CLS16

Well, a friend of mine bought a new altima about 2 months ago and we didn't get to race until last night. We did this on the parkway with minimum amount of cars on the road.
Basically we were even till about 80mph, and then he started pulling on me around 95mph, and after that it wasn't even a competition he just kept pulling and pulling. Our 4th gear sucks so bad!!! He told me he hit 130pmh, and I didn't even get passed 115mph before I shut it down and realized I lost. Well it was an experience and now I know not to go up against them on the highway.

drewha174

Was his car 5 speed manual transmission??

Nashua_Night_Hawk

They got lower weight-to-power ratio:

Altima:
3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6 engine (premium fuel recommended)
240 hp @ 5,800 rpm
246 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm

Assume a 15% loss, dyno numbers should be aound 204. I saw dyno for both Altima and Maxima and they had more.. Some 215 HP to the wheels.

Curb Weight is just 3178lb. So effective lbs/HP is 14.78.


Compare this to 200 WHP and 3550 lb for the CLS. So, the CLS ratio would be 17.75.

From those number alone I can say that the Altima is at least 0.5s faster to 1/4 miles than the CLS. The auto CLS should dyno at 240 HP ( i.e. with headers and CAI ) just to hang with the Altima. And since 4th and 5th of the CLS are overdrive races should be up rto 110 MPH.

CLS16

Yeah it's a manual transmission. I couldn't believe how that thing hauled ass...I actually so him hit it, and the thing just took of and we were going 80mph already. I didn't know they were that quick.

Pull_T

I've started to see a lot of Altimas around here. Nice looking cars, IMO.

drewha174

Would you trade your car in for it?

CLS16

No, cause when my lease is up, I'm most likely going to get the 350Z or an M3. But for $25K, that car is not bad at all!

drewha174

I was at one point going to trade my CL for this but I just don't know? Acura makes great cars.

YBlegal

its not how fast you are... its all about image!!

a girl askes you What kinda Car you have???

oh I have ACURA CL!!!

oh.... i have nissan altima....

now which soulds better!!

im not saying its a bad car.. but its just the image.. if it was Infinity.. maybe different story...

moomaster_99

Hmmm...not saying that the new Altimas arent fast...but at 80-110....there are very few cars that can pull on the CL-S, at least with headers...
But even without them....you should have been competitive up to that point.

CLS16

Yeah I don't have headers, and I really thought that I would be the one pulling away, but that wasn't the case. His car is not modded at all. Trust me when I tell you that the 5spd Altimas are pretty darn quick, and maybe I have a slow CL-S, but in either case he still beat me.

Dom418

Altima is a nice looking ride, and I'm sure it's quick... but have you seen the interior??? It's downright Nasty!!. I sat in a loaded V6, leather, navi, all the toys, $29K sticker and the interior looked like a Cavalier!!
The inside looks sooooo cheap, I was actually offended!! That's why I would never trade for one....

CL_Terminator

Get you A Legend Dogg... The name says it all.

Allerick B.

CL_Terminator

I seriously doubt it. 4th and 5th gear in your CL's aren't worth piss. I could outrun a CL or any in comparable car in my 3rd gear with at top speed of 125. Yes your CL-S might have more power and torque than my Legend. But all that power/torque and then some, goes to waste in that automatic tranny.

Allerick B.

cnatra

Altima has a great chassis, great powertrain & looks
darn good on the outside BUT man the interior SUX!

I wonder how the '03 Maxima will look.

Our cars are ruined above 110mph with that CRAPPY 4th
gear ratio!!

I think through 110mph we can hang with a lot of cars
but then that shift to 4th & we're toast!


I was at a stop light the other day with a late model
Mustank convertible & I was anticipating him getting on
it so I was in D1 with VSA off & when the light went green
we both hit it & we where neck & neck to 60mph. We had to
back off then for traffic but I think he was surprised.
Probably a 4spd auto but still, he didn't walk away from me!

bigbadboss101

Haha, not true. The girl will say, you have an Altima? Smart man!! You can use the extra $5,000 and get me a nicer diamond ring. Not to mention a few pairs of bumps, and some Fruit and Passion.

dajuice27

SHIT!!!!!

You tell that trick to go and get her a job so she can buy her own shit! I ain't yo' daddy! Tell her you have DEEZ NUTZZ and bubble gum for her ass and you are fresh outta gum!

I'll get her ass a diamond ring, but it won't be 5K, you better go at cost and go overseas to get a ring if you plan on paying that much.

99CL2.3

Dom, I couldn't agree with you more on the interior of the Altima. I went to test drive it and the whole I though to myself, "With this crappy interior, I would have to kick my OWN ass."

Also, premium fuel is not only recommended, it is a must. Same with the Maximas. Those new motors run at somewhere around 10.5:1 compression. That rules out nitrous and turbo/superchargers entirely. Granted, the put out 240 in the Altima and 255 in the Maxima, but I can't see much in the aftermarket department for these motors. Other than intake, header and exhaust, your options are limited unless you want to dive into the bottom end.

BigPimp

CLS16: Did you downshift to 3rd? as that is the gear you want to be in when racing anything. If you altima took you from 80 its because you did something that downplayed your CLS. Altimas are quick, but not that quick.

CLS16

I tried downshifting to 3rd when I was at 90mph, but it wouldn't let me, it would just blink on 3rd and go back to 4th gear. What is our top speed in 3rd gear?

EricL

I've had the car at around 112 - 114MPH in 3rd. It does make a BIG difference having the car hit the limiter in 3rd, THEN getting into 4th (the headers, light wheels, and intake help a lot too...)

If you have to pull 4th from 80 up -- forget about it -- you're dead meat...

CLS16

Wow, 114mph!!?? Man, now I know why I lost! But I don't understand why I couldn't shift into 3rd gear then

Dom418

Glad you agree with me.... I still can't get over how cheap the inside looks... all that plain plastic. What the hell were they thinking!!?? It reminded me of an American car

EricL

It's our "Big Brother" computer not letting you back into 3rd gear...

Once you get into 4th, you have to drop the speed back to around 80-85MPH (depends) to get it back into 3rd. The idea is to be careful and use SS to keep the car in 2nd until 68-72MPH, and then keep the car in 3rd until just before fuel cut-off.

Sometimes, you can tap the brake to "help" the car get into 3rd from 4th, but...

The other thing to consider -- the torque peaks with headers at around 6000+ rpm, and keeps delivering good power up to the 7200 fuel cut-off. The stock setup, probably wants to get shifted closer to redline (6800-6900) -- there is lag with SS, so it takes a while to get the bloody thing to shift and I've got to hit the SS at 6900, to get the car to miss the 7200 fuel cut-off.

Some times, the anticipation of having a good/fast manual will make for a "double pump" on the SS from 2nd and that will dump it into 4th (I've done it...)

99CL2.3

I did a lot of research on the car before I actually went to test drive it. Needless to say, I wasted my time. I almost puked when the guy opened the door to show me the "luxurious leather interior"

Gabo3k

I personally don't think the Altima can pull like that.

Yes, I agree with most here, the interior suuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks!

I actually openned the ash tray between the center console, for the back seat passangers and ended up fucking up the whole dorr assembly.

Very cheap materials, bad designs all around, and bad assembly!

Good motor though!

ThoroDredCLS

Exactly EricL!

YOU shouldn't try to race the VQ boys in 4th gear on the highway! If you are doing a highway race make sure you are in third or b4 racing drop it into 3rd. That was ludicrous to race those cars in 4th gear! When i raced the altima guy back in november - december?? I had the car in 3rd the whole time. YOU shouldn't be racing the cls past 100 anyway, the gearing wasn't intended for that! I didn't loose to the altima when i raced (search for my post) and I pulled on him in 3rd to about 110, then i shut it down. They can do what they want from there, but race is over for me. Next time cheat! Slow down, until you are able to shift into 3rd and it's all over! Headers WILL help! I don't have any and i do just find! :P

BIGPOPPA21

at 90mph to down shift to third you gotta let off the gas for a sec to drop the revs.

BigPimp

Exactly

Ok CLS16, now we know the answer to the Altima puzzle. CLS will be easily beat in 4th, in 3rd, it whole other story.

CLS16

Alright guys, I'm going to try this one out again, and I'm going to make sure that my POS stays in 3rd gear so I don't get my ass handed to me again. I'll let you guys know what happens.

mattg

sorry, you can't get a loaded 3.5 altima w/ a manual for 25k. i looked at 1 that was an auto and it was like 29k + $3995 dealer markup. much rather have the max for that price.

LuxSport

The Altima V6 5spd does 0-60 in 5.9 sec and the 1/4 mile in 14.4sec. I don't any Honda can match or beat that accept a 90k+ NSX.

Mike

a well driven s2k will run better those numbers. what's your ride?? post a pic.

LuxSport

I forgot about the S2000. It can beat those times, but I have seen a S2000 lose twice to a Atly 5spd, only because the driver didn't fully abuse the S2000.


http://www.spotlife.com/users2/clyons17/webalbum/

Mike

it's all about the driver. your link doesn't work.

LuxSport

My pics

Try that.

CLS16

You actually can get a loaded V6 5spd Altima for about $25K. They're not marked up $4K around here. You can get them close to invoice. The 5spd's are cheaper than the autos.

GoldieAlek

man got a point ! girls dont know difference motors and all that stuff ................... all they know
ACURA ( she is thinking dude got some $$$$$$)
altima ( she is thinking i better go before my friends see me with this dork ) ahahahahahahahah

ATLcl98

Went and test drove the 5spd Altima and I'd have to say the same thing as well (other than the fact no one mentioned the free kenneth cole watch). The interior is mad weak, especially the flat black plastic. The seats aren't very supportive...no lumbar either. I enjoyed the cloth seats of the Sentra SE-R Spec V more than the Altimas. Flat out though, the Altima can fly...I enjoyed the ride, and though the interior is weak, if I was in the market for a 4 door family sedan in that price range, I'd take it over a boring Camry or a played out Accord, since both lack its power, the optional 5speed, and the xenons

SundanceCLS

Im glad some people in here realized a few importantthings:
a 5spd man Altima cannot be compared to a 5spd auto CL-S!?
if they both were manually equipped (or the CLS was a new 03 6spd man!) thered once again NO question whatosoever..

then the questions would again go to:
Build Quality
Materials Quality
Durability
Look & Feel
panache
Brand awareness
Service (Roadside Asst, Warranty, etc)
and the list goes on..(and on)..

and true, a loaded up 3.5SE altima will scratch 30 grand!
LOOK inside this car - ugh - it is mde to look good and have good guts, but its dressed and sent out to school in KMart and FauxFurnishings!

a friend bought an 02 auto altima for over 28k and i got my certified pre-owned 01 CLS for under 25 with 7k miles!
shes no racer, but id LOVE to drag our cars!