First review of Nissan Altima Coupe calls it "best" of FWD two-doors

[1931Chevy]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/23/f...-of-fwd-two-d/


At first blush, the Altima coupe sounds like a Japanese Monte Carlo -- firmly midsized, front drive, fast roofline -- but that's where the similarities end. Inside Line put an Altima coupe with the lusty 270 HP V6 under the microscope and proclaimed it the best of the field. While the performance figures and spec sheet may reflect solid numbers that don't necessarily best the competition, there are some cars that have a je ne sais quoi that defies measurement. The Inside Line folks laid down the clipboard on the passenger seat and discovered that the Altima Coupe experience is more about how the whole of the machine works. It sounds to us like the Altima is channelling the G37, and thusly, it outclasses its peers.

[Ach]

I'd like to see head to head vs. the Accord V6 6-speed manual coupe before making any judgments. On paper, at least, the Altima isn't any better than the current Accord (the Altima has more hp but is not any quicker according to the tests I've seen), let alone the upcoming model, and the Accord's interior is a notch above IMHO.

[Joevette]

id rather get the Monte SS still, sleeper

[RWD60]

give that it's sedan based is a well liked (and great selling) sedan that is great at being fast and fun for the class, and the coupe market values fast and fun more than sedans, it's logical that the Altima Coupe is at the very least as good as anything in the market.

[guitarlix]

If it only weren't so ugly.

[Mr. Burns]

fascinating how nissan went from crap to class leading with the altima in such a small amount of time. GM needed to do that way back in 2002 with the malibu.

[magneto112]

I think its a very ugly car. But I'm sure it has good driving characteristics. Not much competition anyway. Matter of fact, that little bit of competition is rather weak IMO. This class is nothing like it used to be.

[HashiriyaS14]

I think it's a good looking car, it's reminiscent of the S15 Silvia, at least in the rear quarters.

I didn't know it was only making 270hp though, does anyone know if it's roughly the same VQ35HR that's in the Z and G35? I imagine it'd be fairly easy to squeeze that last 30hp out of the VQ, likely less so with the Accord's V6.

VQ = WIN

[RWD60]

Originally Posted by HashiriyaS14

I think it's a good looking car, it's reminiscent of the S15 Silvia, at least in the rear quarters.

I didn't know it was only making 270hp though, does anyone know if it's roughly the same VQ35HR that's in the Z and G35? I imagine it'd be fairly easy to squeeze that last 30hp out of the VQ, likely less so with the Accord's V6.

VQ = WIN

i'm pretty sure it has the newest VQ35. and if not, it would then be the last gen G35's engine, which made 298hp in the Z/G. Nissan does much like GM and gives all it's cars different power outptuts so they don't overlap too much... they just do it with different versions of the VQ instead of a dozen different V-6 engines. so yeah, it probably wouldn't take much in the way of mods to make this a 300hp car.

[Ach]

Originally Posted by RWD60

i'm pretty sure it has the newest VQ35. and if not, it would then be the last gen G35's engine, which made 298hp in the Z/G. Nissan does much like GM and gives all it's cars different power outptuts so they don't overlap too much... they just do it with different versions of the VQ instead of a dozen different V-6 engines. so yeah, it probably wouldn't take much in the way of mods to make this a 300hp car.

Why would anyone want to start modding this thing to make it 300 bhp? Just get a 350Z if you're looking for that kind of performance.

[RWD60]

Originally Posted by Ach

Why would anyone want to start modding this thing to make it 300 bhp? Just get a 350Z if you're looking for that kind of performance.

unless you need a back seat and roomier trunk and want to save some money on the intitial purchase (base Altima 3.5 coupe is less than cheapest Z). and sometimes people like to be different. probably the same reasons people upgrade civics and accords when they could get an S2000 for the same money, or get souped up F-150's when a similarly priced Mustang would be much faster. i'm not saying it's a great idea, but people do that kind of stuff all the time... and i'm just saying it'd be easy to do so to an Altima.

[a_v_s]

Originally Posted by HashiriyaS14

I didn't know it was only making 270hp though, does anyone know if it's roughly the same VQ35HR that's in the Z and G35? I imagine it'd be fairly easy to squeeze that last 30hp out of the VQ, likely less so with the Accord's V6.

VQ = WIN

Altima and G35 VQs are pretty different.

Altima VQ only has variable valve timing on the intake valves, G35 has them on both intake and exhaust. G35's VQ also has different intake runners/plenum than the Altima. I believe the throttle body and intake tube are different as well.

I doubt the altima will ever get the VQ35HR, becuase the HR engine has two throttle bodies and two intakes. Pretty easy to accomodate on a North-South facing engine, but I think it would be a little cramped/awkward to setup on a Transverse setup.

[TahoeMikeZ71]

I like it the Altima coupe and happy that Nissan has a coupe. I wish they would have had a coupe option for the last gen Altima or Maxima.

[jro4566]

How is it the sedan (especially in SE trim) came out looking very slick and sexy, yet the coupe comes out looking boring and VERY mainstream? It's sad to say that the Toyota Solara has a nicer looking rear end, though maybe the Altima Coupe will look better in a darker color.

[Jackie]

It looks plain, but neat though. All I can say is that they’ve improved. And, it’s good to know that Nissan Altima Parts has been made better. It has something to say.