DansMax

She bought the 2.5 S, so I unfortunately cannot comment on the SE's performance.

However, if the next Maxima is based on this platform, I think that I am going to be impressed. The platform is very solid, and the ride/handling combination is better than my '01 Max. The steering on the Altima is very quick, but could use more road feel. The brakes are excellent. Styling, of course, is awesome.

One area of the new Altima that needs to be addressed for Maxima application includes the interior. The plastic on the door panels remind me of a Korean car from the late '80's. The rest of the interior does not get much better. Nissan should have spent an extra $150.00 on this interior to be at least comparable to some American cars. I sure hope that the new Max fares much better on interior quality, or I may have to shop elsewhere next year (as much as I would hate to).

MaximaZero

word on the street is that the 2003 altima is gonna have better interior materials.

Mill McSly

WTF is up with the Altima's ridiculous looking dash and O look speedometer. I think it looks terrible.

Triple8Sol

iTrader: (29)

The gauges are supposed to be "Eurostyle."

MaximaZero

lexus' GS line has similar pod-style guages.

NYC2SD

The gauges look like the radar scope of a WWII battleship
But I like the outside of the car.

Mill McSly

I think that whole car was modeled to look similar on the exterior to a GS 3 or 430 without looking obvious. It has that fat big back with a lower looking front. I'm sure they wanted to make the interior similar as well.

KLOOGY

iTrader: (12)

2k2Merlot

I honestly am of the opinion that Nissan purposely kept the interior quality on the Altima low for the first year. Think about it...how many of you that bought 2k2 Max's would have bought an Altima instead if it had an interior with the design and quality of the Maxima? I just think Nissan wanted to make absolute sure it could still sell Maximas until the new one comes out.