Down to my final 2

[Feldenak]

Alrighty folks, I'm going to pull the trigger on a "new to me" vehicle within the next 30-45 days. Right now I'm looking at 2007 Altima 3.5 SE/SL and 2007 Camry LE/SE/XLE. Is certification worth it? Is there a significant difference in the long term reliability between the Altima & Camry?

 

[desy]

Having been in neither I'll recommend the Altima
Just cause the avg age of a Camry owner is 55, tis true . . . .


http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16774146/

 

[Malak]

I'd go with Altima between the two choices, but can I ask why you limited yourself to these 2?

 

[brblx]

i like the altima better, as well. the certified pre-owned thing should carry a warranty, no? ask the dealer (or maybe just look at the manufacturer's web site) to see what that entails. you'll pay more for the car, for sure, but it may or may not be worth it.

 

[thescreensavers]

Altima 3.5 has a VQ vroom vroom

 

[MotF Bane]

I'd recommend the Altima for pretty much any reason, except that I hate Nissans, and Altimas are the root of it.

 

[boomhower]

Another vote for the Altima. The Camry is just way to boring to drive.

 

[zerocool84]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
Alrighty folks, I'm going to pull the trigger on a "new to me" vehicle within the next 30-45 days. Right now I'm looking at 2007 Altima 3.5 SE/SL and 2007 Camry LE/SE/XLE. Is certification worth it? Is there a significant difference in the long term reliability between the Altima & Camry?

Why are you limiting yourself just to those two? Camry's are horribly overpriced used. Especially one that recent.

 

[Ronstang]

Those are two of the most boring cars ever but if I had to choose it would definitely be the Altima. Toyotas are way overrated these days.

 

[Feldenak]

Wow, I didn't expect the Altima to take such a commanding lead so early.

Originally posted by: boomhower
Another vote for the Altima. The Camry is just way to boring to drive.

Originally posted by: Ronstang
Those are two of the most boring cars ever

Heh, my current car is a 99 Saturn. I don't know that I'd say the Altima & Camry are more boring than that. Plus, this will primarily be my wife's car and I'm not putting her in a RWD sports car.

Originally posted by: zerocool84
Why are you limiting yourself just to those two? Camry's are horribly overpriced used. Especially one that recent.

Are they really that much out of line? The Camrys I've seen listed seem to be about on par with KBB (low 20s). The Altimas seem be in the same range though, they have lower milage (suggesting the higher resale $$ on the Camry).

 

[StageLeft]

Altima. Man up and buy the manual transmission.

Get certified if it extends the warranty substantially, as it often does with used cars.

Camry does have higher resale but I don't think it's truly earned, so as a used car buyer it just means you get less car/older car for the same money. Altima is substantially faster, too.

 

[jlee]

I am a Toyota fanboy and I would probably go for the Altima..seems a little more fun.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Altima. Man up and buy the manual transmission.

The Saturn's a stick and I hate driving it during my daily commutes. I'll be keeping the Saturn and my wife'll be driving the newer car, I'd rather keep her in an automatic.

Edit: The Altima I'm looking at is a CPO 3.5 SL with <20k miles and <22k. From what I've seen, that's just slightly under KBB value. Good price?

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

You're looking at midsized family sedans. Both will have a similar feel, price, and quality. You will probably be satisfied with either choice. If you're worried about the Camry being "boring" then look for the SE trim. Neither of them are going to light the hearts fire. Just pick one based on which gives you the better deal.

 

[kalrith]

For $22k I'd go with a brand new 2010 Fusion. Out of those two choices, however, I'd go with the Altima.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Altima. Man up and buy the manual transmission.

The Saturn's a stick and I hate driving it during my daily commutes. I'll be keeping the Saturn and my wife'll be driving the newer car, I'd rather keep her in an automatic.

Edit: The Altima I'm looking at is a CPO 3.5 SL with <20k miles and <22k. From what I've seen, that's just slightly under KBB value. Good price?

Wife... how about kids? If you have or plan to have kids, have you checked out the backseat space on both cars?

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: MotF Bane

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Altima. Man up and buy the manual transmission.

The Saturn's a stick and I hate driving it during my daily commutes. I'll be keeping the Saturn and my wife'll be driving the newer car, I'd rather keep her in an automatic.

Edit: The Altima I'm looking at is a CPO 3.5 SL with <20k miles and <22k. From what I've seen, that's just slightly under KBB value. Good price?

Wife... how about kids? If you have or plan to have kids, have you checked out the backseat space on both cars?

No kids with no plans for any rugrats. Backseat comfort is not really an issue.

 

[Arkaign]

Altima 3.5 is a world better driver than the regular 4-banger Camry. The V6 Camry is pretty decent if a bit mushy, but I don't expect that's what you're comparing here. So, Altima in a landslide. The 3.5 VQ is pretty well proven by now.

 

[Falloutboy]

22k for a used sedan. ouch... can get a low mileage CPO aura or Malibu for 16-18 which is just as nice of a car. or hell for 22k you could get a good low milage Caddy CTS lol

 

[exdeath]

The 2GR-FE 3.5L V6 is Toyota's equivilent of Nissan's VQ35 in basically every way, so don't go by the engine alone if both are V6s.

Nor let the age image be the deciding factor. For every 55 yr old in a Camry there is a 15 year old who chose an Altima because it has factory altezzas.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: Falloutboy
22k for a used sedan. ouch... can get a low mileage CPO aura or Malibu for 16-18 which is just as nice of a car. or hell for 22k you could get a good low milage Caddy CTS lol

Agree! $22K for a used 3 yr old Altima or Camry is too much, but did the OP mean 22K miles, or $22K price?

 

[DVad3r]

Camry, don't even think twice about the Nissan.

 

[mb]

Between the Altima and Camry, I'd pick an Accord.

Edit: or a Fusion.

Altima has a nice V6 but is loud, uncomfortable, and handles like a boat. Camry is soft, floaty and lifeless.

Accord and Fusion fit somewhere in the middle of those two.

 

[kornphlake]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
Heh, my current car is a 99 Saturn. I don't know that I'd say the Altima & Camry are more boring than that. Plus, this will primarily be my wife's car and I'm not putting her in a RWD sports car.

If your Saturn is like mine it'll outlast either the Camry or Altima even though it's 10 years older. Don't forget to check the oil... often... For it's size the Saturn 1.9L engine runs strong and the weight of the vehicle makes it a relatively pleasant experience. Compared to other subcompacts I've driven the handling of a S-series Saturn with stock suspension and tires is the best in it's class. I wouldn't buy another Saturn though, the 96-01 S-series were an odditiy, in that they were actually reliable.

Based on my dissatisfaction with the two Toyota's I've owned and the satisfaction I've had with the one Nissan I've owned, I'd recommend the Nissan. I doubt it really matters unless you plan on keeping either car more than 100k miles, both will reach that mark relatively problem free.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Between the two: Altima.

Between all mid-sized sedans: Fusion. I LOVE mine. Used ones especially are an exceptional deal compared to their Japanese counterparts.