Wow, this thread has headed downhill. I have owned a 93 and a 98 four cylinder Altima. Other than lacking some HP, both were good solid engines giving me many miles of work. My 93 was totaled and my 98 is now up in Denver being driven by my son.
In 2003, I opted for the V6. Yep, it had plenty of power and now with 201,000 miles, it is still a fun car to drive.
I took a chance and went with the four banger this go round. There were a few reasons but mainly the fact that I could not convince myself to spend the extra money and get a color choice I did not like. My car is a work car and it is hard to spend almost 30 grand on a car that I will destroy.
So far, I am happy with the 2.5. I think in the long run, that will remain the case. If I could have gotten a Sahara tan 3.5 for the same price as the 2.5, I would have. But I have no concern about the 2.5 giving me 200,000 miles as well.
lol. so the 20% that buy the 3.5 are the norm and the vast majority are the "cheap" ones. your logic is astounding. besides, it ignores the fact that if price were the concern, so much that the overwhelming majority would put up with a crappy car to save a couple grand, please tell my why they're buying the more expensive atlima over the cheaper offerings by ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Chrysler and maybe even WV. or, as I said before, the entire compact and sub-compact segments. about the only things you'll possibly spend more on would b e the accord and the Camry, and even that will depend more on your negotiating skills than anything else. I know the answer, it's a rhetorical question, but your bizarre logic does fascinates me, so don't keep me waiting too long. I'm dying to know why over 200k people are spending more to get a crappier car.
it's also worth noting that both the accord and Camry sales are about 80% i4 varieties too. and last time I checked, it was pretty close to the opposite for domestic cars. somewhere around 60% are V6 versions. or are your going to tell that it's because only tight ass's buy Japanese cars? or does it maybe make a little more sense that Japanese car manufacturers make a pretty good 4 cylinder engine making an upgrade unnecessary for most?
You're missing the point moron. I never said the 3.5 owners are the norm.....I said 2.5 owners are cheap, and its true. Cheap doesn't equate poor either. 2.5 owners want a cheap car to get to A to B and thats what they get. Get it? That's about as simple as I can make it, hopefully you can comprehend. Bizarre right? I know....
Thats besides the fact, because the QR is a shitty engine, especially the first gen, comapred to it's competitors. If you choose to ignore that fact, good for you. You also bring up the Camry and Accord....both which have 4cyl engines that have a good reliability record. The QR has not. So please, enlighten me as to how you conclude that the QR is a good engine because 2.5 Altimas sell. Sales doesn't equate quality or reliability, is that too hard of a concept for you to grasp? How come I don't nearly see as many 3rd gen 2.5 Altimas on the road as I do older Camrys and Accords? Again think GM and Ford in the 90s....people eventually catch on. Money talks and in the midsize segment, the 2.5 altima is one of the cheapest options with a lot of standard features hence why it sells and why rental fleets love them. You act like the 2.5 Altima is so much above the offerings from Ford, GM, and Hyundai....its not, but if thinking that you makes you feel better than have at it.
I just bought a 2.5 Altima and I also owned a 09 2.4 Accord so I feel I can compare both. The Accord is a great car but so is the Altima and I bought the Nissan this time around because it was cheaper with more options than a base LX Accord. As far as the engine goes its basically the same engine as my wife's old Sentra SE-R which we would still have if we hadn't outgrown it. I bought the 2.5 instead of the 3.5 because i'm cheap and for a commuter car I didn't want the extra expense in gas and upfront cost for the larger engine.
If the 2.5 still has the issues with eating the cat and butterfly valves the Sentra did then so be it I can fix it and install a header to cure the cat problem.
Sold
2009 Honda Accord LX-P
2002 Ford Ranger EDGE
2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R
2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette GLS
1995 Toyota Truck
1992 Ford Ranger XLT
1986 Ford Bronco II Eddie Bauer
Haha, fun thread.
I am cheap too, hence a base 2.5. There's was no way I was paying $23K+ for a VQ. I only bought new because they offered great price on the 2.5 ($17.7K out the door), otherwise I was looking at 2-3 year old V6s.
Out of the big 3 japanese, the Altima felt the peppiest 4 cyl. after my test drive. The accord felt the slowest out of the 3. The Altima's QR or cabin, suck for noise insulation though, after 3K+ rpm it feels like you are taking off any second
My ownership of Nissans goes back to 2005. First a 2003 Maxima SE, then a 2008 Altima 2.5 SL. Our Accord is a 2011 EX model, with cloth seats, sunroof and factory radio.
Altima
Pros:
-Power at low rpms
-Edgier design. Altima > Accord Sentra < Civic. I prefer Nissan's styling to Honda's.
-Better transmission - Other than the drone when I floor it, I think the CVT
Cons:
-Engine noise at low RPMs. Sounds like a tractor, but after 4+ years, 60k miles I haven't had any engine problems.
-Tiny 16" alloys with squirmy Continental tires. At high speeds on the freeway, the car threw off a floating feeling.
-Factory speakers - Nothing like the Maxima. Definitely nothing an audiophile would care for.
-Interior - Even with the SL trim, it kind of sucks. Cheap plastic on the doors, very brad. Doesn't match the sleek lines of the exterior.
Accord
Pros:
-Feeling the power kick in when you gun it, more hp to start off with 190 vs 175.
iPod connectivity - Though the new Altima has it too, it's nice to hook up an iPhone/iPod data cable
-Quieter, has a feeling of more refinement.
-18" alloy wheels
-Paint - I think Honda's paint is better. Nissan's scratches
-Interior - Some wood accents, the integration of the entire dash is nice.
Cons:
-Factory audio sucks. A little better than the Altima, but not much.
-Small gas tank (18.5 vs Altima's 20)
-Steering wheel that is not wrapped in leather. I think it's available as an option. My last 2 car had this and it feels like cutting corners.
-Dated dash styling - Gauges are not as easy to see, much less modern than other offerings such as the Civic, Insight, etc.
-Seats : Cloth is very firm, material isn't as nice as the microfiber I had in the Maxima
-Noisy transmission - Probably because it's geared. Reverse in particular. Nothing to be concerned about, but just different.
-Not as sporty. Can't toss it around like the Altima. It feels heavier, but more refined.
Call me old and farty, but I like the refinement of the Accord and the fun of the Altima. Gimme a v6 though, the 4s don't do it for me when I gun it. By the time I get rid of my car though, doing either electric or hybrid.
__________________ 2008 Altima 2.5SL
Paid for in full #winning. Alpine CDA-9887, Kenwood KAC-X10D & KAC-X40, JL Audio CS213RGW1V, Racingline strut tower brace, 35% Tints, Stillen Rear Sway Bar. Hushmat on trunk, side panels and rear deck.
Altima
Cons:
-Engine noise at low RPMs. Sounds like a tractor, but after 4+ years, 60k miles I haven't had any engine problems.
-Tiny 16" alloys with squirmy Continental tires. At high speeds on the freeway, the car threw off a floating feeling.
Accord
Pros:
-Quieter, has a feeling of more refinement.
-Paint - I think Honda's paint is better. Nissan's scratches
These right here are enough to sell me. If you look at the general consensus across this forum, it seems that these are the two most complained-about characteristics of the Altima. I absolutely hate the way the 2.5 feels through the steering wheel in my hands. Maybe some better motor mounts would fix this?
Quote:
Originally Posted by realmac
Cons:
-Small gas tank (18.5 vs Altima's 20)
-Dated dash styling - Gauges are not as easy to see, much less modern than other offerings such as the Civic, Insight, etc.
-Noisy transmission - Probably because it's geared. Reverse in particular. Nothing to be concerned about, but just different.
-Not as sporty. Can't toss it around like the Altima. It feels heavier, but more refined.
The smaller gas tank wouldn't be an issue for me on a personal level.
I don't personally like the Civic's gauge setup (too busy with the multi-level instrumentation), but the Insight's are very cool. Does the newest Accord finally have a trip computer in it? If not, that's another miss in my opinion on Honda's part.
Honda's have always had excessively loud reverse gears for some reason, especially the manuals. It does have gears though.
You're able to toss your Altima around? I could barely take a corner going over 20 in my 3.5SE without it leaning excessively, and that's the SPORT model.
I don't think "enthusiasts" buy midsize family sedans to begin with.
I'm a performance enthusiast with a family and 4 doors is a must have since I don't want to deal with having two or more cars anytime soon. As far as the Altima or any other FWD car, when I shop for a performance car I do not even consider FWD.
Quote:
Originally Posted by B15
2.5 owners are cheap, thats why they buy it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by wild willy
Not really....you say they pick the 2.5 because of how great it is and how wonderful the mpg is............I say it's cause they are cheap, broke or both.
I got a 2.5 because I'm not going to pay a premium and added ongoing fuel costs for something I'm not impressed with (the 3.5). I think the 2.5 has adequate power and the data I found gave the 07+ Altima 2.5 an average-good engine reliability rating so I got one.
I'm a performance enthusiast with a family and 4 doors is a must have since I don't want to deal with having two or more cars anytime soon. As far as the Altima or any other FWD car, when I shop for a performance car I do not even consider FWD.
I got a 2.5 because I'm not going to pay a premium and added ongoing fuel costs for something I'm not impressed with (the 3.5). I think the 2.5 has adequate power and the data I found gave the 07+ Altima 2.5 an average-good engine reliability rating so I got one.
Yep, that seems like a very logical explanation as to why you opted for a 2.5 and like most ppl on this form have allready stated. THat means you are cheap. lol which I find quite funny.
Because I consider saving money on a purchase and over time to me smart, not cheap. And im sure someone who has money in their bank account would agree.
But Im not going to be ignorant and state that it's stupid to purchase a 3.5 lol because well.... im just not that ignorant.
we all decide to spend and save in different areas and at the end of the day if your happy it's all worht it.
__________________
2007 Altima 2.5S
OEM spoiler
Rust proofed
Pioneer deck/satelliteradio
aluminum kick plates
245/45 R18 Kumho's on 3rd Gen Maximum 18"s
Two baby seats
I have taken 25mph-rated on / off ramps at 40-45 without losing grip. After over 30k miles my tires are a bit worn down and don't hug the road as well as they used to.
I got a 2.5 because I'm not going to pay a premium and added ongoing fuel costs for something I'm not impressed with (the 3.5). I think the 2.5 has adequate power and the data I found gave the 07+ Altima 2.5 an average-good engine reliability rating so I got one.
That's good for you, different strokes for different folks. What you said proves my point....you didn't want to spend the money to get more car, whether it be a 3.5 or any other car. Nothing wrong with that you got something that fit your needs.
It seems like Nissan fixed most of the QR issues with the 07+, but the first gen QR was the biggest pile of shit ever. Sometimes I wonder after all the trouble I had with Nissan, why I even bought another.
The point I'm trying to make is calling someone cheap based off of a single purchase is not realistic. A neighbor of mine has a stock 2.5 Altima and a 3000 sq foot home. Now my old neighbor had a 7 series with chrome 20's and a 1000 sq foot home. Now is the person with the cheaper car cheap or is the parson with the smaller home cheap? I'm willing to bet that a little part of all of us would rather have something nicer than the Altima weather we think it's worth the extra money or not. Does that make all of us cheap because we purchased an Altima? On a a side note I'm in the same boat. I'm seriously considering another Bimmer even though and my last one had more than a few issues.
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It was much more fun when I had the 6 speed GTO
2008 Altima 2.5SL
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