which one to get? Nissan Altima 3.5 SE or Audi A4 1.8T?????

[yakko]

I would get the Audi.

 

[LittleWolf]

<< I think it was the Mitsubishi Galant that beat the Accord, not Passat. C&D rated the Accord above the Altima because it was geared toward families where performance, handling is not that high of a priority. >>



Err.. no.. About 2-3 years back, there was a comparo in C&D for all sedans about 25K and Passat beat Accord in that. They were the V6 models comparo. The Maxima inspite of it's higher output was rated much lower. In the 4 banger, the Mitsu "might" have beaten the Accord, I am not so sure of that.


-j

 

[SinNisTeR]

<< how long do you plan on keeping the car? >>



thinking about a 4/5 year lease.. i dont like to own cars after that long anyways, cars after that point start breaking down and you have to put in more each month to fix the darn things. Also i want newer models after that point

 

[Emos]

I would give the A4 1.8T a serious look...I have the previous generation (2001) and I love it! The 1.8T is one of if not the best four cylinder engine on the market today. 170-180 hp stock and a simple ECU upgrade ('chipping') will boost it to 207 hp. Even if you lease, invest in a chip, the driving experience will be worth it!

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Depending on your tastes, you might want to check out the VW's. I have a Passat wagon, and it's a great car. Also, a dirty little secret... many of the options on the Audis come standard on the VW's

 

[prontospyder]

<<In the 4 banger, the Mitsu "might" have beaten the Accord, I am not so sure of that. >>

Check this out:
http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/comparisontests/1999/September/199909_comparisontest_cabar.xml?&keywords=galant&page=6

Didn't you see the Mitsubishi ads where they touted the Galant as winning Car and Driver's best sedan comparo for 1 consecutive year?

 

[LittleWolf]

you had to make me search didn't ya ...


http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Caranddriver/comparisontests/1998/June/199806_comparisontest_salto.xml?&keywords=honda%20accord&page=6


-j

 

[prontospyder]

<<you had to make me search didn't ya ...


http://www.caranddriver.com/xp/Cara...st_salto.xml?&keywords=honda accord&page=6>>>

I read it before stumbling upon the Galant review.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Hmm---Look what car comes in first according to the link... Should make you think!

 

[Thegonagle]

It's true, the Altima's interior is ass, but the engine is the greatest. Get the Maxima, and you can have a nice interior and a sweet engine.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

<< Hmm---Look what car comes in first according to the link... Should make you think! >>



In all fairness (I DO like the Passat), that link is more than three years old, and features the last-gen Maxima and obviously excludes the all-new Altima and the massaged Passat. I can't help but think the Altima would at least have vied for first. For what it's worth, I owned the vaunted '98 Accord EX V-6 and hated it!

 

[gregshin]

My friend who owns an A4 compares his car to his girlfriend....."both are expensive to maintain"

for example

his last service was estimated at $800...they called and said yada yada....next thing ya know they wanted $1200 for a service. He also broke a steering rack....which set him back $2000

Don't get me wrong...i love both cars and i would have a hard time choosing them....but i think i would pick the altima for financial reasons

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

<<

<< Hmm---Look what car comes in first according to the link... Should make you think! >>

In all fairness (I DO like the Passat), that link is more than three years old, and features the last-gen Maxima and obviously excludes the all-new Altima and the massaged Passat. I can't help but think the Altima would at least have vied for first. For what it's worth, I owned the vaunted '98 Accord EX V-6 and hated it! >>



True, it amuses me though that there seems to be 3 cars here on the boards- Audi, the Maxima and the Altima. Oh yeah, other cars are pointed out, but when it comes to PURCHASING something, I feel that many fine cars (not just the Passat) are being overlooked.

 

[BigSmooth]

<< True, it amuses me though that there seems to be 3 cars here on the boards- Audi, the Maxima and the Altima. Oh yeah, other cars are pointed out, but when it comes to PURCHASING something, I feel that many fine cars (not just the Passat) are being overlooked. >>


I don't think thats true at all. I have seen many other cars suggested as a good car to buy. Specifically,the Subaru Impreza WRX and Honda Accord/Civic are recommended quite a bit, the Mazda Protege5 has been coming up a lot lately, and several other cars are popular recommendations as well.

I think the Altima and other cars get mentioned all the time because people are so non-specific with their car threads. There are TONS of threads that say something like "recommend me a car under $25K" with very little other information. A vague request like that will have people answering with the same cars over and over - whichever one is their personal favorite. Combine that with the fact that there are only so many members who read and reply to car threads, and you get the same cars being perpetually repeated. Furthermore, cars with a sporty side like the Altima and the WRX appeal more to ATOT's demographic, than, say, a Camry so they get mentioned more often.

 

[tkim]

well, i a close cousin of mine is a mechanic and from what he tells me, german cars tend to have micky mouse (bs, things that never shoud..yata) problems. like a broken wiper motor b4 5k miles, or a broken door latch, faulty turnsignal wires. of course, this is from his own experience...and he said that bmw's more so than others.

aside from that, german cars are more sporty. the ride is definetly stiffer for a tighter ride. japanese cars are known to have softer rides. beside that, all NEW cars are great. its a matter of how they handle themselves with age. in the long run, i would go with the altima.

just mho!

 

[newbiepcuser]

Have you thought about the Lexus IS 300?

My buddy owns the automatic verison and it has a nice kick. There is manual verison of the car now.

 

[Static911]

2003 all wheel drive IS300

In the "near" future: IS430 4.3 Liter engine V-8

think of dropping the 2jz-gte J-spec engine in that sucker

edit: If you want to be original, the Altima...toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo many A4's out there

But personally, I would go for the A4 since it is smaller and I like 4 door cars

Static911

 

[Omegachi]

the Audi

 

[danchler]

Say no to rice. Say yes to that Euro style, luxury and handling. Audi has a better warranty too, 4yr bumper to bumper, maintenance costs shouldn't be a deterrant.

 

[Bigdude]

Cheaper Faster Better Looking, get a Grand Prix GTP!!!

 

[Bigdude]

<< Well audi is a German car.... German= evil in WW@(nazi)
I say dont help those germans and buy a Nissan Europe would not be free if it werent for the Japanese anyways(and besides you guys owe it to them for those nukes you dropped on em) >>



The Jap's were the most Evil of all the countries in WW2!!

 

[N8Magic]

<< Say no to rice. Say yes to that Euro style, luxury and handling. Audi has a better warranty too, 4yr bumper to bumper, maintenance costs shouldn't be a deterrant. >>



I love how you guys rip right into the Altima like it's some POS, and that it handles like a garbage barge. Rice? I hardly believe the 3.5SE is a "riced out" Japanese car.

Face the facts boys:

2002 Altima 3.5SE (5-speed)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 7.0 sec. 1/4-mile in 15.4 sec.
Top Speed: 137 mph
Braking: 60-0 mph in 133 ft.
Road Holding: 0.85 g.

2002 A4 1.8T (5-speed)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 8.6 sec. 1/4-mile in 16.4 sec.
Top Speed: 131 mph
Braking: 60-0 mph in 133 ft.
Road Holding: 0.78 g.

Now, don't tell me you can just chip the 1.8T and it will smoke the Altima. For the $500.00 you spend on the chip, you could put some mods on the Altima that would make it even faster. THE NUMBERS DON'T LIE. These numbers come from the same reviewer at carpoint.msn.com, which is to say that I didn't go searching around the net looking for the best/worst numbers.

BTW, a lot of you seem to be ranting "Quattro, Quattro, Quattro!". News flash: He's not looking at a Quattro.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Uh..N8Magic, many people have taken the 3.5SE 5-spd to the track and it brings in 14.6s STOCK! That equates to a low 6s in the 0-60.

Now I know most people on this board don't care about speed, but just something to know.

And I'm sure this car is just as safe as on old Caprice...eh Ornery?

 

[N8Magic]

<< Uh..N8Magic, many people have taken the 3.5SE 5-spd to the track and it brings in 14.6s STOCK! That equates to a low 6s in the 0-60. >>



I know, but I wanted to get the numbers from an impartial source so there wouldn't be any bickering about it.

 

[SinNisTeR]

Hayabusarider: Audi, the Maxima and the Altima
dont forget the WRX

N8Magic
thats right, i wasnt looking at the quattro because the price shot up! but people here think its a required option . i take a look at it and see.

newbiepcuser : Have you thought about the Lexus IS 300?
the IS300 is more than i can afford, with options on that sucker, it will be 35K+ =\

bigdude
i gave up on american cars. vowed myself to never purchase one.