Your Altima, and what could have been?

[Serkle K]

After reading some of the other posts in here, about "Why I got this, or should I get that"... I want to know, what were you considering along with the Altima (Coupe or Sedan) and what did you take into consideration that finally brought you here, with your Altima?

Did you compare Prices (Obvliously, I'm sure), Car Class, Options, Base Trims, Aftermarket Options, Reliability, name brand??

I love my 1st gen, but she's getting old, and I will be in the market for a new car soon... Still being as young as I am, and this being my first Brand New car, I have alot to think about and check the pro's and con's... I know I will be looking at exterior as a factor because I'm not one for extream body kits, or drastic changes in looks ... I like the thought of upgrading performance, as well as being able to get a better bang-for-my-buck out of the box... There are some other things like financial out look, and things like that...

So with that said, I have my heart set on getting a 3.5 6MT Premium Coupe, but I was consdiering looking into a used G35 for the same ball park price (But I can only find auto, I want manual), but then there is the MSP3 (that has alot of great bells and whistles for a couple k less then the coupe; But I'm not much of a hatch/wagon guy), and I thought of the Lancer, and WRX, but too many riced out ones around me, so I didnt want to get associated with that either... and I'm not one for the H-badge so that was out... I never really found any current/new Toyotas that caught my eye so they were out too... and back to the Altima, I have one now, and I love it, so I think I will end up with another one by this time next year definitly...

I'd really like to hear what you all did, thanx for you time in advance!

[generic808]

For me, I'm a brand loyal type of guy. This Altima is my 4th Nissan, all of which I had no problems whatsoever with. If ain't broke, don't fix it! I love Nissan's and I've yet to ever be disappointed by any of them.

The Altima when first released, really caught my eye. I believe it is one of the most beautiful family sedans out on the market today. No other "affordable" sedan can even come close to the styling of the Altima. And to add to that, the VQ35DE motor is one of the best V6's out on the road. It has been named one of the top 10 motors for the past 13 years, and there's a good reason for that. It's silky smooth, very powerful and very reliable.

If you look in the Altima's class, you have basically the Camry and Accord. Both of which are thousands more if equipped similar to the Altima. Some may say Toyota or Honda reliability is far greater than the Nissan, but I don't believe so. Like I've said, this is my 4th Nissan and none of them gave me any problems, EVER! One of my cars went 120K without ever changing anything. Just the basic maintenance and it hit that many miles before the transmission gave out; the motor was still solid.

What it basically boils down to preference. I wouldn't buy a used car because I really take care of my cars and I don't know how the person before me treated it. The Altima is a great car for the money. You get a lot for what you pay for.

Like you said, the MS3 is a solid performer, but I'm not sold on Mazda reliability. I know too many people who have complained about their Mazda's, including my mother. The WRX and Lancer are good cars, but way too many rice boys out there with them, and you wouldn't want to be classified as one of them. And I really hate turbo lag, something that is UNAVOIDABLE with those two cars. The G35 is an awesome car, but again, how did the dude before you treat it. Who knows, he may have been tearin' it up ever since he drove it off the lot?

It's all up to you. We can sit here and type up essays as to "why" you should buy this car or that one, but it's up to you. What do you want in a vehicle? You currently own an Altima and you love it. Why change a good thing?

Just my .02 cents.

[Goon]

I had numerous problems with my Toyota Solara and didn't want to put in more money to keep it up and running. The brakes kept going bad, then the tires, then the starter, then the brakes with a few dings, and it was 8 years old with 170,000 miles, so it has seen better days.

I've always liked Nissan as a brand. My friend drove his Sentra around and went across the country, and it has a great feeling. A friend had a Sedan and it felt very sturdy.

I've always wanted the G35, but was discouraged from the intense snow and rain in New York. The Altima Coupe was Front Wheel Drive and I have always enjoyed the profile of the G35, but personally think the Altima has a better, especially in the back. I could complain about the grill, but the more times I drive it, the more I come to enjoy it. Settling with a used G35 wouldn't have the latest bells and whistles, as well as the safety during those intense seasons.

So, the Altima Coupe came at a perfect time at an affordable rate for me to have it fully loaded. The only drawback was buying it at its first generation. I feel like a guinea pig, but I trust Nissan.

[Serkle K]

Oh no, you're right... I know what I want... and it keeps coming back to the Altima... I was just wondering what everyone else considered, what they thought they liked, and why they ended up with their Altima...

As for what you said, i do agree with all those points you mentioned... Especially the MSP3 being a Fixed Or Repaired Daily brand... ultimatly at least... And as for personal preferance, I would prefer a 240sx/S14... but I like the Coupe just as well.

Thanx for the reply!

[tsigoloeg]

Serkle,I strongly considered the 350Z, the Mustang GT, and the Scion tC. I replaced my '94 SE-R which I rate as one of the finest automobiles ever produced (for the $). Scion...was a very nice car, but I wanted more power. I considered getting one and adding the TRD supercharger, but too much time and expense for the end result. 350Z is a lot of fun, but just slightly too impractical. I actually was set to buy the GT but having a hard time finding exactly the one I wanted. I was able to find a V6 Altima coupe to test drive one afternoon that I had intended to go negotiate on a GT...and that sealed the deal. It's hard to describe, but after that ride I knew I needed to have one. Styling, refinement, and the Nissan name sold me (I also had a '76 280Z). I still kinda want a GT though, I've wanted a '69 Mustang since I was 16 (embarassingly long enough ago) and the new styling drives me wild. Same for the Z, the 280 was my first car and I feel a kinship to the Z line. Double edges to those swords are I see both everywhere I look, and I slightly enjoy being the only one on my block to have an Altima coupe. For now.

Regarding your comment about the WRX et al. being riced out and you don't want to be "associated" with that...well, if I can offer you the advice of years of experience: don't let what you think other people think of you based on your ride prevent you from enjoying what you like. Drive the car. If you like it the most, get it, enjoy it, style (or don't) it the way you want, and to hell with everyone else.

[generic808]

Turbo lag sucks!! I really, really hate it because it feels like the car has to "catch up". That's something that turned me away from the WRX. So then I considered the STi back when it first came out, but paying over $33K for a Subaru turned me off. No doubt about it though, the STi is a monster on the street! It's pure, raw power at its finest.

I also agree with you, tsigoloeg, when you say the old SE-R was one of the finest vehicles ever produced for the money. That SR20DE motor has found, and still is finding its way into many other applications other than the Sentra. I really miss my old car

[leif927]

Well, I got my Coupe after my 91 civic failed smog. I had a decision then to either A) get my car fixed and pray that nothing else will go wrong with it (it was a Honda) or B) get a newer (or new to me) car some how. I decided that the car was 16 years old and had over 300k miles on it so it was impractical to keep it. I started looking at used cars. My budget wasn't much since it's hard to scrounge up cash right away for a car. I was looking at a 91 Miata for about 3k but discovered after test driving a 07 and hearing the guy saying it was larger than the old one that it wasn't the car for me. I felt so enclosed in that car and knew I would be miserable in that car. I changed focus to other cars. For a moment I considered a used 03 or 04 G35. Then I sat down at the Nissan dealership after test driving the Altima Coupe and worked the numbers with the sales person. I would be paying more the G35 used than I would be for the AC new in both payment and insurance. Plus, it would be a new car with a warranty and from a reputable company. Wouldn't have to worry about what the previous owner did or didn't do. I still want a G but don't get me wrong, I love my Coupe. I just consider it my "Baby-G" until I get my G.

[acousticdank]

I was looking at the 25k price range, looking at Mazda Speed 6, Accord Coupe, Toyota Solara as well as the coupe, all 4 cyl. I also toyed with the idea of used cars, but like yourself this was gonna be my first buy, so I decided to go with brand new. Relatively speaking, all the prices were close enough (I was looking in the 20k-25k price range). I did a lot of research and got a bunch of internet quotes from different dealers for each car trying to see what the best deal would be. I found out my company has discount pricing with all of the manufacturers except for Honda. So, now I had a better figure of what I would be getting.I test drove each one. Mazda had pretty bad turn radius, the Solara didn't really feel that great (maybe I just felt too old in it). I drove the Accord but no discount plus lots of ricers kinda turned me away. The coupe drove real nice, and I tried out the CVT and it just felt too weird. So I decided to go with the automatic.I was actually going for a fully loaded 2.5S but the dealer couldn't get the other dealership to get it to me (supposedly it was ordered for someone but he was possibly jumping ship but they were trying to see if he would still buy it). Manual coupes are pretty rare, so after that one seemed kinda hopeless I went in and test drove the 3.5SE and I was blown away by the power. I mean the 2.5S is nice, don't get me wrong, but the 3.5SE just moved. So I ended up getting the base 3.5SE. All in all, I'm pretty happy. I feel like there isn't much in the premium package that I can't upgrade later on so I'm glad that first car didn't work out.

[MadBlackCoupe]

I feel in love with the Altima when they first came out--just had to get one. The back of the car was hot and new then. Traded in the first one (Pewter Blue) for a black one. That one was totaled at the 8 month mark...some drunk driver flipped over the median on a sharp curve and rolled over (no really) my new ride. It was like the movies--I saw the car rolling towards me--never seen underneith a car before...

Anyway, just some sratches for me, but the other guys were pretty tore up. The driver had to relearn how to walk...nasty stuff.

So, that lead to Altima #3, which I rode for 160,000 miles.

I was looking at SUVs (BMW, Lexus, Xterra, and Benz), but when I saw the coupe and that sexy back...lol...it was a done deal. The 2.5 worked best for me as I have bigger fish to fry financially, as I plan to purchase a house in the next 10-11 months.

-Mad

[Betimbe]

The 2.5 worked best for me as I have bigger fish to fry financially, as I plan to purchase a house in the next 10-11 months.

Well said. The mods should just create a sticky thread entitled "Why I bought the 2.5S / Why I bought the 3.5SE" and be done with it. Anyone who's interested in the pros and cons can read that thread, where people can post their testimonials about why their buying decision was smart and everyone else's is an indication of some deep-seated character defect. As far as I'm concerned, people can be as obnoxious as they want inside that thread, and the mods can delete the accounts of anyone who posts on that topic outside of that thread.

[SHIFT_COUPE]

As far as I'm concerned, people can be as obnoxious as they want inside that thread, and the mods can delete the accounts of anyone who posts on that topic outside of that thread.

Wow your a hardass

I like this thread a lot. Some great input from both sides here. Interesting to see what people have to say.

[joypunk]

The 2.5 worked best for me as I have bigger fish to fry financially, as I plan to purchase a house in the next 10-11 months.

And I'm in the opposite boat... I just bought a house 3 months ago and I'm looking to get a new car in the next couple of months. The 3.5 isn't out of the question, though, because I bought a house that was well under what I could financially afford.

Question is can I afford the 3.5 and the price tag of it's gas and insurance?

[acousticdank]

I wasn't aware this was a 3.5 vs 2.5 discussion which makes me question why you just went on this rant.

Well said. The mods should just create a sticky thread entitled "Why I bought the 2.5S / Why I bought the 3.5SE" and be done with it. Anyone who's interested in the pros and cons can read that thread, where people can post their testimonials about why their buying decision was smart and everyone else's is an indication of some deep-seated character defect. As far as I'm concerned, people can be as obnoxious as they want inside that thread, and the mods can delete the accounts of anyone who posts on that topic outside of that thread.

[Betimbe]

I wasn't aware this was a 3.5 vs 2.5 discussion which makes me question why you just went on this rant.

No need to get defensive. It wasn't directed at your post in particular. Both yours and MadBlackCoupe's are well-reasoned and polite statements about why you bought the car you did, and they should be models for how the discussion should proceed.

Frankly, everyone who owns an AC went through this analysis already. It's the first thing you need to decide after you set out to get an AC. I don't think either side has anything to defend, and the discussion is only interesting to people who are in the market and trying to decide whether the premium for price/fuel/insurance for the 3.5 is a good thing for them or not. And I'm not suggesting this discussion shouldn't happen. I'm suggesting that the mods make a place for this debate to happen so neither side feels like they need to get their licks in every time someone observes in an existing thread that there is a performance/cost difference between the two models. It would be a resource to people who are weighing the decision for themselves to have all of the pros and cons in one place.

It's not about "what," it's about "where."

[prlwhitecoupe]

You know what this really boils down to? SOME and I reiterate that, SOME, people who have the 3.5 seem to think they are higher class, higher status, richer than folk who bought a 2.5.....I gotta say thats some F-U-C-K-E-D up mentality. Just because your *** rides in a 3.5 doesn't really make you better than someone who rather have better fuel economy and cheaper insurance. So you're gonna take off faster than me at the lights, you're gonna pass me on the highway.....if thats what brings joy to your ego then you got some serious issues...have fun with that speeding ticket.

Neways, in response to this thread. I started out by looking at the RX8, after that I watned the Acura CSX TYpe - S which is available in Canada only, its basically a Civic SI but the with the Acura luxury, then I looked at the VW GTI MKv which was reallly nice and I pretty much had made up my mind, but then throughout the whole process I was always contiplating a Nissan, since we already own a 2005 Altima...while doing my research I stumbled upon the Coupe and I was INSTANTLY in love...because I LOVE COUPES...ever since I was 16 I wanted the BMW M Coupe...because I LOVED the design...it was one of those love or hate it designs...

Funny thing also happened to me today, I was at a light in downtown Toronto and another guy with a Blue Altima Coupe stopped next to me, he was checking out the car and he looked over and laughed giving me the thumbs up, haha so I gave him respect back, at the same time in the opposite lane was BMW M Coupe.....and I don't know about you guys but I don't see those too often...it was a good feeling....Neways dude, goodluck on finding the right car for you.....
Modified by prlwhitecoupe at 5:23 PM 10/15/2007

[acousticdank]

No need to get defensive. It wasn't directed at your post in particular. Both yours and MadBlackCoupe's are well-reasoned and polite statements about why you bought the car you did, and they should be models for how the discussion should proceed.

Frankly, everyone who owns an AC went through this analysis already. It's the first thing you need to decide after you set out to get an AC. I don't think either side has anything to defend, and the discussion is only interesting to people who are in the market and trying to decide whether the premium for price/fuel/insurance for the 3.5 is a good thing for them or not. And I'm not suggesting this discussion shouldn't happen. I'm suggesting that the mods make a place for this debate to happen so neither side feels like they need to get their licks in every time someone observes in an existing thread that there is a performance/cost difference between the two models. It would be a resource to people who are weighing the decision for themselves to have all of the pros and cons in one place.

It's not about "what," it's about "where."

my bad didn't mean to be defensive. i understand what you are saying. it's all about personal preference (just like you can come up with coupe vs sedan discussions). but i appreciate the explanation

[Serkle K]

Neways, in response to this thread. I started out by looking at the RX8, after that I watned the Acura CSX TYpe - S which is available in Canada only, its basically a Civic SI but the with the Acura luxury, then I looked at the VW GTI MKv which was reallly nice and I pretty much had made up my mind, but then throughout the whole process I was always contiplating a Nissan, since we already own a 2005 Altima...while doing my research I stumbled upon the Coupe and I was INSTANTLY in love...because I LOVE COUPES...ever since I was 16 I wanted the BMW M Coupe...because I LOVED the design...it was one of those love or hate it designs...Modified by prlwhitecoupe at 5:23 PM 10/15/2007

I forgot to mention that I was considering the GTI MKV too... and I saw they had a 2 and 4 door, and like you I did some research and found out that the A/C was coming, as soon as I read about it and saw the pix, I knew I had to hold out a little longer, and then I saw them at the dealersship, and then on the road... the more I saw them in person the more I knew I had to have one as my next car...

As for the rest of the thread... I was really hoping to keep the flaming down and keep this to just a thread about how you come to be an Altima owner. I like hearing that alot of you fell along the same lines as myself in becoming an Altima owner.

I appreciate the posts so far... Keep'em coming!

[TheBourneAltimatum]

how i got my altima, lets see. the Altima was my 3rd choice actaully. i wanted to get an RSX type-S really bad, but i didnt want to have to use premium to fill up, then it was the honda Civic Si, same problem reqiures premium, then i saw my dads friend with a rental, it was a 2.5s, he let me test drive it, i liked it and bought one just like it, the push to start is what really dragged me in, i still would rather have an RSX type-S i always wanted one i just cant afford to fuel it.

[bembol]

I mentioned before that I wasn't really looking. I recommended the 2.5S to my sister and next thing you know I traded-in my '02 Acura RSX Premium after taking the 3.5 SE for a spin.

Generally, when I buy I like to go with the "Higher End" (2.5S vs 3.5 SE) and if I can, I also try to get the Options (Packages).

I really wanted an SUV for whatever reason but it was out of my budget (Acura RDX, Infiniti FX35, VW Toureg2). I was thinking of going with the Lexus IS RWD 250 but just couldn't put myself in a Sedan. BMW 335Ci & Infiniti G35/37 Coupe is just too expensive.

[TheBourneAltimatum]

^^ Dude Acura RDX's are sooooooooooo sick, i wish i was rich, f*ck cayennes, you $90,000 peice of ****. i want a freaking RDX, and a G37, and a SSC ultimate aero. you never know i could be the next guy to hit the lotto

[hangtime23]

ok...so here's my story on how I ended up with the Altima Coupe...it's probably gonna be a long post so bear with me!

earlier this year (I think it was probably February or March), my coworker was looking at getting a new car. She was looking at cars in the Civic class, like the Mazda 3, Corolla and Lancer. At that point, the lease on my current car (a 2005 Toyota Echo) still had just under 2 years remaining, so I wasn't really thinking of getting a new car at that point. In any case, while she was still doing her research, she told me how the Lancer had been completely redesigned for this year, so I went to the website to take a look at it, and I was really impressed. I mean, the paddle shifting on the CVT (since I can't drive manual), the proximity activated keyfob, push button start, auto climate control, integrated bluetooth system...

A couple weeks later, she ended up getting an 08 Civic EX, and passed along the Lancer brochure she got from the dealership. Of course that was a bad idea, cuz it got me wanting it more, and I started looking for and reading a lot of reviews of the car on the web. I went to a couple of Mitsubishi dealerships to get an idea of their pricing, and test drove it once too, and just knew I had to have it.

At this point, I still had a year and a half left on my current lease, so I asked a couple of Mitsubishi dealerships how much my car would be worth if I used its trade-in value towards the Lancer; in most cases I would end up losing $3-4k on the Echo (which would be added to the cost of the Lancer). This, of course, wasn't appealing to me, so I figured, hey, I'll just wait it out until my lease is over, and then get the new car. Then one day after work, I decided I'd go to the 401-Dixie auto mall with my coworker to ask the Dixie Mitsubishi about their pricing, and to also test drive some of the other cars in the same class (Mazda 3, Sentra, Corolla; I already drove my coworker's Civic for a bit). We went to check out the Mazda first, I test drove it, and I thought, hmm, it's not bad, but doesn't have any of the bells and whistles that the Lancer has. Next, we went to the Mitsubishi dealership, and just asked if they could offer me a better deal on buying out my Echo. They couldn't, so I left. I went out to take a look at it in the parking lot, they had it in red, my 1b colour choice (my 1a choice was the blue). While looking at it, I was thinking...damn, can't wait to be driving this car!

After that, we decided to stop by the Nissan dealership, since it was on the way out of the automall anyways, I figured, maybe I'll test drive the Sentra, and see how it is. Of course, at this point, I still had my heart completely set on the Lancer. So I walked into the Nissan dealership, and the first thing I saw was the back of a red 08 Altima Coupe. I was thinking "WOW...what is THAT car?" It was like love at first sight hahaha...but at the same time I was thinking that it was probably way out of my budget. So I went to look at the Sentra first, and I thought it was very average, although it was cool that it also had the proximity keyfob. Then I figured, might as well ask about the price of the Altima Coupe, just for kicks. The salesman told me it started at $27k, and I was thinking, "well, hmm...a fully loaded Lancer GTS ends at 26k, and for only 1k more I can get something like this?" It even had all the same features as the Lancer (I didn't think too many cars would have the proximity keyfob and push button start so I was surprised). And from then on, it was all about the Altima Coupe. Of course, it didn't end up just being 1k more, since I got the CVT, and also the premium package, but I don't care - I love my Coupe! It still brings a smile to my face to walk to the parking lot and see my car, and then that smile gets even bigger when all I have to do to open the door is press the button on the handle, and I can start the car with the simple push of a button.

I ended up finding somebody to take over my Toyota Echo lease (via Craigslist - which is gold!), so I didn't have to take any loss on it at all, well, other than paying the lease transfer fees. And it's also funny, I actually ended up getting the exact same red Coupe that I first saw in the showroom (I know because when I picked it up, it still had the same dealer vehicle # tag hanging from its rearview mirror). And the day I picked up my Coupe was 07/07/07...how crazy is that!

Anyways, I apologize if any of you were bored by my long post, but just thought I'd share my story. Here are some pics from the dealership that very first day, and also a few months later, next to "what could have been" hahaha..

at the dealership (one of my other coworkers came along too):

And my Coupe, next to "what could have been":



If you want to see the full size pics, here's a link to my pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9...tima/