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Nissan Altima
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Comments
Suggestion - buy one of those cloth dash covers for $20-$30. They are kind of fuzzy, and much less reflective than the plastic dash mat'l. They also preserve the plastic from fading and cracking from the sun. That's what I plan to do.
I saw one of these in a dealer showroom when the Altimas first came out last fall. It had roll up windows, but looked the same as an 'S'.
The base 2.5 car was dropped sometime during the 2002 model year, don't know exactly when.
BTW, all 2002-2003 Altimas have had power windows standard, regardless of model trim. Even the 2.5 has power windows, but it's true that the Altima 2.5 doesn't have air conditioning and neither does the new Accord DX.
Must have changed this during the 2002 run, because I saw and touched the manual windows in a base Altima 2.5 a year ago.
Anyway, I looked at Nissandriven.com, and they don't list A/C as an option for the 2.5 model. Who will buy it?
My $0.02
I haven't had any problem so far during the 1st 30Kms (20 Miles) ;->
I wish all the complainers would realize that the Altima is essentially an "entry level" car. It's designed to sell for $18-$20,000. What can you expect for that price range? The fact that in the SE model they shoe-horned in a powerful engine doesn't make it a $29,000 car, no matter what some people are willing to pay. Like any good business, Nissan figures there's a sucker born every minute, and some people prove them right. That's not a knock on the car.
For $20K it's a great car, and very well equipped. I haven't seen a better one in that price range, unless you're willing to buy a used car.
My guess: when they upgrade the interior, they will upgrade the price accordingly. The immutable law of economics is that you get what you pay for.
All Nissan has to do now is to get their fit and finish up to Toyota and Honda levels and I think they will finally have a real winner with the Altima!
The Sandman :-)
I drove a nearly base-level Camry (at about $18,500). Other than the styling, which was boooooooring, it was gutless. Yes, the Camry interior was finished better than the Altima. The Altima's exterior fit and finish are just as good as the Honda and Toyota entries. I compared paint finish and seams between doors, etc. I've done some paint and body work, and these cars are all about the same - remarkably good for the price.
So, you pays your money and you takes your choice. Sorry, but you don't get everything on a car that sells for $18-20K. With the Altima, you trade some interior quality for more performance (power and handling) and better exterior styling. It's a trade-off I'd make again.
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And the tilt/telescope wheel is one lever. The Altima uses two. So everytime you get in and lower (like I do) the wheel, you don't have to set both. And it isn't spring loaded like the Altima's. And it doesn't tilt very much either. They need to go back to the drawing board on that.
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Goose neck hinges on the trunk, small trunk at that.
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Only prop rod on the 4cyl.
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And where did the rear end of the car go? It looks chopped off at the rear.
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And the center console cover seems lifted from 1980.
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And now it looks like these transmission problems are going to cause this new introduction to have a poor reliability rating just like the Civic and Odyssey.
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Definately a big YUK.
I expected so much more. I'm liking the Altima more every day.
This is the Altima forum so I won't respond here and I already responded to this same post over in the Accord forum.
I don't like the attitude of Honda dealers, most of them being cockey and arrogant. I figure if they are doing that well, they don't need my money.
Another friend of mine just bought a 1997 Special Edition Altima with 60K miles and stick shift. He really likes it, but I don't know how much he paid for it.
Vocus: I take everything you say with a grain of salt. You have anger issues because you can't get out of that VW. How much do you owe on that $15,000 Jetta again???
Vocus, doesn't this poster sound like the same person?
The Sandman ;-)
Sandman: I think you are right. Also, he owns a Honda Si, which would make sense since that's the car that the girl traded her Pro on.
Absolutely LOVE driving the car -- though I must admit, Nissan LIED about the gas mileage... No way that car gets 21/26 (or even 19/26 as I've sometimes seen it.).
I almost bought the 4-banger, until I took them both out on the highway on my road test... The V6 was MUCH smoother, quieter, and felt more solid on the road.
I also test drove the Camry & Accord. Both had nicer nicer interiors, but no guts and soccer-mom styling -- I'm not THAT old. And to boot, at first glance, most people think it's a Lexus.
I agree with many of the posts... I too LOVE the rear-end, but the front stinks of "compact" car, so, for $200 I bought a Trenz Grille and it looks OUTSTANDING. Been tempted to buy the "silver" dash kit, but am afraid I'll do it wrong and that it might peel in a year or two.
Also test drove an Infiniti G35 a month or so ago... WOW. Good thing I didn't see that before I bought the Altima... Might have been forced to choke-up the additional $10,000 (though I think the front of the G35 looks better than the rear -- guess the grass is always greener)
As far as I can see, Nissan/Infiniti has some of the best looking cars I've seen over the past year, from the 2002 Altima, to the G35 (and new G35 Coupe), to the new 350Z. So, I guess I don't mind being their "Guinea Pig" for now, cause I look GOOOOOOD in them thar wheels!
Also... With such a radical redesign, I was surprised the kept the "Altima" name... They should have called it the ULTIMA -- would have been more suiting, don't ya think?