Nissan Altima Drivers

[Chrysler375Freeway]

I was passed by a Nissan Altima driver that was easily going at least 20 over the speed limit on my way home from dinner with my significant other, and the Altima had significant front end damage. This begs the question: what is the deal with Altimas and their drivers? A lot I see have heavy damage, or are otherwise damaged, and their drivers are known for reckless driving, expired registration, and being uninsured, as well as having no regard for traffic laws, often speeding, passing without signaling, cutting off drivers, running red lights or stop signs, and even going as far as initiating road rage. There's even an entire Facebook page dedicated to "Big Altima Energy," poking fun at the worst kind of Altima drivers. It leaves me asking what the deal is with Altimas and their drivers after this encounter. I don't see this with other vehicles similar to the Altima, such as the Camry, Fusion or Accord.

EDIT: I also see repo lots filled with Altimas.

[LilianaUwU]

The Nissan Altima is strictly reserved for drivers above a certain threshold of reckless driving charges. You're straight up not allowed to buy one if you're below that threshold.

[Chrysler375Freeway]

The Nissan Altima is strictly reserved for drivers above a certain threshold of reckless driving charges. You're straight up not allowed to buy one if you're below that threshold.

Also a factor: Nissan dealers will sell Altimas to anyone regardless of credit score. Likely explains why repo lots are filled with Altimas.

[Max Rockatansky]

This thread is BAE.

The IT service guy for our area is notorious cheapskate who bragged for several months about the deal he got on his blue 2022 Altima.  Now that he has had to deal with build quality issues and used car maintenance items the tune has changed.  He's even trying apparently pursue some sort of action to get the car declared a lemon (I doubt he will succeed). 

Unfortunately for him the grating personality he carries has annoyed everyone in our administration.   To that end finding a sympathetic ear has been an issue and the term Big Altima Energy is being whispered behind his back. 

[Chrysler375Freeway]

I know that I passed on a 2016 Nissan Altima in favor of my 2016 Ford Escape due to the known CVT issues the Altima and many Nissans alike share. Another thing is that Altima drivers have terrible credit, and salespeople seem to push Altima buyers into 84-96 month car loans. Subprime loans with high interest, at that. In 2023, the IIHS and associated Highway Loss Data Institute put the Altima high when it comes to driver death rates, ranking it ninth out of 21 2020 and earlier cars from 2018-21, also making it the worst when it came to driver death rates in the midsize car class.

[GaryV]

It's people who can't spell. They thought Altima means Ultima, and that means The Ultimate Driving Machine. So they intend to prove it regularly.

[Max Rockatansky]

The name Altima was first used as a trim level during the 1980s.  Maybe it is spelled the way it is to avoid confusion with the Ultima game series?

[Chrysler375Freeway]

It's people who can't spell. They thought Altima means Ultima, and that means The Ultimate Driving Machine. So they intend to prove it regularly.

That would make sense, as Altima drivers often compete with BMW drivers for worst drivers on the road.

[JayhawkCO]

I don't remember the last time I noticed an Altima. Very nondescript car and sedans are definitely in the minority here anyway.

[RobbieL2415]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

[Chrysler375Freeway]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

And as I mentioned before, Nissan will approve essentially anyone. And another thing I see about Altimas: they're very popular in states like Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, and the South in general, although not as popular as trucks.

[epzik8]

I don't remember the last time I noticed an Altima. Very nondescript car and sedans are definitely in the minority here anyway.

"Nondescript" describes 95% of consumer vehicles nowadays.

[Max Rockatansky]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

[Stephane Dumas]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

And to think there was a time when even some basic cars have some charism like the old VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV, the original Fiat 500, Austin Mini,...

[Max Rockatansky]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

And to think there was a time when even some basic cars have some charism like the old VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV, the original Fiat 500, Austin Mini,...

And I'd argue that their disappearance has allowed the subpar Altima to flourish.  The line is being discontinued despite somewhat strong sales.

[Chrysler375Freeway]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

And to think there was a time when even some basic cars have some charism like the old VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV, the original Fiat 500, Austin Mini,...

And I'd argue that their disappearance has allowed the subpar Altima to flourish.  The line is being discontinued despite somewhat strong sales.

Something tells me the sales of models like the Rogue have cannibalized the Altima, even though the Rogue has no more real interior room than a Camry, Fusion or Altima, and has no real better braking capabilities.

[SectorZ]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

And to think there was a time when even some basic cars have some charism like the old VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV, the original Fiat 500, Austin Mini,...

And I'd argue that their disappearance has allowed the subpar Altima to flourish.  The line is being discontinued despite somewhat strong sales.

Something tells me the sales of models like the Rogue have cannibalized the Altima, even though the Rogue has no more real interior room than a Camry, Fusion or Altima, and have no real better braking capabilities.

The commercials for the Rogue last year, showing the people ready to back into things and the car stopping for them, seemed to indicate they were targeting the avg. Altima driver.

[algorerhythms]

I don't remember the last time I noticed an Altima. Very nondescript car and sedans are definitely in the minority here anyway.

"Nondescript" describes 95% of consumer vehicles nowadays.

You can have an SUV or a pickup truck, and they come in black or white. I don't know how people cope with all the variety available today.

[SectorZ]

I don't remember the last time I noticed an Altima. Very nondescript car and sedans are definitely in the minority here anyway.

"Nondescript" describes 95% of consumer vehicles nowadays.

You can have an SUV or a pickup truck, and they come in black or white. I don't know how people cope with all the variety available today.

Come on, we have the third color now, clay. Progress!

[Chrysler375Freeway]

Altima is the every-person's car. So bland and generic, they just give them away.

Cheap-person's version of the basic car.

And to think there was a time when even some basic cars have some charism like the old VW Beetle, Citroen 2CV, the original Fiat 500, Austin Mini,...

And I'd argue that their disappearance has allowed the subpar Altima to flourish.  The line is being discontinued despite somewhat strong sales.

Something tells me the sales of models like the Rogue have cannibalized the Altima, even though the Rogue has no more real interior room than a Camry, Fusion or Altima, and have no real better braking capabilities.

Some have speculated that the natural evolution of the Altima driver is from Altima to V6-powered Dodge Charger, even going as far as to call the Chrysler LX platform vehicles, Magnum, Charger, 300 and Challenger, the final form of the Altima.

[Kulerage]

You'll soon realize it's just Nissans in general. They're notorious for financing cars to literally anyone as long as they have a pulse, and as a result tend to be the vehicles owned by those who just don't care. The Altima is just the biggest offender because it's almost the Goldilox of Nissans, not too small, not too big, but just right.

[Max Rockatansky]

I think the only Nissan I've ever gave somewhat serious consideration to buying was the stripped down version of the Versa that was under 10k new.  That at least had a manual transmission which avoided the infamous Nissan CVT issues.  What appealed to me was the lack of options like roll up windows, I guess it seemed quaint.  I decided that I didn't need to be that level of cheap though and went with a Chevy Sonic.

[algorerhythms]

I'm really not picky. My criteria for a car is: does it get my ass (and occasionally a few items and maybe someone else's ass) from point A to point B (and occasionally point C) cheaply and reliably?

So, when I was looking for a car back in 2015, I ended up getting a manual transmission Chevy Spark, and I don't regret the choice. It's held up well, and I paid $11,500 for it new. Its 0-60 time is "relax, it'll get there eventually" (sometimes to the rage of the driver behind me) but I don't give a damn. It meets my requirements.

I haven't really been paying attention to what Nissan is putting out lately, but for my next car, if that's what would meet my requirements, then why not?

[Henry]

And you always wonder why Honda and Toyota continue to run circles around them...though it's very clear to see.

[Max Rockatansky]

^^^

Was Nissan (or Datsun) really ever actually competitive with either of them though?  Nissan always seemed like the jank choice out of the Japanese car brands that one would get on cheap (or for the Z car). 

I'm really not picky. My criteria for a car is: does it get my ass (and occasionally a few items and maybe someone else's ass) from point A to point B (and occasionally point C) cheaply and reliably?

So, when I was looking for a car back in 2015, I ended up getting a manual transmission Chevy Spark, and I don't regret the choice. It's held up well, and I paid $11,500 for it new. Its 0-60 time is "relax, it'll get there eventually" (sometimes to the rage of the driver behind me) but I don't give a damn. It meets my requirements.

I haven't really been paying attention to what Nissan is putting out lately, but for my next car, if that's what would meet my requirements, then why not?

The Spark is what I should have gotten.  The census long term seems to be it was superior to the Sonic.