What was I looking for? Graduating from University and working in a professional field I wanted something practical, respectable and something with some power but something within my means. I wanted the four doors, and of course the one thing I kept in mind was it had to be stick.
My decision came down to the accord and the altima. Very close but I went with the altima. What won me over was a few things. I didnt like getting the accord knowing that a new model was due the next year. I liked the styling better (a very personal preference) and the options in the altima by far beats the accord.
Under the hood
This is a major winning point for the altima. It pushes 270 hp which is more then enough for me. One time on a highway I went to pass on a single lane and noticed 6 cars in front, so seeing that the road was clear I decided to pass them all. It was easy, quick, and by the time i passed the car in front I was going 160 km/h, oops
The car is fast. Its a very easy drive in that the car sometimes feels like it drives itself, so despite the big engine its not exactly a performance type car (something that might change after a few mods).As far as fuel economy, I get 11 L/100km which is below the posted economy. But personally fuel economy wasnt ever a major priority or I would have got the 4 cylinder.
Inside
This is where a lot of the fun is. I greatly appreciate how well the bluetooth setup works in this car. People on the other line dont even know its a hands free system. The 7.1 speaker system is a nice touch. There is a center channel on the dash which actually makes a major difference. The absolute best feature of this car is the keyless everything. You walk up to the door or trunk press the button and you're in. Get inside press the starter and go. You never take your keys out, ever. And the kicker, if you put your keys in your car and lock the door, it starts beeping and wont lock. You just cant lock your keys in your car or trunk.
I do wish that I got the nav unit. The quirky thing about Nissan is you cant get the nav unit if you get the manual transmission. Thinking about going aftermarket but dont want to lose or replace the great bluetooth system I mentioned.
Conclusion
After almost 2 years of owning this car, my conclusion is that I love it. I've had zero problems with the car since I've got it. If you're wanting a sedan that still has a sporty feel to it, the altima is a great car. Nissan really did a good job here.
