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

First, I hope you all are taking the topic of this post and some of my statements herein in the light nature intended. I love my SVT Contour, and many things about it I prefer over the Altima. But I needed a new 4-door sporty car and nothing Detroit or Germany offers come close to the Altima at the price.

As for my comparison to the Mustang GT. The following comes from the November 2001, Road & Track.

................Altima 3.5SE 5 spd.....Mustang GT
Price as tested: $24,920...............$$24,163
Curb weight:......3,240 lbs.............3,290 lbs
Power:.........240hp/246 lb/ft......260hp/302lb/ft
Tires:..........215/55-17...........245/45-17
Skidpad:.......... .80 lat g....... .84 lat g
Slalom:............63.3 mph.........64.0 mph
0-60mph:...........6.3 seconds.......6.1 seconds
1/4 mile:......14.8 @ 96.5 mph...14.7 @ 94.7 mph
Fuel mileage: .....20.7 mpg.........17.4 mpg

The larger F Stock Mustang and Camaro, despite their size, for years have been very fast autocross cars equaling Miata times on many occasions. The Altima is in G Stock, a far slower class.

The Altima has no greater body lean than the Contour from what I have so far experienced. Despite the smallish tires, the car has high cornering limits...in the same road surface above the WRX, Celica GT-S, and RSX-S did just .76, .79, and .82 respectively.

The Altima is more isolated from the road with the long wheel base and extensive sound deadening. Nevertheless, when you look down at the speedo, you are frequently startled to learn your speed. Back to work. First, gotta pick up SVT Contour from Ford Service where they replaced water pump and idle air control valve at 56K.