2003 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE 3.5L from North America

Summary:

Fast for a grocery getter!

Faults:

Center console lid broke. Replaced under warranty.

36000 miles. car is starting to burn 1.5 liters of oil. The car holds 4.0 liters.

Waiting for next oil change to check if it is still burning oil. I use synthetic mobil 1 oil.

36000 miles. cup holder lid broke and tore a hole shifter boot and the center lid below the a/c controls broke. All were replaced under warranty.

General Comments:

I bought this car from Douglas Nissan in College Station Tx. for $ 15,300. They are friendly and aren't looking to scam anyone. All problems were fixed in a nice and polite way just like many ford dealerships I have been to.

I know a lot about racing and the stresses of pounding on a motor like most people looking to buy this car. All I have to say is research for yourself and you will come to the same conclusions. The VQ35DE motor is rock solid except for the rods unless you plan on supercharging it. The bottom end has 4-bolt mains, from one end to the other and a main girdle. This menas it is built for high RPM's. The block is made from a high grade of alluminum and uses a unique vaccum forming process to form the block.

My only complaint about the motor is while driving on the highway the RPM's are around 2700 at 70 mph. That is rather high for a large v-6. Other than that, the hauls butt. Yes, this car will out accelerate older sports cars from the 80's and 90's. I have experienced this first hand and at the same time saving on high insurance rates.

So is the a sacrifice somewhere? Yes, the interior while very spacious lacks head room and the quality of the materials are beneath that which is found on the Maxima, Accord or Camry.

The new Altimas have a 6-speed; although I don't know if it has a lower o/d ratio. If anyone knows, please respond.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 18th June, 2005

2003 Nissan Altima 2.5 S 2.5L from North America

Summary:

The Nissan Altima is a LEMON. Worst Car I've ever had

Faults:

Knock in engine at 10,000 km.

Strange water rushing sound in the dash.

Total Brake failure without warning at 22,000 km.

4 Tires replace at 22,000 km.

Doors began squeaking within weeks of getting it.

Door seal replaced twice.

Right front door glass has wind noise.

Once you push the latch to engage the Child locks they will not disengage and you have to open the door from the outside.

The door latches freeze on cold winter mornings and won't shut. You have to wait until the car warms up.

Two recalls - one for the converter and the other for a screen in the gas filler tube or something.

Engine shot and needs to be replaced at 62,000 kms.

General Comments:

This is by far the worst car I have ever had - bar none. It has been nothing, but trouble since I got it. It is a leased vehicle so I am obligated to keep it for the life of the lease. Had I purchased it, I would have dumped it long ago.

There are so many things wrong with the piece of junk that I don't know where to start.

There is an annoying wind noise coming in through the side glass when on the hwy that after 4-5 times having it in in for repair and still not fixed I gave up.

I left for work one day and put my foot on the brake to hear this gawd awful metal on metal sound. I brought it to the dealer expecting that there was something let go in the rear end. They informed me that all 4 rotors needed to be replaced and new pads. It ended up costing me $1200. There was less than 30,000 kms and no prior warning of brake wear. I still believe something let go.

The tires wore out after just over 20,000 kms. I had them replaced at the dealer. They put the wrong size on and informed me that they couldn't get the original size that came on the car...

After the first 10,000 km the car began hitting bumps like a train. It feels as though there is not a strut on it. The dealer says they are fine and refused to replace them.

The car has a strange water rushing sound in the dash. I've had it in several times and about 8 months ago they actually fixed it... now it's back again.

This is the most frustrating car I have ever owned and I have had a few. The door latches freeze on cold winter mornings and won't shut. You have to wait until the car warms up. One morning this past winter while in a hurry to get to work I opened the back door to throw mt briefcase in and of course it wouldn't close. I tried several times slamming the door with no luck. I tried engaging the child lock in desperation and that stuck and wouldn't come off. In pure frustration I began hitting the outside door handle in an attempt to free the latch. Now I have to big dents in my door...

I am currently waiting on a new engine to arrive. I've been telling the dealer every time I'd bring it in for service (which has been about 10 or 15 times) that there was a knock in the engine... They kept trying to tell me it was normal. Then two weeks ago they call me and tell me the engine is gone completely.

I've had ten year old cars that never give me the problems that his lemon has, and the dealer is as frustration as the car...

I would never ever buy another Nissan product again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 29th May, 2005

8th Jun 2005, 12:14

Yeah I paid the $1200 because they had me by the balls. I couldn't drive the car as it was, it was already in the garage and I needed a car to go out of town the next day.

The damn brakes are gone again now (less than a year since replaced). You can rest assured it won't be going back to the dealer... I wouldn't trust them to change a flat tire after what I've been through with them.