CarAndDriver

My brother is in the market for a new car to replace an aging 1994 Honda Accord.

We took a look at the Altima at the dealer this last weekend. We also looked at the 2011 Toyota Camry SE. They do not want another Honda Accord and were not fond of the Mazda6 styling.

They are looking at 2010 Altima 2.5S with two option packages (Conv. Pkg. and Conv. Plus Pkg) and floor/trunk mats. One dealer using USAA pricing came out to around $20,500, but didn't have that config in stock. Maybe another dealer will match it. That includes the $1500 rebate going on.

Has anyone driven/own the current Altima and has opinions (good/bad) on it?

Thanks!

VashGS

Overpriced. Get a Mazda 2 when they come out soon or a Mazda 3i. Nissan are boring...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iscMyVcedqw

2tone

iTrader: (3)

my sister used to have one. it was ok from what i know. i don't like them, but i don't think they had a problem with it.

you can get a pimped out mazda 3 (i mean leather, heated seats, auto hid headlights, power seats, cd changer, keyless push button start, etc.) for 20-23k. the dealership by me is doing 0% and no payments for 90 days.

8 Maniac

iTrader: (1)

That post is retarded.

Mind you, the Mazda 2 is a great recommendation if someone is looking for that kind of car.

But...

If you paid any attention to what the OP said:
1) looking to replace a honda accord
2) considering an altima
3) looked at the camry as well

The mazda 3 recommendation is a little more reasonable, but still on the smaller side of what it sounds like the OP's brother is looking for. Saying nissan's are boring is also not helpful, as there is no reason to assume they are looking for a "fun" car. Based on what I've seen, they're probably looking for a nice 4 door sedan with good space, gas mileage, comfort etc.

What exactly are they looking for? Are they wanting to stick to the same class/size of car, or would something in the mazda 3 range be something they might like as well? Just the basic requirements would help a lot in recommendations. While I have not personally driven the altima, I've heard it's a nice ride overall.

RufusVonStorm

Friends don't let friends buy Nissan

SPHINX144

Altimas are dull... but hey, whatever floats his boat.

REsuperD

there isn't really any reason not to buy an altima, but there also totally isn't any reason to buy it...unless they have their hearts set on it for some reason or if it's a ridiculously good deal ($20k isn't). i'd get a mazda6 in a heartbeat; i dunno how anyone can like the altima's or camry's styling over the 6's, but to each their own. if it's down to the altima and camry, then the camry is absolutely the clear winner. the camry might be the blandest and most boring car you can buy, but it's an excellent driving appliance. we rented one for a roadtrip recently, and i hated camrys beforehand. i loved it after the trip. it's so comfortable, roomy (for people and stuff), the 4-cylinder is amazingly efficient (we got 36mpg), such a perfect braindead car. as a dd or for people not caring about cars and just want a means of transport, camry is still the one. toyotas might not be as bulletproof as they used to be, but i guarantee you it'll be more reliable than an altima

Feras

iTrader: (1)

hyundai sonata, more power out of the 4, more beautiful car.

REsuperD

so i just spec'd an altima on nissan's website as the op wanted, and came out to be about $25k. so $20.5k isn't a bad deal. but still, i think a camry is still a better car and better buy. and +1 on the sonata; it's at least worth a look

2tone

iTrader: (3)

yeah it really depends on style. i mean, i too am a bit surprised to hear the 6's styling is off limits...the altima is considered stylish for the segment (at least more so than accord and camry), but seriously, they must PREFER bland cars if they want an camry over a mazda 6. no offense intended, but if that's what they're thinking, it should really just come down to which of those 2 is a better deal financially.

if a mazda 3 is ok size-wise (we have one, they're plenty of room and a huge trunk, but like other said, we don't know what they use it for...), then i would say mazda 3 hands down. personally, i'd take a decked out car that size versus a non-accessorized 6, camry or altima. i'd just rather have the upgraded amenities.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

My friend recently purchased a 2.5SL. Yes, leather, sunroof, heated seats, etc. She got it for ~$26,000 with everything done. Quite a nice car, quality has been much improve over older Nissans/Infinitis. I would say the quality is better than a Hyundai Sonata. She was also interested in a Mazda6 i, but she is happy with her 2.5SL.

I am still iffy about Hyundai. The new Sonata is still not up to par in terms of quality when compare to the new Nissans or even Mazda. My friend has a 2010 Tucson fully loaded with the giant sunroof, heated leather seats, navigation, etc. He has issue with his Tucson, malfunctioning ABS, navigation screen flickering, broken visors, and trim pieces falling off. When looked closely, you can easily point out the corners Hyundai have cut.

CarAndDriver

So my sister-in-law is driving a lot of the car choices. Don't ask me why she thinks certain things....

2 adults + 2 kids and all the stuff that goes along with a modern family.

Honda Accord: getting too big and bloated for garage, insurance is higher, theft magnet, they work at a low income elementary school, their 94 Accord was stolen from the parking lot, but was recovered just as it was on its way to a chop shop

Toyota Camry SE: sister did not like the dashboard nor the seat fabric, the SE definitely felt firmer than a standard Camry LE

Mazda6: did not like the styling, she mentioned the rear-end, I am not fond of the styling inside or out and the interior materials are not great. I think Mazda made a big mistake by not giving us the tidier Euro Asia 6.

Hyundai Sonata: does not like Hyundais, I ask why and she brings up their past junk. Of course, I tell her as does other family members, that they make really solid and competitive cars nowadays. I tell her she needs to at least look at the new 2011 Sonata in person

Nissan Altima: the one with the least negatives, I'm not fond of the CVT having had a Sentra rental car, made the engine drone when accelerating

Ford Fusion: maybe I should make them look at one. I'm still not sold on the Ford Fusion interior.

$20,500 for a decently equipped new family sedan doesn't seem to bad to me, but perhaps you have other thoughts?

So for all the folks who wanted more info, there yah go. I can only point out the water, I cannot make a horse drink from it.

2tone

iTrader: (3)

^ good info man. i'd still have her check out the mazda 3, but i have a feeling it might be a little too cramped for them.

i just hate camry's

i'm not sold on hyundai's yet either

the accords have become super bloated

so if she doesn't like the 6, the altima isn't sounding too bad i don't think!

the fusion would be worth looking into...i don't know anything about it but it seems nice.

ArXate

Never buy Nissan. Can you say cost-cutting? Can you say shortcutting R & D? The Chevrolet of Japanese cars.

Yeah, he's gonna get an Altima. Some people just don't learn. Make sure he puts a billet grille on it. Those sharp angles and creases in the front and back are hilarious looking.

SayNoToPistons

iTrader: (8)

As much as I dislike Nissan/Infiniti, I can't say that a buyer would go wrong with an Altima. That just sounds like you're talking out of your ***.

ArXate

Unfortunately for you, I am not talking "out of my ***." I am certain there are others on this site who know exactly what I'm talking about.

It is therefore that I find I must conclude that you are talking out of your ***. If you don't know jack, then you don't know jack. Live with it. Oh, can you do me a favor and focus on ideas, concepts, and discussion instead of directing your comments at the person who focuses on ideas, concepts, and discussion? Thanks.

Tweek

Dont feed the troll.

ArXate

I'm going to go ahead and preempt a comebacker from SayNoToPistons. Next time, please please expend your own energy to do your own homework. Below, I will post Automobile Magazine's short reviews of the 2009 Altima by two editors:

(1) David Zenlea, Assistant Editor for Automobile Magazine, says:

Based on this coupe's voluptuous looks, you expect it to drive like a bargain-basement Infiniti G37. In fact, it's much more similar to the Pontiac G6 coupe and the Toyota Camry Solara. That makes sense given that the Altima is, like those cars, a variant of a front-wheel-drive sedan, and not a de-contented hot rod built on Nissan's venerable FM platform.

That said, it's still rather disappointing to find out that such a good-looking car drives so plainly. The steering is lifeless and vague. The driveline reminds me a bit of its cousin, but that's not quite a compliment. Like the G37, the manual transmission is balky, with a clutch that's difficult to modulate. The 3.5-liter V-6 provides a familiar cacophony as it grinds and howls its way to redline. But whereas the G37's bigger V-6 at least rewards all that racket with strong performance, the Altima never really feels like it's packing its rated 270 hp. There was a time when the VQ engines were far and away the most powerful on the market, but nowadays many competitors provide similar performance with a lot less noise, vibration, and harshness.

I understand Nissan's quandary. The company wanted to capitalize off the halo of its G37, which enjoys near cult status among young people, without undermining sales of the more expensive car. The Altima coupe probably makes sense in four-cylinder form for folks simply looking for a dose of G-coupe style at a reasonable price. But our loaded tester is nothing short of a con job, costing nearly as much as a base G37 while providing none of the driving experience.

(2) Phil Floraday, Senior Online Editor for Automobile Magazine, says:

I'll second the notion that this car makes a lot more sense as a four-banger. The Altima coupe looks pretty good inside and out, but there is absolutely no performance to back up the rather attractive curves. Although 270 hp looks good on paper, the front-wheel-drive layout, rather soft springs, and excessive body roll make anything more aggressive than commuting futile. And for this $33,000 sticker, you're well into Mustang/Challenger/Z-car territory, yet those cars offer more power and rear-drive as well as good looks.

Not only do I advocate ordering your Altima coupe with a four-cylinder, I'd also recommend the CVT in place of the manual transmission. Again, when you take out any sporting pretentions, the car is much more palatable. The same goes for the transmission. I can't really drive this manual smoothly, and there's not enough performance to justify the clunky shifts. My past experience with an Altima powered by the smooth four-cylinder/CVT combo was quite good.

Long on style, short on substance. The Altima coupe is the sort of car you wish you could like more, but there just isn't enough oomph to justify anything but a base car, perhaps with some options like a better stereo or leather seats. If you're set on a front-drive coupe, look to the Honda Accord if you enjoy driving even a little bit. If you're looking for a genuine performance car, it's worth the extra money to buy a 370Z.

(3) David Zenlea follows up after one week:

Last week I was quite harsh, essentially calling you out as a weak, overpriced poseur. Well, I had a chance to push you today on dry, completely empty roads (the best part of Christmas for a Jewish person, aside from the Chinese food), and while I don't retract any of my statements, I am willing to look at you with a bit more of a glass-half-full attitude.

Yes, your VQ engine is dated and noisy, but it rises to the challenge when the rpms rise, providing power in second gear that no other mid-size sedan can match. Your manual transmission isn't as good as what I'd find in an Accord coupe, but at least you offer one - that's a growing rarity in the segment (save the aforementioned Accord). And, as I said before, you are beautiful.

For next Christmas, tell Nissan engineers you want stiffer front struts; wider, stickier front tires; and a thicker rear antiroll bar. That should largely cure your annoying axle hop and torque steer, and it might make you less likely to plow nose-first through fast turns. You still won't be the stripped-down G37 your exterior promises, but you'll be able to shock the hell out of some Mustangs.

I'll look forward to that.

Sincerely,

David

P.S. What are your plans for Easter?

CarAndDriver

^ I got it you don't like Nissans and nobody is going to change your mind.

However, the article your quoting is for a test of what must be the a top of the line V6 coupe. In fact, the editor says a better value is for a basic 4 cylinder coupe.

My brother is looking at a moderately loaded Altima S sedan for around $20,500. It really isn't an apple to apples comparison.

If you actually go reading reviews of the Altima sedan, you'll find most reviews are complimentary.

ArXate

On the 2010 Altima Coupe 3.5 SR:

(1) David Zenlea, Assistant Editor for Automobile Magazine, says:

Very mixed feelings about this car. On the one hand, it's hard not to really like something this pretty - it's a convincing Infiniti G37 knockoff - and this quick. And believe me, it is quick. The six-speed manual transmission is well worth the $2330, as it wakes up the ol' VQ and turns a well-mannered family car into a snorting, rorting beast capable of some very impressive second-gear pulls. There's more cause for celebration inside, where, despite some tacky faux leather and brushed aluminum trim, this Altima SR is far more mature than its predecessors. The small color screen on the non-navigation-equipped stereo unit is also a nice touch.

On the other hand, this Altima is noisy, unrefined, and still handles like an overpowered front-wheel-drive family car. That's despite the fact that its suspension is tuned so firm that it rattles interior panels over potholes. And though $30,320 is a good deal cheaper than the real-deal G37, it's quite a bit more expensive than similarly equipped, V-6 versions of the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang, and Hyundai Genesis.

(2) Joe DeMatio, Deputy Editor for Automobile Magazine, says:

My colleagues have mixed feelings about the Nissan Altima Coupe and I know why: this car falls far short of the standards one would expect in 2010 from a $30,000 vehicle. I have one thing to say: Volkswagen GTI, my friends. A car that's available for less money and is twice as refined, twice as well-tuned, and twice as fun to drive as this Nissan.

The main things the Altima coupe has going for it are its exterior styling, which is indeed reminiscent of Infiniti; and its powerful V-6 engine. But the Altima coupe is not worthy of that fine engine. The chassis is soggy, the steering is a mess, the body control is mediocre. Do you get the picture? The Nissan Altima coupe is a great dynamic disappointment. I was shocked by our car's sticker price, even though it had the V-6, and I almost fainted to see that the manual gearbox - nothing to crow about - costs $2330. You have got to be kidding me.

The Honda Accord coupe has always felt like a discount Acura, whereas the Nissan Altima coupe feels like a dressed-up economy car.

(3) Jason Cammisa, West Coast Editor for Automobile Magazine, says:

I'm not on the fence, either -- I'm with Joe DeMatio, and I don't get this car at all. It looks like it's supposed to be sporty, but it doesn't deliver in any way, shape, or form. Sure, it's fast as the Dickens, but it ends there. The VQ is well muted (thank God you aren't assaulted with the NVH from that old thing) but so is the steering (unless you count torque steer), the clutch, the ropy shifter, and the nonlinear throttle pedal. Each of the primary controls feels as though it's connected to somebody else's car.

Oh, and body control? Not so much. The last time I saw a front end lift like this was a (rear-wheel drive) 1985 Mercedes 380SL. No wonder the Altima spins its front tires so easily off the line; it's trying to do a wheelie!

I had the displeasure of doing a few laps on an autocross course in the Altima Coupe. Let's just say "messy."

I love the backup camera (a virtual necessity with modern, high-silled cars), but the sunroof causes far too much wind buffeting, and the trunk is small, with the load floor high enough that a large suitcase barely fits.

Seriously, I just don't get it. Why would you ever choose this over the sedan? If you want a coupe, get a 370Z or an Infiniti G37.

ArXate

It's not that I just don't like Nissans for no reason. Apparently, you haven't kept up with the auto industry, specifically Nissan, since around 2002 or around the time Carlos Ghosn took over. Not only did he successfully bring Nissan back from destruction, he did it with a brilliant plan of cost-cutting by (1) skimping on chassis, suspension, and interior; (2) using the VQ across models. Along these lines was the directive to give the cars aggressive exteriors and a lot of HP, which served to counteract any negative attention on the skimping of the chassis, suspension, and interior. Recently, Nissan has calculatingly spruced up interiors, e.g., in the Z and the Altima, while continuing to save money by not doing proper R&D of chassis and suspension. Remember, Carlos Ghosn was given the name "Le Cost Cutter" for a reason.

I dislike Nissan AFTER understanding their cost-cutting master plan back in the early 2000's before I bought my RX8. I continue to dislike Nissan AFTER understanding they are continuing that same plan in 2010.

The cars are seriously under-engineered. That is a fact. You don't have to like it.

ArXate

There aren't many detailed or technical reviews of the 2010 Altima in either coupe or sedan form. Automobile Magazine seems to be the only publication that does, but only for the 2009 and 2010 coupes.

A search on 2010 Altima sedan reviews turned up a Car and Driver First Drive and a Road & Track Driving Impressions, neither of which is detailed enough. Other reviews are from the likes of Yahoo Autos, Edmunds, etc., none of which can be taken too seriously with regard to the more technical aspects. I do not think you and your brother can draw too much meaningful information from those reviews.

Feras

iTrader: (1)

arxate tell us how you really feel lol.

anyways back on topic, the fusion is an excellent car, and its taken away some of the awards and accolades the japanese sedans have had for years. Ford is becoming serious about quality and it shows in the fusion. Your bro should take a look at one.

Tayler

iTrader: (1)

Mind sharing a source on this one?

dillsrotary

^ agreed, the fusion is a nice buy for the money

Also i didn't read any of Arxate's posts, I feel better, good morning