Looking For An Excuse? Steer Clear Of Your Nissan Dealer

YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – Dec 27, 2011: The period between Christmas and New Year is traditionally a time to catch up with relatives, swapping gifts and feed on leftovers.

Those people hoping to use a broken down car or wintery weather conditions as an excuse to stay away from the in-laws house would be advised to stay away from their Nissan dealer.

The network is reporting plentiful stocks of winter tyres and is even offering a free winter check on all Nissan vehicles aged three years and over, to make sure it’s kept in tip-top condition.

To take advantage of this offer, customers will simply need to contact their local dealer and book an appointment. With many people having time off between Christmas and new year, this could be the ideal time.

The 15-point check will cover areas such as, exhaust system, front brake pads/shoes, tyre tread depth and brake and other fluid levels.

Although Christmas itself was unseasonably warm, you’re never sure when the weather will turn and leave you stranded at your Auntie’s house. A set of four winter tyres for your Nissan could cost as little as £199.64, including wheel balancing, fitment and VAT. It could be a wise investment if you want to avoid an unplanned night in her spare room.

After a full health check and a lovely, rubbery new set of winter tyres, you should have everything you need to ensure you can escape. But here are some more tips to make sure you get around safely over the winter:

Nissan’s tips for winter driving

Don’t just rely on the radio for announcements about accidents, road closures, and road advisories. Use modern methods such as Twitter to hear the latest updates. Many councils and the Highways Agency have ‘Twitter Gritter’ feeds to tell followers the latest information on road conditions.

Top up the washer fluid bottle while it is warmer, but make sure you use a higher concentration of fluid to water than usual, to prevent freezing. Then give the washers a good squirt so the stronger fluid can reach the pipes and nozzle.

Everyone knows the advice to take a survival pack if you think there’s a risk you may become stranded. Warm clothing, a phone (with charger) and plenty of fuel are the obvious items. It’s sensible to keep some long-life food in the car too, but don’t take anything you’ll enjoy eating – the chances are you’ll scoff it before a real emergency! And if it’s in a can, don’t forget the opener.

It’s obvious that you should gauge your speed carefully in snow and ice – but don’t drive too slowly or you’ll lose your momentum, especially up hills.

Black ice is invisible, and can be deadly. When the temperature dips, be especially wary of roads alongside misty, open fields. If you see an accident, car-shaped hole in a hedge or fresh crumpled car debris up ahead in the road, slow to a crawling pace – it could have been caused by slippery roads.

If you have a vehicle with four-wheel drive, don't get overconfident and rely on its abilities to get you out of a problem. The traction and force created by all four wheels driving instead of two helps you get going, but does not help you stop any faster.

Running the engine on your driveway to demist the windows is sometimes essential – as long as you don’t leave it unattended. But while you are not moving, turn off all unnecessary drains on the electrical system so the fans and heating elements can work more efficiently.

If you’re driving a Nissan LEAF electric car this winter, you can be the envy of all your neighbours. Remember to set your climate control timer via your iPhone or computer before you go to bed and you’ll wake up to a car which is warm and defrosted!