Hi!

http://www.nissannews.com/multimedia...5/altima.shtml

I just noticed the pics from another forum of the 05 Altima. I must say the interior is way better than before. However it looks so close to the Maxima now (obviously I understand Nissan wants to have a unified look). The only thing I am worried about is it (Altima) now canibalizing sales from the Maxima. It already did, but many people, including myself, liked the altima a lot minus the interior. Now it has something to match the outside. Now how do you think Nissan will offically market both of them(with the upgraded alti). The Altima as a semi luxury sport sedan (ala mazda 6 /acura tsx) and the Max as a luxury sedan? I just don't want the Max to be in the avalon class (since no offense, the avalon is a great car, but its boring which the Max is not). Just curious.

Sam

 

So much nicer, I guess it is true.. the maxima is on its way out of the nissan lineup

 

the altima needed that alto classier and damn thats a hell of a car for the price


-J

 

The interior is what turned me off of the Altima. If they upgrade that then I'll give it a look next time.

 

guys...my neighbor who is an engineer at smyrna had been telling me about the interior upgrade. He ALSO told me about an SE-R Spec V Altima with the 3.5 and 6 speed as well as other spec V goodies...the interior is a must-do for the altima. There are NO plans for the Maxima to go away. They just configured the plant to handle it. It is here to stay...

 

SE-R would be too cool!

 

Holy crap, my dad and I are definately going to convince my mom to get the 05+ Altima instead of a Camry.

 

i still think he max interior is nicer but they do resemble eachother, what the price of the new alti with nav an everything? i like the old altima grill better.. and to me there not gonna make a ser spec v altima leave that for the sentra and if they bump up the power of the altima there is no reason for the maxima.. bad move for nissan if they do

 

When I saw the interior, my reaction? Holy Smokin, I like it. I'm now worried about the Maxima seem to be no longer above the pack of Nissan line up. Altima is already blew past the Maxima. I hope the engineers realized that Maxima is now in the middle of the pack that doesn't define what a Maxima should have been.

 

WOW, very nice!

 

I dont see them making a Altima SE-R Spec V, thats going to stay with the sentra like said before...

 

Yup, interior was my only turning point as well. I'd be curious to see pricing on a loaded 2005 as well. My next car would likely be an Altima over the Maxima. Anyone know what the HP will be? Plans to put the 6-speed in?

 

WHOA!!!! That's MUCH MUCH MUCH nicer!!! Looks like I may go with the pressumably cheaper 2005 3.5SE w/Navi over the TL.

Looks like the 2k5 Alti is poised to carry on where the 2k3 Maxima SE left off.

Any word on the auto tranny updates if any?? (4sp, 5sp, CVT??)

 

Now that's a FWD I would DEFINATELY consider. I always like the Altima's exterior stying, but the interior was low grade. Now the interior is probably the best mix of new age styling with some restraint. I like the new front end too. My only gripe is with the ricer taillights, but I could fix that That 2005 definately will be one of the cars I'll test drive.


Dave

 

Wow! the 6th gen and 2005 Alti are like twins now.

 

05 has 5sp auto steptronic!

 

DAMM all of that and the mirror's still dont fold
that suck's !aleast here in NYC .

 

So after looking at the '05 Altima on Nissannews.com and reading about what was done, now it has 250hp and 249lb/ft torque? I saw many subtle changes to the outside, I like the 3.5SL, but what impressed me was the new interior. I'm kinda upset Nissan is still using that pi$$-yellow/orange illumination on the gauges, but I'll have to see it to believe it. If Nissan says it's dramatically improved the inside w/ "higher quality" materials and avoids using that fugly orange information center, i could recommend the Altima to others but me personally I wouldn't lease or buy another Nissan.

 

Standard on 3.5SL, optional on 3.5SE

4-cylinders are still using the old-school 4-speed auto

 

I'm very impressed with all of the changes and improvements! If they had made it that way to start with I'd be driving one right now. I couldn't live with the sub-par interior and so-so exterior before. No sense in paying the big bucks for a new car if it's not exactly what you want, so I got my 99 Max instead (not enough knee room to fit in a 5g max so couldn't buy one of those either ).

A 2005 Alty will definitely be at the top of my list now. That and the 2005 Legacy B4 2.5T. This moves the 6g Max back a tad, but hey, a VQ is still a front runner for me.

 

uh oh is it gonna run better than my 14.4 with the 5spd auto in the alti its lighter OH NO.... still love my max, i know they resemble eachother but the max is still nicer!!!

 

No 6 speed for 2005.

 

There's a 5 speed 03 Altima at my track with a CAI and his best is a 14.2@97mph. Corrected to sea level that's about a 14.0@99mph. Pretty damn impressive.


Dave

 

I may be 'whistling past the graveyard', but I take this major improvement in the Altima as a good sign.

Nissan must have better judgement than to produce a vehicle that is close to being equal to their 'flagship' sedan and sell it at a lower price. That would assuredly result in the failure of the Maxima.

Once we assume that, it would follow that these upgrades in the Altima strongly suggest we will see notable improvements in the Maxima. I would be surprised to see major changes in the '05 Maxima (other than a HP bump), but I would bet the '06 Maxima will have at least 280 to 300 horsepower, and that an AWD version may be available. A six speed auto in the SE and a five speed auto in the SL are also possibilities.

I am very interested in what Nissan has in mind for the '05 and '06 Maximas. Maxmann, please pump your friend at the Smyrna plant for anything he may have heard concerning plans for the Maxima.

 

the 04 max has 280 already i think. someone please dyno!! auto or stick.. has to be se's though

 

14.4 "so far best stock 1/4" 3600 pnds 265hp,hmm, i think its 280 already.......

 

Yeah... I saw the link from my350z.com, and looking at the interior pics.. I have to say woah! What a long overdue improvement! I too fear that this might spell the end of the Max. There's even less to differentiate the two now.

I do agree the grille is a little worse but luckily they didn't overall really spoil the exterior.

 

The 04 has 265hp/255tq. The 04 TL has 270hp which honda has already admitted may be the threshold for a FWD vehicle (tq steer, etc). If Nissan is to bump up the hp in the Maxima, I couldn't see it going over 270hp...not with just FWD.

 

Caddy STS has 300hp and is FWD; they've had that for years.

 

I really think the Alti 3.5SE is (for all intents and purposes) a continuation of the 5G Maxima: an affordable entry level sports sedan. The 6G has become more of an entry level luxury sedan (i.e.: TL, G35, etc,...)

As a 2k2 Max owner (who thoroughly enjoys the 5G Max), I'm more inclined to go with the 2k5 3.5SE than the more upscale 6G Maxima. I really dont see any conflict between the 6G and the improved Alti. (at least no more than Toyota's conflict between the Avalon and Camry V6)

Peace.

 

not like it matters..but this damn altima has that sequential automatic and my 2k2 doesnt

i mean it's just fun to play with, hopefully it doesn't result in tranny problems

 

i know it has 265hp but with a 3600 pnd car and running 14.4s with an auto im thinking it might be under rated alittle at 265???

 

thats a 5spd stick im an auto running 14.4s stock in my 04 max se and the best so far stock for a 6spd 04 is a 14.3.. so the maxima does have more power than the alti.. but the alti is about 400 pnds lighter. that means alot

 

WAIT the talk of 5spd...

is the auto tranny in the 05 altima the same as the 5spd auto in the 04 maxima se??

if so, the maxima SL auto is missing out

 

When are these gonna hit the streets and how much are they going to go for? It looks sweet, love the missing tooth too.

-svence

 

Your forgetting the fact that its 300bhp mated to a 4-speed AUTO. That auto sucks up alot of that "torque steer" you would encounter with a 5-6speed manual. GM has been running powerful FWD car for years (the 3.8L S/C V-6s with 280lbft) but always through 4sp autos.


As for the alty, wow, incredible. That is one good looking sedan. I still prefer Mazdas 3/6 over it in terms of looks outside and in, but the power of the alty is undeniably attractive. This is what the maxima should have been...



Eric

 

i dont know to me the 04 max is still nicer than the 05 alti..

 

IMO, the new Altima looks way better than the 6th Gen Max.

 

i wish they would get rid of those tails...but hey it sells

 

the STS is actually rear wheel drive..