ac for a new driver!

[suprspinner]

My son wants a ac i cant decide if i should get him the v6 or the 4 cyl. does the 4 cyl have enough power? hes almost 17, he will be keeping the car way through college. but the thing is we live on a pretty steep hill and are in NY, so will a ac 4cyl be enough for him?

[QR25DE]

We're always going to say V6 for the win, but the 2.5L is certainly powerful enough. I would not suggest a CVT model though.

Reliability is great with both engines whether it be the 3.5 or the 2.5. What year are you planning on buying? Does your son know how to drive a manual?

Altima Coupe for a first car is awesome. I support your decision fully if you have the cash and he's a good kid. Certainly deserves it .

Is he into cars at all, financing or leasing? Will he be adding things to it? It'll get him some girls :P.

I say go take a 2.5 for a drive, 175HP of fun. The 3.5 is certainly going to be more powerful, but honestly, he's 16/17, 2.5 will be fine. I wouldn't spend the extra cash to get the 3.5 for him. If the car was for you, well then yes... If he was older, then yeah 3.5. Just wondering how bad the car is going to be beat...

[Ranga14]

Yeah, for a 4cyclinder it has decent power. Maybe you should go test drive both and see. The v6 might get him more tickets and insurance will be more so that should be a factor there. If I were to have gotten an 4 banger a/c when I was 17, I'd crap my pants with excitement. I had 86 Buick Riveria then that had no ac and windows didn't roll down, I was ballin yo.

[QR25DE]

Yeah, for a 4cyclinder it has decent power. Maybe you should go test drive both and see. The v6 might get him more tickets and insurance will be more so that should be a factor there. If I were to have gotten an 4 banger a/c when I was 17, I'd crap my pants with excitement. I had 86 Buick Riveria then that had no ac and windows didn't roll down, I was ballin yo.

Same, except I had 3-4 Nissan Stanzas, an 89 Toyota Corolla, and a couple 95-99 Dodge Neons... FML.. This car was a god send. lol

[suprspinner]

well wehave testen drive the 4cyl but cant find any v6 in our area. he is really into cars. he wants to put a stillen body kit on it and the nismo exhaust. the car will purchased, he doesnt know how to drive stick, i dont know either so there the problem. he really wants the v6 but im not sure we are going for another test drive this weekend

[Ranga14]

well wehave testen drive the 4cyl but cant find any v6 in our area. he is really into cars. he wants to put a stillen body kit on it and the nismo exhaust. the car will purchased, he doesnt know how to drive stick, i dont know either so there the problem. he really wants the v6 but im not sure we are going for another test drive this weekend

Those are two good mods for sure. They're good on both 4 and 6 cylinder.

[Zerep]

if he learns how to drive stick the 4cylinder is the way to go cause the cvt really bogs the car and if he doesnt learn now he will never learn

[QR25DE]

In his case then I would go with the 2.5L. It will be plenty power for him. He will end up kicking himself later if you get the CVT. I would suggest finding someone in the family that has a manual he can learn on. After 2 weeks he'll be fine.

Maybe he should sign up an account so we can hear what he wants. He obviously knows about getting the car so does he have any questions about it himself?

[suprspinner]

he comes on my account alot. so he tends to read alot of the same stuff. he posted the thread about the nismo exhaust. he wants to learn stick, but when he goes to college i will have to drive the car every now and then and i am too old to learn stick plus my left knee is in bad shape.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

I vote for 2.5. One less 17 y/o with a V6. I've seen and known about one too many 17-19 y/o kids with V6 or other "fast" cars (S2000, Z3, other misc V6 models) in just my town alone, who have wrapped them around a pole, or destroyed 3-4 cars one after the other, that daddy bought them, because they were too entrenched in testosterone instead of wits.

That, and you will thank yourself for having a lower insurance payment on the 2.5L, along with better MPG, especially driving around town, when the 3.5 hogs gas a bit much.

The Nismo exhuast sounds great on the 2.5 engine too, is just loud enough and aggressive enough, and not annoying, like those GReddy and clone fart cans you hear ALLL the time.

As for CVT or manual, if you will be using the car at all, I'd say get CVT, otherwise if he is willing to practice working all four hands and feet to drive the car 2 miles for grocery shopping (or sitting in a traffic jam) then by all means go for it! Plus it will be cheaper, if I remember.

[QR25DE]

Ew a neon in your sig, ew.

Yeah I agree, with all the above. He's better off with the 2.5L. If he ever did want to do anything to it all the intakes, exhaust systems, body kits etc will fit fine. Just please don't paint it green.

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

Ew a neon in your sig, ew.
Just please don't paint it green.

ROFL...

Hey my first paid off car was a '00 Neon .....

[elfenlied8]

Depends. Do you want your son to drive fast or slow?
I would get the 2.5L for the reliability and the economy, plus it has plenty of power for a 17 year old's first car. If your son wants more power and a nicer car, then he can get it when he starts making bank. (That's what my mom told me).
I have the 2.5 with the nismo exhaust and it makes it sound more like a Z.

[suprspinner]

well my son is paying 15k. he doesnt drive fast but he does do the speed limit. but he loves the feeling of a car pushing him to the back of his seat.

[obstacle]

with all due respect, but honestly, your son would be better off driving an older, used car atleast during his 1st year of driving.

Why? About half of my friends got into some type of serious accident (including myself) when they started driving alone (and on the highway). Also, from experience, when I got my first car and license at 17, i didnt even trust myself driving my beat-up '96 camry. But i'm glad i drove a crappy, but reliable car when I got into my first accident (and co$tly indeed).

You and your wallet will be happier knowing that if your son did get into an accident...1 hopefully he'll be okay, 2 paying for any damages will be much cheaper, 3 insurance will be much less than if you bought a new car, 4 your son will have gained more experience at the expense of a much more cheaper, older car (not a brand new, model year vehicle).

again, i dont mean to offend, but minor/new drivers, imo, should never own new vehicles, let alone v6.

[devilmagic]

What is the main reason that you think your son deserve driving a more power engine car? and if you can come up with good enough reason urself. then i'd say go for the v6

[QR25DE]

If your son wants more punch for the same price, I say 2.0T Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Honestly... it has great after market support. The damn thing is reliable so far and my friend has one. He has the base 2.0T and its certainly full off pep. Throw on a blow off valve, exhaust, then you're done. Maybe spring for the track package version, I dunno. *Shrug*.

[IBCoupe]

If he's got his heart set on an A/C, you could get the same bang for a lot less buck by buying a used '08 or '09, instead of a new '10 or '11, if they're still selling '10's.

And I don't mind the CVT. I don't know where in NY you are, but I'm glad, with the amount of traffic I get stuck in, that I don't have a real stick shift. The manual-mode of the CVT works fine for having fun on the highway and for getting that extra bit of control over your acceleration and engine braking. That said, my CVT is hooked up to a V6 with a good deal more horsepower than the four-banger.

[DAAN.]

Your son can also consider purchasing the rear wheel drive genesis coupe 3.8 or even 2.0 Turbo

[Tony2676]

Well my first car IS the Altima coupe 2.5l and its pretty nice, it isn't insanely fast, but i think it a peppy engine and when you throw in an intake and an exhaust it sounds awesome.It also gets pretty good mileage, unfortunately I have the CVT... I didnt know how to drive manual and I really wished I had at the time, but if I still lived in NY I would have probably regretted it lol.... Point is, I love my Altima coupe 2.5 and I think its a great car for a college student besides a lot of people compliment me on my car and its not like I'm racing with my car i'm Just trying to get an education. I am very grateful that my parents gave me this car and if your son wants a faster one than I say he's gotta work for one... like I'm going to be working for a 370z

[mmkeller]

I have the 2.5S as well and find it fits me fine. I have the CVT and enjoy the smoothness(I had plenty of manuals and wanted the new technology of the CVT). I test drove a 3.5 stick first and found it very exiting. I really did not need all that power since I just had an 04 Maxima with basicly the same engine. My first car was a '69 Mustang with a straight 6 w/a 4 speed.
Good luck!

[DJ_B_Easy]

with all due respect, but honestly, your son would be better off driving an older, used car atleast during his 1st year of driving.

Why? About half of my friends got into some type of serious accident (including myself) when they started driving alone (and on the highway). Also, from experience, when I got my first car and license at 17, i didnt even trust myself driving my beat-up '96 camry. But i'm glad i drove a crappy, but reliable car when I got into my first accident (and co$tly indeed).

You and your wallet will be happier knowing that if your son did get into an accident...1 hopefully he'll be okay, 2 paying for any damages will be much cheaper, 3 insurance will be much less than if you bought a new car, 4 your son will have gained more experience at the expense of a much more cheaper, older car (not a brand new, model year vehicle).

again, i dont mean to offend, but minor/new drivers, imo, should never own new vehicles, let alone v6.

BOO!....

My first car was a V6 and went through a few of those, one V8, and now back to V6. I never had an accident until my Altima Coupe and I had been driving for 8 years when I bought it, accident after 9. I honestly dont think I could ever drive a 4cyl, I like to know the power is there if I need it. I agree with your logic but it doesnt apply to everyone.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV66666666666666666666!

[srwong]

i say for a kid his age, the 2.5 is more than enough for him. if he wants something with more power, then he can worry about that later on in life and after college. a lot of the guys and some girls have the 2.5 and they love it. i have a 3.5 v6 @ 23 years of age when i bought it, now i'm 24.. but i bought this on my own, under my own name. it's a great car, very reliable and everyone here is more than helpful if someone ever had a question. no shadow of a doubt the best group of people around. =) love u guys... and with buying the 2.5 he would have more money to spend on mods if that's what he is into. the CVT is also good, i have a CVT also. and it handles great, never had any problems. so like i said, him being so young, the 2.5 is more than enough for him, and it being such a great car. he should be happy to even get such a great car. back in the day, you get a old rusty bucket, that ends up breaking down soon after.

[srwong]

BOO!....

My first car was a V6 and went through a few of those, one V8, and now back to V6. I never had an accident until my Altima Coupe and I had been driving for 8 years when I bought it, accident after 9. I honestly dont think I could ever drive a 4cyl, I like to know the power is there if I need it. I agree with your logic but it doesnt apply to everyone.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV66666666666666666666!

true, but kids nowadays try to show off wayyyyyyyyyy too much. and he's only 16, it wou;d be cheaper to get the 2.5, and it would still be a great car. alot of people (excluding myself) have the 2.5 and still say it gives them just enough power. who i sot say he wont just trade it in a couple of years? as everyone gets older they star getting into what they like more. so i say 2.5 is perfect for a first car, and he should appreciate the fact that he's getting such a great new car instead of a bucket.

[Ranga14]

and he should appreciate the fact that he's getting such a great new car instead of a bucket.

+1

I'd look at some 08/09's if they have some on the lot too.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Thining about it further...I have never driven a 2.5 so I cant speak on the power there, but I would bet that the actual power (not mfg. numbers) in an '08 2.5 is probably about equal to my first '96 Dodge Avenger V6 (did I really just admit that on NICO? ). Have the kid test drive both, buy whichever suits his driving habits/price range/ego the best. I do like the fact that he is throwing in $15K on his own, so he should definitely have the final say. Too many young'ns nowadays just get things handed to them. I paid for my Avenger in full!

[Ranga14]

He's 17 and throwing down 15k??? wow, inheritance or something?

[suprspinner]

no he has been saving for his first car for ever. he had a business where he cut the neighbor lawns for years. well we cant test drive the v6cause there arent any in our area

[Ranga14]

I cut some lawns from 12-17 myself but dang, I never even came close to amassing 15k, lol, nice.

And your area must be pretty green not to have the v6's, haha.

[jahn surf irie]

really wish i had gotten the 3.5 w/leather which also has a stock sports suspension
the 2.5's still a blast to drive (esp with prem/conv packages) and usually has plenty of reserve power when you consider the limiting factors of traffic/slow drivers/speed limits/safety where i live, but there's definitely a big difference in acceleration that i miss
hard to say what's best for your son but that's my just take on the two models