New user, new coupe

[justin6345704]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum but I've been reading it for awhile now. Some of you have some nasty looking Alts. I'm going to pick up my black 2012 Altima Coupe on Friday. Many of your cars are already decked out so I was wondering, where do I even begin? Where did you guys begin?

P.S.- Thanks for the reading material while I was lurking your forum.

[BRicci]

Welcome! First thing to do is debadge it, easiest thing to do; and if you're going for the all black look, then tint your tail lights after.

[justin6345704]

Any recommendations for tail light tinting? I've seen prefitted tints but I'm always leery of prefitted anything.

[BRicci]

Just google a tutorial for tail light tinting with VHT Nite-Shades, it does take a little work to get them to come out right, but it's worth it.

[SanoSuKe]

For the love of god don't tint your taillights!

[justin6345704]

No? Does it look bad?

[BRicci]

If you like the look, do it. It's personal preference. You can go really light, really dark, or anywhere in between.

[SanoSuKe]

No? Does it look bad?

Like he said it's personal preference. In my opinion, tinted tails on a black car just kills the car's character. It's up to you of course at the end of the day.

[justin6345704]

So where did you start with yours Sano?

[SanoSuKe]

2nd day I got the car. I debadged it and got 5% tint all around lol. Painted my stock wheels black on the 3rd day. Then the real modding began

[RicerX]

Welcome to NICO! What transmission did you get, Justin?

[justin6345704]

Thanks Xenon! Well I haven't got it yet, the final paperwork still needs to be completed. But its an automatic.. I'm having second thoughts though. The options package that was shown online doesn't match the actual vehicle. So if I go through with it, I'd be forfeiting the sun/moonroof (kind of a deal breaker for me), leathers, and heateds. Starting to get stressful trying to make this happen. I'm hoping to come across a black market of altima coupes. Maybe I'm being impatient.


What kind of options does yours have?

[SanoSuKe]

If you're not in a hurry, just wait and get a MT. It's definitely more fun than the CVT. Depends on what you're doing with the car really.. sitting pretty or performance "i wanna race type of guy"

[justin6345704]

I'm mostly for just sitting pretty. What's the performance drop off between the 3.5 and 2.5 as far as fun factor? I've only had the chance to drive the 2.5.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Welcome!

As far as tail light tint, it is all personal preference. BUT, as a person who has sprayed AND had overlays I can strongly suggest you do NOT spray. It is difficult to get it right, and by get it right I mean not destroy your tail lights or turn your car into a death machine where people cant see brake lights or turn signals.

[RicerX]

What kind of options does yours have?

post5585250.html?hilit=2010%202008#p5585250

This post has a bunch of information on what I had (sold mine recently - got my Z and had to get another vehicle that could actually hold my drums).

I recommend a manual if you have ever had a manual transmission and liked the manual. I will never again own a CVT vehicle until I have kids (and even then I will try to find something with a manual) or a physical disability that prevents me from driving one (god forbid!).

The 3.5 is fun. The 2.5 is a great car with plenty of oomph to get through traffic and the like. I have driven both CVT/MT in a 3.5, I have only driven a 2.5 CVT on a long trip. Through the Adirondack mountains in NY, the manual mode is a must with the 2.5 CVT. Based on how it felt, I may not have used the manual mode in my V6 I used to have.

If you want to add lots of power (read: more than intake/exhaust), the CVT is a no-no altogether. If you want a fun car that is easy on the wallet and easily customized for looks/stance, look no further than any AC. You will have fun with it. It is a great car.

Feel free to throw any additional questions at us here. I don't own an Altima anymore, but I have driven very many of them over the past four years. I have done my homework. I can help you avoid some of the mistakes I made with mine. For the questions I can't answer, there is definitely someone on this forum who can.

[justin6345704]

Thanks Xenon! Reading that post really gave me some perspective. I was looking to get everything I wanted in a car in my first car but it may not shake out that way. You have had 4 of em which pointed out to me that I can always double back later and upgrade! Plus it will give me some experience doing mods.

[RicerX]

I have only had 3 for the record - the 2.5CVT was actually a relative's up north. All of mine were V6s. You can always double back and upgrade, but that gets expensive. lol

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Welcome Justin!

[justin6345704]

Thanks Shift! Pleasure to be here. Will be better once I got my hands wrapped around the wheel. :P

[T00Ezy]

u excited? ur getting ur car tommorow! WELCOME TO NICO! I get my car back too tommorow from the body shop, def get it debadged and I have my tailights tinted my suggestion is to get it film tinted then after get your windows tinted.

[DAAN.]

No? Does it look bad?

try it . can come out as this http://imgur.com/2IxYL

[downedzephyr]

welcome!

[Innovazn]

Drive CAREFULLY... I will warn you now before it happens...

Our Cars attract alot of attention, good and the bad... Refer to my signature/Build thread.

[justin6345704]

Terrible news guys. I drive 2.5 hours north to this dealership to fill out final paperwork and drive home in the new coupe and it wasn't there when I arrived. The salesman first tried to tell me that someone had it out for a test drive, so I said I would wait. Then he said that they had it delivered to another dealership and when I asked him which one he said he couldn't say for sure. Somehow he still had the audacity to try and sit me down to buy this phantom car that I can't see or drive. I can't really explain how furious I was but I'm sure you could imagine. Back to drawing board, I guess. If you guys see one out for sale, post me a link. Trying to stay positive and patient.. not easy.

[DJ_B_Easy]

^That is BS. Did you have a deposit on it?

[justin6345704]

No, this was my first time going to see it because of how far away it was. I did tell the girl I spoke to though that I would have everything with me needed to leave with it when I came up. Earlier this morning I received an email that was asking about my experience and the first question was "Was the car you were interested in pulled up and ready for you when you arrived?" I laid out everything for them in my reply email and about 20 minutes ago I got a voicemail from the GM of the dealership so more details to come on that.

[DJ_B_Easy]

Well, Id take it as an opportunity to knock some dollars off the price. Dont get me wrong it sucks, and Im sorry it happened to you, but I would take it as an opportunity to bargain further. Argue your time lost in travel, gas expense, stress, etc. DO THIS IN PERSON, or they might turn around and sell it out from under you. No deposit means they arent bound to you.

[justin6345704]

I agree and will definitely followed that advice already. Here's an update from the GM. They sent it to another dealership and the first thing the dealership did when they received it was installed a wing on the back... ugh. I'm not necessarily opposed if it looks good but I guess I'm not exactly confident that these car people know what they're doing. I spoke to him and told him that there's no way I would purchase at the price listed considering what a poor job they've done to this point and he offered to knock back 2500$ on the sale price (for the inconvenience and because they've now altered the car). That seems fair but this being my first car purchase I'm not sure. He's sending me a picture of the wing addition tomorrow which I will post here.

[SanoSuKe]

lol that's funny. when I got my car I ordered the wing and returned the car when the wing wasn't installed.