1996 Nissan Altima SSS review from Philippines
"Was my first car. I had it for only 5 months, but I loved it"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Since the car was purchased: Steering needed realignment (maintenance issue), water formed inside engine due to bad fuel (car doesn't run well on shell fuels).
Since I've driven the car: hydraulic leak in power steering: needed new rack and pinion and had to seal the leak. Leak in oil distributor seal. Broken starter motor (at 12 years old).
I think it's reliable enough.
General comments?
Very quick for a 2.0 liter car. The car was 12 years old, yet it still floored a lot of cars around. In the city in the Philippines, it's not easy to go faster than 125kph, but in this car, it was effortless.
The interior is quite nice. The ambiance rendered by the wooden trim is similar to those of slightly more luxurious cars. The seats are comfortable enough, but the suspension was ridiculous despite the soft settings common to Nissan.
Recommended Reviews:
![]() ![]() | I will keep it for another 12 years! |
![]() ![]() | Minor problems due to age, but overall very reliable |
All 1996 Nissan Altima reviews
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 2001 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2008 |
| Engine and transmission | SR20 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 8/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 6/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 60000 kilometres |
| Most recent distance | 143000 kilometres |
| Date of Entry | 18th March, 2008 |


