Picture Gallery: 2008 Nissan Altima Coupé | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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I haven’t driven a true coupe in a while; the last true coupĂ© (low-slung, two door and sporty) I tested was back in March of 2007 when I drove the BMW 335i. The first thing I noted when stepping into the driver’s seat of the Altima CoupĂ© was the low-slung seating position — very sports car-like.
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The Altima CoupĂ© comes standard in 2.5s trim with a 2.5-litre DOHC four-cylinder engine which produces 175hp and 180 lb-ft of torque. Then there is the 3.5SE, available with a 3.5-litre V6 engine producing 270hp and 258 lb-ft of torque — plenty enough to rip the wheel from your hands. Also standard on the 2.5s is a six-speed manual transmission, though my tester though is equipped with the optional CVT (continually variable transmission) with a 6-gear manual shift mode, for an extra $1200.
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Also added to my tester is the premium leather package, for $2500. This package seems like quite the deal, actually, adding leather seating surfaces, leather-wrapped gear shift, dual-zone climate control, auto dimming rearview mirror, Bose audio system with six-CD hanger and nine speakers. What is unfortunate is that you cannot seem to get the 2.5s with both the 6-speed manual and this great package — you must opt for the automatic transmission.
Of course, the Altima CoupĂ© comes with a ton of other standard features including: 4-wheel anti-lock brakes with EBD, 16″ aluminum alloy wheels, 8-way power driver’s seat, heated front seats, six airbags and the intelligent key with push-button ignition. Let me just say the intelligent key system and heated seats are two features you grow to love in the winter.
2008 Nissan Altima Coupé
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $32,923
For more information on Nissan and the Altima Coupé visit Nissan Canada
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Everytime I step into a Nissan they seemed to have improved the interior in some way and the 2008 Altima is no exception. A lot of the interior is covered in rubbery soft materials including: the dash, the centre console / arm rest and the door panels.
All the controls line up well and are easy to reach, a large storage compartment under the HVAC controls are big enough for my winter mitts and the glove-box is over sized enough for a computer keyboard.
Everything seems well laid out in the Altima except I’m not much of a fan of Nissan’s steering wheel controls. If it were up to me, I’d swap the channel switch with the volume button and it would be perfect. I’m also not a huge fan of a four spoke steering wheel on a car with sporting intentions.
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The adjustable steering column and 8-way power adjustable seat makes for a quick get-a-way when first entering the car, if multiple people drive the vehicle you will find it quick and easy to adjust the seating position. Being a coupé I find the seating to be more reclined and lower than the sedan which seems to reduce rear leg room.
Rear head room is typical coupĂ© not for people much taller than 5′ 10″ with the rear slopeing window. The rear seats do fold with a pull of a lever (and a little prod from the trunk) allowing for some good cargo space. The opening is not the full size of the trunk though so beware, long skinny objects will fit but some furniture from your favourite Swedish store may not.
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Everyone likes to read about the bad, so let’s start with the good. Road noise is nearly zero even with the winter tires (Continentals) fitted to my tester. The suspension seems a little soft and more like that of a grand tourer than a sports car; perhaps the V6 3.5SE model has a more sporty ride. The handling does seem very capable, and from the limited chances I have had to throw the Altima into a corner, the rear end feels very lively.
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Now the bad — the CVT tranmission makes driving in the snow a little, I’ll say, interesting. It took me awhile to figure out why I couldn’t sense the wheels were spinning until it dawned on me what was happening. The CVT transmission was shifting to keep the engine spinning at the same speed. The result? With no audible clue that the engine is speeding up without the car moving faster, you lose that intuitive sense of when the wheels are slipping.
And worse yet are the windshield washer nozzles, or more precisely, their location. Located under the hood below the wipers — right where all the ice and snow gathers up during the cold, snowy days of winter — they quickly become frozen and non-functioning. I had to chip away at the ice to find them at first. Great aesthetic design, but a bad functional design for the Canadian winter.
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When I first picked up my tester I was slightly disappointed that it didn’t have the 3.5-litre engine, but over the course of the week I didn’t miss it at all. The CVT transmission puts the engine in its ideal powerband, allowing for very quick acceleration from any speed.
Where the engine really impressed me was fuel consumption. Being extremely cold here in Ottawa, fuel consumption suffered at the start of the week, peaking at approximately 10.6L/100km, according to the online computer. After a few days of warmer temperatures I was able to get the computer read out down to 9.9L/100km and a fill-up at the pumps confirmed this number.
That’s pretty impressive; what’s more impressive is after resetting the system and heading out for a 40 km drive, I ended up with a reading of 8.0L/100km with the warmer temperatures. The published figures for fuel consumption on the Altima are 8.9/6.3 (city / highway) for the CVT equipped 2.5s.
With the Altima’s massive fuel reserves (76Liters), and if you are able to achieve the rated fuel economy on the highway (which may be possible on a warm day with a tail wind), you could travel over 1200km on a single tank. Wow!
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2008 Nissan Altima Coupé
MSRP as tested inc. destination & delivery: $32,923
For more information on Nissan and the Altima Coupé visit Nissan Canada
to our site.
January 07, 2008, 01:01:47 pm wot tha HELLS a "SEAN BROTHER???"..ya flew tha COOP
January 07, 2008, 03:45:19 pm
Sedan brother, methinks.
January 07, 2008, 04:54:02 pm Sean ALL is Fergivven!!!!...........
January 07, 2008, 06:12:00 pm
One too many Meisters in the Jaeger?
January 07, 2008, 06:15:52 pm
One too many Meisters in the Jaeger?
January 07, 2008, 07:34:31 pm OK, I gave the quick answer but I guess you're wondering exactly how that came about? Yeah I put the missing "D" in but a much more inventive way is the following bit of association:
How to go from the Accord Coupe to the Accord Sedan via "Sean Brother" (the hard way. the really really really hard way)
Accord Coupe
Sean Astin
Sean Bean
Mr. Bean
Coffee Bean
Beans 'N Franks
Frankincense
Frank's Place
Van's Place
Vanden plas
Jaguar Master
Jaeger Meister
Brau Meister
Saloon
Saloon Car
Sedan
I trust that all is now clear.
January 07, 2008, 08:02:41 pm My rates are reasonable. I think we should start with booking 10 sessions. PM me and we can get started - there is obviously NO time to waste.
January 07, 2008, 08:21:03 pm
Admit it: You're just jealous of my vast, many layered and far reaching intellect.
January 07, 2008, 09:09:47 pm
Admit it: You're just jealous of my vast, many layered and far reaching intellect.
OK, I admit it. BTW, I also treat delusions.
January 07, 2008, 09:21:48 pm Well done random.
January 07, 2008, 10:39:46 pm
Railton
January 08, 2008, 08:09:04 am
January 09, 2008, 06:35:11 am Now the bad — the CVT tranmission makes driving in the snow a little, I’ll say, interesting. It took me awhile to figure out why I couldn’t sense the wheels were spinning until it dawned on me what was happening. The CVT transmission was shifting to keep the engine spinning at the same speed. The result? With no audible clue that the engine is speeding up without the car moving faster, you lose that intuitive sense of when the wheels are slipping.
This is a major safety concern, sufficient to cause me to avoid purchasing the vehicle!
January 09, 2008, 09:16:37 am Ya lost me @ the SALOON......................Sean my Brother..... so it's an IRISH COUPE???.
January 09, 2008, 10:42:39 am
Well played.
January 09, 2008, 10:58:00 am
This is a major safety concern, sufficient to cause me to avoid purchasing the vehicle!
Note, if you really hammer it the engine will speed up, but in small cases you may miss it.
January 09, 2008, 11:10:31 am
Sounds like you are saying that CVT's are no good for Canadian winters. I wonder if all other CVT's are like that. I think it would be interesting to find out.
January 09, 2008, 12:58:02 pm This is the third winter I've had my CVT and have had NO problems with it.
January 09, 2008, 05:23:48 pm well Hammer OR whatever seems Nissan really NAILED their CVT..........and someone here said their "paddles" shifter on the new Rogue ?...is Very FINE........
January 09, 2008, 09:30:09 pm
To be fair, you also have a center differential.
January 09, 2008, 09:39:31 pm
How to go from the Accord Coupe to the Accord Sedan via "Sean Brother" (the hard way. the really really really hard way)
Accord Coupe
Sean Astin
Sean Bean
Mr. Bean
Coffee Bean
Beans 'N Franks
Frankincense
Frank's Place
Van's Place
Vanden plas
Jaguar Master
Jaeger Meister
Brau Meister
Saloon
Saloon Car
Sedan
I trust that all is now clear.
Honey, you have way, WAY too much facking time on your hands.
January 09, 2008, 11:04:17 pm
Honey, you have way, WAY too much facking time on your hands.
Thanks muchly.
Would you believe it took me 5 seconds to think of the idea and another 10 minutes assembling the actual links and so on? It was one of those serendipitous bits of inspiration, actually. As soon as I thought of the idea, I knew it had to be done. When the muse offers, the artist must accept. Art has its price, you know.
January 10, 2008, 01:26:56 pm last time it woz $29.99 behind WallyMart.......badda BONG.............
January 20, 2008, 01:59:38 pm
Sounds like one just needs to adjust their winter driving a bit to make up for the CVT's unique characteristics... once you've driven one in the snow for a while, I'm sure it will be just fine.
January 20, 2008, 04:04:12 pm
Honey, you have way, WAY too much facking time on your hands.
Thanks muchly.
Would you believe it took me 5 seconds to think of the idea and another 10 minutes assembling the actual links and so on? It was one of those serendipitous bits of inspiration, actually. As soon as I thought of the idea, I knew it had to be done. When the muse offers, the artist must accept. Art has its price, you know.
Way too much time to burn!
Why don't you start a website game like that, called "Random-Connections.com"
Get 10,000,000 hits a day and sell it to Google.
After you make your first million, remember to buy me a new car!