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Nissan Altima
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Problem is, I was not that impressed with the Alti. I can get the Altima 3.5 SE for 22,000$US (FULLY LOADED) or the Max for 24,000$US (FULLY LOADED). those dollars are converted from Canadian prices. It IS a great car but, like I said, I was disapointed with a couple of things:
- Carpet tickness: My Mazda 626 has ticker capret and beter fibers.
- Wind noise: How could they not see the piece of ruber (foam?) sticking out of the right handside windshield???
- Leather: Good quality but feels weird to the touch (not as smooth as the Maxima leather)
The Maxima has it's shortcomings to (like you said, suspension ), But the resale value IS there with a max. Not so sure with the Altima (new model?).
In the end, for around the same price, I think I will choose the Max.
P.S.: Rumours has it that the next Maxima (2003,2004) will be a full size car with V8 and ALL-WHEEL DRIVE (freshalloy forums)!
WOOHOO!!!
We do not need to continue the discussion of the Maxima here. Please, let's get back on topic.
Thank you.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
amazing2u "Nissan Maxima VS. Nissan Altima (new model)" Sep 23, 2001 5:41pm
maxamillion: the 2.5S had cloth and the 2.5SL had leather as I wrote in my post (check again).
A comparison b/w the Alty and the Max is in order, imo, since the former has climbed in price into the entry luxo price range (mid 20's), so amazin2u had a good point in creating a forum such as this. I, for one, will like to see what we all come up with. My verdict has already being given - the Max is the better put together model, while the Alty bests in the all subjective "looks" department.
Anyways I drove the fully loaded 3.5 and I took the chance to floor it quite a bit and do some
barely legal manuevers. (READ: extremely sharp turns at a very high speed.) to test the suspension. I was very impressed. The car handles extremly well for such a large sedan.
But I am sure those that have tested the car know that. But on the low side, the materials, such as the plastics on the dash seemed on the cheap end.
Also the center arm rest, oh my god, I felt that if I tried pulling it just a little to hard the thing would come right off. Also the sunroof was pretty loud. (Although a sunvisor --is that how their call? Would clear that problem.
I am not huge on materials since I am a true driver, and I am young enough, still, who will not get anything less than a manual tranny.
But the interiors did leave something to be desired. I can only credit that to the fact that
most of the Alty's budget when into the handling,
engine, suspension and styling. Which is good...
but only to a point, if one starts letting themselves go interior....and in my honest opinion
the Alty is pretty border line.
It is difficult to get a well rounded car, and by that I also mean fun to drive and not too expensive.
Anyways I drove the fully loaded 3.5 and I took the chance to floor it quite a bit and do some
barely legal manuevers. (READ: extremely sharp turns at a very high speed.) to test the suspension. I was very impressed. The car handles extremly well for such a large sedan.
But I am sure those that have tested the car know that. But on the low side, the materials, such as the plastics on the dash seemed on the cheap end.
Also the center arm rest, oh my god, I felt that if I tried pulling it just a little to hard the thing would come right off. Also the sunroof was pretty loud. (Although a sunvisor --is that how their call? Would clear that problem.
I am not huge on materials since I am a true driver, and I am young enough, still, who will not get anything less than a manual tranny.
But the interiors did leave something to be desired. I can only credit that to the fact that
most of the Alty's budget when into the handling,
engine, suspension and styling. Which is good...
but only to a point, if one starts letting themselves go interior....and in my honest opinion
the Alty is pretty border line.
It is difficult to get a well rounded car, and by that I also mean fun to drive and not too expensive.
I'll be driving the Altima and from what I have been hearing it's road noise is pertty noticable when compared to the Camry.
If the road noise is too bad, I will just go with the Camry. I am a sucker for quite cars. I cannot stand ANY road noise, but I can't afford a LS.. oh well.
Review is here:
http://www.usatoday.com/money/columns/healey.htm
As I read these posts, it becomes apparent that many people who don't even care for this car spend much time posting their opinions. I've seen the redesigned Camry and am very familiar w/ the current generation Accord. I can't recall any current or previous posts that question the reliability of any of these 3 Japanese automakers. So, I would think it is safe to say that those who are interested in the '02 Altima are more "driver" oriented than those who can't stand not having a cover for the fuel release or having hard plastic as opposed to soft plastic on the dash.
I am definitely "driver" oriented when it comes to test-driving and buying vehicles. I have test driven both the 2.5 I4 and the VQ 3.5 6, both engines and drive trains set the Altima apart both Honda and Toyota. Smoothness, responsiveness, low end torque and overall HP put this car @ the top of my list. I have to agree w/ whatever source I read this from stating the 2002 Camry went from "vanilla" to "French vanilla" w/ their redesign. Honda would have been a possible 1st if it weren't for the dated design. . .we'll have to see what they do in sept '03 w/ their redesign.
All of the posts on this car have been helpful but the majority of the time seems to be spent on the smaller differences between the Altima and other makes. I think we can all agree that Nissan has improved 10-fold over the previous generation Altima and have given buyers a serious alternative to the Camry and Accord. . .just my $0.02. . .
Onto the real star of the lot, the 2002 Altima: the dealer finally had several cars in stock, so I was able to test drive both a 5 speed 4 banger and an automatic V6 (I'll definitely be back when they have a 5 speed V6 on the lot
General impressions: A lot has been said about the Altima's interior. When I first looked at it, the plastic around the stereo seemed very flimsy and thin to me. Maybe it was an early model, because when I checked it out again, while it's still somewhat thin, it didn't feel as flimsy or cheap this time around. I would definitely be willing to accept the interior plastic as is for a good price.
The cloth in the 5 speed was nice - not terrific, but not bad either. The leather in the 3.5SE was extremely nice. I definitely intend to get leather if I buy an Altima.
2.5L engine, 5 speed: This engine is amazing. For a 4 cylinder car, it has a ton of horses under the hood and great torque (175hp, 180 ft-lbs.) It went over interstate overpasses with no complaints, and merging wasn't the horror that it usually is in a 4 cylinder car.
I was *highly* impressed with the 5 speed shifter though. Not only did it feel natural and comfortable under my hand, but the shifting is smooth and you feel a solid and satisfying (to me, anyway) *thunk* as you land in each new gear. That's the ultimate in shifters for me - I don't like shifters that you just push until you can't go any further...this felt like a real sports shift.
3.5L V6 engine, automatic: Two words - *MONSTER POWER*! This car blows the doors off of my respectable Saturn L300 (182hp and 190 ft-lbs of torque) with a whopping 240hp and 246 ft-lbs of torque. Those overpasses I mentioned before? This engine eats hills for lunch
The only thing that could possibly be better than the 3.5SE that I drove would be to add the 5 speed to it. Thankfully it's standard on all models (of course, it depends on what the *dealer* decides to stock in inventory...)
All I know is that if things go as planned, I'll be selling my current car within 6 months and getting a 3.5SE V6 with a 5 speed, leather and sunroof...and I'll be loving every minute of it :-)
-Bryan
j/k
i don't trust a usatoday car review. almost as much as i trust bin laden.
afty...good pt. Some people are so quick to bash other's opinions if not agreeing with their's. FTR, I found the Altima and Maxima to be very quiet....
(at least a good dealship, anyways) to charge more than MSRP. After all it is a family sedan,
with really good sporty intentions, or course.
But a family sedan never the less.
I agree that the Altima's interior does leave a lot to be desired. I think that I am just dissapointed, for the fact that it feels like
some aspect will not last too long or that they might be easily brakeable\damaged.
Since the interior of the car does have this feel of fragile manufactering.
Driver or no driver, no one can ignore this fact because it will cost more in the long run to repair.
and it says that in order to get the sunroof on a
3.5 SE you HAVE to get the leather package!
What type of dumb thinking is that?
I want no leather. But if I want the sunroof
I have to shell an extra $2800 because I have no choice?
Nissan is going to loose a lot of customers with this oversights....
go to www.carsdirect.com and try to pick options on a Maxima. Very quickly you will find out that in order to get something, you must pick 5 other options that you don't want.
from the photos, i am in love, but i think i will not like it when i test drive it.
: )
Mackabee
The only advantage I see on a loaded SL is that you can order side curtain head airbags for extra safety.
Considering you can't actually buy a 2002 Altima SL for invoice anyway, makes the pricing even less attractive for the Altima.
: |
Mackabee
Mackabee
I've got a 10 year old Nissan that's built better than my 2001 Jetta. Go figure.
I saw the interior of the 2002 Honda Civic and it's quality is higher than the Altima. Certainly is a shame.
Anyway, are they purposely slowing the production of these Altimas for the dealers to get maximum profit? (An old Honda trick)
Like others have mentioned, the Accord EXV6 looks to be the better all around car than the Altima (value wise)
The VW Passat is drawing my interest these days...the build quality sure looks top notch...better than even Toyota and Honda
That said, I need to make a personal observation. You folks who are attacking mackabee apparently haven't been around Town Hall very long. Otherwise, you would be well aware of the fact that he is one of a core group of salesfolks that hang out in Town Hall being very helpful to our members. Some of you have made some gross generalizations about people in car sales and applied them to mackabee. I suggest you get to know him a bit better before you do that.
Please follow the link above and find an appropriate discussion to continue the conversation about the appropriate or inappropriate behavior of sellers and/or buyers. Chances are, mackabee will be there as well.
Thank you. Now let's get back to the new Altima.
Pat
Host
Sedans Message Board
Actually, they're producing about 4420 Altimas per week (which equates to 229,840 Altimas per year). That's about 40,000 more than Nissan's goal of 190,000 Altimas. Seems like Altima is off to a great start.
Second, I told him that I wasn't looking at buying a car until mid 2003.
Third, I only made the offer to see if he was going to push the car for MSRP.
Fourth, I wasn't the one wasting time, it was him. He called me and he has it in his little book to call me only when they get a SE in because he wants me to test it out. That is the same thing he did when the 2000 Maxima came out, the 2002 Max, and the 3.5L Pathfinder, usually when i come to test out a new vehicle it is his first time also and we both discuss pros and cons.
Fifth, the salesman and I are good friends and if i was wasting his time, trust me when i say he wouldve told me
Sixth, I told him i would not even consider buying this car until the 03 Accord debuted
Seventh, If anything i was helping him out by coming down, because i was only the 3rd person that he had helped that day and it was 4:30pm
I could keep on going, but hopefully you are now seeing that before you jump to a conclusion and make a generalizing statement about someone, it would help to ask questions instead of assuming answers.
Why do you need to bring the price of a car so low if at the end in order to get what you want to have to pretty much load up the car anyways.
A strategy? Yes. An intelligent strategy? No.
Well, just in case I am still waiting for the
dealership to call me to test drive a 3.5SE
5 spd. I hope that the second time a test drive the car I won't be as shocked about the interior as I was the first time.
The reason why I feel this way is because I have been driving a VW Jetta and a '96 Acura, and the interiors feel much superior. I think I am just somewhat disapointed. Oh well, in the end, it is just a car.