Nissan Altima 1993-2006

	Nissan Altima first appeared in North America as a 1993 model. It was a small (slightly bigger than Toyota Corolla) fairly reliable, non-distinctive average Japanese-looking car. In 1998 it was redesigned slightly and received new body with very similar look. However, the 2002 Altima was a huge step forward for Nissan. It was bigger, taller and more stylish. Despite the bigger size it's just about 70 pounds heavier than its predecessor - the trunk lid and the hood made from aluminum as well as front and rear suspension components. The 2002-2006 Altima has fully independent sport-tuned suspension - no more regular struts. No more drum brakes - all four wheels have precise disk brakes. Besides standard 4 cylinder engine you can get most powerful in class V6 even combined with 5 speed manual transmission.

Inside

The Altima through 2001 wasn't that roomy. Inside it was easy to recognize Japanese car comfortable enough to carry 4 people. However, the 2002 model is one of the most spacious in its class and easily can seat five passengers. Power windows, power door locks, immobilizer are in the list of standard equipment. All models except 2.5 offer remote keyless entry system w/remote trunk opener. Long list of optional packages available: 8-way power driver's seat, leather, leather-wrapped steering wheel, steering wheel mounted controls, trip computer, speed-sensitive volume control, auto on/off headlights, auto up/down front pass window, and a whole lot more. Another interesting detail is that the instrument panel has orange back light. However, I would not say that the quality of interior panels and door covers is flawless - it looks a bit cheap.

The engine

First Altima generation offered only one engine model: 2.4L 4 cylinder 16 valves engine with 150 horsepower. It was very reliable and fairly powerfull engine for this car. Use of a chain instead of a timing belt reduced cost of maintenance significantly. It was really 'hard-to-kill' type of engine. The 2002 Altima offers two types of engine: the new 4 cylinder 2.5 L QR model engine which is fairly powerful (175 horsepower) and, I believe, one of the best engine in its class the 3.5L V6 VQ model engine with 240 horsepower. The same V6 model as in in the Nissan Maxima, Pathfinder and Murano. Both engines feature continuously variable valve timing using a silent chain instead of timing belt. Throttle cable is gone - the throttle operates electronically by wire based on gas pedal sensor readings. This design provides smoother transmission shifting and lower emission.

Safety

The 2002 Altima has four star frontal collision rating based on NHTSA rating. Check more crash test details at NHTSA website. Optional ABS available on 2.5 S, 2.5 SL and 3.5 SE models. Dual-stage supplemental air bags with seat belt sensors, available front seat side-impact supplemental air bags and roof-mounted side-impact curtain air bags for front and rear occupants

Ride

I tried both V6 and 4 cylinder Altima. 4 cylinder engine is fairly powerful and responsive. Ride is firm; unlike soft Toyota Camry. However, at a highway cruising it's just excellent - I had to glance at speedometer once in a while to keep myself from speeding. Hard to feel the speed. Cornering is precise. V6 engine is very powerful. With 5 speed transmission it feels just like a rocket.

Weaknesses

For models 1993 through 2001 coolant leaks, window switch and heater fan resistor failures are quite often. Lack of room, a bit noisy 2.4 engine and hard suspension. Models from 2002 have surprising for Nissan number of recalls and campaigns, as well as engine-related complaints.

Overall

The Nissan Altima could be an alternative to more expensive Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. Although the Altima had good reputation, it seems that its quality has diminished in recent years. You may want to consider an extended warranty to protect yourself.

Nissan Altima vs Honda Accord and Toyota Camry

The Altima 1993 - 2001 could hardly compete against Camry's smooth ride or Accord's handling. Besides, the same generation Accord and Camry offered more room and optional V6.
However, the 2002 Altima came up really strong with stylish look, roomy interior, excellent handling and very powerful V6 engine. You even can get Altima with V6 engine combined to 5 speed manual transmission.

What to look for buying a used Altima

First, check the used car history records. Even though it will not give you a 100% guarantee that the car is perfect, it's well worth the money spent. It may turn out that the car is not even worth a look. A history report may help you to uncover problems the car might have in the past such as accidents, flood damage, rolled back odometer, etc.
Follow this link: How to check used car history
There are many things to look when buying a used car. For example, the automatic transmission can be excessively worn if this car has taken a lot of abuse from previous driver.
It's important to verify that the car was properly maintained and oil changes as well as transmission fluid changes were done regularly.
Look for coolant leaks - they are common. Follow this link to learn more: What to look for when buying a used car. Shop wisely, check few cars to compare; it's worth to pay a little extra for a well-maintained vehicle in good condition.
And as a final step, I always recommend to have the used car properly inspected by a mechanic prior purchase.
Check our step-by-step Used car buying guide.
After you buy a car, check with your local Nissan dealer if any recalls need to be performed.

Nissan Altima maintenance tips

- Wash your car regularly, wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and protected from harsh environment.
- Frequent oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Change transmission fluid according to manufacturer's recommendations.
- Take care of minor problems as soon as you can, so they won't cause serious problems and an expensive repair later.
- Always check your parking space for leaks, and if you find one, get it fixed as soon as you can.
- Try to avoid overheating the engine - it may cause serious problems.
- Follow recommended maintenance schedule and keep all the fluids clean and topped up.
- At least once a year have your car inspected in a garage on the lift (e.g when doing tire rotation) to keep it safe. Many components (e.g brakes, steering, suspension) cannot be properly inspected by simple visual inspection at fast lube places; the car must be on the lift.
- No matter where you service your Nissan, try to stick with original Nissan parts.
If you don't have the owner's manual, you can download it from Nissan website in pdf format (see links section below). Check more Car maintenance tips

Links

If you are looking for more detailed technical information

If you want to find more technical information about you car such as repair manual, all kind of diagrams (vacuum line diagram, electrical wiring diagram, etc.), specification, fluids type, maintenance schedule, component location, and so on, there is a website which for a small fee allows you to browse all such an information for almost any car model on-line. You also can find recalls, service bulletins, price for certain parts and labor and a lot more useful information about your car. I tried this service many times and I'd certainly recommend it to anyone. To learn more follow the link: Online repair manuals

by Vlad Samarin