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I test drove the 3.5 V6 Nissan Altima today...

T

TuffGuy

Diamond Member
and as i stepped on the gas pedal, my face went from 🙂 to 😀.

i also tried the matrix and the camry. the matrix kicks ass, the camry feels like an oversized boat.
 


<< and as i stepped on the gas pedal, my face went from 🙂 to 😀.

i also tried the matrix and the camry. the matrix kicks ass, the camry feels like an oversized boat. >>


American's love their "oversized boats." That's why Camrys outsell all Altimas 2:1.
It's also why the 2.5 Altima outsells the the 3.5 Altima 2:1 (it might have been 3:1, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt).

 
Yeah, the 3.5 that's shared by the max, altima, and pathy is so smooth and torquey. Nissan really hit a winner with that engine
 
I drove my friends new 2002 Maxima SE automatic last night. Nice car, I would've liked it more if it was the 6 speed, but it was quick enough even with the automatic. We were on a deserted road, so he encouraged me to open it up, so I took it up to 120mph, and it got there effortlessly and it felt like we were only going 80-90. The car rides pretty nice too, a little more firm than the 2001 Camry we have, but still rides pleasant.
 


<<

<< and as i stepped on the gas pedal, my face went from 🙂 to 😀.

i also tried the matrix and the camry. the matrix kicks ass, the camry feels like an oversized boat. >>


American's love their "oversized boats." That's why Camrys outsell all Altimas 2:1.
It's also why the 2.5 Altima outsells the the 3.5 Altima 2:1 (it might have been 3:1, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt). >>



True..however TuffGuy, me, and probably everyone in my age group and most car enthusaists don't like oversized boats.

Thats why I like Nissan..they make cars with spunk..albeit a crappy interior in the case of the Altima..but who cares..I don't go feeling the dash while I'm driving. If it looks attractive and doesn't make noises I'm happy.

If the plastic is too hard who cares..I don't go feeling it while driving.

Too bad Nissan didn't become a niche vechile manufacturer...let Honda and Toyota make hte cookie-cutter volume vechicles that appeal to the regular folks...Nissan should make the affordable performance cars..oh wait..they do!
 
TuffGuy


and as i stepped on the gas pedal, my face went from 🙂 to 😀 .

That's exactly what happened to me. Wait until you get some mods in her. Check this Altima out. Stillen Altima

Speaking of the Camry, can any you guys explain to me what's up with that exhaust pipe. There is one weird @ss kink in the pipe near the muffler.

 


<< hey ornery

NFS4 - HUGE by '99 camry standards. this is NOT a driver's car. the road feels sooooo removed it's not even funny.

mAdD INDIAN >>


In case you've forgotten, most Americans could care less about something being a "driver's car." If they did, BMW's and Nissans would be the best selling cars in America.
 
A friend of mine just bought one. Not a bad car.

BTW, what is the best selling car in the USA?

Taurus/Sable....Accord....Camry???
 


<< A friend of mine just bought one. Not a bad car.

BTW, what is the best selling car in the USA?

Taurus/Sable....Accord....Camry??? >>



1) Honda Accord
2) Toyota Camry
3) Ford Taurus
 
How long will the Altima's interior last? It looks cheap, there were some sharp edges, hard plastic, and gaps that remind me of my last Dogde Neon. I drove the one with 2.5, it was fast for a 4-cylinder. My 93 Camry has a much better interior (quality wise), albeit very boring compare to the current Altima.
 


<< Wow Taurus is 3rd now. I wonder if that includes Sables as well.

Or is the Taurus/Sable combination still number 1? >>


The Taurus hasn't been the #1 selling car since 1996. Where've you been? 😀 The Camry has been the best selling car in America for 4 out of the past 5 years.

Sable is NOT included. It's pointless to do so. B/C if Ford could include the Sable, then Toyota could include the Avalon/ES300.


<< My 93 Camry has a much better interior (quality wise), albeit very boring compare to the current Altima. >>


I agree (speaking for my '95 Camry LE w/leather interior).
 


<<

<< hey ornery

NFS4 - HUGE by '99 camry standards. this is NOT a driver's car. the road feels sooooo removed it's not even funny.

mAdD INDIAN >>


In case you've forgotten, most Americans could care less about something being a "driver's car." If they did, BMW's and Nissans would be the best selling cars in America. >>



Oh I'm not doubting that..its just that I could care less about what they want. I *WANT* a drivers car..maybe 50yrs from now I will feel comfortable in a Camry or Buick..but till then...

Let me ask you NFS4, what would you rather drive right now...a car that has firm yet ground hugging suspension and tight steering that you can throw around corners at will..or a car that is a land mass and wallows over every bump and gives you sea sickness??
 


<< Let me ask you NFS4, what would you rather drive right now...a car that has firm yet ground hugging suspension and tight steering that you can throw around corners at will..or a car that is a land mass and wallows over every bump and gives you sea sickness?? >>


Firstly, my car doesn't "wallow" so I don't really care. Secondy, while it's all cool to have a hugging suspension, I live in the city. WTF do I care about corners?? The only cars that give you anything even RESEMBLING sea sickness (which is a pretty far fetched term for a car) are Buicks and Town Cars. My car accelerates briskly and I can easily cruise at 85-90 MPH in relative quiet and smoothness.

The truth of the matter is, the average person (including myself) that buys an Atlima 3.5SE will never have a chance to put the car in a situation where it will truly shine over a Camry or Accord in day to day operations. There's only but so much you can do in city traffic (it'd be funny to see the percentage of 5-speed, 3.5SE Altimas sold in the US are compared to total Altima sales😉). And for this reason, Camrys and Accords will always overshadow the Altima.
 
"...wallows over every bump and gives you sea sickness??"

You know, what makes me laugh, is the fact that he's talking about a Camry here! You have no idea what wallowing is! 😀

Damn, when I hop in a late model Crown Vic, I feel like I'm in a taut sports car! LOL 😀
 


<< "...wallows over every bump and gives you sea sickness??"

You know, what makes me laugh, is the fact that he's talking about a Camry here! You have no idea what wallowing is! 😀

Damn, when I hop in a late model Crown Vic, I feel like I'm in a taut sports car! LOL 😀 >>


LOLOLOL!!! 🙂

If a Camry gives him sea sickness, a Crown Vic would give him DEATH! 😀
 


<< "...wallows over every bump and gives you sea sickness??"

You know, what makes me laugh, is the fact that he's talking about a Camry here! You have no idea what wallowing is! 😀

Damn, when I hop in a late model Crown Vic, I feel like I'm in a taut sports car! LOL 😀 >>



I was actually talking about my friend's '90 Caddilac Sedan De Ville <beautiful car, when it works..> not a Camry...although I now realize how one would think that. My mistake. Your kinda Camry is the best Camry in my mind..the new ones have lost the touch.



<< The truth of the matter is, the average person (including myself) that buys an Atlima 3.5SE will never have a chance to put the car in a situation where it will truly shine over a Camry or Accord in day to day operations. There's only but so much you can do in city traffic (it'd be funny to see the percentage of 5-speed, 3.5SE Altimas sold in the US are compared to total Altima sales). And for this reason, Camrys and Accords will always overshadow the Altima. >>



Your right about that...never thought about it that way. However you can always feel the acceleration in the city and country roads. From what I have read on these forums and others, you Americans have tons of 'back-roads' as they are called to drive in. And a firm suspension not only helps in corners but on the highway as well. When you go over bumpy roads in excess of 75mph, a firmer suspension helps keeping the wheels planted...god knows that helps on our pot-hole, mine-field like roads that they call the 401 here in Canada! :|

And its nice to have hte features if you can't use it as often. Also I see Altima losing sales because its physically huge rather than anything else, I wonder how its interior space compares to a Crown Vic.

<that said you guys have to love my wallow and sea sicknes metaphor.>
 
Now...back to the Altima...
heard on some revies that on the 3.5 you get some strange sounds....
apparently like a thumping basketball or something from either the tires or suspension if you go past 40mph....
does it?
and it also said that the handling was really soft and didn't feel like it "hugged" the road enough...
please be clear for me...
this will determine whether or not i join the nissan crowd 🙂
 
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