1994 Nissan Altima SE 2.4L from North America
Summary:
A great performance, high value car worth buying
Faults:
Belts cracked and needed to be replaced at 105400 miles. Cost was 150$.
The engine check light flashes for a few seconds on long highway drives and the engine temperature needle flickers between absolutely cool to medium hot. Need to get that checked.
The front passenger side speaker makes a continuous crackling noise after 45 to 60 minutes of CD playing. I am sure it is not the CD player or the CD's themselves.
General Comments:
This is the first car I owned and it's a pleasure to drive it. I got a U-Haul hitch attached and drove the car with a 5ft by 8ft trailer from Kansas City to Iowa, and the car pulled effortlessly. I also drove it from Iowa to Madison, Madison to Chicago and back, and back from Madison to Iowa withing 3 days without ever feeling I drove that much. Great overall ride.
Car drives amazing at even 95 to 105 mph and the ride is very comfortable.
Great interior and exterior looks. I have an SE with all the works - fog lamps, sunroof and moonroof, spoilers, power everything and 15 inch alloys.
I put xenon bulbs in the headlamps, fog lamps and the smaller lamps next to the headlamps. Once I get more money, I plan to put a body kit on it with 17 inch alloys.
This car being almost 10 years old shows no signs of rust, though I am getting a rust treatment and wax done at the dealer to be on the safe side. Definitely much better than Toyota's and Honda's of it's time.
I would buy another Nissan, but I don't like the looks of their latest 2002-2003 models.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 21st April, 2003
10th Apr 2004, 15:16
I had the same problem recently with a 1994 Altima. The middle section of the bar rusted out completely. I got a new piece welded in for $250. It is definitely a Structural Problem. Maybe we should inform the manufacture.
Everet.
25th Jul 2005, 21:07
I'm in upstate NY, so some rust is expected on a 12 year old car and in fact there is some rust blistering near the rear wheels, but otherwise the car is clean.
I was just working on the front brakes last week when I spotted the same issue noted above. The middle front of the lower tie bar is literally missing. Not quite sure what's holding the engine up.
I just bought a new car and promised this one to my niece, so I'm looking to have it repaired, but a $900 repair on a $600 car is a little difficult to swallow.
Otherwise this has been a great car. I bought it new and now it has 160,000 miles and still gets 30 - 32 mpg around town. It's a 5 speed MT GXE with limited slip (I use studded snows in the winter and this thing is a tank), 4 wheel disc & ABS, yada... The only unusual maintenance items have been the front springs, which both broke last year, and the parking brake in the rear calipers freeze up.
-mc.
31st Dec 2003, 12:01
On rust (on a '95 Altima), I have just experienced an expensive repair (About $900) to replace the front lower tie bar which had rusted out around the bolt hole for the hood lock support. Although the remainder of the tie bar (and the lock support) is in perfect shape with not a trace of rust, the hole area and a few inches either side had completely rusted through weakening the bar (there had been no earlier accident damage to the tie bar). The first hint of this is the hood lifting up and down on the Interstate. Looking up from underneath is the best way to see this spot on the chassis behind the front bumper. There appears to be a manufacturing or design fault to account for this unusual problem, so I would appreciate any comments to me at: julianblackwood@yahoo.com. I have the old parts. Thanks.