Wednesday, September 15, 2010

EARTHY CAR OF THE WEEK: 2004 White Nissan Altima

2004 Nissan Altima 2.5 S_Pearl White Sedan_$6,900_MPG rating = 23/29

This vehicle is ideal for those who are looking for something inexpensive ($6,900) and need a vehicle with a lot of room. The interior space and trunk space is larger a typical mid-size sedan. Its perfect for 'soccer moms' who need a car to transport their son and/or daughters (and their friends) to soccer practice, but don't want to drive an SUV. 

From MSN Autos:


"Occupying the position of Nissan's best-selling car, the Altima was first introduced in 1992, replacing the Stanza for the 1993 model year. A totally redesigned, second-generation Altima was introduced for the 1998 model year. A third-generation Altima went on sale for the 2002 model year with extensive enhancements, including refreshed styling, more horsepower and available front-seat side airbags."

"The Nissan Altima remains primarily unchanged for the 2004 model year."

REVIEWS
Via AOL Autos:

"Plenty of convenient storage areas and huge cupholders" –iZoom.com

"Here's the cool feature...the radio provided memory settings for three different users." –USA Today

"It's one of those somewhat rare family sedans that actually stands out in the crowd and delivers on the expectations set by its looks." –New Car Test Drive

From NewCarTest Drive.com via Vehix.com:


"The Nissan Altima boasts a bigger interior than the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and most other mid-size sedans. It's quicker, too. The Altima offers everything buyers want in a reasonably priced sedan, particularly those who don't always travel alone. It's roomy, comfortable, and functional. It has comfortable rear seating and a big trunk. Bold styling sets it apart."
"As mid-size sedans go, the Nissan Altima is a big car. Its wheels are pushed to the far corners of the car, giving it a long wheelbase and wide track for stability at high speeds. The long wheelbase leaves plenty of room for large doors and passengers as well. When compared to Japanese sedans, the Altima is cast in the more aggressive style of a German car. Attentive observers may spot styling cues from the Volkswagen Passat or the Audi A6. The grille and front bumper protrude a bit, but they're set off nicely by multi-parabola projector-type headlights, with four bulbs set behind large triangular covers. Altima's grille is large by contemporary standards, but not the least bit awkward. Big 16-inch wheels (standard) improve both looks and handling. The rear half is even more striking, featuring a sloping roofline more reminiscent of a coupe than a four-door sedan.
The high trunk lid is set off by bold round taillights, turn signals and backup lights set in a triangular-shaped clear cover. The various lights are surrounded by silver, which is the rage among youthful hot-rodders. The trunk has a large opening and low lift-over height. Its trunk is generous at 15.6 cubic feet, putting Altima near the top of the mid-size class in trunk space.
Flexibility is increased by the standard split-folding rear seat (with a lock on all but the base car). The trunk lid lifts on its own when popped with the remote key fob, and the gooseneck hinges that allow this action intrude minimally into the usable trunk space.
Altima is assembled with a one-piece bodyside structure for more consistent build quality. Altima has gained on Camry and Accord in exterior build quality and Nissan claims panel-fit accuracy within 1.0 mm. The Altima also has more exterior design detail than either of those competitors, with creased mirrors, integrated foglamps and other subtle cues. Some may call these details distinctive; others may consider them excessive. Either way, Altima is styled more aggressively than most if its competitors. For 2004 the new Smoke gray paint brings color choices to eight.
The Nissan Altima's interior complements the bold exterior styling nicely. A few journalists have described the cabin design as brilliant. The dashboard is set relatively low, with a three-gauge binnacle directly in front of the driver containing speedometer, tachometer, and water temperature and fuel gauges. The instruments glow orange in the dark. This is the preferred color among enthusiast drivers; in theory it should interfere with night vision less than standard white backlighting does.
Audio controls are clustered in a raised, ovoid panel in the center of the dash. Climate control knobs lie directly below, and very easy to locate with minimal distraction. Air conditioning vents are flush-mounted on the dash, rather than in the protruding pods on some other cars. Seams for the passenger-side airbag are invisible, cleverly hidden in a large expanse of unembellished dashboard surface.
In general, the interior design gives Altima a spacious feel, and the feeling is no illusion. The Altima ranks near the top of the class measured by virtually any interior dimension. There's more front legroom here than in all but the largest vehicles on the road. Its front seats are good sized, which is good for larger bodies, and quite comfortable. Getting in and out of the Altima is easy, thanks to wide doors and a slightly higher-than-average front seating position.
The same applies in back. The rear seats are both supportive and comfortable, with good legroom and sufficient headroom. A 6-foot, 4-inch passenger can sit comfortably behind a 6-foot, 4-inch driver. Rear center passengers have a three-point seat belt with shoulder harness; when the center spot is empty, an armrest drops and presents cupholders. Getting in and out of the rear seats is easier in the Altima than it is in many mid-size sedans. The long wheelbase and large doors make it less likely that a rear passenger will get dirty by dragging clothes across the fender well."

http://www.vehix.com/car-reviews/2004/nissan/altima/expert-reviews

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Nissan-Altima-2004/at-a-glance/

EQUIPMENT


The 2004 Nissan Altima 2.5 S was the most popular Altima. It includes ABS, dual air bags, power windows, a green-tinted solar glass windshield, power steering, tilt and telescoping steering wheel, fold down center armrests front and rear, a 60/40 split folding rear seat and an in-glass antenna, air conditioning, power mirrors, remote keyless entry with remote trunk lock, an eight-way adjustable driver's seat, cruise control, a six-speaker audio system, seatback pockets and a lock for the split rear seat.

http://www.vehix.com/car-reviews/2004/nissan/altima/standard-equipment

http://autos.aol.com/cars-Nissan-Altima-2004/equipment/

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/Spec_Glance.aspx?year=2004&make=Nissan&model=Altima&trimid=-1

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