Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Common Interests 2002 Altima 3.5SE owns you all!!!

Had to see what it is like to be a troll. Actually, I still own the Contour, but my daughter will be driving it soon.

Got it today. Verdict:
1)Easy shifting
2)Overboosted steering
3)Great handling for large car, but TORQUE steer
4)Goes like stink (see TORQUE steer)
5)Comes with mucho standard features
6)Cheaper than you think, $22K cheap enough?
7)21 city/26 highway fuel mileage if I can lay off the right foot.
8)Huge backseat/trunk
9)Built in Smyrna, Tennessee
10)Great-looking. Kept finding myself drawn to my store window to drool in anticipation of closing time.

Will it be an autocross contender. Don't know. My waterpump went south yesterday (56K), got fixed today, and don't know if I should strain the engine at an autocross! But I drove my buddies much heavier A6 Turbo quattro faster than my car so maybe the Altima can do the same? Gotta put some miles on the car before Sunday to complete the break-in period!!!

Congrats, but I would have gone a different route.

-John

Jugs, you probably don't have 2 kids, a mortgage, 2 jobs, a wife who thinks $23K (tax) is too much to spend on a car, while she pampers her 2 horses (but she works hard too, just in case she reads this )

To be honest, I want a Mustang, but the back seat is too small and it has two doors too few. The Altima is the closest thing right now to a 4 door Mustang GT! I feel the need for speed!

No offense but when I test drove it I didn't really like the handling. It was hella fast but it was kinda floaty through the turns. Maybe this is cause I have the koni's and eibachs but the first thing I would do if I got that car was springs & struts. Other than that its great. Now all they need to do is put the Maxima on the G35 platform and make it a RWD, put that 3.5 in there and I think every guy in your position would be all over it. I'm just waitin for that 350Z...oh what a beautiful day.
><>David<><

Can we say, "CHEAP INTERIOR"???

Can we say stomps 99 Integra GS-R coupes...heck even the SVT Contour does that!!! :p

The G35 appealed to me but much heavier and much more expensive...and nearest dealer 80 miles to the north. Same delaer location problem for Subaru (too small anyway), Lexus, and Acura. I live in lower Alabama for gosh sakes!!

Did anyone see the new R&T? 11 Sports Sedans compared......G35 won. My dad is waiting for the coupe version with 270+HP and 6-spd.

I got a thing in the mail from Nissan that if I test drive an Altima, send in the card, they'll send me a free kenneth Cole watch.

Hmm, test drive a car, get a free watch, am I missing the downside?

So, I called the dealer today to see if they had a 3.5 5-spd, no go, apparently they are hard to come by. They do have a fully loaded SE for 29k and get this, a SE Maxima 6-spd for 26-27. Hmmmm, think I am going to have to go for a test drive very soon!

No way I can afford to buy, so they can't get me there. Unless they offer me 20k (Ha, now back to reality) for the SVT as is, then I'll be ordering that Altima fully decked out with a 5-spd!

22k, did you knock them down on price or did you get a 5-spd V6 stripped? I was thinking for the V6 at least 25-26k.

The Maxima rental car with the 3.5 I had for a weekend was a blast! I drove the hell out of that car and still got 30mpg! And it had HIDs!!!

Granted your criteria matches the car quite nicely, but mine is different. (duh, 21, single)

If you didn't enter every Auto-x in the country, you'd have enough money for the G35 and a Z06.

Driving 900 miles just to race for a few mins isn't exactly a budget-friendly move.

:p

On a side note, $22k is a deal. Comparing it to the SVT, which was $23k, it's no contest.

What kind of wheel/tire combo did you get for that $22k? 195 series tires w/ 14" steelies?

-JVT aka Jugs