Article Comments - 2008 Honda Accord Coupe vs. 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe

61 messages, Last post on Feb 05, 2008 at 11:05 PM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Accord, Nissan Altima, Car Comparisons, Coupe

Comparison Test: 2008 Honda Accord Coupe vs. 2008 Nissan Altima Coupe - The 3.5-liter SOHC V6 in the Accord produces 268 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, while the 3.5-liter DOHC V6 under the Altima's hood is good for 270 hp at 6,000 rpm. Despite the edge in torque output that the Nissan V6's 258 pound-feet has over the Honda's 248 lb-ft, the Accord feels as if it is the twist-meister here. (more)

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#6 of 61 Get your hearing checked! VQ35 does NOT = refinement! by hondacura4 Nov 13, 2007 (3:25 pm)
Im also a bit curious about the refinement comparison between the J-series Honda V6s and the Nissan VQ35s. With the exception of the older VQ30, I have yet to drove any recent Nissan or Infiniti product with the VQ series V6 that was smoother or more refined than ANY J-series from Honda. To date every VQ35 powered car Ive driven more or less had that same grainy/gritty tone to it. But it seems like the transversly mounted V6s are worse than the logitudinally mounted VQ's with the most refined one coming from the M35. My curiosity also coincides with Edmunds own conclusions as the Nissan Altima 3.5 SE coupe tested was no where near the Honda Accord EX-L V6 in the refinement department. Replies to this message: robertsmx (Nov 13, 2007 3:34 pm)
#7 of 61 Re: Get your hearing checked! VQ35 does NOT = refinement! [hondacura4] by robertsmx Nov 13, 2007 (3:34 pm)
Replying to: hondacura4 (Nov 13, 2007 3:25 pm) In my opinion, transversely mounted VQ35 (limited experience) does better than longitudinally mounted VQ35 (as in G35, extensive experience) in terms of smoothness. And neither match to comparable Honda V6. It does surprise me that Edmunds reviewers were surprised at that fact when it hasn't been a secret, at least since the VQ30 departed and 2003+ version of J-series V6 from Honda came around. It is better in M35, but then RL has it better in that class.
#8 of 61 Good lord! by fxguy Nov 13, 2007 (4:43 pm)
Wow, Nissan took a beating on this one! Replies to this message: icecubefosho (Nov 13, 2007 4:56 pm) elroy5 (Nov 13, 2007 5:13 pm)
#9 of 61 Wow? by icecubefosho Nov 13, 2007 (4:56 pm)
Replying to: fxguy (Nov 13, 2007 4:43 pm) Does anybody else find this review to be biased? The original Altima Coupe had a pretty decent Full Test, and now this review bashes the heck out of it? I never drove the Coupe, but I did test the sedan, and it was a very nice car Another thing, The Accord Coupe just looks like the 2 door civic from the back, just more angular and different tail lights. Its not a good idea to make your two coupes look so simillar. The only thing I like in the Accord is the Front, which is very muscular looking, and its not Japanese styled, reminds me of muscle cars. The Interior looks like the Civic, minus the blue screen, and added in some more buttons. Overall I don't find it to be much of a difference from the Civic, aside from the obvious. The VQ35 Engines are nice, but I don't care for CVT, I prefer stick shifts over em. And the Nissan Moustache looks pretty agressive and eye catching to me but heres my main question Why spend $30K on these cars, when you can get better used Acuras or Infinitis for close to the same price? The two brands are reliable, and they are no doubt better speedwise, and lookswise. Honestly, if you can find a good low mileage vehicle for around $29K, why buy one of these cars brand new? Replies to this message: elroy5 (Nov 13, 2007 5:13 pm)
#10 of 61 Re: Wow? [icecubefosho] by elroy5 Nov 13, 2007 (5:13 pm)
Replying to: icecubefosho (Nov 13, 2007 4:56 pm) Does anybody else find this review to be biased? Can't one car just be better than the other, without the tester being biased? Nissans have never been stellar in the manual transmission department, so that's nothing new. I did expect the VQ to do better in the performance category, but Honda has always been a few hp less, and still able to keep pace. The transmissions were probably the main difference. I think Nissan just didn't put forth the effort necessary with the coupe, and it showed in the test.
#11 of 61 Closer than you thnk. by jaeger1 Nov 14, 2007 (11:44 am)
Funny how this battered, falling-apart "Friday" Altima managed to match the Accord in nearly every measured performance test. Interesting also that the Accord Coupe - with its 18" wheels and tires and sports suspension - couldn't match the slalom speed measured by Edmunds in their test of the Altima Sedan some months earlier. Also of interest is the fact that while the subjective handling rating of the Acccord Coupe (GOOD) bested that of the Altima Coupe (GOOD), it again falls behind that of the Altima Sedan (EXCELLENT). I don't find the review biased (though I do wonder of about where the author obtained his deeply disturbing frame of reference in describing the Altima shifter). There was clearly something (many things?) not up to par with the test Altima Coupe - that happens - and the reviewers made it known. Overall, a balanced review with no real surprises.
#12 of 61 Re: Head to Head [plee50] by bv050506 Nov 14, 2007 (1:00 pm)
Replying to: plee50 (Nov 13, 2007 2:59 pm) You wrote a very well written article on the subject. I have a '07 V6 SE sedan with the CVT tranny. I can tell you the coupe would have done much better had they compared automatics. The six speed Nissan is not a great feel nor fit for the coupe. The CVT makes this car in my opinion. It is seemless and smooth, and has faired better than the Aura XR and Accord V6's in a recent southwest desert comparo. 2 of the 3 testers picked the '07 Altima over the '08 Accord, siting the smoothness of the engine, quick acceleration, and superb handling. In sedan form, it is quicker by a smidgin to the Accord. But this forum is on the coupe and there the Honda gets the edge for sure. Regards
#13 of 61 Re: Affect on Sales . . . [bug4] by oldfarmer50 Nov 14, 2007 (4:25 pm)
Replying to: bug4 (Nov 13, 2007 8:30 am) "...I wonder if a scathing negative article like that will affect sales..." Just take a look at what the Consumer Reports bashing of the Mitsubishi Eclipse did to sales of that car. I bet they will be offering $2000 rebates on the Altima by Christmas. Speaking of Eclipse. One of the car mags did a comparison of Eclipse and Altima recently. They liked the Eclipse better. EDIT: Ok, I looked it up. Road and Track. Replies to this message: rumans (Nov 16, 2007 10:33 am) bristol2 (Nov 16, 2007 10:55 am) thegraduate (Nov 17, 2007 6:09 am) rumans (Nov 19, 2007 4:41 am) oldfarmer50 (Nov 22, 2007 5:00 pm) jd10013 (Nov 22, 2007 7:07 pm) jd10013 (Nov 16, 2007 3:46 pm)
#14 of 61 My 5 cents by zheka Nov 14, 2007 (8:26 pm)
Most of the cars I owned were Nissan sedans (currently: '97 Maxima SE and '01 Altima SE), as I always found them sportier and handling somewhat better than comparable Hondas and Toyotas. What Nissan was always lacking, is the refinement of manual shifting. I test drove '05 Altima V6 about year and a half ago, and thought it was ok overall, but the clutch pedal and shifter felt vague, reminding me of my '97 Maxima. The engine sounded unpleasant above 5k RPM, which deducted from the fun factor for me. At the same time, I drove '05 Accord V6 manual that a friend of mine owns, and found myself liking the shifting much more. Thus, I decided to hold off on the Altima purchase until a '07 redesign, hoping that Nissan would do something to the manual drivetrain, to at least shorten the growing gap in shifting quality. I did test drive an '07 a couple of months ago, and had the same feeling about shifting as in '05. The '07 did look better and had less torque steer. This review just confirmed for me that Nissan did not do much R&D on the manual gearbox. Should I be thinking of moving to Honda camp? Replies to this message: viet (Nov 14, 2007 9:05 pm) andres3 (Nov 22, 2007 1:27 pm) thegraduate (Nov 22, 2007 8:51 pm) jd10013 (Nov 23, 2007 5:21 am) andres3 (Nov 26, 2007 2:08 pm) and 7 more...
#15 of 61 Re: My 5 cents [zheka] by viet Nov 14, 2007 (9:05 pm)
Replying to: zheka (Nov 14, 2007 8:26 pm) Honda's MT shifts like butter even with cheap Civic.