Thinking of buying a brand new 2010 Altima coupe 2.5 S

[IBCoupe]

Gas mileage isn't so bad. If you're going on a long trip in the V6 and you set the cruise control at 70 and just relax, you'll get upwards of 30-31mpg.

[whitepearl86]

v6 is out of the question, cant afford it :/

thats why i am asking about 2.5s

[whitepearl86]

Ok, I admit.. I am a Honda Fan-Boy, especially towards Accords!

I had a good ol' limited edition brown 93 LX Accord and a 7 Generation 2004 Silver Accord Sedan EX..

Why did I go with Nissan Altima?

1. Look. I don't like the Gen 8 style. This is the first non-JDM designed Accord with the USDM mindset to compete with the Camry.. although it's bigger and more powerful than the previous model, I don't like the overall angles on the coupe... the sides make the lines look very long and the rear looks nice on a darker color but sorta fat on lighter colors (it looks like it's has a sagging butt!). The accord has a meaner looking frontend with sharper lines but the grill reminds me of their Ridgeline trucks! I love the revised look on the Altima's front-end.. it's friendlier looking than a G37 but has a touch of class with the newer grill. The Altima Coupes side have a nice subtle angle and really has a sportier look with the right wheel combination. The back tailights are a hit or miss with me.. it's pretty butterfly big.. looks great at a side angle but in your face in the back.. but it definately has a sportier look. I wish the license plate was positioned on the bottom bumper to maybe even out the trunk look with the tailights. The trunk to me looks best without a spoiler.. but mine has one and i'm fine with it! Dual exhausts looks more sportier than Accords (their big bumper butt looks like it's sitting on top of the tips!).

2. Feel. This might seem like an ackward comparison, but the Altima feels like an Xbox controller versus a PS3 controller (even though I have a PS3!). The controller looks kinda bulky but you hold it and it's extremely comfortable.. you wanna play it! The Accord's interior I have to admit is VERY nice.. the dash board lines, the techy readouts.. overall, I think Honda has a better build quality and detail (I miss the radio setup and trim on my old 7th Gen Accord). However, the Altima is much more simple and that's the way I like it.. you sit in it and want to drive it, cruise, speed, however you want to do it, it does it! This was my first coupe and V6 setup. The doors are a bit heavier used to and trickier getting in and out than sedans and yes, the smaller rear windows/blindspots takes a while getting used to. The roof kinda slopes down above you so at first you feel a bit squished in but after a while, you feel like you're in a cockpit of a jet.. In other words, I adjust really quick! The shorter baseline from a sedan to a coupe makes driving much more fun for me (as conservative as I drive) because the turns are sharper, I have more space to park. The gauges.. although the font could be more high tech looking, i love the orange/amber glow (my fav color!).

3. Difference. I see Accords.. all the time. It's a nice thought to know that not many people own the same car (outside these forums!). The forum support is much more greater with Accords though.. check out gen7accord.net or v6performance.com for example. There is a feeling of individuality.. you're not just a goody goody Camry, a lame Scion, Toyish Mazda, or cookie-cutter Accord, or hyped up like BMW's or Mercedes.. (no bad intent on all those brands!) I don't like to give out attention but it's my own attention that matters - this is MY car, My Nissan, My Altima! It is what it is.. I'm eager to get in and drive it the first thing I wake up or right before I leave work! Oh, although the gas milege is no fun, the V6 is awesome! I always had a 4 cyclinder and yeah.. that's all I gotta say about that!

I dont see anything simple about the altima coupe, if anything i think the accord is simpler inside

[Zerep]

if its the cvt your worried about dont cause its a hit or missing thing i got all bolts on drive like an idiot and got 42k miles and havnt had a single transmission problem and then there are people that drive it off the lot and have issues i heard what actually causes the failures is a constant speed at a given rpm cause the band overheats if running in the same place constantly. i hard cruise at a given speed for more then 20min so that might be why i havnt had problems. and if it does fail i heard its just drop the old one put in new one if the parts are there four hr max

[nig1]

23K for premium package is a great deal. I bought the same car when it first came out last October for 26.5K.

[whitepearl86]

23K for premium package is a great deal. I bought the same car when it first came out last October for 26.5K.

They are giving me 23 out the door and thats with boss sound and backup cam and 17" alloy wheels and sunroof..i think thats the premium package...i am also getting 8 for mine so technically the car is costing me 15k ...

I almost feel stupid not getting it for that price but will it be worth it in the end..how bad does the value on a car fall if it had a new transmission installed?

[whitepearl86]

23K for premium package is a great deal. I bought the same car when it first came out last October for 26.5K.

They are giving me 23 out the door and thats with bose sound and backup cam and 17" alloy wheels and sunroof..i think thats the premium package...i am also getting 8 for mine so technically the car is costing me 15k ...

I almost feel stupid not getting it for that price but will it be worth it in the end..how bad does the value on a car fall if it had a new transmission installed?

[Ranga14]

The 2.5's CVT is different so you'd be more prone to problems with it than the 3.5... At least from all accounts although most all guys I know that drive 2.5's have not had any issues with them.

[whitepearl86]

The 2.5's CVT is different so you'd be more prone to problems with it than the 3.5... At least from all accounts although most all guys I know that drive 2.5's have not had any issues with them.

which is exactly why i am asking if going with 4 cyl accord would be a safer bet because 3.5 in not an option for me

[lavon_andy]

the CVT has only been an issue for 08-09 models

I have yet to see anyone post problems from the 2010 cvt transmission, which is supposed to be redesigned to address those problems

I love my 2.5 AC with the cvt, it's just great I have no complaints from it at all. Yes a 3.5 would be faster or a m/t would hold more power on the 2.5. But both of those are things I simply do not need.

I've also got nothing bad to say about Hondas, except I wouldn't drive one...

[whitepearl86]

Why is this so difficult lol

[CoupeVQ35CVT]

I got my '09 3.5 CVT in June '09 for 23K, granted I did not pay or get the fancy premium package or anything of that sort, just the base model 3.5 SE which comes with sunroof, cloth seats, a decent stereo (not BOSE or whatever). It does come with the coolest OEM 18" wheels on a Nissan yet, and steering mounted cruise and audio controls, power driver seat. By decent stereo I mean I don't have the bass setting turned up all the way and depending on the music it can really get quite loud in there for my ears, and I've read other members say they like it that way too.

Not sure what the difference between a base '10 3.5SR and 2.5 w/ premium package is, but if you can hack a deal for the 3.5, and don't mind 24 mpg average (30 on the highway, where I drive mostly @ 70 mph) you'll be good. I read you drive your car at 80 mph, at which speed the 4 cyl. will probably be suffering in mpg anyway, so might as well look at the 3.5 if you can that is.

Btw the price drop, as mentioned above is for several reasons, one of them being they want to move the '10 cars out quick, 2nd, I personally believe the price on the Coupes is inflated a good $2-3k anyway considering you are paying more for 2 less doors and maybe fancy headlights in the '10+ models.

[mmkeller]

Maybe you need to go and test drive both again? This time run them harder.

[nig1]

imo, what I love best about the AC is the Bose system!! That's like a luxury item on a standard nissan haha. I just love the quality and crispness of the sound. Bose >>> Honda soundsystem.

[lavon_andy]

I got my '09 3.5 CVT in June '09 for 23K, granted I did not pay or get the fancy premium package or anything of that sort, just the base model 3.5 SE which comes with sunroof, cloth seats, a decent stereo (not BOSE or whatever). It does come with the coolest OEM 18" wheels on a Nissan yet, and steering mounted cruise and audio controls, power driver seat. By decent stereo I mean I don't have the bass setting turned up all the way and depending on the music it can really get quite loud in there for my ears, and I've read other members say they like it that way too.

Not sure what the difference between a base '10 3.5SR and 2.5 w/ premium package is, but if you can hack a deal for the 3.5, and don't mind 24 mpg average (30 on the highway, where I drive mostly @ 70 mph) you'll be good. I read you drive your car at 80 mph, at which speed the 4 cyl. will probably by suffering in mpg anyway, so might as well look at the 3.5 if you can that is.

Btw the price drop, as mentioned above is for several reasons, one of them being they want to move the '10 cars out quick, 2nd, I personally believe the price on the Coupes is inflated a good $2-3k anyway considering you are paying more for 2 less doors and maybe fancy headlights in the '10+ models.

I drove from Dallas to Shreveport doing ~80 the whole 200 some odd miles in my 2.5 and I average around 30 mpg, I usually get 26-27 city

[johnnir3volution]

imo, what I love best about the AC is the Bose system!! That's like a luxury item on a standard nissan haha. I just love the quality and crispness of the sound. Bose >>> Honda soundsystem.

I'm sure Honda comes with Bose also

[whitepearl86]

sound system is not a deal breaker for me

[Ranga14]

The 2.5's CVT is different so you'd be more prone to problems with it than the 3.5... At least from all accounts although most all guys I know that drive 2.5's have not had any issues with them.

which is exactly why i am asking if going with 4 cyl accord would be a safer bet because 3.5 in not an option for me

Another thing you might consider is a manual. For some insanely stupid reason they're more available on the 2.5 than 3.5.

[whitepearl86]

Another thing you might consider is a manual. For some insanely stupid reason they're more available on the 2.5 than 3.5. [/quote]

No manual for me please

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

[Ranga14]

Another thing you might consider is a manual. For some insanely stupid reason they're more available on the 2.5 than 3.5.

No manual for me please

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

Hmm, maybe you haven't experienced how big the Nissan sticks are and how smooth they shift. They really add to the horespower

[whitepearl86]

Hmm, maybe you haven't experienced how big the Nissan sticks are and how smooth they shift. They really add to the horespower

LOL ill stick to auto and let it do all the work for me

[mmx23z]

Maybe you need to go and test drive both again? This time run them harder.

Agreed!

No manual for me please

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

I really hope u get an Altima now i like ur style & wanna see you here more often!! haha

[whitepearl86]

Maybe you need to go and test drive both again? This time run them harder.

Agreed!

No manual for me please

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

I really hope u get an Altima now i like ur style & wanna see you here more often!! haha

hahah thanks, going saturday morning...maybe just maybe i can pull off a 3.5 coupe

my dad and brother are pushing hard on me getting an accord again though

[mmx23z]

lol its funny cuz my families the opposite... everybody has a nissan & my lil sis just got a used civic

when u go back to test drive it tell them u wanna drive it on the highway & dont be scared to step on it!
when i went & got my coupe i seriously test drove 5 cars, my 2.5, a blue 3.5 coupe (both cvt's), the orangeish color 2003 350z (auto), black 2005 350z (stick), & a red 2006 Mazda rx8 (stick)
i scared the crap out of the dealer (i little older asian lady) highlight of my day was she tried to tell me the rx8 was an all wheel drive car, i whipped it at a turning light & told her "no... i think its a rear wheel lol" hahah! but in the end she cheered up when i got the coupe & she got her commission

[DJ_B_Easy]

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

YOU NEED AN ALTIMA COUPE!

[srwong]

the only stick i am riding is my boyfriends

[whitepearl86]

you guys are silly

i am going after work tomorrow...i can hardly contain myself lol

tomorrows work day will feel like forever

[IBCoupe]

Yeah, so give us pictures when you do.

[Ranga14]

Pictures of you handling a stick.

[lavon_andy]

Pictures of you handling a stick.

rofl