Nissan Altima

jji7363

We've been waiting for the new designs to arrive. We've boiled it down to Maxima/I35, Camry/ES300, and Passat GLX 4Motion. Based on what folks are saying across the Edmunds boards, the design edge goes to Passat 4Motion, which also has real wood, the Audi Quattro, 5 speed auto, 4 yr/50K warranty, and better crash tests (based on last year's model). Engine power edge goes to Maxima and build quality seems better with either Camry or Maxima.

We'll go out and test drive all before deciding. Shopping is half the fun!

scname

Remember the new Camry and Altima design concept started over 3 years ago. Economy was booming, gas prices in the single digits, bigger is better. Bigger cars cost more to build, and equipement is much better also. Prices look fair to me.

Its interesting to see how Nissan and Toyota fills the mid size void in their portfolio. Honda Accord is the only true mid sizer left and thats what I would buy.

bobcatbob

Can someone provide a link to the 2002 Altima pricing? I have looked all over that website and I canot find it anywhere. Also, is the SE-R pricing to be announced soon?

speedracer3

from:

http://www.nissannews.com

2002 Nissan Altima Pricing

2.5 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $16,349
2.5 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $17,149
2.5 S 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $17,999
2.5 S 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $18,849
2.5 SL 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $21,899
2.5 SL 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $22,699
3.5 SE 3.5-liter DOHC V6 5-speed man. $22,349
3.5 SE 3.5-liter DOHC V6 4-speed auto. $23,149

scname

those prices look good. thanks.

s852

It is high. If you skip the leather, moonroof and Bose system, that is only way you can get the 3.5 SE for a halfway decent price. ABS is optional even on the top model??
A lightly equipped 2.5S is not too outrageously priced.
The 2.5SL looks like a loser compared to an Accord EXV6.

The 2.5SL price is 22699 plus 540 destination charge for a total of $23293. For that price, you do not have ABS or moonroof. With ABS and moonroof, it is priced at $24837. About $900 less than MSRP of a 2002 Accord EXV6, but around $1500 MORE than the street price of the Accord EXV6.
Even if the Nissan dealers were to discount the 2.5 SL $1500 to match the Accord's street price, it would still not be a good value since it is a 4 cylinder Nissan and likely would not have as good resale value as an Accord EXV6.

bobcatbob

Ok, this may be comparnig apples to oranges, but what was the price range of the old Altima design? I realize the new on is really new, but just for kicks, what was the MSRP range.

misterjohnny

My needs were simple: a V6, leather seats, ABS & Traction Control, Side Airbags. I thought the Altima would fit me perfectly. But if you want leather, you have to buy the Bose ($899). But the Bose requires the Sunroof, etc. When I put together what I want, its outrageous. Looks like I'm going back to the Acura dealer. My other option is to get all those same options in a Hyundai Sonata for 20K. Sure it isn't an Acura, but for 9K and a ten year warranty, I can probably deal with it.

speedracer3

Prices are too high!...they better start selling at invoice now or they are going to get eaten alive. Personally, I will be looking towards the Audi A4.

robertr

At $29K, the loaded Altima SE has just about everything the Maxima SE has and is the same size, so it seems reasonable that the price is about the same. But when it comes time to replace my 2000 Maxima SE (which listed about $29K) there is no way I am going to buy a $16K car with $13K worth of options on it. At worst, the 2000 Maxima was about $22K or so(approx. base price of base model) with about $6-7K worth of options.

I think the 2002 Maxima SE equipped like mine might run about $31-32K from what I have heard, so some might consider the loaded Altima right for them. The tradeoff is a lower price for a better rear suspension but (based on previous posts) a cheaper interior. Others will probably start looking at other alternatives in the $28K-33K or so range.

qwalls

The $29k price doesn't make sense when you look at the quality of the interior materials, even if it is comparably equiped to a Maxima. They are ok for a $20k car, but not a $25k+ car. The maxima is better. If only the Altima didn't look so good, and the Maxima weren't so ugly. (my opion)

barnone

for me not choosing a nissan. them so called
"options" are not really optional.

mirth

I just check nissannews.com and I didn't see any price info. Where did those prices come from?

robertr

I agree with you about the price, interior, etc. That's why I may drop the Altima from my list of next car candidates. Remaining on the list are another Maxima and the coming Infiniti G35 if it's priced about the same as a IS300, offers a manual transmission and comes with all-season performance tires like the Max.

blueguydotcom

It looked like Nissan was on track, but 29k for an Altima is just plain stupid. Maybe 26k fully loaded is reasonable, but 29k? There's no way this car will be a success. Given it's a Nissan it'll have poor resale and it must fight the built in goodwill of Camry/Accord buyers.

They said the Altima was a make or break car for Nissan. Guess they're broke.

So, it there any doubt now that the stripped 350Z will ring in somewhere north of 35k with all the options that should be standard (leather, moonroof, ABS)?

I guess we can forget any pipe dreams about the G35 being an actual competitor to the 3 series too. If Nissan prices a darn Altima at 30k, the G35 will probably come in at 40 - so what's the incentive NOT to get the Bimmer instead?! Morons. I really loved Nissan, but with this latest bonehead move, good riddance.

Should we bet on the Sentra SE-R Spec V getting a price tag over 20k? Seems likely now.

hmpower

Those prices are much higher than I expected, considering the level of equipment. Almost 23 grand for the 3.5 SE, and abs is optional? I still think it's a great looking car, but I'll wait another year when they dealers will be more willing to haggle.

mirth

I think the driving force behind peoples' complaints about the Camry and Altima prices is that a loaded Accord V6 prices out at around $25K, while the Camry is going for $31K and Altima (maybe) $29K. And though you can make arguments in any direction about which has the most value, I think overall these sedans are pretty comparable. Altima has the power but lacks the comfort and conviences. Toyota has the quiet ride and nice interior, but lacks the power. The Honda is kind of the middle of the road contender, but all their options come standard. So it's hard to see the value in paying $4-$6K more for the Altima or Camry when the overall value of the Honda is just as good.

Of course, I haven't seen the official Altima pricing yet, so maybe that $29K was $26K + $3K dealer markup. ;-)

robertr

Do you think maybe Nissan is just trying to cover too wide a range of cars with the Altima? Realistically, most Altimas sold will probably list in the $18K to $23K range. Sure, Nissan offers it equipped like a loaded Maxima, but how many will buy it that way?

Heck, if you could equip an Escort or Malibu or another cheap car with options so it has everything a loaded Max or TL has it would probably push $30K also. It would be moronic to offer it that way and few would buy it.

qwalls

If you look at my original post from yesterday, I listed each item of the $29k. There was no additional dealer markup. It was $23k+ $540 dest + $5k+ in options.

mirth

I believe ya. Reinforces my points, even.

Camry - I've always thought this was a bit overpriced. Mind you, I think this is a solid car, and my parents had two of them and they were great, but I think Toyota's riding a big wave of boomers who wouldn't look at another car anyway. Once the boomers start moving to more upscale vehicles (Caddys, Lexus, Lincoln), I think they'll have to get more competitive with their price.

Altima - $29K. There's just no excuse.

vnguyen16

I don't think so. Most people will buy 2.5S which is about $18,800 comparing to 02 Camry ~$21,000 same level. As matter of fact, I test drove the 02 Camry LE 2 weeks ago and found no feeling of purchasing it. My old 89 240SX is more exciting to drive than the 02 Camry. I think 02 Altima will be much more better than my 89 240SX.

dfahy68

I just drove a 3.5 auto and a 2.5 stick at Continental in Countryside, IL. The 3.5 was loaded and stickered at $29,000 and change. I was astounded at the price, considering a loaded 2002 Maxima in the showroom with leather, etc. stickered for the same price. The Altima has all kinds of power, but it's cheap looking on the inside, regardless of the leather seats. I'm surprised Nissan priced it that expensive and also quite dissapointed since I was seriously considering this car. For $29K I can get a 2000 328i with low miles. Forget the Altima. The 2.5S listed at $22K with almost no options. It had adequate power but was much too plain for me. I think I'll give it a couple of months to see how the buying public responds.

qin2

We can speculate all we want, but the fact is maybe 4% of all of us have driven the car. Every magazine review I've read so far have all flat out said the Altima is a better car then the Camry and Accord, I guess Nissan decided to price it accordingly. Whether or not it'll be a seller, who knows.

bobcatbob

As the 4banger from Honda and Toyota are the volume sales car, so too will the Altima. How many people are really going to pay 30K for an Altima? Not many. I would agree though that the leather option needing the bose option which happens to need the sunroof option makes no sense and seems silly.

Of course, it is Nissan's plan to push the Maxima further upscale, so I'd gues the new 04 will base arond 30K and go as high as 40K.

And, given these prices I'd also say the SE-R and SE-R Spec V will be around 20K, which is EXTREMELY disappointing.

aes1519

I agree with your point on the 2002 maxima. Carmax is offering 2002 SE & GLE for around $26.1-26.6K. The altima w/bose, sunroof and ABS stickers only about 400 less than that (and no leather either!). If altima stays anywhere near sticker for more than a week, I'm thinking much more seriously about the maxima.

s852

So, it looks like the 2.5S automatic with a value package will be an ok deal with a little discounting. This is going to be the model that will sell the most and is a little less boring than the Camry LE 4 cylinder appliance.

However, many people had been interested in the higher-end 3.5 SE and the 2.5 SL.
A Maxima or Acura TL will be a better deal than a loaded 3.5 SE and an Accord EXV6 is a better deal than a loaded 2.5 SL.

ruski

for less $ than the Altima?

I have an answer: Pontiac Grand Prix GTP. 240HP, 280 lbs*ft torque.

I had one and loved it. Some may say the interior is not that great, too much plastic - but hey, look at the reports about Altima's interior, they don't sound very excited either.

GTP has a bullet-proof engine, very smart auto tranny and some near-lux touches.

My only complaint about GTP - slow power windows and dim headlights.

I was hoping that the Altima would be an amalgamation of the best feautures from the GTP and 300M...

s852

The Pontiac has plastic dash that makes the Altima look like a Mercedes.

blueguydotcom

You want to dethrone a market leader? You don't offer a little bit more car for more money. It won't work. You go the Lexus route and sell people a car with greater content for LESS money. Camry and Accord are established winners in this area. The Altima was and is considered the underdog. How do you woo people back to your team? How do you defeat 15 years of positive vibes directed at the Camcord? Price and content. Altima only, barely wins on content. On price it fails. so will the car in all likelihood.

mirth

speedracer - finally found the pricing announcement on nissannews.com. They didn't exactly go out of their way to call attention to it.

Here's the link for everyone else:

http://www.nissannews.com/nissan/news/products/reltim20010829165846.html

$29K fully loaded. They're really squeezing us on "options". ABS is a $749 option. Ridiculous.

bills01se

I just spoke to the sales manager at my local Nissan dealer and am still reeling from what he told me! $29K for a loaded 3.5SE? Is Nissan nuts? My wife drives a 2001 Maxima SE that we got for under $25K last October. Great car, fun to drive, fast, etc...I have really been looking forward to the 2002 Altima. Love the styling, 240 hp, etc...but the price is an absolute shock. Nissan had better come off the MSRP FAST or they will have a lot of unsold Altimas on their lots. A co-worker bought a 2001 Acura 3.2 TL Type S for $30K 2 months ago. Who in their right mind would pay $29K for a car with the Altima's stigma when they can get a prestigous Acura for roughly the same price? It will be interesting to see how quickly Nissan drops the pricing closer to invoice. My theory: By the end of the year.

mirth

Yeah - but even invoice can't be less than $26K. Still $2.5K more than you can get a loaded Accord V6 for.

speedracer3

The most attractive and affordable Altima is the 2.5 S....at $18K and change it is not a bad deal for a 4-banger. The S will probably the top selling model, but for those of us who want a V6 I think we will have to look elsewhere.

danny25

I just got back from looking at the new Altimas. They are very nice in person, but not even close to being worth $29K!! The dealership had a few S models and 1 SE that was being driven around by a salesman from another dealership. The interior quality looked fine to me, but I'm used to a Ford Ranger so most everything looks good to me. I was disappointed in rear seat room though, I put the front seat where I would sit, and then sat in the back, and my knees touched the seat (I am 6'2"), where is all the "extra" space going? it sure didn't feel larger than a Maxima. The S was priced at about $22K with the auto, Convenience package, and a sunroof. Not to bad considering it comes with a power seat and alloy wheels, and a nice sounding CD player. It had good base and it wasn't even the Bose. I think I'll have to wait a while for that SE though.

jimxo

I found a SE (automatic) with leather, moon roof, convience pkg, HID lights, spoiler (Bose ?) MSRP was $27,900.00. Thats a little better than what I have seen here.

I am not sure what else it was missing. Are we sure about this $29k stuff?

lsc

The fully loaded Altima V6 may have more content than the Accord EX-V6 but the price reflects the additional items. So, once again the 'safe bet' is the Accord. I think you can buy the Accord EXV6 for high $22k or low $23s...it seems like a no brainer to me.

I understand that Nissan has to price it higher because I'm sure it costs them more to make the Altima than Honda's Accord but I don't think anyone will care... not too many people will pay more for an Altima over a comparable Accord.

qwalls

Yes, we're sure. Look at my post from yesterday, #1078. The options are listed. Maybe you were missing traction control and ABS. That's another $1048. You also didn't mention mats, which are another $79.

teo

Watch out Honda and Toyota, you are getting undercut BIG TIME:

http://www.autonews.com/html/main/stories0827/daewoo830.htm

qwalls

See my post in the Camry topic, you're wrong. The Honda Accord is a much better value (and cheaper, even at MSRP, not to mention street price), and both have much better interior quality than the Altima.

gamoon

Man am I disappointed the interior of the Altima is the worst that I have ever seen on the inside of 20K+ car. The plastic has gaps ... at least Nissan could have attempted to make the plastic flush from panel to panel. I drive a 2000 Celica and it has loads of plastic but the fit is alot better than the Altima. Now the good part is that the 4 cylinder that I drove was very responsive and quite engine wise. I still think Nissan will sell alot of these cars but no where near as many had the price been a little cheaper and the interior ALOT better. I guess I better head over to Toyota and drive a V6 Camry, since I thought Nissan all but had my money.

qualityguy

Just saw it... Looks and feels outright cheap inside, Hyundai Elantra (forgot, whatever they call) 300 thing is much richer inside, with better plastics and everything. 3.5 SE - performance is.... man, oh, man! Good, give it more to me. I'd say, though, get traction control, for 299 it's darn cheap, and with quite a bit of torque steer, it's a must - but what do you expect with this performance and strength?! The car doesn't lean in corners; streering and handling are razor-sharp and precise. In other words - perfomance, handling, power delivery - outstanding; interior - I would cut hands off the guy who determined to put this cheap stuf inside, personally... DO NOT GO FOR LEATHER, EVEN IF IT MEANS, THAT YOU DON'T GET COLD WETHER PACKAGE! You'll lose this leather first year - I used to own leather goods factory, trust me. BTW, stereo is a killer. 3.5 SE with ABS, traction control, radio and xenon will run you 27. My advice - let the things cool off. The economy is going down. 3 month from now they will sell it with incentives, as Nissan always does, wit 3.5 engine, for 20-23 tops. And, if you must get a car now, get a Maxima - same engine, 2 years ago redisinged car, qulity and luxury throughout, and Nissan IS VERY WILLING, EVEN MORE THAN THAT, TO MAKE DEALS!!! And if they are tough in you neighbourhood, there is always Acura CL Type S - you gonna get deal there, and it is a much better car (for $27g's)!

jimxo

Well said, I couldn't agree more. This car needs interior work, otherwise a SE with cloth seats and a 5-speed is FUN FUN FUN! Espically at a few hundred over invoice. Wait a a few months good deals are right around the corner.

qualityguy

2002 Nissan Altima Pricing

2.5 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $16,349
2.5 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $17,149
2.5 S 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $17,999
2.5 S 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $18,849
2.5 SL 2.5-liter DOHC I4 5-speed man. $21,899
2.5 SL 2.5-liter DOHC I4 4-speed auto. $22,699
3.5 SE 3.5-liter DOHC V6 5-speed man. $22,349
3.5 SE 3.5-liter DOHC V6 4-speed auto. $23,149

Option Packages

Convenience Package
16-inch alloy wheels/tires, 8-way power driver's seat with manual lumbar, auto on/off headlights, dual illuminated visor vanity mirrors with sun visor extensions, leather-wrapped steering wheel, front passenger's window auto-up, key operated front windows up/down, key fob operated window down, multi-function trip computer with steering wheel controls, 6-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with speed-sensitive audio volume, steering wheel controls Vehicle Security System with Immobilizer and cargo net 2.5 S $1,679

Leather Package (Requires Bose Audio System)
Leather-appointed seats, simulated leather door trim panels, auto-dimming rear view mirror, HomeLink Universal Transceiver and Automatic Temperature Control 3.5 SE $1,399

Power Sliding Glass Sunroof (Requires Convenience Package on 2.5 S) One-touch open/close power sliding sunroof 2.5 S, 2.5 SL, 3.5 SE $849

Cold Package (Requires ABS/Side Airbag Package and Sunroof on 2.5 SL and ABS/Side Airbag and Leather Packages on 3.5 SE) Heated front seats, heated outside mirrors and trunk lid trim 2.5 SL, 3.5 SE $299

Bose Audio System (Requires Sunroof and Convenience Package on 2.5 S, Requires Sunroof on 3.5 SE with cloth interior) 8-speaker Premium Bose audio system with AM/FM/ in-dash 6-disc CD changer with radio data system (RDS) 2.5 S, 3.5 SE $899

Anti-Lock Braking System & Side Air BagsIncludes Brake Assist and Electronic Brake force Distribution, front seat side-impact and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags 2.5 S, 2.5 SL, 3.5 SE $749

Rear Spoiler (Requires Sunroof) Color-keyed to vehicle 3.5 SE $399

Traction Control System (Requires ABS/Side Airbag Package) 3.5 SE A/T $299

High Intensity Discharge (HID) xenon headlights (Requires Sunroof ) 3.5 SE $499

Simulated Wood Grain Trim 2.5 SL $149

Leather and Wood Trim (Requires Bose audio system) 3.5 SE $1,549

Destination and Handling $540

ecarmack

I test drove the 5 spd 2.5. Overall great drive. The engine seemed really quiet, but weak in the lower RPMs.

Compared to what I read about preproduction models, the shifter feel was terrific. However, the clutch was extremely light. I am used to the heavier clutch of my 5 spd Accord. I guess I could get used to the lighter feel, but it actually seemed like it would be more of a pain in stop and go traffic.

The armrest was useless for me. In the low position, it was too far back to rest my arm and shift. In the raised, forward position, it was too high to shift comfortably. The armrest position in the Accord is perfect for me.

Interior quality wasn't the greatest. But then again, my Accord could also use some improvements.

There was noticeable wind noise from the closed sunroof.

The door closed with a good thunk, but the sheetmetal still seemed somewhat thin.

keplas

My first time posting here.... but honestly, I don't think the pricing is as egregious as many people seem to make it out to be. Though I want the V-6, I don't need leather, automatic transmission or hideous "simulated wood grain" trim. So, consider the following:

$22,349 (SE 5-speed)
899 (Bose audio)
849 (Sunroof)
+ 749 (ABS/Side Airbags)
-------
$24,846

This is MSRP... assuming one will be able to get this for at least $1,000 under MSRP once the initial buzz has died down, I think under $24,000 is quite fair.

I agree with those who feel that the "bundling" of options packages is rather a nuisance, but am fortunate that the ones I want are linked to other packages that I also desire. With those options packages, I'd be getting precisely the features I want and nothing extra. Other manufacturers are guilty of precisely the same "bundling" practice... I remember being frustrated by it when I was shopping for a 1999 Passat a while back, though I don't recall the combinations. If you could custom order a $25,000-base-price car with every option you wanted and none you didn't, the price would go through the roof. I may not like the practice, but as I work in an industry where our base product is essentially a commodity, I understand why the manufacturers must do things this way to manage their costs effectively.

I am still considering a 2001 Maxima, as I know I could get a fantastic deal on one, but I don't think there are many 5 speeds left out there. I sure haven't seen any lately here in Atlanta. Besides, there are certain things I prefer about the Altima... the styling is more appealing, it has a tilt AND telescoping wheel, and I actually prefer the amber-lit instrumentation. The fit and finish aren't quite as good as the Maxima, granted, but they aren't horrible, either. Of course, I'm still driving my 1991 Isuzu Impulse (which looks great for a 10-year-old car), so just about anything would be an upgrade. But I think the Altima's interior is far superior than anything I've seen from the American manufacturers, and infinitely more interesting (if not quite as good quality) as what the Camry and Accord have to offer.

My two cents...

tim_hooligan

29k? i added it all up, fully loaded, and got $30,361. there is NOT CHANCE IN HELL I would pay that much for a NISSAN. i know nissan is really trying to get out of red ink, but do they have to do this? the salesman said this is their "big homerun". we had to bust his bubble and downgrade it to groundrule double.

jimxo

The entry level 2.5 is $16,349 plus freight, then add every option and the V6 (SE) and your at 29K. For the 13k difference you could get sentra too.

nautiker

Looks as if HID's are only available on the 3.5se. Too Bad. Looks as if many people who were considering this vehicle are going to look elsewhere. I saw a base 2.5 today in Opal Blue w/auto and thought it looked like a great vehicle for the $17.9k MSRP advertised. The $$ for all of the different options seems a little high. It definitely increases the MSRP quickly. I took my wife to see it today and she liked it. Granted, I'm like most of the respondents on this board who wouldn't pay $27-30k for this vehicle. What you do get for $18-$24k isn't too bad though. 175(180?)HP is plenty of power in this vehicle for my wife who, unlike myself and the majority of most of you, won't be doing stoplight runs and accelerating around the corners like Schumacher. Some people don't like the styling. I, as well as wife wife, find it new, angular, and different. You definitely won't mistake it for anything else on the road and it does, in my opinion, look like a much more expensive vehicle than it is. I think the styling is A+ and my wife loves the fact that the cup holders will hold a 1 liter bottle of h2o. Little things like that make the car for the women. The dealer wouldn't even let us take a test drive because it is the only one they have...looking forward to driving it.

tplunkett

I have looked forward to this car ever since it was a rumour. I have waited and waited and had every intention of buying a loaded, manual SE. Well guess what - I drove it today and it is pitiful - all things considered. Forget the ridiculous price for a second. The interior, as discussed previously, is horrible. Seriously, can you say Hyundai? Hard platic everywhere and the soft plastic in front of the passenger on the dash has a rubbery texture. I have shopped and driven virtually all cars in this class and the Altima's interior is at the bottom. I just sold My Nissan Pathfinder LE and if you care about the little details, you will notice everything from the heated seat switches, to the glasses holder, the overhead light switch, climate control dials, etc is cheaper, looser, and has had cost cutting performed. Lastly - the "leather" is just plain bad. It seems like vinyl with which has some coarse texture on it.

The drive - The power was smooth but it certainly did not overwhelm me. The 5 speed shifted with a very "notchy" feeling. The shifts were absolutely not smooth. Handling was fine.

Exterior - You either like it or you don't seems to be the opinion. I really like it and feel it is the car's only saving quality.

Sit in an Altima with Leather, then sit in a comparable Maxima (or any other comparable Japanese make) - you will know what I mean regarding quality levels right away. Now I know why Nissan is not worried about offering both the Altima and Maxima - they really are not that similar in "quality" of feel.

Everyone - I wanted to love this car and get one right away, I am just very disappointed with what I experienced today. I'm going to have to look elsewhere because I am not parting with this much money for this car.

Nissan - what are you thinking?

AamirQ

keplas,

Actually that would be $25,386, not $24,846. You forgot to add $540 for destination.

Anyhow, I don't see why Nissan offers once-exclusive options such as HID headlamps and the Bose audio system in the Altima. (Same goes for Toyota and the GPS navigation system in the Camry XLE.) I feel people should buy a Lexus, Infiniti, or an Acura if they want such options. Keep the bread-and-butter sedans reasonably priced.

I wonder how much cheaper the Altima would've been if it offered the 3.0 liter 222 hp V6 instead... I think it would've been plenty of engine for a car like this, and it would've been more affordable also. Who needs torque steer?

Where will this leave the next-generation Maxima? In the $30-35K range? Isn't that the Infiniti I35's territory? I sense the cannibalism already. It was pretty bad already, but I feel it will be worse next year. Who knows, maybe there won't be a replacement for the I35... maybe the G35 will be the only Infiniti in the low-to-mid 30's. In any case, the 2003 Maxima will probably be targeted towards the Avalon instead.

Regarding the options & "value" package pricing, Nissan isn't doing anything we haven't seen before. The Altima 3.5 SE has a similar price range ($22-29K) as the Maxima once did. The Passat (1.8T to 2.8 GLX 4motion) has a similar price range as the Altima (2.5 S to 3.5 SE loaded, the Passat has no equivalent to the base Altima). BMW, Audi, Volvo, and Jaguar are guilty of offering cars with reasonable base pricing but outrageously expensive options and packages that add over $8-10K to their cars. Nevertheless, I wish more manufacturers would equip their cars like Acura does with the TL - sell it loaded with just one or two options.

Okay I'll shut up now.

AQ