Seems like they would have just called it Velvet Gold, but according to a dealer @ Freshalloy that color is Velvet Beige.
As many of you might know, Opal Blue and Noveau Ruby are carryover colors, as well as Satin White.
Also, BlueGuy Where do you live, and how did you get a chance to view the new Altima, was it at a local dealership in you area? My mom has a 2002 Accord SE for the next few days(rental) and I think it has some of the best interior material and high quality and fit and finish. The Accord and Camry might be bland to some, but they sure are hard to beat in material and quality, same with the Passat, but the only problem for me is the reliablity, I am not sure of VWs, I saw a coupe of 2001.5 Passats today, and there styling is so nice.
Also, I keep hearing everybody say that Nissan copied VW with their styling(Passat), but isn't it true that Nissan designed a prototype called the Arc-X (or something like that) and VW actually copied them and made it into the Passat/A6? I think I read that in the latest Automobile Magazine or Motortrend, I can't remember. Maxamillion
Smithcon, that's a sharp eye for detail you have--good catch. My take on the shifting around of what's optional is that it's a game by Nissan's marketing department to play head games with Toyota's marketing department over what is included at a given level. Some people cross-shop and make decisions based on such things as, "well, if I buy the Nissan I get a couple of extra features that I'd have to pay for from brand X". Whereas Toyota keeps their info under wraps until the cars are actually at the dealership, Nissan just uses plain old obsufcation and misdirection.
BTW, I'm also tall and care a lot about headroom and ergonomics. Just curious why you want a manual, a V6, and if the clutch ergonomics are ok for a tall person. I've never driven a clutch, and living in the crowded NorthEast, I assume it wouldn't make sense for me. I also greatly like the feel of a lightweight car--nose heavy cars with a big engine ruin the driving experience to some extent for me. For example, I like driving the current Alero very much in the 4 cylinder version, but find the more powerful V6 much less fun to drive and less "tossable". Since my preferences are so different than yours, I'm just trying to understand your thinking and check if maybe I'm missing a thing or two here.
Blueguy: that's great that you got in the SE. Does your dealer already have one? Unfortunatley, you confirmed my fears that the interior is like a plastic toy. I'm used to an Acura myself and the Altima interior I expected to be worse, but not THAT much worse as it looks like in the pix. I imagine you feel the same way after your VW. BTW, why do you like the 5-speed tranny. I'm trying to imagine having to shift a lever and push a pedal 4-=5 times each every time I accelerate to over 60 mph. Sounds like a lot of pushing and pressing to me--I'm a bit on the lazy side and don't see how I'd like that, although I've never driven a shift. Do you have much traffic to deal with, and isn't that supposedly a big pain with a shift?
Miscellaneous: Anyone know what color Mystic Emerald is? My favorites I think are the Beige and the Seascape.
Do you know if that was one of the pre-production models that have been around for several weeks or a production model? Was the interior so bad that you have decided that you would not buy the car no matter what the price was or no matter how well it drove?
If it was a production model, that would mean that dealers will have them available several days ahead of the September 14th launch date and prices should be available any time now.
As far as the V-6 is concerned, I am childishly dreaming of wielding 240 horses with a simple gesture of my right ankle. I will test-drive both engines, of course. I have had my share of fun, light autos, and may prefer the lightness of the four to the smooth torque of the six. But I must admit, 246 ft-lbs of torque in a broad, flat curve in a car that light sound awfully appealing. It is not an experience I have had before, and I am lustily anticipating the experience.
As far as a manual is concerned, I have always enjoyed the absolute control and directness of doing my own rowing. Even the automanuals leave something to be desired, in my opinion, as they still have that delay that irks me.
Both of the vehicles in my current stable are autoboxes (for my wife's convenience, as she was a fairly new driver and didn't need to worry about shifting back then). The car I am now searching for will be my primary ride, and oh, how I have missed the pleasure of reaching down and executing the perfect shift, time after time.
Don't get me wrong; I am not saying that I think manuals are superior to autos, but a manual is more suited to my individual tastes for driving. Automatic trannies can be amazingly smooth and responsive, and I admit they are much more comfortable in stop-and-go traffic jams, which is the only place I don't enjoy the manual. If you spend a lot of time in these, an auto is probably the box for you. However, being my own boss means I do the stop-and-go routine about once a month, tops.
Otherwise, I actually enjoy the shifting, even around town between lights. And on those thrice- a-week (minimum) forays into the sparsely populated backroads that adjoin the area in which I live, a stick heightens my enthusiasm for the driving experience significantly, especially when I need that split-second shift timing on those sharp curves and sweeping transitions.
Overall, it helps to keep me focused on my driving and more "connected" with the car. If you enjoy the "tossability" of a vehicle, you might want to give a manual a drive or two until you get used to it. It contributes significantly to that tossable feeling, and with practice, you can use the shifting as another component of the overall handling.
Height-wise, I usually find the problem of fitting into a car is with my right leg getting bent against the console in order to avoid the steering wheel, or just to make enough length between the seat and the pedals. The left side is usually more open, although steering wheel controls on the left side can get hit by a knee when clutching. Generally speaking, if I find the legroom in a car to operate the gas and brake comfortably, my left leg has plenty of room to operate the clutch. In fact, I remember a few cars car giving me a problem with a manual tranny; my right leg would hit the shifter!
The BMW M-Coupe (the one based on the Z-3 with the odd, bread-van rear-end) is such a vehicle. I literally could not force the shifter into first because my right leg was in the way! The path between the gas and the seat was so short that my leg was canted clear over the center console.
It was frustrating, because I was so in love with the vehicle's incredible test drive reviews and quirky, non-BMW mainstream looks that I was ready to buy it on the spot. I have always loved the BMW driving experience, but the styling, as attractive as it is, seems to shout "Hey, look at me; I'm cool!" (It's probably not the styling so much as the way we regard BMWs in our society.) The M-Coupe is so oddly styled that it completely disarmed my reservations and I flew into the dealership with checkbook in hand, but I couldn't squeeze into the blasted thing. Aren't Germans tall?
Now, almost a year later, I am still searching for that perfect car. One that yields an extremely rewarding driving experience, but doesn't cry out for attention. Enter Nissan with a very pleasing looking, 240-hp, sports-tuned vehicle that could double for the family car once in a while, and doesn't carry any social baggage. Throw in the great price and Nissan's reliability record, and I have found the perfect car.
I just got the September issue of Automobile Magazine. It has a great article on the new Altima.
In fact it has the prices... Supposedly there are four trim levels. There will be the very rare base 2.5, and the the 2.5S(GXE) and the 2.5SL(GLE). The 3.5SE will carry the V-6.
Base Price: $18,750 (estimated) As Tested - 2.5S: $21,500(estimated)
My estimation on the 3.5SE....hmmm right around $25,000.
hate to burst your bubbles but I think most people in here saw the article already and can probably make even better estimates on the prices than those listed on the magazine. BTW, I think that if 2.5S is $21K, it would be ridiculous... maybe the 2.5SL will be $21K, since the Accord EX 4cylinder is about 21-22K.
I'm in San Diego and the salesguy said the real deals would be in come September. I'd imagine it was a pre-prod, but I don't know for certain.
If VW copied a Nissan design, they did so quite awhile ago and it sure took a long time for the this version to come out. The current Passat's styling is actually sorta dated at this point, though still pleasing to the eye. Personally, the exterior lines remind me quite a bit of the Passat's roof to c-pillar and GS300's rear fender with a dash of IS300 lights and a 300M trunk.
Why would I want a manual? Because I like the on hand control of engine power. Yes, I drive in rush hour traffic in the evenings and it does become tiresome, but even in rush hour I love my stick because it allows me to launch into openings far faster than I could with a slow-responding, hunting-for-gear auto. More than that, when the twisties come up, manuals make one feel like they're totally in control of the car. With a manual, for instance on a really tight corner one can hold a gear, pressing on the gas in a FWD car, the engine in the sweet spot, torque high, wheels churning, keeping the car at just the right point so as the corner ends you can punch it and launch away. With an auto it's nigh impossible to swing through corners that way.
I saw one picture of the Altima instrument cluster and it seems that when the numbers in the gauges are lit up they reflect all around inside the gauge "cavities"
The interior walls of the "cavities" should have been made of a matte material.
I read somewhere recently that the Passat was patterned after a Nissan showcar several years ago.
I think that along with the x-type, the Altima is one of two recent positive design introductions. (as opposed to the Aztec and PT Cruiser, and the Rendevous...)
and thinking about what happens when one wants to upgrade...just because it says bose doesnt mean it'll last forever. what would happen in this situation? even with some kind of mounting bracket, it would look strange to have a conventional rectangilar radio in that huge...oval?
i'm planning on buying a car this fall and the altima has been high on my list of cars to check out. but all this talk about cheap interior and the ugly reg gauges is killing my anticipation for the thing. i mean, a car can look as good as possible from the outside, but how often are you going to be looking at it from that view...we'll all just have to wait. nothing like waiting months for a big disappointment...there's always 2003!
by the way, why would toyota even make a car like that? talk about an ugly interior
I have been thinking about the many post here and magazine articles about the cheap plastic looking dash. I am going to give it a chance until I see it for myself and when I finally drive the car, performance and handling may out weigh any concern I had about which car to buy.
This interior is starting to appeal to the simpler side of me. I want performance with a smooth shifting 5-speed and easy to read instrument cluster. The radio looks very out there on its own and they may work out for me anyway.
I like the Camry (SE only) interior trim very much, but with 192 HP and no 5-speed a Lexus looking dash with out some balls will not get my 25k.
Smithcon, thx for your thoughts and experiences. You make a good case for the manual too--I suspect if I try one I may want it. I found your comments on the Bimmer interesting. But I wouldn't generalize to all German cars that way. I'm almost as tall as you, and I like the room in the front seat of the 3-series better than 90% of the cars on the road, Maxima included. Also, I've been in a Porsche Boxster and was surprised that it had muchmore leg room than I expected. Whereas I couldn't even fit in a Honda S2000 that I tried to cram into at a dealer. So my message is that I have found some of the German cars quite good for room.
Answers, your comments also make me feel that I've been missing out on a manual. That's great if you get increased control and response from it.
Jimxo, your comment that the interior was appealing to the simpler side of you was interesting. I'll bet that whether any of us buy a VW or Acura with a rich interior, or an Altima with a cut-rate looking one, probably after 3 weeks we wouldn't even notice one way or the other. I think you just get accustomed to what interior you have, and then oblivious to it. After all, most of the time your eyes are on the road and enjoying the cars dynamics, not the quality of the interior. But I wish they had done a better job with it.
"I'll bet that whether any of us buy a VW or Acura with a rich interior, or an Altima with a cut-rate looking one, probably after 3 weeks we wouldn't even notice one way or the other. I think you just get accustomed to what interior you have, and then oblivious to it. After all, most of the time your eyes are on the road and enjoying the cars dynamics, not the quality of the interior. But I wish they had done a better job with it. "
For me, I notice a car's interior as soon as I slide into the front seat. Yes, driving dynamics are important but some level of comfort and luxury needs to be present too. I waffled amongst the IS300, WRX and Jetta WE, finally settling on the car with the interior and performance I find most palatable. The Altima's performance with a 5 speed may change my mind, but if the WRX couldn't win me over with 0-60 times in the fives, I doubt the Altima will with its power.
For all of us who are waiting to see this car it wont be as long as you think.
Just came from my Nissan dealer today and the Altima will be at your dealer on August 30th. inventory will follow immediately.
Nissan sales people will be spending next week on training and competitors for the new Altima. This change comes as Toyota has quickly tried to get a few Camrys onto dealers lots.
Toyota and Nissan will start HEAVY advertising on TV and radio beginning Sept 1. Camry trails the Accord by less than 18,000 units year to date. Now comes Nissan the come back story of the automotive industry in recent years. Altima is expected to gain market share by 60,000 units its first year.
Pricing will be announced next week, however the service manager saw the car today and noticed a sticker of $20,800 for a fully loaded (what ever that means) 4 cylinder and was very impressed by the amount of interior room.
Now something that was interesting. The 4 cylinder has achieved the Ultra low emission rating similar to Camry. The V6 has not but he confirmed HP is 240 on the V6, but he told me HP on the 4 was 170 HP. I corrected him and said you mean 175 and he said they (Nissan) told him 170 down 10 from the first rumors of 180 HP.
I don't want to spread rumors, but if this is true people will wonder what else is Nissan hyping about the car.
Lets wait and see next Thursday when the first 4 cylinder arrives. I am going with the SE V6 anyway, but I sure would like to know if Nissan is going to deliver everything they say.
If by a loaded 4 cylinder, he means a loaded 2.5Sl, that will be my next car.
Also, when he said Next week, which day did he mean? I hope we have some solid info on pricing by this weekend because frankly I am tired of waiting, but this WILL BE MY NEXT CAR.
Today I saw 2 2002 Altimas rollin down the street just ouside DC. There's a Nissan corp. building right down the street, so that might explain the sightings. I saw one in a beige/gold color from the front and side, and it looked a lot like the Passat, but more definite lines. Looked ok from that angle. Saw another one from behind; it was in the teal color like the auto shows...the rear looks really funky from a distance. Don't really think I like it. It's a personal taste, but I don't think many Accord/Camry people are gonna like the style....too edgy. In a way, it reminds of the Monte Carlo from the back (barf) Oh well, I'm sure most of you reading this will like the looks. Just don't care enough about driving fast to like this car. Maybe a testdrive will change things, since it looks like it'll be here next week sometime. we'll see.
Nissan will announce pricing on the highly anticipated, all-new 2002 Altima on Thursday, August 30. For further information on the new Altima or any of the complete line of Nissans, please visit the Nissan media news site at: www.nissannews.com.
The third generation Altima represents a total revision and rethinking of Nissan's midsize sedan - it brings a level of style and performance that currently does not exist in its class. With a choice of a 240-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 (the first time a V6 is available in Altima) or 175-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and an all-new 4-wheel independent suspension, Altima offers spirit with state-of-the-art technology. An aggressive new exterior design with increases in all major dimensions and a driver-oriented interior with myriad convenience and luxury features set Altima apart in the highly competitive sedan marketplace.
For those of you who have Nissans, any comments/complaints when it comes to build quality or durability. I have always thought of Nissan as 3rd to Toyotas and Hondas in quality as well as fit and finish. I am goo-goo over the body style and powerplant options and honestly think that Honda/Toyota will loose 1k's of sales to this vehicle. I saw the 2002 Camry and didn't think twice. Just as plain as ever. I can't imagine Nissan having any quality control problems or issues like the Fords and GMs of the world. Let me be right about this. Opinions on past Nissan dealership/ownership experiences would be very helpful. No way we will ever pay MSRP for this car. . .2.5% over invoice @ the most. May the bargaining Gods next spring be with me. . .Any idea what the Opal Blue looks like--current color for Nissan??
I have owned Toyotas, Hondas and Nissans so I guess I am qualified to give my oppinion. My Nissans have been as reliable if not more reliable than my Hondas. I feel Toyota is still #1 when it comes to quality. My biggest complaint about my Nissan Maxima is the paint quality.
I suggest you get your hands on the last SEVEN years of Consumer Reports April (CAR)issue.
Maxima has a better record than Camry or Accord. And while your at it look at the Infiniti J30/G20& I30. In fact this year G20 reliability was off the chart. Highest of ANY vehicle.
After twelve plus years of 2 Maximas, my experience has mirrored the rating in Consumer Reports.
I've purchased 11 new cars for myself. I'm the kind of person who always wants NEW. But I just can't give up my Maxima. Even after 7 years. The car is awsome.
Myself and family have had 15 Toyota's and 5 Honda's over the last 20 years. My first Nissan was a 2000 Maxima so far not one repair (47,000 miles). Fit and finish has been better than my parents 95 Toyota Avalon which has had a lot of problems, very disappointing.
I have a 2000SE (about 21K) and the only quality issue I have is the paint nicks. But I only have a few, so I may be better off than others. The interior is excellent.
I have not owned a Toyota or Honda....my Max is my first foreign make.
If there were no add-ons, it must have absolutley every possible option. I saw a loaded 2002 XLE V6 that was only $31,500 and I thought it had everything. I don't know where the extra $470 came from on the car you saw. The Camry has higher-quality plastic on the dash, so that may justify the price difference compared to the expected price of the 2002 Altima. Many people have expressed heavy concerns about the interior materials of the 2002 Altima, so now they can buy the Camry and enjoy the experience of looking at its high quality plastic.
2000 GLE with no mileage compared to you guys! lol around 11,000. No paint problems (knocking on wood), hasn't had one technical problem at all. Only thing that gets me angry is how the rubber sealing on the front doors squeak when you open them..small but noticeable. Also first foreign make, much better than the POS Fords we've owned before.
You might try a little silicone spray on a paper towel - go over all the rubber you can find on all of the doors and door openings. This has worked wonders for us on different makes over the years...
nautiker: I, like you, was very interested in reliability when I was looking to buy my last car. After checking out the consumer mags and such I found that the Maxima (I have never owned an Altima) had a better reliability record then both the Accord and Camry. I decided to buy the 2000 Maxima and have actually had a lot of problems. The manual transmission died on me, the power drivers seat died on me, the heated drivers seat switch died on me, the trunk had to be adjusted and painted because it rubbed the bumper, many rattles had to be fixed, the paint could be a little better, etc, etc, etc... I think that I must have gotten a "Friday" car. All that said though, I do still love this car. It is soooooooo much fun to drive!
Just found out that Nissan plans on having at least one or two altimas at every dealer before the upcoming holiday! So far as the build quality, Nissan uses many of the same manufacturing techniques on the altima as the infinitis, Weld Bonding, IBAS, (intelligent Body Assembly System) Kind of neat, instead of the car moving on a line and parts added to it as it goes, the parts come to the car when it is stationary, this is supposed to improve the body fit tolerances which Nissan says is +/- 1 mm. Then the fit is checked with a laser when it is done, I love all of the neat stuff manufacturers do! BTW I was reading up on the trouble at the Smyrna plant in Tennessee like someone mentioned awhile back, turns out that the UAW is trying to force another vote on whether the employees want to go union, This has happened I think three times in the last 15 years or so, Nissan always has put it to the vote of the workers and so far they have always turned it down. I thought it kind of odd as I thought all auto workers were in the union already, oh well, we should be able to see the new altima by the weekend or Monday!
Can't imagine where you got the idea that all auto workers are unionized. Among the various Japanese and German "virgin plants", that is those factories started from bare ground, NONE are currently unionized: Honda [Ohio, and soon Alabama], BMW [Carolina], MB [Alabama], Toyota [Kentucky and Indiana], Nissan [Tennessee]. Wages and benefits tend to be competitive with the UAW, though rarely penny for penny; shop floor practices are generally more progressive, but there is always a minority who are unhappy for whatever set of reasons...thus the election.
Joint-venture plants [NUMMI, Mazda/Ford, Mitsu/Chrysler] are mostly UAW, and have been from the beginning.
More than anything else, what the Smyrna thing is about is the almost desperate need for the UAW to make a breakthrough at one of these "new ground" plants. They continue to see their membership numbers decline over time, and thus they must keep trying...
The seals will hold up better to use and abuse if they are treated regularly with silicone spray. Think of it this way: with the squeaking problem, you have a built-in reminder to do this...
Looks like the 3.5L will require premium fuel, and the 2.5L will use regular(page 222 of owners manual). That sucks, if I have to pay the extra money for premium just like in the Maxima, then I want the extra 15 hp too!
A number of you probably know but there may be some that do not.
I usually use a commercial spray cleaner to clean my wheels to get the brake dust off. It does'nt work that well and is expensive.
When cleaning my car interior I usually use a little Mr. Clean and water. Just for fun I tried this on a front wheel and it cleaned the wheel better than anything I have ever used.
Try it and let me know what you think. Just a little in water. I'm going to put some in a spray bottle for the future.
My initial reaction to the SE pricing was that it was a good deal for $23K until I remembered how little is standard equipment. It will probably be pushing $27K fully loaded with anti-lock brakes, side airbags, leather, seat heaters, Homelink, moonroof, BOSE, Xeons and so forth. When the dealers start discounting them below MSRP, it will be a good deal. It is still cheap compared to a Camry XLEV6, but the Camry has better quality plastic.
Kind of wierd to me that the SE would retail at 23,100, that's kind of high, considering it doesn't have much, now if the sunroof was included, that would be a different story, but I bet it will still be cheaper than the camry, but maybe not the Accord. I wish it had better interior materials, but I KNOW I am buying it now, after seeing the pics of the Altima 2.5S in Super Black, now I know why they call it Super Black.
Comments
As many of you might know, Opal Blue and Noveau Ruby are carryover colors, as well as Satin White.
Also, BlueGuy
Where do you live, and how did you get a chance to view the new Altima, was it at a local dealership in you area? My mom has a 2002 Accord SE for the next few days(rental) and I think it has some of the best interior material and high quality and fit and finish. The Accord and Camry might be bland to some, but they sure are hard to beat in material and quality, same with the Passat, but the only problem for me is the reliablity, I am not sure of VWs, I saw a coupe of 2001.5 Passats today, and there styling is so nice.
Also, I keep hearing everybody say that Nissan copied VW with their styling(Passat), but isn't it true that Nissan designed a prototype called the Arc-X (or something like that) and VW actually copied them and made it into the Passat/A6? I think I read that in the latest Automobile Magazine or Motortrend, I can't remember.
Maxamillion
BTW, I'm also tall and care a lot about headroom and ergonomics. Just curious why you want a manual, a V6, and if the clutch ergonomics are ok for a tall person. I've never driven a clutch, and living in the crowded NorthEast, I assume it wouldn't make sense for me. I also greatly like the feel of a lightweight car--nose heavy cars with a big engine ruin the driving experience to some extent for me. For example, I like driving the current Alero very much in the 4 cylinder version, but find the more powerful V6 much less fun to drive and less "tossable". Since my preferences are so different than yours, I'm just trying to understand your thinking and check if maybe I'm missing a thing or two here.
Blueguy: that's great that you got in the SE. Does your dealer already have one? Unfortunatley, you confirmed my fears that the interior is like a plastic toy. I'm used to an Acura myself and the Altima interior I expected to be worse, but not THAT much worse as it looks like in the pix. I imagine you feel the same way after your VW. BTW, why do you like the 5-speed tranny. I'm trying to imagine having to shift a lever and push a pedal 4-=5 times each every time I accelerate to over 60 mph. Sounds like a lot of pushing and pressing to me--I'm a bit on the lazy side and don't see how I'd like that, although I've never driven a shift. Do you have much traffic to deal with, and isn't that supposedly a big pain with a shift?
Miscellaneous: Anyone know what color Mystic Emerald is? My favorites I think are the Beige and the Seascape.
Was the interior so bad that you have decided that you would not buy the car no matter what the price was or no matter how well it drove?
If it was a production model, that would mean that dealers will have them available several days ahead of the September 14th launch date and prices should be available any time now.
Not very helpful to say the least.
I did not have time to re-watch the video, but I think Jed Connely said they were going to give the car an upscale interior.
It would be interesting for someone to go back to him and ask what happened and see what his response is.
As far as a manual is concerned, I have always enjoyed the absolute control and directness of doing my own rowing. Even the automanuals leave something to be desired, in my opinion, as they still have that delay that irks me.
Both of the vehicles in my current stable are autoboxes (for my wife's convenience, as she was a fairly new driver and didn't need to worry about shifting back then). The car I am now searching for will be my primary ride, and oh, how I have missed the pleasure of reaching down and executing the perfect shift, time after time.
Don't get me wrong; I am not saying that I think manuals are superior to autos, but a manual is more suited to my individual tastes for driving. Automatic trannies can be amazingly smooth and responsive, and I admit they are much more comfortable in stop-and-go traffic jams, which is the only place I don't enjoy the manual. If you spend a lot of time in these, an auto is probably the box for you. However, being my own boss means I do the stop-and-go routine about once a month, tops.
Otherwise, I actually enjoy the shifting, even around town between lights. And on those thrice- a-week (minimum) forays into the sparsely populated backroads that adjoin the area in which I live, a stick heightens my enthusiasm for the driving experience significantly, especially when I need that split-second shift timing on those sharp curves and sweeping transitions.
Overall, it helps to keep me focused on my driving and more "connected" with the car.
If you enjoy the "tossability" of a vehicle, you might want to give a manual a drive or two until you get used to it. It contributes significantly to that tossable feeling, and with practice, you can use the shifting as another component of the overall handling.
Height-wise, I usually find the problem of fitting into a car is with my right leg getting bent against the console in order to avoid the steering wheel, or just to make enough length between the seat and the pedals. The left side is usually more open, although steering wheel controls on the left side can get hit by a knee when clutching. Generally speaking, if I find the legroom in a car to operate the gas and brake comfortably, my left leg has plenty of room to operate the clutch. In fact, I remember a few cars car giving me a problem with a manual tranny; my right leg would hit the shifter!
The BMW M-Coupe (the one based on the Z-3 with the odd, bread-van rear-end) is such a vehicle. I literally could not force the shifter into first because my right leg was in the way! The path between the gas and the seat was so short that my leg was canted clear over the center console.
It was frustrating, because I was so in love with the vehicle's incredible test drive reviews and quirky, non-BMW mainstream looks that I was ready to buy it on the spot. I have always loved the BMW driving experience, but the styling, as attractive as it is, seems to shout "Hey, look at me; I'm cool!" (It's probably not the styling so much as the way we regard BMWs in our society.) The M-Coupe is so oddly styled that it completely disarmed my reservations and I flew into the dealership with checkbook in hand, but I couldn't squeeze into the blasted thing. Aren't Germans tall?
Now, almost a year later, I am still searching for that perfect car. One that yields an extremely rewarding driving experience, but doesn't cry out for attention. Enter Nissan with a very pleasing looking, 240-hp, sports-tuned vehicle that could double for the family car once in a while, and doesn't carry any social baggage. Throw in the great price and Nissan's reliability record, and I have found the perfect car.
Now if I only fit ...
In fact it has the prices...
Supposedly there are four trim levels. There will be the very rare base 2.5, and the the 2.5S(GXE) and the 2.5SL(GLE). The 3.5SE will carry the V-6.
Base Price: $18,750 (estimated)
As Tested - 2.5S: $21,500(estimated)
My estimation on the 3.5SE....hmmm right around $25,000.
Great stuff, check it out.
If VW copied a Nissan design, they did so quite awhile ago and it sure took a long time for the this version to come out. The current Passat's styling is actually sorta dated at this point, though still pleasing to the eye. Personally, the exterior lines remind me quite a bit of the Passat's roof to c-pillar and GS300's rear fender with a dash of IS300 lights and a 300M trunk.
Why would I want a manual? Because I like the on hand control of engine power. Yes, I drive in rush hour traffic in the evenings and it does become tiresome, but even in rush hour I love my stick because it allows me to launch into openings far faster than I could with a slow-responding, hunting-for-gear auto. More than that, when the twisties come up, manuals make one feel like they're totally in control of the car. With a manual, for instance on a really tight corner one can hold a gear, pressing on the gas in a FWD car, the engine in the sweet spot, torque high, wheels churning, keeping the car at just the right point so as the corner ends you can punch it and launch away. With an auto it's nigh impossible to swing through corners that way.
The interior walls of the "cavities" should have been made of a matte material.
I think that along with the x-type, the Altima is one of two recent positive design introductions. (as opposed to the Aztec and PT Cruiser, and the Rendevous...)
http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/product/vehicles/images/altima/800px/10_altima.jpg
and thinking about what happens when one wants to upgrade...just because it says bose doesnt mean it'll last forever. what would happen in this situation? even with some kind of mounting bracket, it would look strange to have a conventional rectangilar radio in that huge...oval?
i'm planning on buying a car this fall and the altima has been high on my list of cars to check out. but all this talk about cheap interior and the ugly reg gauges is killing my anticipation for the thing. i mean, a car can look as good as possible from the outside, but how often are you going to be looking at it from that view...we'll all just have to wait. nothing like waiting months for a big disappointment...there's always 2003!
by the way, why would toyota even make a car like that? talk about an ugly interior
This interior is starting to appeal to the simpler side of me. I want performance with a smooth shifting 5-speed and easy to read instrument cluster. The radio looks very out there on its own and they may work out for me anyway.
I like the Camry (SE only) interior trim very much, but with 192 HP and no 5-speed a Lexus looking dash with out some balls will not get my 25k.
Answers, your comments also make me feel that I've been missing out on a manual. That's great if you get increased control and response from it.
Jimxo, your comment that the interior was appealing to the simpler side of you was interesting. I'll bet that whether any of us buy a VW or Acura with a rich interior, or an Altima with a cut-rate looking one, probably after 3 weeks we wouldn't even notice one way or the other. I think you just get accustomed to what interior you have, and then oblivious to it. After all, most of the time your eyes are on the road and enjoying the cars dynamics, not the quality of the interior. But I wish they had done a better job with it.
For me, I notice a car's interior as soon as I slide into the front seat. Yes, driving dynamics are important but some level of comfort and luxury needs to be present too. I waffled amongst the IS300, WRX and Jetta WE, finally settling on the car with the interior and performance I find most palatable. The Altima's performance with a 5 speed may change my mind, but if the WRX couldn't win me over with 0-60 times in the fives, I doubt the Altima will with its power.
Just came from my Nissan dealer today and the Altima will be at your dealer on August 30th. inventory will follow immediately.
Nissan sales people will be spending next week on training and competitors for the new Altima. This change comes as Toyota has quickly tried to get a few Camrys onto dealers lots.
Toyota and Nissan will start HEAVY advertising on TV and radio beginning Sept 1. Camry trails the Accord by less than 18,000 units year to date. Now comes Nissan the come back story of the automotive industry in recent years. Altima is expected to gain market share by 60,000 units its first year.
Pricing will be announced next week, however the service manager saw the car today and noticed a sticker of $20,800 for a fully loaded (what ever that means) 4 cylinder and was very impressed by the amount of interior room.
Now something that was interesting. The 4 cylinder has achieved the Ultra low emission rating similar to Camry. The V6 has not but he confirmed HP is 240 on the V6, but he told me HP on the 4 was 170 HP. I corrected him and said you mean 175 and he said they (Nissan) told him 170 down 10 from the first rumors of 180 HP.
I don't want to spread rumors, but if this is true people will wonder what else is Nissan hyping about the car.
Lets wait and see next Thursday when the first 4 cylinder arrives. I am going with the SE V6 anyway, but I sure would like to know if Nissan is going to deliver everything they say.
Also, when he said Next week, which day did he mean? I hope we have some solid info on pricing by this weekend because frankly I am tired of waiting, but this WILL BE MY NEXT CAR.
How do you guys like that Altima is compared to Passat? :-)
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/allnew2002nissanaltima
The articles have found nothing lacking in the power of the 4...
I saw one in a beige/gold color from the front and side, and it looked a lot like the Passat, but more definite lines. Looked ok from that angle. Saw another one from behind; it was in the teal color like the auto shows...the rear looks really funky from a distance. Don't really think I like it. It's a personal taste, but I don't think many Accord/Camry people are gonna like the style....too edgy. In a way, it reminds of the Monte Carlo from the back (barf)
Oh well, I'm sure most of you reading this will like the looks. Just don't care enough about driving fast to like this car. Maybe a testdrive will change things, since it looks like it'll be here next week sometime. we'll see.
Nissan will announce pricing on the highly anticipated, all-new 2002 Altima on Thursday, August 30. For further information on the new Altima or any of the complete line of Nissans, please visit the Nissan media news site at: www.nissannews.com.
The third generation Altima represents a total revision and rethinking of Nissan's midsize sedan - it brings a level of style and performance that currently does not exist in its class. With a choice of a 240-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 (the first time a V6 is available in Altima) or 175-horsepower 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission and an all-new 4-wheel independent suspension, Altima offers spirit with state-of-the-art technology. An aggressive new exterior design with increases in all major dimensions and a driver-oriented interior with myriad convenience and luxury features set Altima apart in the highly competitive sedan marketplace.
Maxima has a better record than Camry or Accord.
And while your at it look at the Infiniti J30/G20& I30.
In fact this year G20 reliability was off the chart. Highest of ANY vehicle.
After twelve plus years of 2 Maximas, my experience has mirrored the rating in Consumer Reports.
I've purchased 11 new cars for myself. I'm the kind of person who always wants NEW. But I just can't give up my Maxima. Even after 7 years. The car is awsome.
I have not owned a Toyota or Honda....my Max is my first foreign make.
Only $31,970.00.
What a deal!
I don't know where the extra $470 came from on the car you saw.
The Camry has higher-quality plastic on the dash, so that may justify the price difference compared to the expected price of the 2002 Altima.
Many people have expressed heavy concerns about the interior materials of the 2002 Altima, so now they can buy the Camry and enjoy the experience of looking at its high quality plastic.
Joint-venture plants [NUMMI, Mazda/Ford, Mitsu/Chrysler] are mostly UAW, and have been from the beginning.
More than anything else, what the Smyrna thing is about is the almost desperate need for the UAW to make a breakthrough at one of these "new ground" plants. They continue to see their membership numbers decline over time, and thus they must keep trying...
This should have lots of info on the Altima.
http://freshalloy.ubbforums.com/forum/Forum13/HTML/000169.html
LOL JOKE!
This PDF is realy AWESOME.
I usually use a commercial spray cleaner to clean my wheels to get the brake dust off. It does'nt work that well and is expensive.
When cleaning my car interior I usually use a little Mr. Clean and water. Just for fun I tried this on a front wheel and it cleaned the wheel better than anything I have ever used.
Try it and let me know what you think. Just a little in water. I'm going to put some in a spray bottle for the future.
gsd@canada.com
When the dealers start discounting them below MSRP, it will be a good deal.
It is still cheap compared to a Camry XLEV6, but the Camry has better quality plastic.
Additional info here:
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/allnew2002nissanaltima