matt: Wow, man. That’s crazy. Okay. So let’s talk about real quick just the difference in horsepower between these two. Now, you did mention the Turbo, obviously– I’m not going to talk too much about the Sentra Turbo only because although that is something that appeals to my age bracket, that’s really not what sells the most, right? So let’s talk about just one of the– let’s just talk about maybe an entry-level one. I know the Sentra has about 124 horsepower, but the Altima, though, do you know how much that one has? Is it double? Am I right?
Rudy: I believe it’s double. Yes.
Matt: Yeah. It’s double, man. That is crazy. So, obviously, if you want to feel a little bit more of that power, you might be leaning towards the Altima. What else I really enjoyed when I was looking at it was that middle infotainment center. That’s a beautiful screen, man.
Rudy: Oh. You’re never going to get out of the car.
Matt: That’s what I feel like.
Rudy: You’re never going to get out of the car.
Matt: That’s what I’m starting to feel like.
Rudy: I mean, like I said, it’s not just a test drive. It’s an experience, you know what I mean? You turn into a little kid. You start touching all these buttons. Like I said, I mean, you’ve never seen an instrument cluster like this. You’ve never seen the technology like this. So if you haven’t seen one, I mean, you’ve got– like you said, do yourself a favor. Check it out online, but it’s not going to– it’s not going to– you’re going to do yourself a disservice by doing it online. You definitely need o come into the dealership and take a look at it. Again, no pressure. Just come in. Take a look at it. Drive it. And then you’ll be on your way.
Matt: Yeah. And what else is really cool about Metro Nissan Redlands, if you go onto their website, ladies and gentleman, you will actually be able to chat somebody that works here from the internet department if you have any questions at all. They’re not online trying to sell you. They’re just trying to answer the questions that you have.
Rudy: Free information, folks. Free information.
Matt: Yeah. Exactly. And what you can do then, if you get the answers that you like, then you might want to just go ahead and schedule some time to get over and do a test drive. Do you have anything else that you want to say to us, sir, about, I don’t know, making our decision or just coming to see you, anything?
Rudy: Just a little bit of advice for any future shoppers. Just be honest. Just come in, you know what I mean? We love that.
Matt: Honesty.
Rudy: Just as much honesty you expect from us, we expect from you guys, and it’ll make the car-buying experience so much more pleasant for everybody.
Matt: That’s perfect. Well said. So with that, ladies and gentleman, I’m sure you heard me get excited over these two cars before. I’m even more anxious now. I might go home in a brand new vehicle. I’m going to let you guys know, though. You’ll find me on social media, I’m sure. And I’m going to go ahead and take both of these cars out for a spin. So with that, we’ll see you next month. I’ll let you know how the drive went. And remember, if you need anything, anything at all, check them out online. It’s Metro Nissan Redlands. And we’ll talk to you next month.
Thanks a lot for doing this, man. I appreciate it.