Topic: Accord or Altima, I need to decide real soon

[saltedegg]

I am considering these two:
Accord Coupe LX-G (Base) = $25,700
Altima Sedan 2.5S Extra  = $25,598

You may ask why coupe vs sedan.  Well, if there's an Altima coupe, but there isn't one.

Almost comparable in features but these are the glaring ones:

Accord: 160hp, 15" steel, manual, side airbag std.
Altima: 175hp, 16" alloy, automatic, side airbag optional.

I hope I got the above correct.  I can't drive manual, so if I add an auto tranny to the Accord plus 16" alloy wheels, that's an extra $2,6000 or more.  

The Altima Extra features a lot of extras that are standard in Accord LX-G, except the alloy wheels and the auto tranny among the ones that matter to me.

I am leaning towards Altima, but I currently have a 1994 Altima with a transmission problem -- it won't shift gear when the engine is hot.  I'm worried that it is not an isolated problem and that it afflicts not only my old car but most Nissan. (Thoughts and/or experience?)

If I were someone you care about :-), what advice would you give me?  Which of the two?  Please do not say Camry.  I may consider it when I am 60 and retired. Camry is just so geriatric in stance.

My old piece of ____ is about to give up, I need to get a new one real soon... like, within the next two weeks.

Thanx in advance.

[wing]

I like the accord better, love the interior especially decked out with leather and nice alluminium trim.  Accord is my vote.

But if you need the space the Altima felt HUGE to me.

[articsteve]

I see a lot of problems with Altimas in various auto forums in the US.  Technically the Honda is a much superior unit.

The auto with the 4 banger Honda is the best in the business.

Accord plus 16" alloy wheels, that's an extra $2,6000 or more.

Use the standard steel wheels  for your snow tires.  Next spring buy used aftermarket alloys for the Accord.  They are everywhere and usually cost no more than $150 each tax in and usually have decent tires already on them.

Accord coupe resale will blow away a used Altima.

[Wetson]

Accord is my vote but then again I'm biased.  We're really happy with our coupe...It's a V6 but the sedan is a 4.  Lots of pep.  Inside is awesome to.  Well put together.  If you can afford to... upgrade to the EX-L.  You'll get alloy rims, leather interior, indash 6 disc changer, and heated seats (A bonus for Canadian winters).  As far as I know it's only a couple of K's to do so to.  Well worth it.

[Smainville]

If you would be asking this question in 03 I would say Accord.  But today in 05 with the revisions brought to the Altima I say, Altima.  It is a more attractive car inside and out and just as reliable, Artic I can point out forums on Accords with issues as well, and that includes transmissions.  Saltedegg, to my knowledge there are no issues with the Altima transmission, not that the odd one doesn't go but that applies to most brands.  Your car is a 94, any car that age can have transmission issues.  The 2.5S Extra is one heck of a buy IMO.

[hondasalesguy]

It is actually $3500 to move from LX-G Coupe to EX-L Coupe. However the rebate on Honda Accords is currently $2350 on COUPES (It is $1350 on Sedans)which would put the total price "on the road" at $34,168.25 including all taxes and credits. You should be able to get close to $32,500 with dealer discount factored in. Or if you want to stick with the LX-G Coupe you will be close to $28,000 "on the road" with discount.

At those prices the Accord looks like at least as good a value as does the Altima.

[Mdxtasy]

Between the two, the Accord coupe is a fantastic car.  Very powerful I4 and good fit and finish.  Very refined and well built.  The Altima is a notch lower on all counts.  It's a good car, just not quite up to the Accord level.  Engine is powerful, just not as refined.  Interior is nice, just not as nice.

[initial_D]

Well, if I can get away with 2 doors rather than 4 doors, I would pick a 2 door car.

[ovr50]

My personal choice would be the Accord. But that's just me.

[articsteve]

If you would be asking this question in 03 I would say Accord. But today in 05 with the revisions brought to the Altima I say, Altima

I agree 05s are certainly improved from 03s, but the 03s were on the whole substandard which have really hurt resale. So what if Nissan has improved them.  The fact is they launched a mechanically questionable vehicle and so they are a risk. Personally, I tell people to avoid them used.  

Here is a list of Altima nasties:
http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51

IMO, money wise, the Accord Coupe is a better bet because they are instant sellers used.  All the coupe needs (badly) is a set of aftermarket wheels and as I said before they can be had in the used market.

The Altima placed beside an Accord sedan of course wins big time in the looks department.

[articsteve]

If you still want a Altima after reading this thread ....

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168507

(strut issues;)

This thread is about all Nissan 2.5 4 bangers.  It's about screws holding the butterflys coming loose in the intake manifold and wrecking the motor. It's unbelieveable.

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=192671

http://www.nissanclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=197173

[saltedegg]

Walking into a dealership I imagine to me would feel like being a tiny mouse strutting  through a snake pit.  With the tips I'm getting from you guys, I may not feel invincible, but I don't think they can swallow me in one gulp.

I'd like to thank you all for the informative posts.  People like yourselves who generously lend your time and share your expertise, experience and wisdom make forums like this a very valuable knowledge base for a lot of people.  You may not fully comprehend the amount of help you give with every little post you share.

... and I'm not done asking questions.  :-)

[saltedegg]

Artic: The Altima placed beside an Accord sedan of course wins big time in the looks department.
SaltedEgg: I'd say they are even.  Maybe because of the 2-dr factor.  It's just me.
---
HSG: At those prices the Accord looks like at least as good a value as does the Altima.
SaltedEgg: Dang! my calculator (it is scientific with lots of buttons!) didn't show me this.  My tiny brain took by default that the Accord costs +/- $3K than the Altima with comparable features.   Ah, how those ads smoke-screen facts.
---
HSG: ...with the LX-G Coupe you will be close to $28,000 "on the road" with discount.
SaltedEgg: By 'close', did you mean upper $27K? over $28K?
---
Artic: Use the standard steel wheels for your snow tires. ... buy used aftermarket alloys... cost no more than $150...
SaltedEgg: These are the tips I was talking about.  To you guys this idea is common sense and something everybody should know, but to a newbie like me this is golden!  For some unconscious reasons, I was concentrating on packages and how much they add to the cost, I have forgotten that I have the aftermarket option.  (One more car lingo I learned -- aftermarket! :-)
---

I think I am going for the Accord LX-G Coupe.  EX-L is surely nice, but nice can be bad if you're parking your car at the GO station everyday.

I compared EX-L and EX-G, beleive it or not, only the steering wheel mounted audio controls is the feature I will miss.  Leather seats surely smell and look great, but I can live with fabric.  Alloy wheels, I am following Artic's advice.  Moonroof, I will just pullover and stick my head out the window if I want to see the moon :-).

More questions:  
- Is there a regulation on how dark you can tint your windows?  (I'm in Mississauga-Toronto area) What are the risks of aftermarket tinting?  any tips?  Websites?
- Any good place to get alloys for Accord?

(Message edited by saltedegg on August 19, 2005)

[Wetson]

Is there a regulation on how dark you can tint your windows? (I'm in Mississauga-Toronto area) What are the risks of aftermarket tinting? any tips? Websites?

I had my Accord coupe tinted and it's pretty dark. We haven't had any problems with police.  The back and rear windows are a little darker than the two side ones.  You can't see in the rear ones.  You can kinda of see in the front side ones.  I don't remember the percentages though.  

I wouldn't recommend going to just anyone.  I went to Apple Auto glass and they sucked!  The back window of the coupe has about a 4 inch wide strip of micro dots running along the top of the window. (I think it's the radio antenna).  The tint did not take well to it bubbled and looked dirty.  We ended up cutting that strip of tint out.  

Don't cheap out when getting tint done and make sure you get it done by someone who has multiple experience with tinting windows on that particular model of vehicle.  Ideally get the dealer to do it and make sure you inspect it upon pick up.

[Driver]

alloys... TireTrends!  They'll ship it to your door and charge you 7% GST only.

Local shops, I hear a lot of good recommendations for Steelcase Tires N Mags, although they have no website.

[hondasalesguy]

$26800 + 1280 freight + 100 air tax + 75 gas tax + 4238.25 PST/GST = $32493.25 - 2350 Honda credit = 30,143.25. Dealer has about $2K margin in the car and at this time of year he would probably settle for keeping $500 of it. So take $1500 + taxes off this price and you are at $28,418.25.

If you can buy the car for that price I'd say that's pretty fair, only paying $1600 more than the MSRP of the car, including all dealer costs and taxes...

[articsteve]

Artic: The Altima placed beside an Accord sedan of course wins big time in the looks department.  
SaltedEgg: I'd say they are even. Maybe because of the 2-dr factor. It's just me.

Salt I think you read that wrong, I was replying to Smainville that sedan to sedan the Altima looked better than the Accord.  I wasn't comparing the Accord Coupe.  I think with a nice set of 16 inch rims it will look great.  16 inch are cheaper and more plentiful used because people have moved on to 17 inch.  Also 17 inch tires are too expensive.

Keep an eye out at www.torontostreetracing.com for 5 bolt Honda rims.  You need to be patient and you could score a nice set with tires for $400 - 600. cash.

[bzborow1]

They are both nice cars.

test them both ON THE SAME DAY.

Order them 1,2.

Go to dealer 1 first, if he seems to be straight forward and everything fits get the car.

Do you like the accord's styling?  Nissan's?  They are very different in many ways.

Personally if you can get the Accord for the deal HondaSalesGuy suggested i'd go with that.  I'm assuming the Honda will retain more of its resale value.

Which car makes you happy?  Smile?  etc...Buying a car should be fun.

[Smainville]

FYI: Honda Transmission noise

http://www.rich.org/sheetlist.html
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?ed_searchResults@271.EkP1dv7KX3f.4@.ef14c39!keywords=allin:msgtext accord transmission whine&count=20

Just goes to show Artic that you can dig up anything you want on any brand

[articsteve]

Smainville; you gotta do better than that. One link is a couple in Alabama that do appear to have a tranny problem in a V6 Accord and the other is some shifting out of gear thing when an indicator lite faults. That's internet digging.

The Altima problem links that I posted are from the nissanclub.com which is the largest moderated nissan BBS going and those are all registered Nissan lovers on that BBS and they are all agreeing to the problems that are noted in the links as systemic Altima problems:  the butterfly screws (pics available) and the bad struts and the vibrations.  Those examples are a few levels up from "digging".