New member, just saying hello..

stevnmd · 02-01-2004, 04:39 AM

A member of Katanaplanet.com, an excellent motorcycle discussion forum, said I should drop by here. I've looked around and you all seem like a great group. Thanks for a forum with tons of info about my new truck!

On Thursday I went by Nationwide Nissan, in Timonium, MD, to check out the new Titans. Little did I know that I'd be driving off the lot in a new 4x4 SE, with big tow, off-road, utility bed, and RF audio packages a few hours later! I traded in my '02 Pathfinder LE 4x4, which was a nice vehicle, but nothing like the Titan as far as capabilities go, that's for sure! My main love is my motorcycles. I frequently pulled a friend's 6x10 Haulmark trailer with the Pathfinder, and though the motor was plenty strong, the rear suspension was horrible. I am going to by a 6x12 Haulmark very soon, and I had some serious concerns about the Pathfinder's ability to SAFELY tow a 3000 lb, when loaded with 3 bikes, trailer. The rear of that Pathfinder bottomed out very easily, and without brakes on the trailer, I imagine would have a hard time stopping quickly, too.

The dealership treated me wonderfully, though this is mainly due to the fact that they are also a Suzuki dealer, and my girlfriend's (soon to be fiancee) father is the regional sales manager for Suzuki automotive, and knows the sales manager of Nationwide VERY well. A phone call to him resulted in the dealer giving me 19k for my Pathfinder (which had 45k miles already), 4.04% NMAC interest rate, and the Titan for $400 below invoice. Man, it's nice to have connections! Apparently some dealers are refusing to budge on prices with these things, since they are THE hot trucks right now, but I'm happy.

I couldn't be happier with this truck, that's for sure. I haven't been able to get the smile off my face since buying it!!

Pics can be found at http://www.techtrainers.net/titan

pistonpete · 02-01-2004, 08:13 AM

Welcome. I am here new as well. I am waiting for my KC SE to come in about 2 weeks from now. I see that you ride motorcycles; a really cool site to check out is www.cycleforums.com. A really diverse group of riders over there. Check it out if you get a chance.

Derwud · 02-01-2004, 08:19 AM

Steve,

Order your new trailer with brakes! Electric or Hyd, that is a lot of weight to pull without brakes. California requires brakes on trailer over 1500 lbs. Also get a W/D hitch it will make your ride much better.

stevnmd · 02-01-2004, 08:59 AM

pistonpete, thanks for the link to cycleforums. I've been over there looking around before. You might want to check out katanaplanet.com, too. It started as a forum for Katana owners, but has grown into MUCH more. I have been around to TONS of sport bike forums, and let me tell you, there is no better group of riders in the world than the ones over there. Also, check out supersportbike.com. ANOTHER group, though much smaller, of great guys and gals...

Derwud, thanks for the suggestion... As a matter of fact, I am now STRONGLY considering getting electric brakes on the trailer I'm going to purchase. I will rarely be hauling three bikes. The majority of the time I will be hauling only one, and that's to take my '99 GSX-R600 to its many track days. However, I will be going to several rallies, and will be taking both my '03 Interceptor and GSX-R with me. My girlfriend will be buying a bike later this year, since I sold the Katana she used to ride. Only when I take both of my babies, and need to bring her's along, too, will I be hauling three.

Does anyone know BALLPARK what adding brakes to a trailer usually runs? I know it's an option on the 6x12 Haulmarks I'm looking at. Just wondering for budgeting purposes how much I should expect to add to the price... Thanks!

**CaliforniaTitan** · 02-01-2004, 10:41 AM

Stevemd,

Glad to see ya made it over here bud. Not to worry, this board is much like KP. Good group of guys over here as well. Enjoy!

Chris (ChrisKat750)

stevnmd · 02-01-2004, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaliforniaTitan

Stevemd,

Glad to see ya made it over here bud. Not to worry, this board is much like KP. Good group of guys over here as well. Enjoy!

Chris (ChrisKat750)

Thanks, Chris!! I was WONDERING if CaliforniaTitan was ChrisKat750. :lol Don't worry. I won't be a post whore over here as badly as I am on KP.

(Of course, that's probably because I know a LOT less about trucks than I do about bikes...)

Derwud · 02-01-2004, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevnmd

Does anyone know BALLPARK what adding brakes to a trailer usually runs? I know it's an option on the 6x12 Haulmarks I'm looking at. Just wondering for budgeting purposes how much I should expect to add to the price... Thanks!

The piece of mind is worth it, even if towing one bike or 3. With the Prodigy brake controller it's easy to adjust the amount of braking depending on weight. I've seen prices from 600 to 1200 for brakes, depends on the manufacure and # of axles.

ChuhBaca · 02-01-2004, 12:06 PM

Congratulations on the truck Stevn! Sounds like you got the best deal I've heard of yet! I'm also a motorcycle guy. I tend to gravitate toward dirt bikes more, but I also ride street.

Piston, nice MV Agusta!

Sabre66 · 02-01-2004, 01:02 PM

Stevnmd,
Congrats!!! and nice color choice on the Titan.

Your experience sounds similar to mine, although i didn't get as good of a deal (still one i could live with). I had a 2001 Pathfinder LE with 46,000 miles and counting on a lease. I still had 6 months to go on the lease and i drive over 2000 miles a month so my payout at the end was gonna be large.

I stopped by the dealer i had originally leased from and they were able to help me out of the lease without too much of a hit to the wallet. They had a Deep Water Titan SE CC 4X4 with everything i wanted (except it also has the DVD player which i wasn't really interested in), They gave me basically $3000 off MSRP along with 3-yrs of free oil changes.

I'd been planning to order one, but was torn between Red Brawn and Deep Water as my color choice. This deal helped me make my decision and i'm not regreting it one bit.

Have fun with yours. Can't wait for more snow. I see you live in Abingdon - I'm over in Urbana and work in Silver Spring.

pistonpete · 02-01-2004, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuhBaca

Congratulations on the truck Stevn! Sounds like you got the best deal I've heard of yet! I'm also a motorcycle guy. I tend to gravitate toward dirt bikes more, but I also ride street.

Piston, nice MV Agusta!

Thanks. I love it. Not as much power as the Japanese machines but handles like a dream.

stevnmd · 02-02-2004, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sabre66

Have fun with yours. Can't wait for more snow. I see you live in Abingdon - I'm over in Urbana and work in Silver Spring.

I used to live in Frederick. Did you get yours in Frederick, or elsewhere? The guys at Frederick Nissan are great.

Again, everyone, thanks for the warm welcome.

ChuhBaca · 02-02-2004, 07:13 AM

I agree Piston, I love the European bikes. I was completely obsessed with the MV Agusta Brutale. I can't wait for the new KTM Duke to come out though. I ride KTM dirt bikes and I don't think I would want to ride any other kind of dirt bike.

pistonpete · 02-02-2004, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuhBaca

I agree Piston, I love the European bikes. I was completely obsessed with the MV Agusta Brutale. I can't wait for the new KTM Duke to come out though. I ride KTM dirt bikes and I don't think I would want to ride any other kind of dirt bike.

Actually, I read somewhere that KTM has a prototype sportbike in the works but who knows if it will ever come to production. I have heard good things about KTM from friends who ride dirt.

Sorry Stevnmd for going off topic.

stevnmd · 02-02-2004, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pistonpete

Actually, I read somewhere that KTM has a prototype sportbike in the works but who knows if it will ever come to production. I have heard good things about KTM from friends who ride dirt.

Sorry Stevnmd for going off topic.

No problem. I believe you're referring to the KTM RC8, which Motorcycle Consumer News believes will hit PRODUCTION in 2005 or 2006. It's a pretty bad a$$ bike.

Sabre66 · 02-02-2004, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevnmd

I used to live in Frederick. Did you get yours in Frederick, or elsewhere? The guys at Frederick Nissan are great.

Again, everyone, thanks for the warm welcome.

Yeah the guys at Frederick Nissan are great. I had been in there several times just asking questions and checking out the Titan, but ended up buying on a whim at Rosenthal/Gaithersburg Nissan.

To be honest i don't like Rosenthal, but the deal they gave me was pretty sweet and the truck was on the lot ready to go. I never really get my vehicles serviced where i buy them anyway since i'm always looking for the best deals and they're ususally miles away from nowhere.