This is rarely (if ever) discussed here, but check out the crash test ratings of the Maxima's "Acceptable" and the Altima's "Good" one.
Maxima:
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_rat...html/00015.htm
Altima:
http://www.hwysafety.org/vehicle_rat.../html/0211.htm

Another reason to look forward to the next gen Max.

 

Makes sense as the Altima is a newer platform.

 

Both need to work on the foot area.

 

The Altima is also significantly less aesthetically pleasing than the Max...

 

well, that is also true.....

 

THIS IS TRUE.

 

They are also slower.

 

Safer until your face hits that hard plastic, OUCH!!!

 

I know these tests have to be done and all but I can't see anybody using them as deciding factor in buying a car. I mean the odds of being in a head-on crash are pretty slim if you think about it. I'd rather base my decision on buying a car on other things and just try and keep out of the way of oncoming traffic.

Just my $.02 worth.

 

they tested the 2.5 altima ... im sure that the results would be different if they had tested the 3.5se since the engine has more weight so the car it self has a bigger mass...right ?

 

Not by much. The structure itself is still the same.

 

drive slow..................

 

Well don't take this the wrong way, but that is just damn ignorant. These crash tests don't have to be done. They are performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is an incarnation of insurance companies to try to lower insurance costs. How does this work? Because automakers are now designing their cars to pass these tests. Why? Because people DO use the crash test results as criteria for a buying a vehicle. And why do people do that? B/C for the past five years over 37,000 people have died in traffic accidents EACH YEAR! And another little known statistic - everyone of them thought "I'd rather base my decision on buying a car on other things and just try and keep out of the way of oncoming traffic."

 

wait, i watched it on Dateline last night and the Altima did poor at first. The airbag came out way too slow. so when Nissan found out they changed the sensors and had them retest the Altima after that.


ps - i still can't believe they rammed a Jaguar X-type!

 

except for the last one...not sure anyone has been able to survey those drivers who are no longer with us...ALL kinds of cars have been involved...including the much vaunted VOLVO, etc.

Fact of the matter is, EVERYONE is at risk, daily. Even those who DID buy cars based on safety ratings.

Don't get me wrong, I agree for the most part.

 

I was being sardonic. I was just trying to convey that of course everyone tries not to hit oncoming traffic - no one plans it. There will be times when all the driving skill in the world won't save you. There's not much you can do when a drunk driver crosses the centerline. You are right - we all are at risk, but every little bit of effort helps and I'll bet the next gen Max gets a "Good" rating.

 

From pictures and accounts from "real" accidents from maxima.org drivers I feel EXTREMELY safe in my maxima. I also believe that ~50% is "active", meaning your driving ability and your cars performance characteristics. I have avoided many accidents that I wouldn't be able to in so called safe vehicles that weigh in over 3 tons. Now that's my .02

 

Well, to me its kinda like smoking cigarettes. I don't smoke personally but hundreds of thousands of people do and tens of thousands of them die each year from lung cancer and even though people know this they still smoke. Why? Because they enjoy it. Hell, my wife watched her grandmother die a painful death from lung cancer and it didn't curtail her smoking one bit. This is probably not the best comparison but its the way I feel about it. You can't base everything you do on what might happen and have no enjoyment in your life.

 

Yes, but when you purchase a car, which one would you rather have? Accidents happen. You can't avoid that. Personally, I would rather have a car that would allow me to walk away from a crash rather than one that would require a stretcher for head injuries or broken legs.

I DO look at their tests and they do influence my decesions. If a car that I was looking at had the POOR rating, I would probably take it off the list. But if it was a matter of acceptable/good, it might not sway me as much.

It's fortunate that the cars I hate anyway are on the POOR list.

 

True! They are POOR in MANY ways. When I bought my Max there weren't very many cars under $30k with Good ratings. I compromised and got the sportiest/cheapest/most reliable/and acceptably safe car I could.
I am very happy w/ it, but if the G35 coupe ever gets a "Best Pick" I won't hesitate!

 

Keep in mind that these are 'staged' crash tests. Accidents rarely happen like this in the real world. Both NHTSA and the IIHS crash test vehicles and they use different methods. If you look at crash test data for most 2002 cars, you'll find that most cars perform well in these tests. Check the data from 10 or 15 years ago -- you'll find that many, many cars did poorly in these tests. I, for one, am glad that manufacturers are taking occupant protection seriously. This has become yet another way for car companies to market their vehicles. I had my first 2001 Maxima for 20 minutes when a lady ran a red light doing about 60mph. I broad-sided her going at least 45mph -- a severe impact. NHTSA tests their cars at 35mph. My Maxima crumpled beautifully and I didn't have a scratch. In fact, both front doors still opened perfectly. I have some neck injuries, but that's to be expected. The car sustained over $17K damage and was totalled. Two weeks later, I bought another 2001 Maxima. That's probably the best kind of customer testimonial a car company could have.

 

blah, blah, blah Maxima rules!!!!
if you die you die there is not one thing that will prevent your as& from going to hell!!! not even a mercedez can prevent that!

 

They actually tested a 2000 Maxima. There was some notation about just some styling differences between that one and a 2002, but what about the new engine. Wouldn't Nissan have to do some engine bay strengthening (sp) to hold a larger more heavy engine? That may affect the results of the crash test.

As far as worring about crash test results, it seems that every one that was tested last night did "good". That means that you can pretty much disregard when looking at one of those cars since they all did well. However, the cavalier/sunfire, Laganza, and Grand AM/Alero are another story, they did poor. Not that I would ever consider a Sunfire, what a chick car.

 

More like what a cheap car (not to mention ugly). I agree with what Jeff said. If it's a difference of acceptable/good, that wouldn't make much of a difference to me. As long as it doesn't get a bad rating, it's about all you can hope for. Otherwise, buy a Kenworth and then you can have 100% peace of mind.