'11-'12 Nissan Altima 3.5 coupe

In shopping for my new daily driver, the leading candidate is a 2013 Honda Accord V6 6spd coupe. Test driven it several times and love it. As mentioned in the thread I started about the Accord, it's not the best at any one particular thing, but as a whole it's fantastic.

Just dawned on me that the Altima was offered in a 6cyl, 6spd coupe recently too. I know it uses the VQ motor, like pretty much every Nissan/Infiniti product. The SR coupe trim comes pretty well loaded with features too. I'm going to test drive one myself, but does anyone have experience with these? And yes, I'm aware of the G37. But the G37 coupe has a much smaller back seat and it (and the Accord too) costs at least $7k more than what I can pick up an Altima for. AFAIK, the VQ is a stout and reliable engine and the car overall is good quality too.

Both are great as long as you don't mind understeer. The Accord has fewer 100K maintenance issues than the Nissan (some of which I'm living with right now on my Sentra), but most of those issues are known and solvable.

Altima SE-R

With a manual trans, even.

wouldn't turn down either car (accord or altima) with a manual and V6. Different reasons to love either.

Ive driven an Altima SE-R and loved it. I'd rather have one than a g35 sedan, personally.

I couldn't find a 3.5SR 6spd anywhere near me, so I went to drive a 3.5 sedan with the autotragic. Hard to make a comparison, since the CVT is nothing like a manual, but overall I found it to be a fairly sporty sedan. Not quite as refined as the Honda, but a really nice car. I'd imagine the 6spd coupe is even more fun.

Last car I want to test out is the Genesis 3.8 R

I would only own a Nissan if I was paying someone else to work on it. They are some of the most PITA to do anything cars ever made.

Automatic transmission is mandatory, unless you like looking like a moron when driving. For some reason, Nissan manual trans engine tuning has the engine hang at the last RPM for what feels like minutes when you let off the throttle to upshift.

I like those SE-r's but that one is confusing. 87,000 miles, 3 owners, a clutch, and all new timing chain/guides? Waaaaas up?

No auto trans, a manual is a must. Even worse, I think the Altima auto is a CVT. Ugh.

The 3.5 SR coupe seems like it would make a really nice "GT" style car, as would the Accord.

The car for the month of October was an Altima coupe in the GRM calender. I've seen them race on t.v. last year so I wonder if any of the race-car stuff would transfer. Of course a road legal version of the silhouette Aussie touring car sedan would be sweet with that de-tuned Titan engine.

Altima SE-Rs have some problems with their clutch/dual-mass flywheel/TOB stuff. The one I drove was after I put a clutch in it at ~48k.

Klayfish wrote: No auto trans, a manual is a must.

Drive one first. I hear what you're saying, but Nissan manual trans cars can be absolutely infuriating to drive.

What about the equivalent Acura coupe? I find sometimes the Lexus/Acura product can be found for less money than the Toyota/Honda product because of brand name recognition. At least in the sub $5000 category.

Petrolburner wrote: What about the equivalent Acura coupe? I find sometimes the Lexus/Acura product can be found for less money than the Toyota/Honda product because of brand name recognition. At least in the sub $5000 category.

Acura CL or RSX? Those are getting up there in age.

I still can't get over the altima looking like a g35 coupe...

The dealer I work for had a couple New Altima Coupes and they sat on the lot for nearly two years.

Petrolburner wrote: What about the equivalent Acura coupe? I find sometimes the Lexus/Acura product can be found for less money than the Toyota/Honda product because of brand name recognition. At least in the sub $5000 category.

No, I'm looking for something 2011 or newer with under 50,000 miles, max budget around $22k, but would prefer less. Would prefer to stay with port injection NA if possible, because of how much I drive.

Yeah, they stopped making the CL-S too long ago for it to be relevant to this conversation.

VQs are great, torquey motors, and can sound amazing in my opinion. I would generally prefer a honda as far as overall vehicles go. I like the vq35 and don't hate the Altima coupe, but unless you can get a much better deal on one i'd swing towards the Accord.