What's the difference?
 

When I compare the side view of later-model (2002 on) Altimas to my Gen IV Max, I notice the Altimas have no wheel gap to speak of, they look a lot cleaner, like a Gen IV that has been lowered.
Does anyone know what Nissan changed to get this?
I really don't think lowering is an option for me. Our residential roads are full of humps and other obstacles, it would be a nightmare. But the later Altimas have a nice look and I assume they don't crash and bang over bumps. So?

soooo.... what? whats yer question? you can lower your car without slamming it. do you have a body kit?

Simple....its their suspension design. They are designed with a lower stance. You can't compare suspension technology between cars that are a decade apart.

I was really looking to find out things like:
* What is the suspension travel compared with a Max
* If it's less travel, is the spring rate higher? Presumably it would be, resulting in a stiffer ride.
* If the travel is about the same, is the effect achieved by bodywork being different.
What I am getting at here, is that I really hate the large wheel gap. But lowering the car is going to result in even more bangs than I already get. I am thinking of modding the wheel arch areas instead, to reduce the gap while leaving the suspension travel the same. I'm heading for a complete repaint soon, so that would be perfect for extending and flaring the wheel arches before the paint job.

you can lower the car and not wreck the ride, get either eibachs, or h&r's with som kyb's and youll be fine the gap will dissapear and im on stock rims. so i can attest.

My wife's '04 Altima is all stock suspension and rides good. My Max is on eibach's, does not have the 4X4 look, and rides fine. From a side view of the Altima you'll notice that the rear wheel archs are lower than the front, giving it a cleaner look and less gap. Sorry, not sure of the suspension travel on the Altima. Hope this helps a little.