Is an 08 Altima Coupe the right car for me?

[zer0id]

Im 18 and my car was just totalled ( not my fault ).Ive been looking for cars for a while and nissan has my heart.Since i have to choose from a dealership the 240's are out of the question and the z would probably destroy my insurance.Im looking for something I can decently mod and looks like it could be on a show room floor. What ive seen so far, this looks like the right vehicle.

So is the 3.5 really so much better than the 2.5? ( 100hp)How bad is the MPG difference between them?Ive heard that the manual transmission isnt that great in these, is this true?

Thanks, ill check back when i wake up.

[Rmuth25]

nah, and 07 altima coupe is definatly not for you because those dont exist. 2008 was the first year

[mcheddadi]

go test drive one

[rjdmmfl1]

go test drive one

yeah, nothing replaces a test drive... and yes, the 3.5 is a blast to drive...changing lanes and passing someone on the freeweay is effortless... but go see for yourself!

[adidas2go]

3.5 FTW

[PHENOMenalVinyl]

go 3.5 its def worth the extra gas bc u can **** on alot more cars than u can in the 2.5.....by the way i own the 2.5

[zer0id]

ahah oh god i didnt even notice typing that.

That what i get for staying up till 5

[adidas2go]

ahah oh god i didnt even notice typing that.

That what i get for staying up till 5

No worries, fixed In the future, try to be a bit more descriptive with your thread titles (like the new one I inserted). We have setup a new tool for google searches that incorporate the thread titles. Thanks!

Blake

[mcheddadi]

No worries, fixed In the future, try to be a bit more descriptive with your thread titles (like . We have setup a new tool for google searches that incorperate the thread titles. Thanks!

Blake

I didn't understand that until yesterday when I realized that the titles of the thread were getting incorporated in the actual URL address up there in the browser.

[zer0id]

So how is your Manual transmission? Is it smooth?

[mcheddadi]

the new 09 is smoother I've heard, haven't tried it but the basic 08 transmission is notchy, I've added a heavier shift knob and added a better transmission fluid and now it's butter smooth.

[Forrest80]

Im 18 and my car was just totalled ( not my fault ).Ive been looking for cars for a while and nissan has my heart.Since i have to choose from a dealership the 240's are out of the question and the z would probably destroy my insurance.Im looking for something I can decently mod and looks like it could be on a show room floor. What ive seen so far, this looks like the right vehicle.

So is the 3.5 really so much better than the 2.5? ( 100hp)How bad is the MPG difference between them?Ive heard that the manual transmission isnt that great in these, is this true?

Thanks, ill check back when i wake up.

I dont understand the statement you have to choose from a dealership but o well.

Get a quote on a 350z Insurance. Then look at year 2005, 2007,2008. Avoid the other years. You can get one with less than 20k miles for same price as a brand new 2.5s altima coupe now i think since 370z is coming out.

But if you want gas milage 2.5s is pretty nice for what it is.

I think if your gonna get the 3.5 Coupe, look at this way, the 3.5 and Z get the same gas milage and the back seats in my Coupe are useless for any body decent size who is gonna sit behind me (im 6 feet) might as well not have any seats.

But like everybody said test drive them all you might love one over the other regardless of any thing i said.

[Infantry1327]

I have the 3.5 and love it. I was looking at getting a z and then realized there pretty much is no trunk. I play hockey so I need a trunk to put my hockey bag in. But you wont regret getting the 3.5. You will probably spend like $10 more a month on gas, but its worth it.

[zer0id]

I just went out and test drove a 2.5This lil thing has some pretty good grunt, maybe because the car im used to was a eclipse rs, but i think this thing would fit me fine, and hopefully my budget.24k with convenience package? eh.. Look for a used?

[Hussain]

wow i didn't know being short made that big of a difference lol i'm only 5'7 and no one has ever had issuses in my back seat. even a couple of my friends that are 6 foot didn't have a problem in the back seat. they say the altima coupe has the biggest back seat they've seen in a coupe so far.

just like someone else said, i was just about to get a 350z but it has no back seat and pretty much no trunk. if it had a trunk like my brother's corvette i would have got it but the 350z is VERY impractical. the 3.5se altima coupe has the same motor but with much more room and a nicer rear end. the 2.5s has a good amount of power but you can't get the CVT in the 2.5s...... CVT makes it slower and in a 2.5 it makes it not so great. go 2.5 with stick shift or go 3.5se..... if you want something quick that you can mod, go with the 3.5se. if you want something more for just looks then go ahead and go with the 2.5

[zer0id]

im most likely leaning towards the 2.5 with 6mt.You cant really mod the 2.5? What about the normal stuff, such as exhaust and such, since im not such a greasemonkey yet i wouldnt want to be adding a 20lb turbo to it or anything like that, but somethin to appeal a little more, yaknow?And this thing can keep up with my friends s14's right? Haha it should be able to.

Thanks.

[Hussain]

i think the S14 will win because it has only 15 HP less and it's a RWD and it should be lighter (not sure about the lighter part) plus theres tons of stuff out there for the Ka24de or if they decide to go SR20dett or VQ or even LS1. if your asking questions like this you should really look into the 3.5se. it comes standard with the convenience package and sun roof and sport tuned suspension and not to mention a 100 hp more from an engine that is one of the best in the world. test drive the 3.5se next and compare the two because once you get a car your pretty much stuck. i mean say you get the 2.5 and you're like, its ok i can deal with the less amount of power and then 6 months later your regretting your decision and decide to trade it in or something, you'll lose thousands. there are tons of people on here with the 3.5se CVT that want 6mt so bad and are trying to do transmission swaps or trade the car in for a 6mt. choose which car you like best BUT look at both of them very closely and don't rush

[zer0id]

yeah, Its not my money though, thats the thing. Trying to get the best bang for the buck, and the a/c coupe is really a beautiful car for 20k lol

[Hussain]

lol ya. the altima coupe looks really nice and if the 2.5s is more in your price range, its the same beautiful car but with a little less performance and a little better gas mileage. i learned how to drive with a 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5s stick shift. the altima coupe is a 6 speed instead of 5 speed and should be lighter and its built on a much better platform so the altima coupe should be even faster. i beat civics and integras all day long in the 2005 2.5s so the altima coupe 2.5s will beat even faster cars

[zer0id]

yeah i plan to learn stick shift on it lol. When i was in it, it seemed like it could get pretty quick. But I would also like it to look nice, which it is very capable of doing.

[Stumpjumper]

You can mod the 2.5, it's the same motor in the Spec - V sentra. I promise this, do not test drive it after driving the 3.5, it will feel like it has the power of a leafblower. It's not a bad little car for a 4banger, gets darn good mpg (best of all my cars I've had), and it has decent pickup. The 6 spd is only barely clunky, but you wouldn't notice unless you're nitpicking. But again, it's the best of all the manuals I've owned too.

[Forrest80]

wow i didn't know being short made that big of a difference lol i'm only 5'7 and no one has ever had issuses in my back seat. even a couple of my friends that are 6 foot didn't have a problem in the back seat. they say the altima coupe has the biggest back seat they've seen in a coupe so far.

just like someone else said, i was just about to get a 350z but it has no back seat and pretty much no trunk. if it had a trunk like my brother's corvette i would have got it but the 350z is VERY impractical. the 3.5se altima coupe has the same motor but with much more room and a nicer rear end. the 2.5s has a good amount of power but you can't get the CVT in the 2.5s...... CVT makes it slower and in a 2.5 it makes it not so great. go 2.5 with stick shift or go 3.5se..... if you want something quick that you can mod, go with the 3.5se. if you want something more for just looks then go ahead and go with the 2.5

When i get time i will take picture of where my seat sits and theres no way you are any body normal size sits behind me. im 6'1 with shoes on i think if that factors into it.

The trunk in the altima is for me no more usefull than the back of the Z. I have had both and to be honest, neither look all that spacious.

either way i think all the nissan cars are pretty freaking good, you cant really go wrong with what you choose.

[marlin29311]

I love the Z....test drove it a couple times...the thing is just not practical though. I love my 3.5 coupe...you can get 1 person in the backseat of mine (behind the passenger), but the fact that the space exists is great - i can fold down the seats, get my hockey crap in, etc....can't do that in the Z. They're both awesome cars...

[sammyboy]

If you want a car for everday use and not really racing or showboating of any sort then I say go w/ the 2.5s. If you want good performance I would say go w/ the 3.5SE. Get a quote from the insurence companies and what they give you. I'm under my moms policy and I pay $1850 every six months, I guess you can say 1900. Unfortionatly i'm paying this car myself and nobody helps me so I live by every paycheck. I have the 2.5s and I think its great I spend $120 a month on gas but my job and school aren't that far at all. I don't even make that much, I still don't know how I can afford to pay for this car lol. My 99' Passat GLX broke down and it had a lot of mechanical problems so I decided to dump it and got my AC in January. Do not regret it.

and my friend who has an 2004 G35 6MT pays 75 bucks a month and has points on his licence and has had it suspended. I don't get it lol. Another thing you have to look at is location.

[AppleBonker]

I pay $1850 every six months

Man, I barely pay that every 18 months for my 3.5 coupe. Funny thing was my insurance is about the same for an '08 A/C 3.5SE as it was for a '99 Civic Si (1.6L I4, 160 hp). If gas is a concern, the 3.5 isn't that much worse. I've had tanks on the highway/state roads go 27 mpg (and that was with hard acceleration on the state roads maxing out at ~70 mph, and nearly 80 mph on the highway). The 3.5 is so much fun to drive too (coming from my Civic I love passing people on the highway). However, the 2.5 is still a VERY nice car, so either way you'll be happy. Oh yeah, 6MT FTW!

[nifty]

$1850 seems absurd even if you are 20 years old. I'd be shopping around for another insurance provider. I'm 24 and was with an insurance provider who was charging me almost 1100 every 6 months so I did some shopping and ened up at Allstate for 650 every 6 for the same or better coverage.

Just my $.02

[sammyboy]

I've been [QUOTE=nifty]$1850 seems absurd even if you are 20 years old. I'd be shopping around for another insurance provider. I'm 24 and was with an insurance provider who was charging me almost 1100 every 6 months so I did some shopping and ened up at Allstate for 650 every 6 for the same or better coverage.

Just my $.02[QUOTE/}

I've done some shopping around and it ends up being around the same price. The funny thing is that i'm under my mothers policy too not my own. imagine if i was on my own. I gotta tell my parents to shop around. State Farm gave me an estimate of like $350 which is more expencive but thats under my name alone so if it was under my parents who knows. i've gotta like do the online quotes. It's really taking a killing on me.

[marlin29311]

Its all about the limits you set on your policy - try taking a higher deductible, that usually saves a lot of cash...

[zer0id]

Yeah, im getting quotes from online quote places and its going around 1800 every 6 months.. Right now its at about 1200 every 6 months. Hopefully my AAA agent calls me back and tells me what it would cost to add the A/C on the insurance with me not the primary driver lol

[sonicbliss]

i guess i'll add my input as well. the last two cars i had were an 03 sentra 1.8, and an 06 altima 2.5s. i loved them both, but the sentra had ZERO go, and the 2.5s was pretty decent. but i wish had the power of the VQ. so when i had the opportunity, i jumped at getting the 3.5se 6mt. thing is i rolled 6 into it, fully loaded. suffice it to say im paying out the a$$ for my car. do i regret it? no chance in hell. you want my opinion, get the 3.5 if you have the slightest chance of doing so. i can almost guarantee you will not want for more power for a good long while, especially if you can shift right. and the difference in gas price is negligible IMO.