Raced a new Altima 3.5
07-20-2003, 09:49 PM
#1
Three Wheelin'
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Raced a new Altima 3.5
I don't know much about the new Altima, all I saw was that it had a 3.5 on it, maybe an SE as well.
Anyhow, I was driving back from a camping trip with two girls in the car and a trunk full of camping stuff. I was on the 241 which has almost no traffic on it whatsoever. I think I passed maybe 10 cars total the whole time I was on that stretch. We were going about 80 and he was in the lane to my left, about five car lengths behind. I merged to the left to pass a slower car.
As soon as I got into the Altima's lane, I saw him start to pull up. I went to SS and shifted into 4th, but he kept pulling on me. In fact, he started tailgating me at 100 :wow:. At about 120, I decided it was a bit too fast for my and my passengers' tastes and decided to merge right. The guy in the Altima continue to pull and took off. That's where I saw the 3.5, the dealer plates, and that he was the only one in the car.
In any case, I had three people and about 200 lbs of luggage in the trunk and rear seat; plus, he had the jump on me. Had this been a launch from a stop, and had I been the only one in the car, who would've won?
Anyhow, I was driving back from a camping trip with two girls in the car and a trunk full of camping stuff. I was on the 241 which has almost no traffic on it whatsoever. I think I passed maybe 10 cars total the whole time I was on that stretch. We were going about 80 and he was in the lane to my left, about five car lengths behind. I merged to the left to pass a slower car.
As soon as I got into the Altima's lane, I saw him start to pull up. I went to SS and shifted into 4th, but he kept pulling on me. In fact, he started tailgating me at 100 :wow:. At about 120, I decided it was a bit too fast for my and my passengers' tastes and decided to merge right. The guy in the Altima continue to pull and took off. That's where I saw the 3.5, the dealer plates, and that he was the only one in the car.
In any case, I had three people and about 200 lbs of luggage in the trunk and rear seat; plus, he had the jump on me. Had this been a launch from a stop, and had I been the only one in the car, who would've won?
07-20-2003, 09:58 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
Well the Altima is a pretty quick car, but you gotta remember he only has 240HP under the hood. And if you guys were going that fast, then chances are you were revving arounds the 5-6k range, which means you were well into the HP range. So in that case if your car was empty, you would have probably smoked him. What you can do next time is slow the car down to about 95MPH, then floor it in 3rd gear, then when you redline in SS mode at about 105MPH, you then gear to 4th, which gives you a lot more momentum to go faster and get to the speed you wanna be a lot quicker, you may have beaten him had you done that.
In any case, if it was car vs car and you had the same weight as him, you should blow past him.
Hope this helps.
In any case, if it was car vs car and you had the same weight as him, you should blow past him.
Hope this helps.
07-21-2003, 12:21 AM
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I dunno man, there pretty quick.
i used to live in a Nissan house until my dad bought his TL, and ive driven just about every car from 99'-up and the altima goes!!!!
you can feel every inch of the 246ft/lbs.
They weigh less, as far as im concerned they are a pretty damn good bang for your buck, there 240hp 246tq 3226lbs fully loaded here they cost around $31,000 and they run a 14.1 1/4, not bad for a frumpy looking family sedan in my opinion.
i used to live in a Nissan house until my dad bought his TL, and ive driven just about every car from 99'-up and the altima goes!!!!
you can feel every inch of the 246ft/lbs.
They weigh less, as far as im concerned they are a pretty damn good bang for your buck, there 240hp 246tq 3226lbs fully loaded here they cost around $31,000 and they run a 14.1 1/4, not bad for a frumpy looking family sedan in my opinion.
07-21-2003, 06:29 AM
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Originally posted by ecstasy_civic
I dunno man, there pretty quick.
i used to live in a Nissan house until my dad bought his TL, and ive driven just about every car from 99'-up and the altima goes!!!!
you can feel every inch of the 246ft/lbs.
They weigh less, as far as im concerned they are a pretty damn good bang for your buck, there 240hp 246tq 3226lbs fully loaded here they cost around $31,000 and they run a 14.1 1/4, not bad for a frumpy looking family sedan in my opinion.
I dunno man, there pretty quick.
i used to live in a Nissan house until my dad bought his TL, and ive driven just about every car from 99'-up and the altima goes!!!!
you can feel every inch of the 246ft/lbs.
They weigh less, as far as im concerned they are a pretty damn good bang for your buck, there 240hp 246tq 3226lbs fully loaded here they cost around $31,000 and they run a 14.1 1/4, not bad for a frumpy looking family sedan in my opinion.
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07-21-2003, 08:04 AM
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My friend has the new altima 3.5. He kept saying how he would smoke my car blah blah blah for about 6 months. So he gets his car and we race at night, clear quiet road.
I raced him straight line four out of four times, I beat him. I drive a 2003 TL-P too. He claims now that he can beat me and how he sucked, lol.
That guy pulled on you because you had 2 passengers and all the luggage in my opinion.
I raced him straight line four out of four times, I beat him. I drive a 2003 TL-P too. He claims now that he can beat me and how he sucked, lol.
That guy pulled on you because you had 2 passengers and all the luggage in my opinion.
07-21-2003, 08:18 AM
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guys .. at those speeds, both cars are identical... quit smoking the crack....
3.5s are no joke. THey are identical to a S-type acceleration wise. Manuals have an edge driven properly. I can't seen a TL-P beating a 3.5 at all.
but you gotta remember he only has 240HP under the hood
That is a BUNCH of hp, especially in a family car.
31k for a freakin plastic dash Altima? I had no idea their top of the line ran that much. I would never pay that much for an Altima, no way!
07-21-2003, 09:44 AM
#11
Originally posted by Type S Lady
PeterUbers, so your saying it wouldn't be an easy race for a 3.5-5sp. vs. TLS in SS?
PeterUbers, so your saying it wouldn't be an easy race for a 3.5-5sp. vs. TLS in SS?
Anyways.. off the line .. him and my typeS (when I was stock and gate-shifting) were near neck and neck ..
On the highway he'd slowly walk me .. but nothing ridiculous .. and I certainly wouldn't say (nor would he..) that he "smoked me" .
Let's define getting "smoked..."
- this is when two people floor it on the highway and the person who does the proverbial "smoking" gains multiple carlengths on the "smoked" car in a relatively small period of time... and continues to put distance b/w himself and the slower car.
I wouldn't be surprised if a 5-spd Alty ran neck and neck w/ my modded TL-S, if not BEATING me to 100mph from a standstill....
You need at LEAST 50 or 60hp minimum (w/ identical tranny's) to consider a car able to "smoke" another one ..
Best of luck eating Alty's for lunch .. you'll be starving in no time...
07-21-2003, 09:53 AM
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Nicely said PeteruBers, although I don't like those "facts" it was nicely said. Atleast we know what they got. I still say bring it! And more than likely, if they paid $31k for an Altima their pretty darn dumb and can't really drive it. (Or so I hope)
07-21-2003, 11:59 AM
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Originally posted by Type S Lady
$31k for a freakin plastic dash Altima? I had no idea their top of the line ran that much. I would never pay that much for an Altima, no way!
$31k for a freakin plastic dash Altima? I had no idea their top of the line ran that much. I would never pay that much for an Altima, no way!
$31k in Canadian currency is about $4.95 in US.
07-21-2003, 12:19 PM
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Originally posted by fla-tls
He's from Canada.
$31k in Canadian currency is about $4.95 in US.
He's from Canada.
$31k in Canadian currency is about $4.95 in US.
From the numbers i see you guys post there anywhere from 0-60 for the TL-S is 6.28sec. A manual 3.5 will pull off a mid-high 5sec.
the Altima will run a 14 flat and the best ive heard on here for a stock TL-S is a mid 14.
just my opinions
07-21-2003, 02:05 PM
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I really can't say the TLS is better looking than the Altima. I mean Nissan came out the box pretty hard with this stlying. And maybe I'm saying that because we have some what of an "outdate" bodystyle. But to see the Altima and the TLS lowered with their respective bodykits, wheels etc. the Altima just might have me drooling more.
07-21-2003, 02:11 PM
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I really like the Altima and would consider buying one but i just dont know, they are pretty big and doesnt really suit the car IMO.
I wish we could get HID's for our ones up here. then it would be no contest and i would still buy it lol
I wish we could get HID's for our ones up here. then it would be no contest and i would still buy it lol
07-21-2003, 02:14 PM
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That plasticy interior just kills me though, and they've never had the greatest resale value or quality material. But I love what STILLEN did with the burnt orange one. That one is awesome.
07-21-2003, 03:47 PM
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Originally posted by sc354
So in that case if your car was empty, you would have probably smoked him.
In any case, if it was car vs car and you had the same weight as him, you should blow past him.
Hope this helps.
So in that case if your car was empty, you would have probably smoked him.
In any case, if it was car vs car and you had the same weight as him, you should blow past him.
Hope this helps.
negative. so much for your hopeful thinking.
07-21-2003, 04:09 PM
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Between a 240 hp 5-speed altima and a 260hp SS TL Type-S It depends on the driver. Remeber people, whatever Acura decides to call the tranny it is still a slush box (i.e. automatic). Which means we lose about 12% of said hp to the wheels. That puts along the same hp as the altima since stick suffer a much lower hp loss to the wheels. With hp that close it comes down to driver skill.
07-21-2003, 04:09 PM
#25
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Hmm, i tried an Altima before i bought my TL.. the TL drives a LOT nicer and looks WAY better on the inside. Quieter as well. The outside of any car is a matter of taste.
Me, i get turned off totally by any car that has their tailpipes in the middle or any cars that have their gauges in the middle. As i said, a matter of taste.
Tracer
Me, i get turned off totally by any car that has their tailpipes in the middle or any cars that have their gauges in the middle. As i said, a matter of taste.
Tracer
07-21-2003, 04:19 PM
#26
lover and fighter
$31k in Canadian currency is about $4.95 in US.
Classic!
hahaha pretty close, but seriously a good driven manual 3.5 WILL beat a TL type S hands down. the altima is ahead in the numbers category and it just makes sense, there more powerful, lighter, manual is available and when push comes to shove i have no doubt it would beat it.
I've got this nice island in the middle of Kansas with a great, single access bridge for sale at $31,000 if you are interested...
...
Altimas are great cars for what they are: Cheap, quick, etc. Even the grossly exaggerated C&D wouldn't tell you that it would run 14 sec flat...I'd like to see a handful of them with manuals ALL run sub-6 in the quarter as well. Try pulling up to a light on your way home next to an Altima and see again and again how quick they aren't (as far as numbers freaks are concerned). Right. Ain't gonna happen. It's not as quick as you think. That being said:
You can't "smoke" an Altima even with an auto (as Mr. Ubers correctly put it) or vice-versa for them on you. You could beat one, not smoke one (and vice-versa). I can say that my modded car will easily pull on my friend's new manual Altima. It is quick--probably as quick as my car before I modded it, but it is no sub 6 sec car at all. With mods, it's now not even close...
"Smoked" is when I said "what the h=ll" next to a cleverly fiberglass bodied Civic with a turbo laying over 350hp to the wheels. Smoked was by a GS400 with a custom turbo kit. Smoked was by a C43 on the highway from 80mph. Smoked was by my dad's '03 911 Turbo. Smoked is Jay and Silent Bob...Smoked is not a TL-S vs. a new Altima.
07-21-2003, 04:22 PM
#27
lover and fighter
Oh yeah, fortunate. The weight killed you. Two ladies (assuming a conservative 110lbs a piece) and 200lbs of crap = bad for performance.
Besides, we all know car with dealer plates don't have any gas in them either!
Besides, we all know car with dealer plates don't have any gas in them either!
07-21-2003, 04:26 PM
#28
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I agree with the general theme here. The Altima would be a sweet car if not for the lousy interior. I even felt the Maximas had inferior interiors to the TL-S when I tested them both. Guess if you want to upgrade interior quality you gotta go with Infinity.
07-21-2003, 04:41 PM
#29
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Originally posted by unionjack
Between a 240 hp 5-speed altima and a 260hp SS TL Type-S It depends on the driver. Remeber people, whatever Acura decides to call the tranny it is still a slush box (i.e. automatic). Which means we lose about 12% of said hp to the wheels. That puts along the same hp as the altima since stick suffer a much lower hp loss to the wheels. With hp that close it comes down to driver skill.
Between a 240 hp 5-speed altima and a 260hp SS TL Type-S It depends on the driver. Remeber people, whatever Acura decides to call the tranny it is still a slush box (i.e. automatic). Which means we lose about 12% of said hp to the wheels. That puts along the same hp as the altima since stick suffer a much lower hp loss to the wheels. With hp that close it comes down to driver skill.
horsepower is only a number. there are many more factors other than horsepower such as weight, balance, etc... a 5-speed altima was rated in many magazines doing 5.8 0-60. TL-S is about 6.5 an altima is a good bit lighter than the TL-S. The manual tranny 3.5 altima would almost definitely beat the TL-S by a good amount. not to say that the 0-60 times are the factor by which to judge the race.
07-21-2003, 04:53 PM
#30
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Originally posted by ecstasy_civic
i dont think ive ever seen it, but ya when lowered with nice big rims, they look amazing!!!!
i dont think ive ever seen it, but ya when lowered with nice big rims, they look amazing!!!!
07-21-2003, 06:10 PM
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Originally posted by zigzagzig
horsepower is only a number. there are many more factors other than horsepower such as weight, balance, etc... a 5-speed altima was rated in many magazines doing 5.8 0-60. TL-S is about 6.5 an altima is a good bit lighter than the TL-S. The manual tranny 3.5 altima would almost definitely beat the TL-S by a good amount. not to say that the 0-60 times are the factor by which to judge the race.
horsepower is only a number. there are many more factors other than horsepower such as weight, balance, etc... a 5-speed altima was rated in many magazines doing 5.8 0-60. TL-S is about 6.5 an altima is a good bit lighter than the TL-S. The manual tranny 3.5 altima would almost definitely beat the TL-S by a good amount. not to say that the 0-60 times are the factor by which to judge the race.
Altimas are great cars for what they are: Cheap, quick, etc. Even the grossly exaggerated C&D wouldn't tell you that it would run 14 sec flat...
its funny you bring up turbo civics
:p smoked is when your stock looking civic beats on newer camaro SS's and all you see is
oh and for everyone talking about horsepower, "Horsepower sells cars, torque wins races"-kenny
my civic puts down 265ft/lbs and 255hp. its like a maxima but about 800lbs lighter lol
07-21-2003, 09:23 PM
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Originally posted by 1SICKLEX
Fo sure.
3.5s are no joke. THey are identical to a S-type acceleration wise. Manuals have an edge driven properly. I can't seen a TL-P beating a 3.5 at all.
"only" 240hp That is a BUNCH of hp, especially in a family car.
I agree it is very overpriced and the worst interior of ANY new car.
Fo sure.
3.5s are no joke. THey are identical to a S-type acceleration wise. Manuals have an edge driven properly. I can't seen a TL-P beating a 3.5 at all.
"only" 240hp
That is a BUNCH of hp, especially in a family car. I agree it is very overpriced and the worst interior of ANY new car.
We were pretty even for for several lights down Route 1 (Linden/Eliz., NJ) before I shut it down. So it can be done; but it I wouldnt readily bet on a TL-P beating a 3.5SE.
Peace
07-21-2003, 09:31 PM
#34
The weight difference b/w the TL-S and the Altima is neglibible in my opinion .. again , you'd have to see at least a 15-20% difference in weight to seriously start saying one car would SMOKE another one just b/c it's less weight.
I don't know if you guys realize that there are a LOT fewer 3.5SE Alty's out there compared to the ****box 2.5S's that litter the roads like the Ford Taurus's of old. They are the fugliest I-4 powered sedans I've ever seen, and they're all over the place.. and frankly, that just isn't good for the few proud people that prefered to purchase the 3.5SE Alty over the Maxima... big mistake, if you ask me...
I don't know if you guys realize that there are a LOT fewer 3.5SE Alty's out there compared to the ****box 2.5S's that litter the roads like the Ford Taurus's of old. They are the fugliest I-4 powered sedans I've ever seen, and they're all over the place.. and frankly, that just isn't good for the few proud people that prefered to purchase the 3.5SE Alty over the Maxima... big mistake, if you ask me...
07-21-2003, 10:05 PM
#35
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Originally posted by r10apple
Oh yeah, fortunate. The weight killed you. Two ladies (assuming a conservative 110lbs a piece) and 200lbs of crap = bad for performance.
Besides, we all know car with dealer plates don't have any gas in them either!
Oh yeah, fortunate. The weight killed you. Two ladies (assuming a conservative 110lbs a piece) and 200lbs of crap = bad for performance.
Besides, we all know car with dealer plates don't have any gas in them either!
And now for a quiz. Name the movie that this quote came from: "I swear I didn't cum inside you Peter!"
07-21-2003, 11:13 PM
#36
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Originally posted by ecstasy_civic
my civic puts down 265ft/lbs and 255hp. its like a maxima but about 800lbs lighter lol
my civic puts down 265ft/lbs and 255hp. its like a maxima but about 800lbs lighter lol
btw...anyone know the formula to convert torque to hp based on rpm or soemthi glike that?
07-22-2003, 01:06 AM
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Originally posted by njtls
thats a ****load of torque for a 4 cylinder..iver never heard of anyhting like that...ussually on 4 bangers the hp figure is higher the the torque...
btw...anyone know the formula to convert torque to hp based on rpm or soemthi glike that?
thats a ****load of torque for a 4 cylinder..iver never heard of anyhting like that...ussually on 4 bangers the hp figure is higher the the torque...
btw...anyone know the formula to convert torque to hp based on rpm or soemthi glike that?
in septemeber hopefully ill have my new cam in, skunk 2 says its good for 15-20whp!!! so i for sure will be in the low 13's at 3500-4000ft elevation.
07-22-2003, 08:24 AM
#38
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from personal experience, the altima is impressive, I still managed to stay well ahead of one on the streets, even though he was really really tryin to pass me (hehehe)... oh, I have a stock TL-S (the fastest stock one ever produced, of course) and he was driving a 3.5... Guy had a bushy mustachio.
I got into a 2.5 the other day and although the ride looks cool, i am more happy with the interior of my ride.
I got into a 2.5 the other day and although the ride looks cool, i am more happy with the interior of my ride.