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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,193
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,193 |
I will honestly say I was quite impressed with the handling and road manners of the Altima SE-R. I would put its handling just a half notch under my Mazda6 (the car was less nimble in tight maneuvers). All of the many Buick-like tendencies of the Altima SE are exorcised like the evil demons they are.
The 2005 interior is vastly improved over earlier years, though I could not fit in one. With the driver's seat as low as it could possibly go (the sales guy even helped me try to make it lower), my head was firmly pressed against the headliner.
The difference is that in the SVT and the 6, my head is in the cutout where the sunshade is. On the Altima, my head is outside of the cutout. This reduces head room significantly.
Brad "Diva": 2004 Mazda 6s 5-door, Volcanic Red
Rex: 1988 Mazda RX-7 Vert, Harbor Blue.
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Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840
Hard-core CEG\'er
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Hard-core CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 3,840 |
Originally posted by Zoom Zoom Diva:
I will honestly say I was quite impressed with the handling and road manners of the Altima SE-R.
Praise from the second most-loyal Mazda wheeler around here. 
So I'm gonna go PM Sigma now and see if he's driven one yet. 
-SAV
Troll. 1997 VW Jetta MkIII GLS 5spd
All hail my appearance on CEG!
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443 |
Originally posted by Zoom Zoom Diva:
I will honestly say I was quite impressed with the handling and road manners of the Altima SE-R. I would put its handling just a half notch under my Mazda6 (the car was less nimble in tight maneuvers). All of the many Buick-like tendencies of the Altima SE are exorcised like the evil demons they are.
The 2005 interior is vastly improved over earlier years, though I could not fit in one. With the driver's seat as low as it could possibly go (the sales guy even helped me try to make it lower), my head was firmly pressed against the headliner.
The difference is that in the SVT and the 6, my head is in the cutout where the sunshade is. On the Altima, my head is outside of the cutout. This reduces head room significantly.
Yes, a good friend of mine has a Mazda 6s 5-door and a 5-speed. It's a nice vehicle without a doubt, and certainly has a lower price point. I was really looking to step up to a vehicle with considerably more power, and the SE-R foot the bill. This is an easy very low 14's car stock, that's a good place to start. Granted it's no LS1 car (I miss my SS!), but it's a great daily driver! 
Sorry to hear about the headroom issue, I'm only 5'10" so not a problem for me.
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Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443
CEG\'er
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CEG\'er
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 443 |
Originally posted by SAV:
Originally posted by Zoom Zoom Diva:
I will honestly say I was quite impressed with the handling and road manners of the Altima SE-R.
Praise from the second most-loyal Mazda wheeler around here.
So I'm gonna go PM Sigma now and see if he's driven one yet.
-SAV
Yes, I'd definitely say to anyone, take the SE-R for a whirl at your local stealership, nothing to lose!
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353
Hard-core CEG'er
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Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,353 |
I am quite surprised to find out that the weight difference is only 100-200lbs. Having driven my CSVT, my mom's SE 3.5, and my dad's G35, I would have said that the latter two were very close in weight.
The Altima just "feels" much larger and heavier to me. Granted, the one I drive does not have any suspension work done as the SE-R does.
As long as you don't get the navi system, you can get a G35 for around 31K-32K as we got ours. To me, it is definitely worth the extra couple of grand over any variant of the FWD Altima, but that's just my .02
If you got yours for 27K or so (the couple grand less than the sticker, like you had mentioned), good for you. It is certainly one of the best choices at that price point.
1999 Blk/Tan CSVT #654 - SOLD
2003 Suzuki SV650s
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