I understand this is a TL forum, therefore your preference is the TL. I currently have a 99 Maxima SE. Happy with it, nothing wrong, but wouldn't mind a new toy. Am looking at the IS300, new Altima V6, Maxima (260hp 6 speed), and the A4.

TL and Maxima would have more room, and higher HP ratings.
A4 and IS300 handle better than all, but performance is weaker.
What do you know about reliability, handling, performance, and other criterias? I am looking for opinions, especially from people whom own a combination of the cars mentioned.

 

My friends have some of the stated cars and I've driven a couple of them. I personally LOVE the handling of the IS300. That car was the first RWD car I have ever driven and the experience is great. The engine is a little weak compared to the TL-S but its decent. So far my friend hasn't had any problems (only has like 5k on it tho) and no major recalls (she wasn't affected by the ECU TSB). IMO, the IS300 doesn't have as much value as the TL-S (fully loaded is around 35k) plus its got the natural rice look w/ the Altezza lights. The IS300 is flashy and a very good car handling wise.

I've driven the Audi 1.8T and the 2.8 Quattro. The 1.8T handles very well but is weak in the acceleration department. Also with a turbocharger it is much more prone to mechanical failure. The 2.8 Quattro is a great little car and handles like a dream. The 2.8 was the first AWD car I've driven and its a unique experience. It corners well and you almost never have to worry about chirping the tires. My friend has 25k on it and still going strong. Another of my friends has an S4 but I've never gotten to drive it (he doesn't let anybody touch it ). Its chipped and he as assorted other mods. It only has 15k on it but he already had the dreaded turbo failure. I'm not sure if its the car itself or the combination of chipping it + him driving his car REALLY hard.

I haven't driven the new Maxima (is it out yet?) or the new Alitma yet so I'll reserve judgement on those....

Of course the A4 and IS300 are pretty small compared to the TL-S. IMO horsepower ratings don't mean that much when comparing cars....if you're interested in buying don't rely on what others have told you; instead go test drive all of these cars....

 

Hey, just a quick vocabulary lesson....

Criteria is plural
Criterian is singular
There is no such word as criterias

Just thought you'd like to know.

Anyway, the Acura just has so many more features for the money than any of the others....you'd have to step way up in sticker price to get all of it on an Audi.

 

I work for GE Plastics-Automotive and I am a research slave and here is basically what I came up with (BTW, your choices are very similar to my choices...clearly an automotive expert!!! HA!) using test drives and the Transnational Platform Managers as a reference (for the cars that they have driven at the OEM's HQ-- that are not out yet).

A4: My favorite car in terms of handling and styling. Big problem with the A4 was the puny 1.8T for same cash or spend up to $35-$37K for 2.8 with moonroof, etc. I elected to keep the $5K-7K and get the 260 hp TL-S

IS300: Never could get comfortable in this car. Styling is great. As bioyuki pointed out...I love the Altezza refinements on this car (The Altezza is an Asian-only model). Handling was very good, the pickup was better than average, but less than the TL-S. Price wise...you know the difference...I just felt like the TL-S was a better value, but I could have been convinced...

Altima V6: The Altima will use the Maxima V6 next year (along with some styling improvements and a healthy kick up in price (estimated $5-8K for V6 version). What I have been told is that the styling is weak, the TL-S handles better and the hp is obviously different by about 40-60hp (depending on what Nissan can squeeze out of their V6. For the V6 loaded version it will hover around $28-$30K...so it would be a bit cheaper than TL-S, but not enough to convince me to wait

Maxima Sooped up (nomenclature not available yet): This is the TL-S/A4/IS300 fighter that Nissan has been working on, it will have around 245-270 hp at time of release and it will be a 6-speed with both manual and auto with tiptronic available. This car will be interesting to check out. Nissan's have always handled better than Honda (IMHO) and with equal hp under the hood, could be a dog fight. The problem is that I've been told interior room is still an issue and the price will end up around $32,500 for a comparably equiped car (w/o navi).

The two cars you did not mention that you might check out are the: Infiniti I30 touring model and the VM Passat. The I30 is more of an Cadillac-feeling performance car (fluffy seats, cool clock on dash...) and the Passat is a way of getting AWD and 2.8 with keeping the price down,

Good luck. Based on my above data (which of course could be totally different in 2 weeks--as the car OEM's are the most fickle, apt to change before launch industry in the world) I would still get the TL-S (bias!!!). I felt the combination of 260hp, basically zero options and a Honda-built engine...with a $30,500 price tag...SOLD!

 

Criterion.

 

I think the new alty V6 will be a 3.5L but I could be wrong

 

its the 3.5L
From its distinctive, modern headlights to its big aggressive wheels and low, powerful stance, the 2002 Nissan Altima has evolved. And when you get behind the wheel and turn the key, it won't take long to discover precisely what that evolution means to you. Just look at some of the preliminary specs:

• 240-hp 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC V6
• 180-hp 2.5-liter 16-valve DOHC 4-cylinder engine
• 16- or 17-inch wheels
• 4-speed automatic transmission with gate-type shifter
• Independent multi-link rear suspension
• Bose® audio system (standard on 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 SL, optional on 2.5 S and 3.5 SE models)
• Height-adjustable center console armrest
• Front seat side-impact air bags and front and rear inflatable head curtains (optional on all 2002 Nissan Altima models)
• Xenon headlights and dual exhaust (available on 2002 Nissan Altima 3.5 SE only)

 

Damn, Nissan really messed up the styling on that car. The front looks fine but dude, that rear is butt ugly...

 

Nissans don't have the greatest asses on their cars... Actually I think this is not that bad...

I wish they'd combine Nissan Front ends with Infiniti Rear ends---And I think teh grille on the new alty should have been ended one bar above what it is.
oh well

 

Yaah, that's an ugly butt.

 

Those Nissan stylists are pitiful. The new Altima's front end is UNIQUELY tasteless while the rear end is just a disgrace to the automotive design industry.