Honda Accord vs Nissan Altima

Replying to: madpistol (Jun 15, 2008 6:40 pm)

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• madpistol (Jun 15, 2008 8:04 pm)

Replying to: lilengineerboy (Jun 15, 2008 8:00 pm)

Replying to: elroy5 (Jun 15, 2008 5:45 pm)

This grad almost ended up in a Civic EX, but my grandmother (who is retired comfortably) decided she wanted to help out, and allow me to have a larger car, and paid the difference in a Civic EX and an Accord EX. She puts about 3,000 miles a year on her car tops, so she'll probably never buy a new one. Actually, she is who gave me my 1996 Accord that had 125k miles on it. She's never sold a car in her life, she just gives them away to relatives.
 
At 6 foot 5 inches tall, I'm most grateful that she put forth the extra money to move up to a midsize car. I may be in a grandpa car, but it sure has been nice on all my trips. I travel a good bit (my folks used to live 12 hours away, now they live 5 hours away on the Alabama gulf coast - I'm in Birmingham), and having the extra power of the 2.4L over the 1.8, as well as the extra room, while not paying much of a mileage penalty, is fantastic.
 
And, I sure wouldn't have a four-door; way too impractical for me. Besides, I think the 4-door is pretty good-looking (better than the 08s by a wide margin), and my best friends love taking my car when we go somewhere together (coming from a Mazda 3i, a 2003 Mitsu Eclipse GS, and an Acura 3.2 CL). Yeah, I end up driving more than they do, but that's ok. I trust my driving more than theirs (I'm the only one out of all of them who hasn't had a wreck that I caused, knock on wood).

Replies to this message:
• madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 10:14 am)
  • thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 10:53 am)
    • madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 11:02 am) and 1 more...

Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 6:38 am)

Imagine that... I'm from the Birmingham area too!!! However, I'm Jacksonville State University working on a degree in Music Education currently. I do have several friends UAB. You probably wouldn't know them though. It's a pretty big school.
 
Anyway, enjoy that Accord. It's a very nice ride.

Replies to this message:
• thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 10:53 am)
  • madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 11:02 am)
    • thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 11:10 am)

Replying to: madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 10:14 am)

Replies to this message:
• madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 11:02 am)
  • thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 11:10 am)

Replying to: thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 10:53 am)

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• thegraduate (Jun 16, 2008 11:10 am)

Replying to: madpistol (Jun 16, 2008 11:02 am)

Well, MSU is the meteorology part of my job (I'll have the broadcasting part from UAB), but it is a very good school, and quite different from being in the middle of Birmingham!
 
I wish you the best in teaching HS Band; it's a tough job!
 
TheGraduate
PGHS '05

I want to trade in my Navigator and am looking at sedans. I took a test drive with the Altima 2.5 (looking to go from 8 cylinders to 4 for better fuel efficiency). I intend to test drive an Accord today. I love the LOOK of the Nissan, but am willing to test drive the accord because I used to own an accord and they make great cars.
 
My question to this group is maint. and repair? I know from previous ownership that the Accord runs like a clock. Never was it in the shop for anything major. Just oil changes and tires .... the normal stuff. I am wondering about the Altima. We have a 2001 Infiniti (basically Nissan) that has 188,000 miles and runs great. But, that vehicle was made in Japan. Now a days .... I don't know if the Nissans are really made in Japan.
 
All I know is my 2003 Navigator has cost my tons on $$ on maitenance. I had a warranty that took me to 75,000 miles so the repairs before then were more of a nuisance than a cost problem. But, after the 75,000 miles I have put over $5,000
into the Lincoln and it only has 96,0000 miles. Way to much in my opinion.
 
So, I want my next car to be QUALITY. Any opinions on this subject?
 
Thanks,
Laurie

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• jd10013 (Jun 18, 2008 2:09 pm)

Okay, I gave a test drive to the Honda Accord '08 EXL. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. My first surprise was to see only a 3 star rating on side rear impact while the '08 Civic had 5 stars in all categories.
 
Next disappointment was that the Navigation system did not have a back up camera like so many other new vehicles that I have taken for a test drive. Also, not even a back up audible sensor. Another surprise.
 
The one plus I saw was the 100,000 miles of maintenance free service. Only needs to do oil changes, air filter, and tires. That looked good, but I guess I am ruling the Accord out based on how I felt drving it. I wasn't "wow"ed.
 
I next went and test drove the Acura TL, but that is for a different forum.
I do give that a thumbs up
 
Now, I am going back to the Nissan dealership to test drive the Altima again. I am refining my search ....
 
Laurie

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• jam1kj (Aug 01, 2008 10:17 pm)

Replying to: wyngator (Jun 18, 2008 4:29 am)