Nissan Altima Coupe
Kelly Foss, www.car-data.com
Nissan has cleverly taken its very successful Altima sedan and nipped and tucked it to produce agorgeous coupe variant. The Altima Coupe doesn’t try to hide its ancestral connection to the sedanbut Nissan aims it at a different customer. According to Nissan, ”it fills a desire among targetcustomers for a more personal expression of style and individuality.’ Well spoken. The coupe hastidier proportions. It is shorter, has a shorter wheelbase and is a touch lower. Having said allthat, the vehicle feels quite spacious from the driver’s seat and does not feel like a small car.
The Styling on the Altima Coupe is rather simplistic, almost Spartan. The seductive shaping ofthe sheet metal makes chrome and add-on baubles superfluous. Even a base model in silver with nicewheels looks very very attractive indeed when all polished up. Its hard to believe that thestarting price is just a pinch over $20,000.
The base coupe is equipped with cloth bucket seats, a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder engine and a 6 speedmanual transmission. Don’t despair as this model is nicely equipped and basic seats have severalmanual adjustments and are very comfortable. And yes, you can get leather if you must. The 2.5liter 4 cylinder has 175 horsepower and niceties like dual exhaust. This engine had surprising goodpower and responsiveness and produces an EPA 31 to 32 mpg on the freeway. The famous 3.5 liter V6has 270 horsepower with the same transmission options and a lot more power. There is no traditionalautomatic transmission available. Rather, Nissan is offering a new technology CVT transmission.These are gearless units that deliver a continuous flow of power without traditional shifting. TheCVT’s in this coupe have gear-like steps built into it so that you can manually select ‘gears’ from1 to 6. Bottom line is that you get a smooth efficient delivery of power and good fuel economy.
The interior of the Altima coupe is tasteful, functional and again quite simplistic. Theusability and comfort is good, but it’s not highly adorned or ornate. The instrument panel does notdemand to be the center of attention. Its there simply to do its work and perform its function.Still, the Altima does avoid the hard plastic grained surfaces found in many value priced models.The trunk is useful but does give up a bit in volume to accommodate the rear panel styling of thevehicle. The back seat will carry people but you need to be nimble enough to climb in the back of acompact interior.
In all, the Altima Coupe should sell well because the styling is great, the quality andreliability are good and the value proposition is strong. With the Altima Coupe, you get a lot ofgood looking car for not too much money.
Nissan Sentra SE-R – Better performance for the common man or woman
By Jim Meacham www.car-data.com
We think Nissan has aimed the 2008 Sentra SE-R in the wrong direction, namely at the wrongaudience. And we think many of our automotive writer colleagues have as well.
The higher-horsepower version of the standard bread-and-butter compact Sentra sedan has beencompared more or less head-to-head with the Mazdaspeed3, the Volkswagen GTI, the Honda Civic Si,the Subaru WRX and the Chevrolet Cobalt SS.
Wrong thinking, wrong comparison and maybe the wrong audience. The above competitors shouldreally be set against the Spec V version of the SE-R.
More later.
Let’s think outside the box for a minute. Let’s do some coloring outside the lines. In our timewith a euro-silver version of the ’08 SE-R we found it perfect company for the errand-running mom,the empty-nest couple and the young head-of-new-family – all who want fuel efficiency. That and amodicum of performance not found in your standard sub-compact and compact sedans and hatchbacks.But they don’t want boy-racer add-ons, a teeth-jarring suspension and a manual shifter. And theydon’t want a budget-busting sticker price.
The SE-R is a perfect fit.
Prime example – a close relative with an AARP card came home from running errands and proclaimedher love for the SE-R. “This car has some power. I got out on the highway without getting run over,” she said. “I love the performance.”
Maybe her affection for the SE-R would have been less keen had she not just emerged from apopular sub-compact B-segment test car the day before. She complained about its lack of forwardoomph after every drive.
“I thought I was going to get run over a couple of times trying to get on the highway,” sheopined. “Maybe it does get better gas mileage, but I couldn’t live with that car.”
“Now, THIS car,” she said, referring to the SE-R, “is what I need.”
The newest Sentra, which entered the market as a 2007 model, comes with a 2.0-liter140-horsepower engine as standard equipment. We tested the Sentra last year and found it hadadequate performance despite growing in size and weight from the previous generation.
The SE-R takes the Sentra a step further adding 37 horsepower (177 vs. 140) and 25 pound-feet oftorque (172 vs. 147) over the standard model thanks to a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine mated to acontinuously variable transmission (CVT). It also adds a more road-tuned suspension, bigger brakesand better handling capability.
But the SE-R has been assailed because there is no manual transmission option for 2008. Writershave agitated that it just isn’t sporty enough with the CVT.
While we are not a huge fan of the CVT we don’t think a manual is necessary.
That kind of sporty is not particularly relevant. Most of the people we think fit best into thiscar would never consider a manual or they have reached the age where the joy of manual shiftingdied out along with partying past midnight.
For the driver who needs an occasional dose of shifting, the CVT can be put into a manual modeand shifted via paddles on the steering wheel.
We say the manual trans is not necessary because there’s a second version of the SE-R availablecalled the SE-R Spec V that is designed to satisfy the road-carving fast-running wanderlust of allthose people who would also consider the GTI, Civic Si and Cobalt SS.
It comes with a six-speed manual, a handful of run-fast upgrades, a bone-jarring suspensionsetup and 200 blistering horsepower. The fast and furious crowd can find a copy in most Nissanshowrooms. Purchase one and be happy.
In the meantime, Nissan is going to sell the SE-R to the vast masses who want some realno-nonsense merging and passing power without sacrificing too much at the gas pump or too much onsticker price.
Let’s do some comparisons.
The Sentra comes in five trim levels with the base starting at $16,455 including destination.The standard-issue 2.0-liter Sentra also comes in S and SL trim levels. The SL is probably what alot of people are purchasing because it comes with most things standard that customers want andcarries a sticker of $19,305. You can move up in horsepower, gain larger brakes and a moredriver-oriented suspension in the SE-R package for $20,305.
Mileage suffers slightly, but it’s a relative thing because both engines are fuel efficient. The2.0-liter 4-cylinder mated to the CRV is rated at 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway while the 2.4-liter is rated at 24/30. Both engines burn regular gasoline.
A word of caution to those who are used to squishy soft suspensions in their small car – theSE-R has a firm ride. But we don’t think it will be offensive to most people.
The newest Sentra, which is three inches longer and three inches wider than the car it replaced,has a more chiseled look and a more aggressive stance.
In profile it looks somewhat like a miniature version of the mid-sized Altima or larger Maxima.Nissan design cues can be seen in the front grille and headlights.
The interior also gets the Nissan treatment, and this is a good thing. It has fine fit andfinish and quality materials.
The new look shouldn’t turn anybody off. The relatively simple center stack is trimmed inaluminum-looking accents, the three round climate controls are intuitive and have a good feel andthe stereo controls are easily decipherable.
Nicely done is the gear shifter location jutting out from the center stack just below the stereoand climate controls.
The SE-R version comes with neatly done cloth-upholstered sports seats, aluminum-trimmed pedalsand oil pressure and G-force gauges. The latter, we agree, will probably be a curiosity to mostpeople.
By the way, the SE-R does not have a folding rear seat, but it does have a decent-sized trunkcapable of hauling more than 13 cubic feet of cargo.
Standard equipment is generous including good-looking 17-inch alloy wheels, full power equipment, keyless entry, air conditioning, leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control and agood-sounding six-speaker audio system.
XM satellite radio is an inex and many automotive writers have pensive $150 add-on.
Our test car came with a handful of options including the outstanding 340-watt Rockford-Fosgateaudio system, power moonroof and keyless ignition bringing the bottom line to $22,510.
Perhaps we’re overly enthused about the SE-R for the common man. Most Sentra shoppers we aresure will continue to opt for the standard Sentra. They will be getting a very good compact. Butfor just a few dollars more they can have a more entertaining and performance-oriented ride.
How can we not help but being enthused?
