I just got the new Motortrend magazine. THey have a little write up about the new Altima. Get this, the new Altima has more interior room than the new Maxima. The last sentences read:

"...One unfortunate competitor is Nissan's own Maxima, which soldiers on for two more years with a 260 hp version of the 3.5L V6 and less interior space than the shiny new Altima. How will Nissan dealers sell Maximas without offering big discounts? That's a problem even Carlos Ghosn can't fix."

To the average consumer, having 260 hp isn't so different than 240 in the cheaper Altima. Nissan might have shot themselves in the foot.

 

i'd rather have a maxima still.

 

To the avg consumer, the differences between a Max and Alt are small, to us Maximanics, we will appreciate the 260 hp...

 

Maybe this was a calculated move by Nissan. Perhaps they actually will make the Maxima full sized and replace it with the Altima V6. Only thing is that the Altima name has a history and (unfortunately, a stigma) attached to it. They should have renamed it. Too late now.

 

To most of the members here, there is no way they would switch to an Altima after driving a Maxima and most of us here would also take the extra 20 horses and run with them.

 

At this point, I don't see myself being able to afford the new Maxima without some serious bend-over action from the dealer, so I'm going to stick with my Max. Screw the Altima. I'll take my 18 less hp and keep the Maxima name versus buying a new Altima. I still think the Max is ten times better looking than the old and new Altima's, and besides, speed isn't everything. Would you buy a '90 Mustang LX 5.0 over your Max just cause it's faster, despite the fact it looks like straight *** (IMHO)?

 

I say an Altima is still an Altima no matter how much room or hp it has. Maxima all the way for me!

 

Maybe I worded that wrong. I would not take a 2002 Altima over my 2001 Maxima either. However, for those people here looking for a new car, I believe most would take the new Maxima and the 20 extra horses over the new Altima (if they can afford the new Max).

 

how much does the altima weigh?

 

I posted about this on the Maxima mailing list yesterday. Some good things about the new Altima... Independent rear suspension, slightly larger (1 cu ft and almost a cu ft in trunk space), and it will cost less than the Maxima. You give up 20 HP, but you still have the same torque as the Maxima. It is also 100 pounds lighter than the Maxima. The Maxima will keep the speed edge with extra HP and the 6 speed. I think the automatic Altima will beat the automatic Maxima though. I'm willing to give up the HP and 6 speeds for the superior ride though.

 

...the new Altima with the 3.5L V6 would only be available in "very small numbers" and that most Altima's would be sold with the 180HP 4-cyl. Is that true? I think I even read that on a Nissan site, like fresh alloy dot com or something??

I do agree that the Altima has a sort of stigma about its nature. Most Altima's I see look like crap, the paint is a mess, and those without alloy wheels are usually missing one or several wheel covers. Most Maxima's of the same age I see look **MUCH** better! I agree that Nissan might have been wiser to "retire" the Altima name and come up with something fresh. Ah well...

 

I'm not worried about the stigma. I'm going to test drive both and see which one is better. My dealer is receiving the largest shipment on the East Coast, so there will be plenty of 5 speed 3.5VQ Altimas to choose from. Hopefully they have plenty of Maximas as well. Right now I'm 50-50. I may decide to keep my ride. I've been enjoying it lately.

 

Unfortunately for Nissan, the Altima stigma's pretty bad. Ever since I heard about the 2K2 Altima, I've been spreading my excitement everywhere but have been given the cold shoulder. Personally, it doesn't bother me because frankly the Maxima's not the most popular car either but imagine it 10 times worse for the Alt. I hope that the car proves itself or it's going to be in deep trouble.

 

Me TOO!! But Big Up's to the Altima. It will now be considered a force to be reckoned with and deservedly so, it is now an impressive vehicle.

 

Many complaints have been lodged at my local Nissan dealer in reference to slighting the Maxima w/ the new Altima SE. The Maxima will be upgraded w/ 3.5 motor this year, new color options, and a different wheel package along w/ Zenon headlamps. Two years from now (2004) the Maxima is suppose to move to the new Infiniti Q45 platform and once again become a "True Flagship". Until then we must wait, complain, and wait some more .......

 

If they're both using the same engine, how is it that the Maxima makes 20HP more? Intake? Exhaust? restrictor? Can the Maxima parts be fitted to the Altima?
Except for the SE-R (the only way to get a 6spd + helical diff), the Altima (at a lower price) will be serious comp for the Maxima.

 

3 words... MADE IN AMERICA.... or how about these 3 words FIT AND FINISH. You know we have the 'flagship' from Japan and look at our problems. How is this 'marketed to the masses' car going to hold up? on all levels.. They totally ignore our complaints.. poor altima owners.. I can only imagine.

Really, I'm not going to get bent out of shape until I see it...

 

Why have more room when you already have enough. Unless you can fit 6 passengers in it, the Altimas room is not really useful. Just adds more weight. Sure, more consumers will bite into that, but we .org members are a truly elite group of automotive enthusiasts. We arent using our Maximas to go and get groceries, we are using these great cars to pursue our joy of driving. Thats why 260 horses in a lighter car means more to us, than a car that is pretty close to us, but weighs more. The altima is awesome itself, but doesnt suit our (specifically us) needs in an auto. I dunno about you, but I look forward to keeping our title as "the owners of the fastest US domestic market car nissan currently makes"

 

Hmmm... Toyota and Honda are made in America. Good build quality too.

 

From what I understand, the Maxima will have variable valve timing.

 

The Altima has 103.2 cu ft interior room
The Maxima has 102.5 cu ft

2002 Altima V6 5 speed = 3,195 pounds
2002 Maxima V6 6 speed = 3,200+ pounds (more standard equipment)

 

Variable Valve Timing could very easily give gains of 20-30HP on a 3.5L engine. If the Altima's version of the 3.5L doesn't have VTEC (or whatever Nissan is calling it) then that could be the 20HP difference right there...

 

Honda/Toyo fit and finish have pummetted. I can say that because I've owned them before and after moving production to the US.

 

Check out www/freshalloy.com for the news on the new Infiniti . Here are some hints that will obviously be moved to the Nissan Maxima/Altima Line also.

 

I dont know what Nissan is doing, regardless, i am not buying no more Nissan cars until i find out for a fact they they change their Paint process. There was this Silver Mitsubishi Eclipse, had 150,000 miles on it, its bumper was in execellent condition, yeah it had "some" chips. Mine next to it was devastating, my car with 14k looked like **** compared to it. I still love my baby though.
Roger