New car! ****Updated 5/11/09

[alkemyst]

Maybe it's Nissans and spit. I was in a 7-11/quikee mart and this guy in a pickup pulled up along behind my 240sx and hocked a freaking loogie on it and peeled out of the place.

I have no idea to this day WTF it was about.

I do know a lot of people with nice cars that have been vandalized. One lady had a Porsche at an office I worked at that someone kept cutting the top on. Her insurance would not cover it after the 4th time and it was a few grand to replace. She sold the car and oddly the damage stopped. Apparently it was only directed at the car and not her like police thought.

Someone also took an ice pick or some pointed device to the side of another guys camaro. It was custom painted (not my style) but it was about $6k in paint work gone and insurance would not cover that as well.

 

[RiDE]

Wow, that fucking sucks. :| WTF is wrong with people today? I know nice new cars are big magnets for douchebags but this is ridiculous.

 

[thomsbrain]

People are no damn good.

 

[Jeff7181]

Got an estimate today... between $1300 and $1400... and about 28 hours of billable labor.

If the thought of doing something like this ever crosses anyone's mind, remember those numbers and realize what your few seconds of shitheadedness will cost someone in time and money.

 

[AsianriceX]

Ugh, I don't understand people.

I was parked in a mall with my 99 Altima. Someone had the grand idea of writing their initials in huge letters on the roof of my car. He/She somehow managed to scratch the clearcoat.

Granted, the car was dirty, and I wasn't angry about someone personalizing my car with the dirt, but how the hell do you do so and scratch the paint?

My sympathies for your new Alti.

 

[Jeff7181]

I made some stupid videos today 'cause a friend told me there aren't enough Coupe videos on YouTube.

Video 1
Video 2
Video 3

 

[SparkyJJO]

People who vandalize don't make sense to me. I have a friend who just got a 02 saturn - you know, nothing fancy here. Yet somebody decided to key the trunk straight down to the metal. WHY!?

That just sucks man....

 

[Jeff7181]

Bump for an update to inform people who asked for updates. Nissan sent out a letter for what I assume is going to be a recall. Heat shields on exhaust manifold are rattling on the 2.5's.

Also, I'm getting about 27-28 mpg now that I'm letting the car idle more in the morning when I'm scraping windows and running the defroster. Quite a bit worse than I had hoped I'd get be getting out of it. I have about 4200 miles on it now.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Got a letter from Nissan today in reference to the rattling noise I've noticed upon start and constant low RPM. They say it's a heat shield on the exhaust manifold and in the next 60 days they'll be sending me more information on when I can get it fixed under warranty.

they still haven't gotten the QR25DE straightened out? there have been about 6 recalls due to that engine. i can understand an early one like mine getting all these recalls but they've now been using it about 6 years.

 

[avash]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Got a letter from Nissan today in reference to the rattling noise I've noticed upon start and constant low RPM. They say it's a heat shield on the exhaust manifold and in the next 60 days they'll be sending me more information on when I can get it fixed under warranty.

they still haven't gotten the QR25DE straightened out? there have been about 6 recalls due to that engine. i can understand an early one like mine getting all these recalls but they've now been using it about 6 years.

exhaust manifold heatshield .... aka thin metal piece that acts as a temperature insulator. Not the engine itself.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: avash

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Got a letter from Nissan today in reference to the rattling noise I've noticed upon start and constant low RPM. They say it's a heat shield on the exhaust manifold and in the next 60 days they'll be sending me more information on when I can get it fixed under warranty.

they still haven't gotten the QR25DE straightened out? there have been about 6 recalls due to that engine. i can understand an early one like mine getting all these recalls but they've now been using it about 6 years.

exhaust manifold heatshield .... aka thin metal piece that acts as a temperature insulator. Not the engine itself.

yes i'm well aware of what an exhaust manifold heatshield is. the recall is for QR25DE engined cars. other cars are unaffected. so, my statement is still correct.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: avash

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Got a letter from Nissan today in reference to the rattling noise I've noticed upon start and constant low RPM. They say it's a heat shield on the exhaust manifold and in the next 60 days they'll be sending me more information on when I can get it fixed under warranty.

they still haven't gotten the QR25DE straightened out? there have been about 6 recalls due to that engine. i can understand an early one like mine getting all these recalls but they've now been using it about 6 years.

exhaust manifold heatshield .... aka thin metal piece that acts as a temperature insulator. Not the engine itself.

yes i'm well aware of what an exhaust manifold heatshield is. the recall is for QR25DE engined cars. other cars are unaffected. so, my statement is still correct.

If the problem was the followers rattling, or an oil leak, or a rod knock... sure. But calling a heat shield a problem with the QR25DE is a pretty big stretch.

 

[Jeff7181]

For those who care, thought I'd give an update.

I just passed 6000 miles the other day... took it in for it's second oil change today.
Last week I took it in for the recall. They replaced the heatshield on the exhaust manifold so it no longer rattles at certain engine speeds.
I'm averaging about 26 mpg with about a 50/50 mix of city/highway driving. I expect that to increase as the weather warms up and the engine spends less time idling in the driveway as I clean snow off, less time in closed loop while it warms up, and is no longer sucking cold dense air.

Aside from the ass who put a dent in it, the debris that broke my windshield, and the rattling heat shield it's been a pleasure to drive. I think the tires are improving as they wear. They didn't feel like they had very good traction when they were brand new, but as they wear, it feels like their lateral grip is improving. It still doesn't take much to break them free when accelerating though. Occasionally even when the roads are just wet I accidently turn them over a little and I don't punch it.

I had been considering getting some Nismo 18 inch wheels and a nice set of tires, I think I'll wait a little longer though. Maybe this summer, maybe next summer.

 

[tvdang7]

dude if you really get that good of fuel economy i would be very angry at my scion tc . do you look at how many miles you drive and divide it by the number of gallons you fill up? thats how i do it and i get 25-26 everytime. 27-28 if ive been a good driver. but yours getting 29? damn puts me to shame.

 

[sniperruff]

Originally posted by: tvdang7
dude if you really get that good of fuel economy i would be very angry at my scion tc . do you look at how many miles you drive and divide it by the number of gallons you fill up? thats how i do it and i get 25-26 everytime. 27-28 if ive been a good driver. but yours getting 29? damn puts me to shame.

the CVT improves fuel economy i think.

 

[KillerCharlie]

I was completely set on buying a 2.5 coupe, until I decided the gravel mountain roads I find myself on in the summer every weekend wouldn't be so kind to it.

 

[Throckmorton]

That sucks that some ass dented your car. What the hell was he thinking?

 

[BUTCH1]

Nice looking car OP, I like the coupe styling. WTF is wrong with people to
dent your ride? I waxed mine w/Zaino and went grocery shopping and someone
smeared some carmel-like shit all over one side!, Damm I was pissed, I can
imagine the ass wooping you would have dispensed to the fuckwad who dented
yours...

 

[bigal40]

I gotta tell you you should have got the 3.5 with manual.

A manual would've been a little cheaper, though not as much as it would cost you to go from the 2.5 to the 3.5, and you would get a little bit better gas mileage, again not as much better as a 2.5 gets than the 3.5.

Anyway, nice car.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: sniperruff

Originally posted by: tvdang7
dude if you really get that good of fuel economy i would be very angry at my scion tc . do you look at how many miles you drive and divide it by the number of gallons you fill up? thats how i do it and i get 25-26 everytime. 27-28 if ive been a good driver. but yours getting 29? damn puts me to shame.

the CVT improves fuel economy i think.

As I said in my most recent update, in these winter months I'm getting more like 26. But in the fall, I was getting 28 or 29 on a daily basis but that's with a mix of highway driving. Just around town it drops to about 22-24.
The trip computer is accurate too. I've never had it deviate by more than 1 mpg from my own calculations. I've reset it on the highway to see exactly what kind of highway mileage I get and cruising at 70-75 mph I get about 35 mpg. Dropping down to 60 mph puts mileage up around 38-40 mpg.

As far as the 3.5 vs. 2.5 and manual vs. CVT...

I'm glad I stuck with the 2.5 because I'd get into trouble with the 3.5 I think. (plus, the stock tires can barely stand up to the 2.5... I definitely understand why the 3.5 comes with traction control standard)
I'm also glad I decided on the CVT rather than manual because it gets about the same gas mileage as a manual and is way more convenient. If I was going to buy a sports car like a 350z or an RX8 I'd definitely get a manual.

 

[Aikouka]

The 3.5 can easily cause the tires to break loose under "faster than normal acceleration" from a standstill. It's especially more fun if you do it in manual mode .

EDIT:

My mileage of course took a dip as well but this week seems to be getting back to normal or close to it.

 

[rh71]

Not a fan of the rear half compared to the previous design. Same goes for the new Accord sedan. What were they thinking ?! They look like small Fords now.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: rh71
Not a fan of the rear half compared to the previous design. Same goes for the new Accord sedan. What were they thinking ?! They look like small Fords now.

What Ford looks like that?

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Xyclone

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Thanks... I've been thinking the same thing the more I look at the pictures. Lots of sidewall there. In person they appear to fit the car better.

Ew. Lots of sidewall fits my Toyota Tundra, not a sporty coupe. Low profile FTW.

The Altima coupe isn't a sporty car IMO. More side wall = smoother and quieter ride. I think the car has the right tires for the job it's being asked to do. This isn't a Mustang GT or an M3 - it's a FWD, 4 banger that is grossly overweight.

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: rh71
Not a fan of the rear half compared to the previous design. Same goes for the new Accord sedan. What were they thinking ?! They look like small Fords now.

What Ford looks like that?

I believe they call it the Fusion.