IMO, the previous generation was better built. The only problems were that it felt like a compact car compared to the Camry and Accord of the time, and it didn't get a V6 which other brands got. Those issues were resolved with the third generation, but build quality dropped significantly.
My parents bought a 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5S Special Edition brand new back in January of 06. I was 6. It recently got totaled less than a year ago. Had just turned 200,000 miles. That was a DAMN good car. Besides a recall (can’t remember what for), it was NEVER in the shop for anything other than general maintenance.
Great vid Rob! I went to a Nissan ride and drive for these in 2001 for Dealership employees. I cant overstate the joy of us having a sedan then that wasnt merely a lower priced alternative to the Camry and Accord. It was now so roomy and fast! The interior had some Dollar Store pieces in it though...Ill never forget the flimsy plastic on the front cupholder cover. They did make a base 2.5 below the 2.5S at launch too, that had NO A/C or a radio. It was made to advertise a pricepoint (17k?).
Thanks for watching. Yeah I like these Altimas the best. People gave them a bad reputation, but these cars are good for what they are. I recall when they came out in 2001, everybody wanted one. Yeah you’re right, there was a model that didn’t have A/C, that’s why I mentioned base, 2.5s, and 2.5 sl. I rode in a stripped-down base model with no A/C. It’s what the baby mommas drive haha
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon It was weird because it still had power windows....and I think locks too? I think the nonexistent speakers were still prewired, so a trip to Circuit City was all you needed for tunes. I didn't catch you said base too, as those are more rare than a Yugo fan.
This Altima was a HUGE deal when it was new… it was such a huge departure from its predecessor in terms of design, size and performance. Looking back, there’s a part of me that really misses the ‘01 and earlier Altimas, but that’s because I’m old and they’re old school 90’s Japanese cars… but the Altima that replaced them was a much better car by every metric. I bought a 2005 Xterra with a 6speed stick new, but I test drove a manual Altima with the 2.5 4 banger and it was fun… but it cost more than the Xterra! Can you imagine a 4wd V6 SUV costing less than a 4 cylinder midsize sedan nowadays?!
The 6th gen Maxima is so similar to the L31 Altima. The SER models have the larger maxima brakes and the 6speed manual from 4th gen Maxima non lsd. The original 2002 v6 with manual is slightly faster because it weighs slightly less than the the SER and has a 5 speed manual so shorter gearing.
I own one since new. A 2005 3.5 SE, Pewter Metallic with Blonde interior. It's an early 2005 built on February 2004. Currently has 130,000 miles and keep it in very good condition.
I test drove a 2004 nissan alitma 3.5 v6 5 speed manual years and years ago i was going 120 mph abd still had 3 more gears to go that thing was a sleeper had the 20 inch crome wheels but very fast and would of kept going that car ment business!!!
@MotorMaster_Stunticon haha no it was on the free way and that car definitely surprised me on how fast it was they are definitely under rated I even reached a light the front tires were spinning on a poudle of water I thought I broke it because the pedal didn't return back to me it definitely had a lot of power
As a car enthusiast, I've just bought a 2005 3.5 SE with 6-Speed Manual instead of a 2003 350Z 6-speed... why? I didn't care about looks or RWD, I wanted more space and parts-availability and affordability, there are way much more Altimas in the junkyard to take parts off of, and like I said, I wanted those extra cubic inches of space and doors. BUT IT'S STILL A BLAST TO DRIVE 🔥
This was the last reliable generation of the Altima. 07 introduced the CVT to the nameplate and it was like night and day. The 4th was a flop in comparison, mainly because the CVT. The 5th gen was little better with preventative maintenance and easy driving habits, but still not a solid choice as most people don’t think to service their transmissions very often. It does not take much neglect at all for CVT failure and the 5th gen still has a high failure rate. I haven’t heard anything horrible about the 6th gen, but my wife rented one earlier this year and my gripes are more about the cheap interior quality and overall lack of personality, they still don’t offer a manual and the car looks generic in base trim. The 1st and 2nd were probably the most reliable overall and the 3rd gen was probably the most memorable for car enthusiasts and families. 4th gen started a downward spiral that they’ve struggled with since.
My aunt had a '05 model SE automatic. It was a fast machine for the time and a lot of fun to drive while getting amazing fuel economy for what it was. I don't recall her having any problems with it. I gave serious thoughts of buying one myself but I read that the five speed automatic had problems (And no I'm not getting confused with the CVT the later models had) and the timing driven chain water pump could have also been a problem. During this time period, This was the mid-size sedan to have. I have often wondered if Chrysler's management wouldn't have suffered from bean counter syndrome and status quoitis If they could have made the Stratus more akin to this have they made the engine bay large enough to fit their 3.5 which produced similar numbers in the much larger and heavier LH sedans.
You are too funny with these drinks every video. Butter soda? I have never heard of that, but I have seen other interesting flavor. Jerry Hirschberg used to work at GM. I recall when Maxima got this styling too and got larger. It took a big hit from the Altima. You hit the Grand Prix hard with that Nissan engine in the Altima. I would stay away from the Altima because of the cvt transmission. The car was not ugly. I will give them that. It was revolutionary and not reactionary. Thank you for the video.
Thanks for watching. Yeah the butter soda is unique. Not bad tasting either. I like these Altimas, but I’m still a GM guy just like you, so I’d probably take a contemporary Grand Prix over an Altima. But Nissan gets credit for that 3.5 engine back in the day.
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon You are most welcome for watching. I did not know you were a GM guy. That was interesting to learn. We all have our companies we support and root for. That says something about your videos in a good way. You are unbiased in your sharing. The Oldsmobile Intrigue was supposed to compete against this car, but it was gone by 2004. It had that shortstar 3.5 liter V6. Pontiac Grand Prix was the better choice as you said. Where do you find the drinks you share?
The older ones with a KA motors are still my favorites. The 02 to 06 4 cylinder ones had cats that could go bad, and lead to engine failure if left uncorrected.
@autochatter I guess there's that. Still feel like GM held on to old tech far too long. Everyone else moved on to DOHC powertrains. GM stumbled through the 90s with problematic attempts at it, then gave up and reverted back to pushrods. Lame. As for the 3800, it had its vulnerability, too. They enjoy a reputation as bulletproof, but that's myth. #NotAGMFan
@95blahblahhaha 3.5s were good. Some had timing chain guides that wore out. My wife's Quest started sounding like it had a Supercharger towards the end because of that.
Down here in Miami I still see far more Second Generation Models more than I see third third or fourth generation That new chassie brought a lot of benefits But with it it brought some catastrophic problems suchjess weak head gaskets and bad automatic transmissions that usually were the went to scrap and Nissan's reputation has never recovered. The Nissan altima now takes the place of the subprime non-white market. A place once dominated by Kia and Hyundai known for being hot cheap and easy to finance but no or very poor resale value when compared 2 it's once equals Honda Accord and especially Toyota Camry.
This was the birth of BIG ALTIMA ENERGY.
I was waiting for someone to say it haha
From the 2nd to the 4th generation
I had a 93 Altima and still own and drive my 2003 Altima everyday
I don’t blame you bro. Keep your third-gen Altima on the road. The hell these new cars haha
I had a 97 Altima. Drove it to over 200,000 miles with only a few problems- original engine and transmission.
Now that’s what I call reliable!
I always refer to this car as the ‘last great Nissan’, until we started to see the effect of the Renault merger.
IMO, the previous generation was better built. The only problems were that it felt like a compact car compared to the Camry and Accord of the time, and it didn't get a V6 which other brands got. Those issues were resolved with the third generation, but build quality dropped significantly.
My parents bought a 2006 Nissan Altima 2.5S Special Edition brand new back in January of 06. I was 6. It recently got totaled less than a year ago. Had just turned 200,000 miles. That was a DAMN good car. Besides a recall (can’t remember what for), it was NEVER in the shop for anything other than general maintenance.
That’s great to hear. That’s a reliable car if you ask me!
I had a 2004 Altima. It was a very good car.
I bet it was!
these are quite good cars, the owners horrid treatment of them is a testament to how durable they are
Great point
2005-2006 Altima SER! Enough said!
Great vid Rob! I went to a Nissan ride and drive for these in 2001 for Dealership employees. I cant overstate the joy of us having a sedan then that wasnt merely a lower priced alternative to the Camry and Accord. It was now so roomy and fast! The interior had some Dollar Store pieces in it though...Ill never forget the flimsy plastic on the front cupholder cover. They did make a base 2.5 below the 2.5S at launch too, that had NO A/C or a radio. It was made to advertise a pricepoint (17k?).
Thanks for watching. Yeah I like these Altimas the best. People gave them a bad reputation, but these cars are good for what they are. I recall when they came out in 2001, everybody wanted one.
Yeah you’re right, there was a model that didn’t have A/C, that’s why I mentioned base, 2.5s, and 2.5 sl. I rode in a stripped-down base model with no A/C. It’s what the baby mommas drive haha
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon It was weird because it still had power windows....and I think locks too? I think the nonexistent speakers were still prewired, so a trip to Circuit City was all you needed for tunes. I didn't catch you said base too, as those are more rare than a Yugo fan.
Had an 05 silver automatic & 06 gray 6mt SE-R & I miss them like hell and should have never sold them 😭
I remember when the SE-R Altima was new… it was definitely a beast of a FWD car, especially with a stick. The VQ is a great engine.
It was either this or the Maxima they were everywhere
Yep, the Altimas were all over the place
This Altima was a HUGE deal when it was new… it was such a huge departure from its predecessor in terms of design, size and performance. Looking back, there’s a part of me that really misses the ‘01 and earlier Altimas, but that’s because I’m old and they’re old school 90’s Japanese cars… but the Altima that replaced them was a much better car by every metric. I bought a 2005 Xterra with a 6speed stick new, but I test drove a manual Altima with the 2.5 4 banger and it was fun… but it cost more than the Xterra! Can you imagine a 4wd V6 SUV costing less than a 4 cylinder midsize sedan nowadays?!
When Nissan became nice looking JUNK!!!
Awesome video rob my niaghbors daughter had a 2002 altima 35zl that thing was clapped
Thanks bro
I had a 05 Altima 2.5 SL it was good for what it was wish I would of still had it
Bet
The 6th gen Maxima is so similar to the L31 Altima. The SER models have the larger maxima brakes and the 6speed manual from 4th gen Maxima non lsd. The original 2002 v6 with manual is slightly faster because it weighs slightly less than the the SER and has a 5 speed manual so shorter gearing.
I own one since new. A 2005 3.5 SE, Pewter Metallic with Blonde interior. It's an early 2005 built on February 2004. Currently has 130,000 miles and keep it in very good condition.
Glad to hear you own one!
I had 2003 Altima SL it was a great car
The 2002 Altima was the car that saved Nissan. The styling and performance was paramount at the time.
Yes, it was.
I test drove a 2004 nissan alitma 3.5 v6 5 speed manual years and years ago i was going 120 mph abd still had 3 more gears to go that thing was a sleeper had the 20 inch crome wheels but very fast and would of kept going that car ment business!!!
120 mph? Lucky they didn’t lock you up for reckless driving 🔐 haha
@MotorMaster_Stunticon haha no it was on the free way and that car definitely surprised me on how fast it was they are definitely under rated I even reached a light the front tires were spinning on a poudle of water I thought I broke it because the pedal didn't return back to me it definitely had a lot of power
I always thought this generation was not only a turning point for Nissan, but the Altima nameplate as well.
It was definitely a turning point.
i have a 2002 se altima, excelent car i say
Cool
Nice video Rob my niaghbors daughter had a o2 altima that thing was clapped
Thanks for watching bro
I loved the SE-R
Same
As a car enthusiast, I've just bought a 2005 3.5 SE with 6-Speed Manual instead of a 2003 350Z 6-speed... why? I didn't care about looks or RWD, I wanted more space and parts-availability and affordability, there are way much more Altimas in the junkyard to take parts off of, and like I said, I wanted those extra cubic inches of space and doors.
BUT IT'S STILL A BLAST TO DRIVE 🔥
Great choice with the 3.5 SE
This was the last reliable generation of the Altima. 07 introduced the CVT to the nameplate and it was like night and day. The 4th was a flop in comparison, mainly because the CVT. The 5th gen was little better with preventative maintenance and easy driving habits, but still not a solid choice as most people don’t think to service their transmissions very often. It does not take much neglect at all for CVT failure and the 5th gen still has a high failure rate. I haven’t heard anything horrible about the 6th gen, but my wife rented one earlier this year and my gripes are more about the cheap interior quality and overall lack of personality, they still don’t offer a manual and the car looks generic in base trim. The 1st and 2nd were probably the most reliable overall and the 3rd gen was probably the most memorable for car enthusiasts and families. 4th gen started a downward spiral that they’ve struggled with since.
My aunt had a '05 model SE automatic. It was a fast machine for the time and a lot of fun to drive while getting amazing fuel economy for what it was. I don't recall her having any problems with it. I gave serious thoughts of buying one myself but I read that the five speed automatic had problems (And no I'm not getting confused with the CVT the later models had) and the timing driven chain water pump could have also been a problem.
During this time period, This was the mid-size sedan to have. I have often wondered if Chrysler's management wouldn't have suffered from bean counter syndrome and status quoitis If they could have made the Stratus more akin to this have they made the engine bay large enough to fit their 3.5 which produced similar numbers in the much larger and heavier LH sedans.
Thanks for taking the time to share that story.
Agreed. Back in the day, this was a solid midsize sedan to have.
tell me when there will be a review on Mercury grand marquis 1992?
Next week. An Oldsmobile video is coming out first, then the 1992 Marquis will follow.
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon Thank you friend
They're very peculiar
Yep yep
Faster car in its class even 5/7 hemis couldn’t beat it😂😂 SE-R and maxima 😍😍😍
You’re right about that. The 3.5 was beating V8s.
You are too funny with these drinks every video. Butter soda? I have never heard of that, but I have seen other interesting flavor. Jerry Hirschberg used to work at GM. I recall when Maxima got this styling too and got larger. It took a big hit from the Altima. You hit the Grand Prix hard with that Nissan engine in the Altima. I would stay away from the Altima because of the cvt transmission. The car was not ugly. I will give them that. It was revolutionary and not reactionary. Thank you for the video.
Thanks for watching. Yeah the butter soda is unique. Not bad tasting either.
I like these Altimas, but I’m still a GM guy just like you, so I’d probably take a contemporary Grand Prix over an Altima. But Nissan gets credit for that 3.5 engine back in the day.
@@MotorMaster_Stunticon You are most welcome for watching. I did not know you were a GM guy. That was interesting to learn. We all have our companies we support and root for. That says something about your videos in a good way. You are unbiased in your sharing. The Oldsmobile Intrigue was supposed to compete against this car, but it was gone by 2004. It had that shortstar 3.5 liter V6. Pontiac Grand Prix was the better choice as you said. Where do you find the drinks you share?
I find them just by browsing the internet.
now you a single mom.... now you a single mom....
Yep, this is the official car
I think the SE-R is pretty rare.
They definitely are. Can’t recall last time I saw one on the road.
Where do I get a butter soda? 😢😅
Amazon got them haha
The car was great until the CVT
The older ones with a KA motors are still my favorites. The 02 to 06 4 cylinder ones had cats that could go bad, and lead to engine failure if left uncorrected.
5:13 - Naturally aspirated AND smaller. The 3800 was good, but overrated.
Well the VQ is a 30 year newer design!
@autochatter I guess there's that. Still feel like GM held on to old tech far too long. Everyone else moved on to DOHC powertrains. GM stumbled through the 90s with problematic attempts at it, then gave up and reverted back to pushrods. Lame. As for the 3800, it had its vulnerability, too. They enjoy a reputation as bulletproof, but that's myth.
#NotAGMFan
@doug6191 They could hydrolock on the newer ones with a plastic intake. I love VQ engines personally..Especially the original ones.
@@autochatterI had the original 3.5 in my Infiniti FX and they def are awesome engines!
@95blahblahhaha 3.5s were good. Some had timing chain guides that wore out. My wife's Quest started sounding like it had a Supercharger towards the end because of that.
Down here in Miami I still see far more Second Generation Models more than I see third third or fourth generation That new chassie brought a lot of benefits But with it it brought some catastrophic problems suchjess weak head gaskets and bad automatic transmissions that usually were the went to scrap and Nissan's reputation has never recovered. The Nissan altima now takes the place of the subprime non-white market. A place once dominated by Kia and Hyundai known for being hot cheap and easy to finance but no or very poor resale value when compared 2 it's once equals Honda Accord and especially Toyota Camry.