Nissan Altima

bigbadboss101

I was going to say that a while back. I do like the backend, but the front is curvier than I liked. A lot will depend on the handling, ride, and performance. They promise it will curse the common car problem so we will see. Will Road and Track etc do a test drive before the release date in September? I want to read!!!

ajacat

I can't decide. I would so appreciate if anyone could help me. (I know I'm asking a biased audience ) The 2002 redesign looks really great--we like horsepower and leg room in our house, as well as a nice big trunk and good fuel consumption...adds up nicely.

BUT, and this is a big one: the seat design in past Nissans we've test driven has been *really* uncomfortable. (We last tested in the mid 90s, and were so turned off we decided against *any* Nissans ever. Backache after about 5 mins, and we just couldn't get comfortable basically--I know it's subjective, but what I've read about other seat comfort evaluations has seemed true to our experience, e.g. BMW fabulous, even Passat not bad, but Subaru hard and short and Buick squishy and soft).

Does anyone know whether the SE will have an improved seat design, comfort wise? And am I correct in inferring that there's no way to get cloth with an SE?

We can get an LX-V6 today for about 300 over invoice, which would put it around 20,675--I imagine if I wait another month we could get it at invoice, actually, 'cause they may be a bit concerned about folks opting, like us, to wait one more month for the nice new big Altima. But what do you veteran Nissan folks think? Will the seats be more comfortable? Is there any car out right now we could test drive by which we could get an idea of what they'll be like, do you think?

thanks for any help re the seat issue--
Best,
ajacat

ajacat

Sorry--thought it might matter to mention that I'm 5'3 or 4 and my husband is 6'3 or 4 (hence the need for leg room and head room--the Altima redesign can match the Accord LX on these counts)--and we're both relatively thin...

Thanks again,
ajacat

s852

There is no way to know if the seat is going to be comfortable to you unless you sit in it.
The Accords are not all going away. You can still buy an Accord if you don't like the Altima when it comes out.

nikecar

I agree with s852.. the ONLY way to tell is by waiting. Accords will not go away. They are like Rabbits. The dealer could have 1 left today and tell you that's it, but tomorrow he get another 30. Who knows, if you don't like the Alty, you could get an Accord maybe cheaper than what you could tady since by that time the 02's should be out for the Accords.

speedracer3

But just to add to the subjectiveness of seating....I found the Accord leather seat HORRIBLE while the Maxima leather seats were awesome (very confortable). There you go!....wait for the Altima sit in it...if it is not comfortable get an Accord.

maxamillion1

When I tested an Accord LX back in 1998, I thought the seats were horrible, and some owners complain about them from time to time. In my opinion, I would wait and test drive the Altima 3.5SE, and then decide, I wouldn't buy an Accord, and later realize that I liked the Altima better, and if you don't like the seats of the Altima, you could then pick up an Accord as someone earlier stated.
Good Luck

ajacat

*Extremely helpful* replies on the issue of seat comfort--we'll try a recent Nissan and see. The leather has *got* to be better than the leather in the EX-VLs...(speedracer, I totally agree--that's why we wanted an LX, with cloth)

Here's a complication: what do you all think about the 2002 redesign Altima vs. a 2000 Maxima, GLE or SE? (reasonable miles, clean or outstanding condition)

I'm trying to do a comparison and I can see 18 hp less (we'd get the 3.5, don't you know ), 16" wheels on the Maxima vs. 17" on the Altima -- but the price would be less. Space I'm still comparing, but I notice we'd sacrifice 1/2 c.f. of cargo space. It's still a foot more than the Accord.

Someone else on this list had mentioned that the first year of a drastic redesign might read "wait until next year when the bugs have been worked out by the first-year owners", and I guess that wouldn't apply to a 2000 Maxima. It was a redesign, but less of one than this, right?

Very interesting times for sedans. I have a feeling they'll benefit from the anti-SUV backlash...

Best,
ajacat

lngtonge18

You can get cloth on the SE model. Only the four cylinder SL model comes with leather standard. As for seat comfort, I'm 5'6" and weigh only 115# and find the cloth seats in my 97.5 Altima much more comfortable than the seats in a 94-97 Accord EX (I haven't determined yet how much better the newer ones are). They are a bit squishy and lack lumbar adjustment, but somehow manage to be way more comfortable than the hard Accord seats that seem to have an annoying lump pressing into my back no matter where the lumbar is set at. Believe it or not, the most comfortable seats I have yet sat in are my 2000 Hyundai Accent. I never expected the seats in the cheapest model Hyundai offered to be so comfortable. I was stuck in the car for 12 hours with only a few short stops and experienced only the usual leg cramps. I was trully impressed. Anyway, I got a little off topic there, LOL. So, I would say wait for the new Altima to come out so you can compare seat comfort back to back. Accord prices will only continue to drop so it would be in your best interest either way.

nikecar

but you are getting a used car in the 2000 Max. remember that.. who knows how they treated it before you get you mitts on it....

redline65

If I get an Altima it will have to be a 2003 model. Have to give Nissan a year to get the bugs worked out, and hopefully by then the pricing will be reasonable.

gudanov

I'm not in the market for a sedan anytime soon, but it's nice that Nissan looks to finally have a car to compete with. When I was pondering mid-sized sedans the Maxima was too expensive and the Altima was too small. I'm curious to see what the prices will be.

speedracer3

It is good practice to let the manufacturer work out the bugs out of a brand new model. I've had no problems with my 2000 Maxima, but was not so fortunate with the first run Toyota Sienna. My van was one of the first built and it is put together with bubble gum (it is falling apart). Nowadays the bugs in the Sienna have been worked out, wish I would have waited.

har1bush

hard to believe that Nissan would have many problems with the new '02 models, but i guess it's a possibility... As far as the waiting game goes though, if you wait longer, you'll see something even better down the road and you'll be tempted to wait and so on and so forth (for instance, in '03, the new Accord and the Maxima will come out, and if those interest you, then you'd have to wait ANOTHER year for Honda and Nissan to work out the bugs on THOSE models).

cncman

Randy,
Sorry, no brochures, but I do have the final ordering list with the options and colors etc.
Unfortunately, brochures and stuff usually arrive around the time the car does.

ajacat

Hey--

Nike, Yeah, I know re the pig-in-poke quotient, especially with a fun car like this . But we can have our Divine mechanics (they're really great--we're truly blessed) check it out for us before we get it. The only way I'd be able to afford a Maxima--definitely not new.

And lngtonge--didn't know you could get cloth on the SE!!! That's great! Now to find one like that. Thank you for pointing that out. I'm a big fan of lumbar support, tho--almost enough reason to buy the Accord EX-V6. That's just my silly back, but what are you gonna do.

Best,
ajacat

maxamillion1

I would like to know which colors will be available for the New Altima, could you post the names of the colors?

thebandleader

YEP!

A brand spanking new Altima.

It was parked and I was not able to stop, but it was beautiful. I live in an area where manufacurers often test new models, including Nissan.

The vehicle looked very expensive. I am now wanting to test drive one more than ever. My sister has a current generation Altima, and it has been fantastic (just like the previous generation one she had before it).

I can't get over how nice it looked; even better than the photos!

maxamillion1

maxamillion1

Was it an Aqua-teal looking color, I ask because there were some people who saw a new Altima roaming the streets in some part of Arizona this week.

ebal98

Guess what I just got in the mail today? A New 2002 Altima Brochure. This new Brochure is so cool.

maxamillion1

Was it a small booklet with the words "Coming This Fall", is so, I received that also.

nikecar

well as was posted here http://freshalloy.ubbforums.com/forum/Forum19/HTML/000089.html

we know of black, white, that teal, looks like Brushed Pewter (yeah), and I would assume a silver also.

thebandleader

It may have been the brushed teal. Pewter sounds like it.

I got the little brochure, would love a big one.

ajacat

I'm sure hoping that the redesign has a better trunk than the current Maxima. We drove the Max today and loved it, even in GXE. We were just about ready to buy it rather than wait for the redesigned Altima when I thought to open the trunk. What a design JOKE. Jeez. I don't even know if I could slide full grocery bags in there sideways. We were **so** bummed.

I know the Altima redesign is supposed to be about .5 bigger -- can anyone tell whether the opening is a little more intelligently designed?

Or do we have to go to a Regal to get a trunk that's capable of carrying kid stuff?

Thanks,
ajacat
p.s. how do you get the brochure? I guess I'll check out the website...

speedracer3

What's wrong with the trunk?.

Other than the old fashined goose neck hindges which do not belong in a car of this price, the trunk is HUGE. I fit just about anything in there, anything bigger and you are talking a full size car. You should have seen the trunk in the Passat I test drove, THAT was a joke!.

BTW....I have two kids and carry plenty stuff around

ajacat

Hmmm...did we drive the same Maximas? And I agree with you re the Passat--we actually ruled it out because of the silly trunk.

The size isn't the problem, it's the *opening*. They could have left a *little* more room for us to get into that 15.1 cf. I do a fair amount of gardening, and I just can't see getting 40 pound mulch bags, much less bales of pine straw, or a week's luggage and *stuff* for a trip to the grandparents in there very easily without ripping something somewhere.

Our 90 LeSabre (as you said, a full size car--but even the Regal has a more usefully designed opening) you can pretty much just open and load. It's much more straightforward. I know the 'trunk under the back' design makes less of the top of it accessible and saves a few inches on length, but I really think there could be more opening there without compromising safety or whatever.

I've been using folks' links to peer at the 2002 Altima, and somehow no one seems to have taken a pic of the trunk open. Wonder why --nah, I know it's not the most glamorous part of the vehicle. From the pics I've seen at several sites the car is truly beautiful. I want an SE with cloth. Can't decide which beautiful color until I see them all. I read someone saying the trunk is huge. I'm already sold on everything else, but the trunk *opening*? *That's* the picture this gardening Mama wants to see!

Thanks for your experience, though--it really does make me give it a second thought. Maybe I'll have to go back and take some stuff and try to load it (gently) into the Maxima. They'll think I'm nuts but I don't care.

Best,
ajacat

speedracer3

You might want to wait till the Altima comes out and see if you like the trunk better. The Maxima won't go away. All I can say, that for my needs...and I do lug a lot of stuff around, the Maxima trunk is just right.

ajacat

what's one more month? (although I agree with other folks that it would probably be best to wait even longer before getting it, in case any bugs appear...)

Best,
ajacat

kroliph

Any word on pricing for the 2002 Altima? If they can keep the price of a loaded model below $25,000, nissan will not be able to build the car fast enough. I think there are allot of people out there who crave an affordable performance sedan. One they can fit the whole family in and has the reliability of a nissan. I think this will be the most exciting mid sized family sedan that will appear in the 2002 model release

gagirl

I was at a dealership in Atlanta Ga yesterday and a salesman told me the price of the 2002 Altima was going to be $30-$32,000. He said the price increase was going to be around $12,000. Who knows if thats the truth. Maybe he was trying to sell me a 2001. For $30K the car better drive itself!!! I had see the pictures and read the information on the 2002 and was very interested, but I was totally turned off after he told me the price.

har1bush

gagirl, don't believe that crap! The Altima IS NOT GOING TO COST $30K!!!! The Maxima might not even hit $30K... so figure the Altima will be somewhere in the mid 20's

s852

He wants to sell what he has today.
Obviously.

Sporin

Nissan wants the Altima to compete head on with the Camry and Accord. That means nicely equipped, 4-cy. models south of $20k, with loaded V6 models not going much higher then $25k.

It's the new MAXIMA that will be in the mid-to-low thirties... that salesman is either...
a) lying
b) confused
c) stupid
d) ill-informed
e) all of the above

nikecar

i vote e) all of the above

har1bush

I was just reading the Toyota Camry board and I read that gagirl got herself (i'm guessing it's a girl) a '01 Camry LE V6 for $22.5K ... Well, I guess that's one less person (if I was a jerk, i'd call her stupid, but i'm not) rushing in line to get a glimpse of the new Altima!

maxamillion1

Because the day the car debuts, I am not going to work or to school!!!!

gagirl

Read a little closer. I haven't gotten the Camry.
That was Jeani that got her Camry for $22,500. I haven't gotten a new car at this point. I should call you stupid for not being able to read.

ajacat

this might sound nitpicky, but does anyone know whether we'll be able to get side airbags without getting leather? We don't have one of those brochures some of y'all have gotten, and I'm wondering if it's in there.

We want a 3.5, with cloth, with side airbags. Oh, and of course a nice big trunk opening .

Any info would be *most* appreciated--
best,
ajacat

p.s. my vote is to assume that that car salesman was confusing the Alt with the Max. Why not be generous?

nikecar

is kinda wimpy in terms of options/colors, etc.. its just mainly says Hey, we have a new car, want us to let you know more when its out??

but you can go to http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/product/vehicles/altima/frameset.html they have options, standard features, etc... also all driving reviews have been prohibited ("embargoed") until 7/27

they even have the stats on interior/exterior size differences compared to other competitors.

the SE has the Luxury cloth, and with the side air bag option, you get the side and roof mounted curtain air bags.. the only downside, it says you must get the ABS option too. whether that holds true or not, who knows...

maxamillion1

Checkout www.Nissannews.com they have the specs. According to the specs, you don't have to buy the leather package to get side airbags, BUT you have to get ABS, which I figure would be fine with you. The only options that require the Leather package are the Cold Package, and the Simulated Wood Grain Trim.

Also, are any of you considering the HID Xenon headlights and the moonroof?

I want a fully loaded Altima SE Seascape, with frost leather interior and a 5 speed manual!!!!!!

maxamillion1

A guy @ freshalloy.com gave out the new colors for the 2002 Nissan Altima, he didn't have any pics, but he descriped some of them.

Satin White (Current color)
Sheer Silver(The pre-production car pics, Bright)
Velvet Beige
Polished Pewter (Reminds me of Sterling Mist)
Seascape (Blue-green color, autoshow Model)
Opal Blue (Current COlor)
Mystic Emerald(Green "Emerald Color")
Noveau Ruby (Current Color)
Super Black

Interior Colors:
Blond
Frost
Charcoal

There are 10 in all, one color he forgot to mention, he will tell of it later.

*If this info has already been mentioned, forgive me.

har1bush

Isn't it weird that ABS is an option in this car?

ajacat

Oops--I hadn't seen that page where they list all the options. Sorry--my fault. And I don't mind ABS, but is there a reason why people don't like them? Is it because they take away manual control of the brakes?

We don't want a sunroof, though. Wish we could get those HID Xenon headlights without the sunroof or a spoiler. There just doesn't seem to be any reason for a spoiler on a street car. maybe I'm wrong--is there a functional reason on a car that's driven not raced, and doesn't often go over 100 mph? If someone can tell me that it *really* makes an aerodynamic difference (I see them on Accords, for Pete's sake) on a street car other than say a Viper or something, then maybe we'll consider it. What do I know.

And I'm with you, maxamillion, re that seascape color--literally made me gasp. It was on one of those freshalloy pics, right? Or was it another site? Man, that's beautiful.

The days are passing too slowly. Come on 7/27!

Best, and thanks again to all,
ajacat

speedracer3

Sometimes you have to get things you don't want/need just to get something you really want. I wouldn't worry too much about the spoiler, it's just for looks, and in certain cars like the Maxima it looks good (I don't think the Maxima looks quite right without a spoiler). I didn't want a sunroof either, but go figure, all SEs shipped to Florida had sunroofs. So when the temperature drops below 90F here...I open my sunroof!.

maxamillion1

I believe seascape is the aqua-looking color that is displayed @ nissannews.com in the photo gallery. That color really rocks, but I am also starting to like Noveau Ruby, it looks pretty good as well.

I have to agree with Ajacat, 7/27 is to far away, I wish Nissan had released the car in June, like they did with the 2000 Nissan Maxima.

ajacat

I just can't find them now, but I realize they weren't the freshalloy pics, but a link from another board on the redesign at freshalloy. I was just nosing around there. Someone had gotten to drive one and had taken some really useful pictures of them. There was one in seascape that showed off the 'bones' of the car amazingly. I thought the nissannews color was more like the light blue that's on Maximas--guess I'm gettting them confused. That blue seems a little 'hondaish' to me, iykwim. The seascape was unbelievable, especially up against the shape of the taillights. I like the polished pewter too, though.

Re the spoiler: yah, I know, it's just for looks etc. And in FL you certainly do need all the tanning possibilities you can get with a sunroof . I've always thought spoilers on street cars looked so silly, though--like the driver had been sold a bill of goods. It would be hard for me to adjust...maybe I'll work my brain around it somehow.

Best,
ajacat

kroliph

Does anyone know if the manual is going to come with a limited-slip differential up front? I have always been impressed with the fact that Nissan seem to always offer one in the SE models they produce. I'm hoping this will also be the case with the new Altima. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know when this car will be released to the public? We are not going to actually get this car on 7/27, are we. If so, I'll arrange for my test drive now.

cafemoca

A Nissan salesman in IL told me that the SE (3.5 L)is likely going to cost ~24k.

jrct9454

The new Altima has to compete model-for-model with the new Camry and current Accord. Thus, pricing can hardly be the big mystery that everyone seems to be making it. As Cafe points out above, an SE V6 can't really push the envelope beyond $24-25k because Accord EX V6s carry stickers in this range, and of course actually trade in the real world for $22.5-$23k in competitive urban markets.

Similarly, a loaded 4 cyl with everything will have to match up to an Accord EX 4 [MSRP in the low $21-22k range], and a nicely equipped midrange 4 cyl with the Accord LX 4 and Camry LE 4, which implies an MSRP around $20k and a real-world selling price in the $18-18.5 range.

Keep in mind that though this new Altima looks like the best thing Nissan has done in decades, it has to "reset" consumer expectations of the recent past of poor resale value and sub-par image. That doesn't happen overnight, and Nissan therefore does not have the luxury of overpricing the car out of the chute. Look for MSRPs that are smack in the middle of the target for Camrys and Accords that are similarly equipped. If dealers can move the new car at those prices, I guarantee you they will be ecstatic...any talk of pricing in excess of $24-25k is utter nonsense.