Nissan Altima

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » April 27, 2006, 11:39 pm

What do you guys think of these? My mom got a 2.5S Special Edition a few months ago. I haven't driven it much until the past couple of days but I'm really impressed. Handles well and the little 4 banger has decent power (for a 4) and gets good gas mileage as well. It's also "seems" a lot roomer than the Camery or Accord and is a hell of a lot cheaper.

Anyone own one? if so, anyone got the 3.5 six in it? Just wondering how much power that version seemed to have.

Thanks!
Marb

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » April 28, 2006, 1:51 am

The altima is no cheaper then an accord once you put things that come standard in the accord in it... like side curtains,abs, traction control... comparably equipped the altima MSRP's for a grand more ( use the edmunds compare thing it will show you a lot, like less headroom, shoulder and hiproom) has a much lower resale value. Now I cannot pull Toyota stats vs altima out of my head but I do know the toyota is a lot close in all these reguards then the nissan. I will say every Nissan is going to be alil horsepower heavy and that does make them fun to drive but after 3 years there is a 2 grand gap in the car compared to the toyota or honda, this is also it's last year of production so it's going to take an even bigger resale hit down the road.

When you get to the 3.5 the difference moves to about 3 grand and about 4 overall (the resale on the 3.5's isn't bad like the regular).

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » May 4, 2006, 1:12 pm

As Pherr noted, the prices aren't terribly different unless Nissan is throwing major incentives out since most safety and option choices come in packages. It is a good car though especially since they revamped the interior in 2004 (the previous interior was a disaster). Nissan's v-6 is an award winner. I'm sure the power difference is significant with sub 7 0-60's and very good high speed passing acceleration. Top that off with decent v-6 fuel economy and emmissions for the power it puts forth, and you have a winner.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » May 10, 2006, 3:54 pm

Actually the Alitma has like 1.5 inches more headroom than the Accord and seems to have more shoulder room but definitely less hip room.

I've driven my mom's around a bunch and really like it but I want the 4 cylinder for better gas mileage. The older Accords with the 4 didn't seem to have near the same power as the Nissan but I have heard the new ones are about the same... both much better than the Toyota.

Not buying yet... actually picked up a Dodge Grand Caravan a few months ago because while it was the same price as the Odyssey with the same equipment, Honda could come off $2K while the Dodge place came off almost $10K with all the rebates and an some extra stuff I got from my insurance company if I bought a Dodge. My wife and I both agreed that the Honda is THE best Van out there and our favorite and we know it will hold it's resale MUCH better... but $8K is $8K when you are looking at payments and we got all the same stuff except for a sunroof. Once we pay this one off in a few years that will be our next family car.

Marb

Boogahz · Post by **Boogahz** » May 10, 2006, 4:20 pm

Marbus wrote:...Dodge place came off almost $10K with all the rebates and an some extra stuff I got from my insurance company if I bought a Dodge.

Whoa, how did your insurance factor in on that? Are you just talking about your premium being cheaper with one vehicle over the other?

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » May 10, 2006, 6:51 pm

Got an extra $500 from Farm Bureau if I bought a Dodge, I think they sponsor some Rodeo together or something. The other discounts were rebates and just the dealer coming off the Van... apparently there is a lot of markup in those or they just needed to move them a couple of months ago. But on another note my insurance did go down $40 a month from my 2003 Envoy when I got the Van.

My feeling is that if they were the same price as the Honda, which they list for, they just wouldn't sell. It's really nice and we love it, are very happy but it's not an Odyssey either. It's got less power and dosen't handle as well... but it's comfortable, has a great air conditioner, power doors, DVD for the kids, Infinity with Sat radio etc...

Where Dodge / Chrysler is going to have problems is Kia / Hyundai in a couple of years. Their new vans are sweet and are much more like the Honda and Toyotas than the Dodge / Chrysler Vans (the Ford and GM Vans are a joke IMHO though) but cost the same as the Dodge with discounts. When Dodge / Chrysler does their update in 2008 they better make some big improvements or they are going to start loosing big ground on the market they created back in the 80s. I agree with Pherr, Hyundai is making some nice products, the resale is still crap but if they keep proving themselves it won't be.

I really like the new Sonata as I have had them for rentals a couple of times now. They are quiet and handle great but the fit and finish isn't up to Honda yet and the ride is more like a mid 80s Camero. They haven't been able to duplicate Honda or Nissans handeling while still giving a smooth ride... but I'd put money on it that they are working on it... it's better than Ford though

Marb

Kelgar · Post by **Kelgar** » May 17, 2006, 3:15 am

Nissan's engines generally crank out more power than almost all their competitors when comparing equivalent displacement. They also look a hell of a lot better than Hondas and Toyotas, though they outperform in overall reliability.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » May 17, 2006, 3:56 am

The new Hyundai van is called the Entourage, they were thinking of going with the name Ody-ienna but they figured that was a little too obvious. I think the engine lacks a little power compared to Hondas V6 (the same engine they use in the Pilot and Ridge) but I thought it stood right up to the Sienna. I also LOVE that the 3rd row has a button to open the sliding doors in the 2nd row, great little feature that shows just how much Hyundai really does "get it". It's the little things like that that get people ethered to buy a car.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » May 17, 2006, 11:05 am

Getting really close to buying an Altima. I've driven 3 different Accords, and LX, LX SE and EX and the interior seemed cheap except on the EX and due to my height I can get the seat where I want it with a sunroof. What's up with Honda putting the stearing wheel of a 1978 Ford LTD in the Accords? I truly felt like I was back in time. The cheap plastic literally felt like it could break off in my hand and since it was a very humid day, my hand kept slipping... the glare on the dash was also pretty bad if you have the tan interior. The contrast between that and the big black thing in the middle of the dash was very annoying... then the seats were terrible. I sat in a EX with leather and it was WONDERFUL - just like the Honda seats I remember. But on the cloth I could actually feel the metal of the seat on my back (I have really broad shoulders). I LOVE that new Civic but my wife thinks it's too small.

We went back and drove an Altima 2.5 S Special Edition and it seemed night and day better than an Accord. I've never owned a Nissan and loved every one of the 5 Honda's I've had but I was truly depressed after driving some of them. I finally got the guy to admit that they did have that $750 dealer cash (which pissed me off that he lied too me) and they came down to $19,100 for the LX SE... I thought that was close enough and was going to buy it wanted to actually go look at the Altima's, not just drive my moms before I bought. The Altima I looked at was a little more due to the options but I got the guy to come down to $17,300 for it. It has everything the Honda does and a few more items like power seats, trip computer etc... and they are going to pay my sales tax which is a $1K. So basically I'm getting the car for closer to $16,300 and driving both one after another... I have to depressingly say that the Altima feels (drives, rides, power, sound insulation etc...) like a better car than the Accord.

I never thought I would say that. My guess though is that if I were getting an EX-L V6 vs a 3.5 SE I would get the Honda but on the lower end, the Altima just seemed better.

Marb

Siji · Post by **Siji** » May 17, 2006, 1:11 pm

Marbus wrote:then the seats were terrible. I sat in a EX with leather and it was WONDERFUL - just like the Honda seats I remember. But on the cloth I could actually feel the metal of the seat on my back

Exactly what we were talking about in the other thread. I love my Civic but when I buy my next vehicle I've pretty much decided on the Toyota instead due to the comfort difference. If you can afford the leather, Honda is really nice. But otherwise, the Toyota seats feel like heaven compared to Honda's cloth ones.

As for Nissan, 350Z or nuttin! As for Hyundai.. my ex had 2. They both sucked. Horribly. No lemon law possibility as it was never the same thing breaking.. just dozens of random things..

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 3, 2006, 11:31 pm

Do they come with fire extinguishers?

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » June 5, 2006, 11:31 am

Never seen a problem with Nissans, and haven't seen a burned up Hyndai in a few years but I use to see one every month or so back in the 90s on the side of the highway.

Marb

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 5, 2006, 1:39 pm

There is a stop sale on all 4 cyl altimas and all sentras due to engine fires...

Nissan said it has received 215 reports of the vehicles' engines burning through their oil quickly, mostly from rental car fleets, and 17 engine fires.

"If not detected or addressed properly, the condition may lead to engine damage which could, in extreme cases, result in a risk of fire," Nissan said in a statement.

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » June 5, 2006, 4:18 pm

Marbus wrote:Getting really close to buying an Altima. I've driven 3 different Accords, and LX, LX SE and EX and the interior seemed cheap except on the EX and due to my height I can get the seat where I want it with a sunroof. What's up with Honda putting the stearing wheel of a 1978 Ford LTD in the Accords? I truly felt like I was back in time. The cheap plastic literally felt like it could break off in my hand and since it was a very humid day, my hand kept slipping... the glare on the dash was also pretty bad if you have the tan interior. The contrast between that and the big black thing in the middle of the dash was very annoying... then the seats were terrible. I sat in a EX with leather and it was WONDERFUL - just like the Honda seats I remember. But on the cloth I could actually feel the metal of the seat on my back (I have really broad shoulders). I LOVE that new Civic but my wife thinks it's too small.

We went back and drove an Altima 2.5 S Special Edition and it seemed night and day better than an Accord. I've never owned a Nissan and loved every one of the 5 Honda's I've had but I was truly depressed after driving some of them. I finally got the guy to admit that they did have that $750 dealer cash (which pissed me off that he lied too me) and they came down to $19,100 for the LX SE... I thought that was close enough and was going to buy it wanted to actually go look at the Altima's, not just drive my moms before I bought. The Altima I looked at was a little more due to the options but I got the guy to come down to $17,300 for it. It has everything the Honda does and a few more items like power seats, trip computer etc... and they are going to pay my sales tax which is a $1K. So basically I'm getting the car for closer to $16,300 and driving both one after another... I have to depressingly say that the Altima feels (drives, rides, power, sound insulation etc...) like a better car than the Accord.

I never thought I would say that. My guess though is that if I were getting an EX-L V6 vs a 3.5 SE I would get the Honda but on the lower end, the Altima just seemed better.

Marb

It's funny, but I would think nearly the opposite. The V-6 Honda is definitely not shabby but I was as impressed w/ Nissan's as those that gave their engines the awards.
I probably wouldn't venture away from Honda personally due to having such great personal experiences from two cars(one purchased new and one purchased used), 12 years, and 230k miles driven between the two of them. But it seems as if you prefer the Altima, especially on the low end. Hell, if you are in the position to wait a touch longer, you will be able to get firesales on them prior to Alt's next gen model. The current gen lasted six years, that's very impressive in this day an age for any car that's not a fleet whore ala the Taurus so you know it's not a dog of a car.

Marbus · Post by **Marbus** » June 5, 2006, 6:31 pm

I wanted to wait and get next years model but couldn't... so I picked one up a couple of weeks ago. Very happy with it so far...

Thanks for the note Pherr, my mom finally got to 3K on hers and I had her change out the oil last weekend, glad I did. Mine was built pretty recently but I like to get the oil out early, may go ahead and switch it out early based upon your note.

Thanks!
Marb

Chidoro · Post by **Chidoro** » June 6, 2006, 5:13 pm

I'd be curious about people's recommendations for a first oil change. For Honda's, I was always told to keep to the maintenance schedule (as opposed to doing it early) because the factory ships w/ a special break-in oil. However, that can be an old mechanics tale for all I know.

Pherr the Dorf · Post by **Pherr the Dorf** » June 7, 2006, 2:52 am

Chidoro wrote:I'd be curious about people's recommendations for a first oil change. For Honda's, I was always told to keep to the maintenance schedule (as opposed to doing it early) because the factory ships w/ a special break-in oil. However, that can be an old mechanics tale for all I know.

That is true actually, it has the same additive as the racing oil has, definately leave it in awhile. Honda has gone to a matainance minder program where the car tells you when to get your oil changed by how you drive the car. The CRV and Element are the only 2 that don't have it now and they both will by next year. For 90% of the cars that take regular unleaded, 5000 mile oil changes is just fine.