Buy the Altima 2.5S with the Convenience pkg.
No prob Bob, if you want an Altima with alloy wheels, buy the 2.5S with the Conveience pkg. It is true, that with an automatic transmission, the 2.5S is about $19,,400, but that is MSRP, and if you pay MSRP for a basic Altima, that's crazy. The 2.5S with the Convenience pkg. and automatic transmission is about $21,500 MSRP, but could probably be had for about $19K. Then you have to look at it quite differently. The Altima is a great deal larger than the Focus, plus the engine is the basic Altima is better than the top engine for the Focus. They are in completely different classes. The Focus is a compact, although a fairly roomy one, while he Altima is almost a full size sedan, just a few cubic feet behind the Avalon. If you think it's outrageous to have an Altima for $20K without alloy wheels, check you local Toyota dealerships, I looked at a Camry SE I4, they wanted $25.5K for it, and guess what, it had wheel covers on it too. The Avalon, a car that starts at about $25k has ugly 15 inch wheel covers. The Honda Accord LX and LXV6 both have wheel covers, although the Accord LXI4 is cheaper than the Altima 2.5S. The Mitsubishi Galant ES and ESV6 have wheel covers, and the VW Passat GLS and GLSV6 without the luxury pkg., which starts at about $19K has wheel covers as well, even the Taurus starts off with wheel covers, but it too is cheaper than the Altima. The Impala base has wheel covers as well. The Point you ask? Well, I see it like this, Nissan thinks, well if Toyota can offer the car with cheap wheel covers, so can we. I will say though, the new Altima looks a great deal better than any focus, although that is just my opinion. Wheel covers are the last thing I am really worried about though, the relaibilty plays a big role in my car buying decisions, and for that reason, I would take the Altima 2.5S without the conveinece pkg. over say the Chevy Impala or Ford Taurus with alloy wheels for that reason alone.
Although I do agree, for the money for these new cars, alloy wheels should be standard. Why not write Nissan or call them. I have already called them and written them about the interior.