2013 Nissan Altima S - Success or Failure?

[David]

G. David Felt

www.cheersandgears.com

 

2013 Nissan Altima S - Success or Failure?

 

This review starts off sadly, with my 2008 Trailblazer SS AWD being hit in the drivers door and needing a complete replacement. SS is awesome and all fixed, but for the 3 weeks I was out of an auto, I was in this rental.

 

Short Answer for those that want to know what I think, DO NOT BUY! Everything people complain about of 1980's and 1990's American cars is what you find on this car. Yes this is a long term rental fleet car as it had California plates and 42,785 miles when I got it.

 

My rental allowed me to add on 1,137 miles by the time I returned it.  This did include a 300 mile day trip with the wife who at the end said she was so glad to not be in the car anymore due to the constant sewing machine grind of the engine.

 

The POSITIVE about this car. Lovely red metallic paint job, roomy interior for a 6'6" tall guy, though no one could sit behind me. Push button start, Information LCD screen in the middle of the dash with 8 options of info to be displayed. Easy to read dash and logical layout of the radio system and hvac system. Seats were very supportive and comfy. Bright open Green house. For a 4 banger engine, it seems to move the car efficiently.

 

The NEGATIVE about this car. Lack of knowing your 4 corners. Most auto's you can quickly tell where your 4 corners are on the car, not the Altima, it leaves you guessing. B Pillar HELL, For tall people the drivers seat needs to be all the way back, this puts it behind the B pillar and makes entry and exit a pain in the ass. Storage and cup holders are tight around the center floor mounted shifter. This causes issues when you are trying to shift the transmission. Dash controls, while easy and simple to use, has a very 1980's feel to it for a 21st century sedan. Noisy sewing machine type 4 banger engine. You have to increase your own voice at highway speeds to talk as this car seems to have minimal insulation and all road noise and engine noise invades the cabin.  Fuel mileage is terrible for a sedan, Dash infotainment system recorded average of 35.7mpg and yet in keeping records of miles driven versus gallons filled, I averaged 27.2mpg. Yes I did reset the auto system when I filled up the tank the first time. Not sure how Nissan figures out their gas mileage but it does not match real world driving. The biggest shock was that the wife's first time in the car she asked why the interior cloth was all short rat like fabric. In looking around, it does remind me of the cheap fabric that American auto's have been raked over the coals for using in the past. The dash was very hard plastic and left much to be desired. The worst part it that the steering was beyond vague, to non existent and the ride was for those that like the lazy boy float ride. Not a driving machine, but one that should have auto drive mode as it puts one to sleep if you are not inner active in talking with your passengers.

 

Interesting is that you truly need to hold the Start Stop button to truly turn off the car. The wife drove with our daughter and went to Starbucks. She pressed the start/stop button got out and went in and looked back out and saw the car was running. Went back out and held the button long enough to truly turn off the car. It finally did turn off. I tested and found that I could go 255 feet from the car before it turned itself off by not sensing the fob. Crazy as some one could snag the car even though they would not get very far.

 

Over all, if it was cheap enough I guess someone that believes all things Asian is the only way to go with a car will be happy, but for this tall American, I was disappointed in the lack of refinement and over all quality of the car. In today's market, there are far better options than the Nissan Altima.

 

 

[A Horse With No Name]

The altima is a turd in a crap sandwich between the unloved Sentra and dismal Maxima. The last two times I have had to rent a car they offered me an Altima and I asked them if they were stoned. I am astonishingly sorry this car was not stolen and burned before it fell into your unfortunate hands. Hell, I would even settle for it sinking in the Pacific Ocean before it even reached our shores.

Hopefully you and your wife wore paper grocery bags over your heads so no one recognized you in that steaming pile. It is the sincere prayer of GM loving peoples everywhere that some day you can reclaim your self esteem and the respect of your children after this God awful experience.

Can you tell I am not a Nissan fan?

Edited October 14, 2014 by A Horse With No Name

[David]

That is way too funny and yes, my wife and I could not wait to get back into our Trailblazer SS AWD and fly away in a quality American Ride!

[A Horse With No Name]

I know a woman with a trailblazer SS in the deep metallic red you speak of. Its enough to make an SUV guy out of a sports car guy like me!