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

[dawheat]

The Altima is a family hauler- don't delude yourself. Yes it has one of the greatest V6 engines every built for a mass produced car- buttery smooth, quick revving, good tourqe and hp- giving it a nice bit of grunt in a straight line, regardless of considerable tourqe steer. However, even the SE has family hauler body roll, moderate responsiveness and bulk- this is an awfully big car- you can feel the size behind you when you drive the car aggressively.

The interior is typical Nissian quality, but you'll never mistake the materials for a luxury car- ie its Camry, Accord class.

The A4 is more compact and has its own sweet engine. For $500, you can easily be running 200hp+, while $500 in aftermarket for the Altima may net you 5-6hp? The package to get is the 1.8T, 5M, Sport pkg, quattro. If you had to save- i'd give up on the Sport pkg as the new A4 stock suspension settings match the previous gens Sport settings, though if you're going to purchase a 25K car, I'd spend the extra grand for the Sport pkg.

However, even sans the Spork pkg, the A4 is far more taut and responsive than the Altima, even if all-out grip is less. Interior is top notch- excellent materials and layout.

Basically- if you need plenty of interior room to always haul around 5 people or children, get the Altima. If you're mid-20s, unmarried, and want a sporty sedan- go with the Audi.

 

[CedarTeeth135]

Go with the AUDI, damn sweet car.

 

[Triumph]

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


Bwaaahahahahahalhalksahdlfan;sdlkfja sk;g lksg;nw;ioegnwog;owiengu983093n

Can't stop.....laughing.....sides.....hurting... Thanks for the laugh!

 

[geno]

I'm curious to know how you get 25HP on a stock Audi. What's the stock boost - what's the upgraded boost? I know the turbos in that car are damn small, wonder how they put up with the added boost.

 

[gogeeta13]

Having driven the 1.8T, I can attest to it being a nice car.

3 nights ago i drove the Altima 3.5, stick. Holy shoot what a great car. It goes without saying that stick+v6=good, but kudos to nissan on a extreemly nice car. The handling was "to be expected" for a sedan, but the power was a very nice surpise. I think nissans are very reliable, if not more than Audi

go nissan

 

[Triumph]

<< I'm curious to know how you get 25HP on a stock Audi. What's the stock boost - what's the upgraded boost? I know the turbos in that car are damn small, wonder how they put up with the added boost. >>


Stock boost for the 150 hp engines was 0.5 bar, or about 7.5 psi. I think they upped the boost to 0.7 bar (about 10 psi) for the 180hp versions. And they handle the extra boost quite well. The engine was designed to be turbocharged, it wasn't retrofitted later. Unreliable turbo engines are a thing of the past.

 

[BigSmooth]

<< even sans the Spork pkg >>


KFC sells cars now?

 

[Emos]

<< Stock boost for the 150 hp engines was 0.5 bar, or about 7.5 psi. I think they upped the boost to 0.7 bar (about 10 psi) for the 180hp versions. And they handle the extra boost quite well >>


I have a 1.0 bar chip on my A4 1.8T and it performs wonderfully! The 1.8T engine block is very strong...it's estimated that it can handle stresses to the 350 hp range. There are bolt-on turbo upgrade kits that can increase the HP from 270-290 and still maintain daily driver characteristics. If you enjoy modifications at all, the 1.8T is a tuner's dream

 

[arcain]

<<

<< Stock boost for the 150 hp engines was 0.5 bar, or about 7.5 psi. I think they upped the boost to 0.7 bar (about 10 psi) for the 180hp versions. And they handle the extra boost quite well >>


I have a 1.0 bar chip on my A4 1.8T and it performs wonderfully! The 1.8T engine block is very strong...it's estimated that it can handle stresses to the 350 hp range. There are bolt-on turbo upgrade kits that can increase the HP from 270-290 and still maintain daily driver characteristics. If you enjoy modifications at all, the 1.8T is a tuner's dream >>



There are a couple of people pushing 400 hp with the stock 1.8T's bottom end.

I believe the 1.8T's design is based on an old VW turbo diesel engine, so it's been around for a long time and proven.

 

[Bigdude]

Read the reviews of people that own them

Altima 3.5

Grand Prix

The Grand Prix scored much higher, than the Altima!

 

[danchler]

I have the 180hp version of the 1.8T in my '02 GTI. It's a great engine with a ton of torque. There are a lot of people who have chipped the 150hp version giving it 210+hp and it they have been very reliable. The Audi TT 1.8T also has the same basic engine in 180hp or 225hp. There are a ton of things to do to these cars for very little money.

Having driven many Grand Prixs as rental cars, I would recommend you don't waste your time at the Pontiac dealer.

 

[Triumph]

re: gtp. "better than mustang or bmw 3 series"
Those people are obviously retarded. Anyone who thinks a Pontiac GTP is better than a 3 series is kidding themselves. I wouldn't trust their opinions farther than I could throw them.

 

[LittleWolf]

<< 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.

>>



I am not sure where you got the road-holding numbers from (The Altima's seems a bit too high and what tires was the A4 having?) , but do you really think that just having better RH translates to a better sedan?
It's not just easy, FYI a BMW 330i gives about .83G which is same what the quattro A4 gives. (Heck even the new M3 has about .81-.82g) and guess what, the 330i is the best handling sedan in the whole category. I don't think the Altima comes anywhere even close to the 330i inspite of your claimed better RH.

Plus the top speed of the Audi is governed to 131 mph. I am not sure whether the Altima is also goverened or just plain limited. I tend to think it is limited.

-j

 

[NateSLC]

<< I am not sure whether the Altima is also goverened or just plain limited. I tend to think it is limited. >>


I got my 95 Sentra 1.6 up to 115. I would think the Altima's great V6 could do 16 mph better.

 

[princeoli]

Altima
Audi

The Altima with some options selected came out to be about 25k
The Audi with some options came out to be 26k

With that said, would you choose to have the Audi for style/looks etc or the Altimas better engine?

I am also going from a accord v6, i find it to have great amount of power and torque for me. do you think that the audi's 1.8T engine will be too big of a decrease in performance from that of the accords?

what do you guys think?

I also think that Nissan's electrical systems are not as delicate!

 

[Fritzo]

I also think that Nissan's electrical systems are not as delicate!

Thanks for the reply to a 17 year old thread! Your opinion is valuable and will be cherished.

 

[princeoli]

Thanks for the reply to a 17 year old thread! Your opinion is valuable and will be cherished.

I just recently owned an Audi 4 with delicate electrical system! I now have a Nissan Leaf and Love it

 

[RLGL]

princeoli:

Thanks for the reply to a 17 year old thread! Your opinion is valuable and will be cherished.

 

[amdhunter]

OP is really overpaying for those cars. That said - that Altima has probably held up better over the years. I bet the Audi is an electrical mess.

 

[Fritzo]

OP is really overpaying for those cars. That said - that Altima has probably held up better over the years. I bet the Audi is an electrical mess.

BTW- the floorpan of the Altima before 2007 was so prone to rust they had to recall them.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I also think that Nissan's electrical systems are not as delicate!

Everyone here drives Bugatti Veyrons. We wouldn't be caught dead in a Nissan. Hell, my maid drives a Tahoe.

 

[Safeway]

Why do these spam accounts always necro ancient threads?