2008 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL from North America - Comments

Dealer did not include a couple of accessories that are listed on the sticker.

I was skeptical of the CVT, but it has proven to be the best all around transmission. This is coming from someone that normally prefers manual transmissions, but the CVT is incredibly responsive. It eliminate all my complaints about automatics. The 2.5 has just enough refinement too, and there's enough sound deadening to prevent the CVT from droning.

Handling and steering feel are excellent and perfectly weighted. Firm at high speeds, very light at low speeds for easy maneuvering.

Compromise between ride and handling are ideal. Wind and road noise are well controlled, and the engine is barely heard when cruising except at low RPM's.

Nissan should consider active engine mounts or noise canceling when the engine is running under 1500RPM for economy.

The seat are the best, but are overall supportive and comfortable. The quality of the leather and interior is very good.

Bluetooth and upgraded Bose stereo should be standard with the SL package. We did not get the connection package.

The base 6 speaker stereo is pretty good. Much better than the last Altima we had. It should have a 6 disc changer standard on the SL (see Bose comment above)

The manual mode on the CVT works better than expected. Downshifts are very smooth and quick.

I like the hill descent control, and it increases RPM when going downhill to help maintain speed.

The engine has amazing bottom end power for a 4 cylinder. It can climb up a 10% grade and still lug along at 1500RPM with the torque converter unlocked. This might be the perfect transmission for a full size pick-up if they can get it to handle the torque. The wide spread of gear ratios would be perfect for towing, with less need for a low range.

I also have an 08 Altima. What a great car! I think that this car and the new Malibu are tops in the class from my own test drives. We average around 26 mpg--which no one else in the class can touch with their standard (non-hybrid) models. Plus this 4 cyl has the same 0-60 time as a number of 6cyl competitors. The leather is beautiful and really upgrades the interior which is simple and elegant. The only problem so far is that one tire is out of balance. FYI this comment is at 8000 miles.

I wrote the earlier comment. My Altima is now averaging 29mpg with the spring warm-up. It isn't hot out yet so I'm thinking I may see 30mpg this summer if the A/C doesn't offset it. Because the car has automatic climate control the A/C has been on part of the time already so we'll see...I'm really happy with the car so far (10,000 miles on the odometer).

I fell in love with the new Altima Coupe's looks, but I was very concerned about Nissan's reputation for very poor build quality (notably with the Titan and Armada lines).

However, the real deal breaker was the PRICE. For the same price as a bare-bones basic Altima 4 cylinder coupe with a 5-speed manual I bought a fully loaded Mustang 4.0 Pony Edition with upgraded wheels and 17" tires, leather, satellite radio, automatic, upgraded sound system, and power everything. It also came with a longer warranty and the top rating in its class from J.D. Power and Associates.

The Altima coupe is in the same class as the Chevy Cobalt, and its price should be more in line with cars in its class. I can't believe people would pay $25,000 for a stripper economy car.

No, the Altima coupe would be in the same class as the Chevrolet Malibu coupe if they built one. The Cobalt coupe is smaller, less powerful, and less well equipped-- comparing base model to base model. Also, the base price on an Altima coupe is $20,950.00. Plus my own experience (I bought an 08 Altima sedan) is that Nissan will come down on Altimas at least $1500.00 so a $19,450.00 Altima coupe should be a possibility. A Mustang is a great car too. There is a lot of performance for the money there. Sounds like the real problem was that your Nissan dealership wasn't hungry enough. They will be if they keep acting like that, though. Enjoy your Mustang. Shouldn't be too hard :)

To comment 11:23. Yes, you are right, the local Nissan dealership I talked with not only refused to come off the list but ADDED another $1500 for silly things such as "fabric protection" (which you can buy in a can for $5) and "window etching" (whatever THAT is!!). Remember, this was for the COUPE when it first came out and was "new". I'm sure they will deal better now.

The Altima Coupe was (and is) a beautiful car, and rode smoother than my Mustang. I just wasn't ready to settle for less car at more money!!

Yeah and you shouldn't have to accept less. I'm glad things worked out for you. Fabric protection and window glass etching are nothing but cheap add-ons that dealers use to bolster their profits. The window etching I've heard about is for etching on a security code in case of theft or something. But a kit for doing the same thing yourself is inexpensive and very available. I gotta say--the Altima coupe is a nice car but I'd have done the same thing you did.