Sporty yet classy
Nothing really. I've only had it for a 1000 miles and it has been a great car.
I like the style and the way it handles on the highway. I hope it lasts me for awhile.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 22nd September, 2007
Fair, but look at Honda first
Brakes went bad at 37,000 miles.
Paint peeled of both mirrors at 40,000 miles.
I also have a 2001 GXE Limited Edition. I will never purchase another Nissan under any circumstances. I had to have my brakes completely rebuilt at 37k miles; I wrote Nissan about this and never once received a response.
Nissan also replaced all four window regulators after I had already paid to have two replaced. And yes they did reimburse me my money.
But the most aggravating is both of my mirrors have lost most of the paint, I mean they look like they were dunked in some kind of toxic material. And this car was garaged parked for the first three years. They look awful and I wrote and called Nissan of North America several times, and they never once replied to me.
Overall I like the car, rides fair, and I haven't had to spend a fortune on repairs. But after the POOR customer service from Nissan USA, I won't buy another one. Next time I will buy a Honda, which is what I should have done in the first place.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 7th July, 2006
Solid, comfortable transportation that can be fun to drive too
Replaced rear struts at 67,000.
Engine faltered after steam cleaning engine compartment. Dealer fixed free of charge because they cleaned the engine compartment as part of a regular service.
No major problems. Take care of your car and it will take care of you. It's just common sense.
The inline four cylinder produces adequate power during regular driving. Above 3500RPM it really starts to breath and packs plenty of power for passing and merging. However, the engine noise could be a bit quieter inside the cabin, though at higher RPMs is has a nice snarl! Gas mileage is slightly below average for a four cylinder, but is still acceptable.
I recommend the 5-speed manual gearbox to take advantage of all the power the 2.4L I-4 can produce. Throws of the shifter aren’t exactly short, but it shifts smoothly and predictably. The clutch shows no signs of slippage, despite having taught two people how to drive stick on this car.
With some larger, wider rims and rubber than the stock equipment, the car handles amazingly. Even at high speeds the car corners tautly and steers right where you want it to. Despite the lack of ABS and traction control on my model, I have never felt insecure controlling the vehicle.
The seat backs are very low, but provide enough support for comfortable interstate driving. The 6-way manual controls are easy to use, even when sitting on the seat. The A/C blows ice-cold, even on the hottest of days, and the controls are basic and intuitive. The stock single-disk CD player will sound decent for most peoples tastes, though the controls are a bit small The interior may look dated compared to other cars, most controls are right where you expect them and have a quality feel. Wind and engine noise could be quieter.
I highly recommend this car. It is a practical, economical, and fun-to-drive daily commuter with the reliability to take you well into the 100-thousand-mile club. Take the time to look for a 5-speed manual. They are harder to find on the used market, but are out there.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 25th September, 2005
13th Jul 2006, 04:03
I too have a 2001 Altima GXE Limited Edition, and the paint has peeled off of my mirrors. The only window that has fallen down a little bit is my passenger one. On the freeway if my music is not turned up high enough I can hear some irritating wind noise because of it. Have you noticed the rattling hubcaps? I can't tell you how embarrassing they are! I've gone to the dealership a few times and there seems to be no way to fix the rattling. What else? Oh yes, the brakes seem to squeal all the time. I've gotten them looked at and replaced before, but they never seem to cease squealing. Have you noticed that if you put the car in reverse and drive, and then brake and put it in drive it pulls back a little bit? My car makes an odd grinding sound too...
Another thing, does your car pull to one side a lot? I've gotten my wheels aligned numerous times, but the car still pulls to the right.
It's an extremely tough and reliable little car though.