2.5 or 3.5?

[coupekid]

Ok, I am new to the forum so I will make a brief info. I am 16 years old and I am helping my mom research for her next car. She is very interested in the coupe, but she is not sure if she should get the 3.5 or 2.5. She really likes the 3.5, but she could get the 2.5 for a lot cheaper. However, she HATES the wheels on the 2.5 so she said we would HAVE to get aftermarket wheels=$1000. Also this will be my sisters car in 3 years so my mom doesn't want to get something too fast. Also, my mom loves the 3.5 sedan. We could get a sedan for about the same price as a 2.5 coupe. Basically, I am just asking everyone's opinion on what my mom should get. I think it is between the 2.5 coupe and the 3.5 sedan more than anything else. Thoughts?

[Carlosf22]

This is my first car, my parents hate it because they have to keep moving the front seats to get into the back. If this is going to be used by more than 3 people at a time or if it's going to be a family car I would not reccomend it, otherwise it is perfect.

[Cold_Zero]

I used to own a 2.5 Altima Sedan and still own a 3.5 Altima Sedan. I have had more problems with the 2.5 motor than that of the 3.5 motor. I personally would steer your mother more for the 3.5 V6 motor.

[Kasper08]

Ok, I am new to the forum so I will make a brief info. I am 16 years old and I am helping my mom research for her next car. She is very interested in the coupe, but she is not sure if she should get the 3.5 or 2.5. She really likes the 3.5, but she could get the 2.5 for a lot cheaper. However, she HATES the wheels on the 2.5 so she said we would HAVE to get aftermarket wheels=$1000. Also this will be my sisters car in 3 years so my mom doesn't want to get something too fast. Also, my mom loves the 3.5 sedan. We could get a sedan for about the same price as a 2.5 coupe. Basically, I am just asking everyone's opinion on what my mom should get. I think it is between the 2.5 coupe and the 3.5 sedan more than anything else. Thoughts?

I personally would say her best bet is a 2.5 sedan #1 cost #2 room/comfort#3 better on gas#4 not fast :-) lol

[coupekid]

I personally would say her best bet is a 2.5 sedan #1 cost #2 room/comfort#3 better on gas#4 not fast :-) lol

Yea I totally agree with you on that one, however my mom thinks it is TOO slow. She says the 2.5 coupe is the perfect speed for her and my sister.

[mcheddadi]

lol! your mom thinks funny stuff :p

QR25DE — 2.5-litre DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engineHorsepower — 175 HP @ 5600 rpmTorque — 180 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm

VQ35DE — 3.5-litre DOHC 24-valve V6 engineHorsepower — 270 HP @ 6000 rpmTorque — 258 lb-ft @ 4400 rpm

for 3.5SE (VQ35DE)*

Zero to 60 mph: 5.8 secZero to 100 mph: 15.7 secZero to 120 mph: 28.4 secStreet start, 5–60 mph: 6.4 secStanding ¼-mile: 14.6 sec @ 97 mphTop speed (governor limited): 130 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 175 ftRoadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.82 g

*http://www.caranddriver.com/

for 2.5S (QR25DE)**

Zero to 60 mph: 7.2 secZero to 100 mph: 20.2 secZero to 110 mph: 25.8 secStreet start, 5–60 mph: 7.8 secStanding ¼-mile: 15.7 sec @ 89 mphTop speed (governor limited): 112 mphBraking, 70–0 mph: 169 ft

**http://www.caranddriver.com/(from altima 2007 sedan 2.5S, since they got the same engine and the best I could find for the altima coupe 2.5S was an estimate of "0 TO 60 MPH: 8.0 sec (est)"

Saying that the 2.5S is slow is a big understatement. and the stock 3.5SE rims can be bought on ebay for about 500-600$. the 2.5S would be your best bet, but be shure to make her sit in the back of the car during a test drive just to be sure she understands what a coupe really is and what she's getting into

[bone_stock_240]

The QR25DE is not a good engine, while the VQ series engine has been on ward's 10 best engines since the list was started over 10 years ago. If she doesn't want the car to be too fast, tell her to learn how to control her foot.

[coupekid]

Sheesh. You guys are hard on my mom lol. Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore b/c last night my dad and her went out and bought a fully loaded 2007 Maxima 3.5 SL for 24k. Around the same price as the 2.5S coupe we were looking at. The reason my mom has a thing about 4 cylinders is that her only accident was in a 4 banger. She pulled out of her neighborhood and the guy behind her was speeding 30 over and she couldnt accellerate fast enough to get out of the way.

[bone_stock_240]

I just find it funny that people have this mentality that they are instantly going to be accellerating to 60 in the shortest possible time when they have their car. I would rather have a more powerful car and have the option of accellerating quickly if need be. I have good motor control, so I actually have the ability to not floor it and speed everywhere constantly.

[coupekid]

Hmm I dont really understand what you just said. But I know my mom loves the fact that when she is driving my dad's car (G35), she never has to worry about not being able to accellerate fast enough. I guess it is more reassurence than anything.

[bone_stock_240]

Yeah, I agree with you totally. If you want to drive fast and accellerate quickly, you can. If you want to drive like a granny and go slow around town you can also. Not buying a better motor because it is too fast is just plain silly. It is the driver that determines how fast the car goes.

[coupekid]

Yeah, I agree with you totally. If you want to drive fast and accellerate quickly, you can. If you want to drive like a granny and go slow around town you can also. Not buying a better motor because it is too fast is just plain silly. It is the driver that determines how fast the car goes.

Yea i understand you now. My mom basically said that she doesnt want something that my sister will be tempted to go fast in. Also, my sister is a spaz sometimes and I could see her doing some harsh jackrabbit starts, which arent very safe.

[bone_stock_240]

I am sure your sister would still be tempted to go fast in a 2.5. Look at all the people who have stock 240sx and think they are racecar drivers.

The Maxima will definately be more comfortable for when you or your sister are jammed in the back though.

[coupekid]

True, although the other day my sister said "Mom I don't want a car that goes fast" lol. I was like, ok then I will take the Maxima and you can have my Dodge Nitro. And yes, the maxima has tons of room in back. Way more than the G35, and obviously the altima coupe.

[dragon17]

True, although the other day my sister said "Mom I don't want a car that goes fast" lol. I was like, ok then I will take the Maxima and you can have my Dodge Nitro. And yes, the maxima has tons of room in back. Way more than the G35, and obviously the altima coupe.

You're comparing apples and oranges. It is obvious that a sedan will have more room than a coupe.

[MinisterofDOOM]

True.Though the Maxima has more backseat room than the G sedan and Altima sedan as well (the old G at least...I haven't spent enough time in the rear of the new G sedan to say for sure, but I imagine it's still smaller back there).

Still really apples to oranges, though, as the Maxima is a larger car than the Altima and G.

Problem with the Maxima right now is there only transmission option is the CVT, which was a VERY poor move on Nissan's part.

[guitarmn07]

Problem with the Maxima right now is there only transmission option is the CVT, which was a VERY poor move on Nissan's part.

Doom, I agree Nissan is pushing the CVT wwwaayy too much. I had my doubts about it. I even asked the Nissan people millions of questions about the CVT. But after driving a CVT, I loved it. But I'd like your opinion on why it was a poor move for Nissan to only provide CVT Maximas?

The reason my mom has a thing about 4 cylinders is that her only accident was in a 4 banger. She pulled out of her neighborhood and the guy behind her was speeding 30 over and she couldnt accellerate fast enough to get out of the way.

My dad wouldn't let me get a 4 cyl coupe. My first car was a 4cyl. But that was only b/c I was a noob at driving. After I got use to driving, he bought me a 6cyl. He wanted me to have enough hp to maneuver around. And sometimes I abuse that power. ::bad driver::

I considered a Maxima, but I'm single and in college still, so I still wanted to have a 2-dr car. Nothing wrong with 4 doors, but I have no purpose for a 4 door...not yet at least...lol.

[MinisterofDOOM]

It's generally not wise to restrict options instead of offering people choice.

But the poor judgement involved in the move to CVT-only with the Maxima goes deeper than just the CVT itself.

Historically, the Maxima has been Nissan's most performance-oriented sedan--arguably the most performance-oriented model overall, if you ignore the Z (in North America, at least). It had a manual transmission for 25 years straight--until 2007. Even the automatics have had little touches to try and make them more performance oriented (variable shift points on earlier models, manumatic on later ones).

Eliminating the manual on a sport model is not a good idea.I can understand Nissan offering the CVT as another option. But replacing the 5-speed manumatic and excellent 6-speed manual doesn't make sense.

By REPLACING options with the CVT instead of complimenting them with it, Nissan has alienated a good portion of their loyal repeat Maxima buyers. They're a little too busy looking toward the future. What they fail to realize is that a significant portion of Maxima owners are Maxima owners multiple times over. They've forgotten their old customers in favor of new ones. That is NEVER a good move. When you have an established, loyal customerbase and even fanbase, you don't alienate them, you embrace them!

[jdshift]

The bottom line is what do you need? MPG? Power? The choice should be obvious, also keep in mind the VQ engine series has been top notch for quite some time, the QR has not.

[jdshift]

I know the choice has already been made with the Max, just throw in my fifty cents is all.LOL.

[guitarmn07]

Thanks for the insight Doom. It is always wise to give consumers a choice.

The bottom line is what do you need? MPG? Power? The choice should be obvious, also keep in mind the VQ engine series has been top notch for quite some time, the QR has not.

Yep. It comes to need and how much one can spend.

[Kasper08]

I just find it funny that people have this mentality that they are instantly going to be accellerating to 60 in the shortest possible time when they have their car. I would rather have a more powerful car and have the option of accellerating quickly if need be. I have good motor control, so I actually have the ability to not floor it and speed everywhere constantly.

whoa 24k for a fully loaded maxi SL is it just my lack of knowledge or isn't that like 12k off it's MSRP tell your dad i will pay for his plane ticket to come negotiate my next purchase

[coupekid]

whoa 24k for a fully loaded maxi SL is it just my lack of knowledge or isn't that like 12k off it's MSRP tell your dad i will pay for his plane ticket to come negotiate my next purchase

LOL well I think the sticker was like 33k. And it was the dealer model. It had 6k miles when we bought it, although it is flawless. No one as even sat in the back seat yet. It was in the showroom so it was taken care of. There really wasnt much to negotiate. I think they knocked off a little to make the monthly payments around the same as the coupe, b/c that was one of the deciding factors.

[Kasper08]

oh ok :-) I was starting to think i should of just got a maxi for way cheaper than my coupe hehe

[dragon17]

The bottom line is what do you need? MPG? Power? The choice should be obvious, also keep in mind the VQ engine series has been top notch for quite some time, the QR has not.

That doesn't mean the QR is a bad engine. It is actually one of the better 4-cyl. engines, compared to Toyota and Honda. After all, if you take care of the car and service it properly, the engine will last a very long time.

[zxe010]

Yes Nissan does make great engines. I drove my NX2000 220,000 & then gave it to my nephew to use.

[coupekid]

After all, if you take care of the car and service it properly, the engine will last a very long time.

Yes and this is true with almost all new cars these days. The competition is so tough, that a car company cannot afford to produce an engine that will fail. Everyone always tells me that I should not have gotten my dodge nitro b/c it is a dodge. They keep telling me I should have gone foreign. That might have been true 20 or 30 years ago, but not these days. If you treat the engine right, it will last a long time.

[nsrZ32]

The Maxima will treat them right and the CVT in the max is much better than the one in the altima 2.5, the Versa, etc IMO

3.5 is the way to go