Used 2002 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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awesome family car
The new Nissan Altima is an awesome family car. I have the 3.5SE which delivers power and performance. The interior is a bit scaled down to cheap plastic but the seating is comfortable and roomy. The bose stereo has a great sound. The trunk is roomy except for the trunk lid brackets which can get in the way. This is one of the best cars I have ever purchased. With a few after market add on's, it makes for a really hot car.
Nissan Delivers Again
This car is great,I bought it the same year it got the new body in 2002.I always trusted nissan,my first was a 1985 maxima,then a 1990 maxima,a 2001 quest and of course the 2002 altima.This car only has 49000 miles on it to this day it is always in mint condition.
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $3,900613 mi away
- 2.5 SL SedanMSRP: $4,990723 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $6,400870 mi away
Is that the NEW ALTIMA?
We have owned our car for only one week and my husband and I totally LOOOOOVE this car. This is the first car we have owned that we actually fight over driving. We took it on our first long- distance trip in the pouring rain and it handled beautifully. We get head turns wherever we go.
altima review
2002 Altima is fun and exciting to drive. My wife was not even interested in the car until she drove it and them suggested buying another one for her.
2002 Nissan Altima 2.5
When the car works it's great, when it doesn't, it's such a hassle. Had problems from the beginning, bought it the first year they came out with the new body style. In winter, back doors wouldn't shut until the car warmed up. Had TONS of recalls! Very inconvenient. Car still has problems starting, something about the gas flooding into something, and I have to sit there with my foot on the gas holding it down until it does start. And supposedly there's no way to fix this problem. Such a headache. The car isn't worth all this trouble.
Altima User
We purchased our first Nissan Maxima in 1981. We found it so dependable and trouble free that we then purchased 3 more Maximas over the next 20 years. On all of these cars we have experienced no repairs during the 100K miles and few after that. Earlier this year it was time to upgrade our 1996 Maxima, but found the 2002 Altima with a much better looking exterior body, yet basically the same size of car and power under the hood. Hopefully the 2002 Altima will prove to be as reliable as the Maxima.
So far, so good
The 2.5 S is the most common model. It has an excellent blend of perfomance and practicality. The ride is very European in feel... not too mushy or firm.
Great Car
I bought a 2002 Nissan Altima, 5 spd, leather, moon roof, spoiler, wood trim, 3.5L. This is a great car. It is very well built and is the bset car I have ever owned (and I have owned a lot). I had a problem with my fuel pump however Nissan fixed it right away. Don't think though you can skimp on less than 92 octane gas. The car runs much poorer with anything less.
Impeccable
Best car to date.The value of this car needs to be increase.
What a BLAST to own !
This being my first car was not on my list because I didn't think I could afford it. Not only could I afford it,I would never have known what I was missing out on. Performance,luxury,style,class,etc. Nissan is good,this cart is great. It is the Lexus of Nissan. Who needs a Maxima! Hurry,go buy one,so you too can write your review.
Buy this Car before your Neighbor does
I puchased this car in November of last year. I have put 12,000 miles on the car so far without any major problems and only two minor ones. A spring broke in the lid for the cupholders and the car was delivered without the steering wheel controls for radio. Both of these were fixed by the dealership with no problems. I do notice some wind noise at high speeds, but not enough that it would deter another purchase.
Smooth Criminal
This car is fun to drive. It just ask you to give it gas everytime you get in the car. The car holds the road in all the turns. As I was driving down the interstate one day a Volvo owner decided he want to have a little race. I gave him a thirty yard head start and blew his doors off. I never saw that guy after that. My kids named the car smooth criminal because the car moves faster than you think you are going so you know a speeding ticket is just around the corner. LOL!! This car is a real kicker.
Design+Performance = Best Buy
No wonder this was the North American Car of the Year. The design/style and the performance of the 3.5SE engine is unmatched for a vehicle in this price range. Nissan has outdone its competitors! I can't wait for the aftermarket performance parts from Stillen or Jim Wolf Technology to become available. The engine has untapped resources waiting to be unleashed.
BEST CAR IN THE MARKET FOR 2002
I have had my car for 6 months and I love it. I love the performance I get from it. Even on a 4 cylender this car picks up speed fast.
the best
the best, the best, the best, the best is a Nissan Altima
Very Happy Customer
The new design for 2002 is a real eye- catcher. Luxury car look inside and out at a middle class price. I couldn't be much more happier with my new Altima 2.5 SL!
Great car for the $$$
Great car for the money! Fun to drive and very reliable. Mine has 2600 miles and has never given me no problems yet. This is a great vehicle to own!
Nice car but engine problems
I've owned this car since 2002. Only owner and I took it back the dealership each time for a decent oil change service. For some reason unknown to us, our engine had to be replaced after about 50k miles. At first the dealership wanted to make us pay for it, but arguing with Corporate Nissan helped us get it for free (after warranty ran out.) Some other minor repairs but overall not a bad car except for the engine issue.
pretty cool
Purchased car a week ago (Apr 2002). So far, it's great. Nice pickup for a 2.5 4 cyl. Rides smooth. Great handling. Has a nice sporty look to it. Quiet ride. Plenty of leg room. I should have purchased the Bose sound system. The factory installed system isn't that great. Too bad I didn't think about tinted windows when I went to the dealer. Overall, I think it's a great buy.
Sweeeet...however...
Very pleased over all, however, a few things left me a bit disapointed: 1) no standard fog lights on 2.5 ("fully loaded") SL model. 2) steering wheel mounted "convienience" controls are NOT illuminated 3) no spare change small storage compartment. My coins rattle all over the bigger compartments, and I have to use the map light to see the mounted controls.
love it
Only had the car for a short while, but love the design. Would I buy another....you bet!
Interior cloth seating
I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH 2002 AND I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCE ANY PROBLEMS. MY ONLY COMPLAINT WITH THIS CAR TO DATE IS THE MATERIAL OF THE UPHOLSTERY (SEATS). IT ATTRACTS AND HOLDS LINT AND CANNOT BE CLEANED BY MERELY VACUUMING. I HAVE TO USE A LINT BRUSH.
200k and very pleased
Purchased from a friend with approx 175000 in '06. She did a lot of interstate driving so the miles where high but the car was in great shape. The only major issue has been leaking valve cover gaskets, but nothing else of importance for the past 6 years (time we've owned it and previous owner) the car has an amazing amount of cabin space is very comfortable for me even in the back seats (I'm 6'2") we average 27 to 29 mpg depending on how much in- town or highway driver.
Aging quickly
I loved the new car. My first car ever. Had a lot of fun with it but getting pretty tired of it. I had a recall issue with the engine crankshaft when it was 2 yrs old .. spoiled my vacation. The car has failed to start on half a dozen occasions. Lately I've been getting a cylinder misfire. The car also started knocking about 3 months ago so I went back to 87 octane fuel. I've also noticed a lack of power recently. Or maybe its because I am hesitant to push it now because of all the reliability issues. I have 85k on it and hope to get it to 6 digits before letting it go.
2002 Altima Review
The four cylinder model offers suprising power when coupled with the five speed transmission. The large windows offer great visability and ease of driving. Rear passenger accomodations are excellent and capable of supporting three adults comfortably. Fit and finish fpr this car are exemplary. Ergonomically the car is near perfect with a telescopic and tilt steering collumn. The stock audio selection is adequate and crisp. Over the road noise is minimal.
my review
blistering performance, and a great kid hauler to boot. The perfect combination of family car/sports car
Great Bang for the Buck
I have not had this vehicle long, but I already love it. I know I will love it for years to come. I will post again in a year or so, to show that I still love this car. I cannot find any problems with it. Some say the interior is cheap, but for the amount I paid, it's exactly what I expected.
Stay Away!!!
I bought my Altima 7 months ago, and I finally got rid of it. I feel sorry for the person who bought it. I am a college student and cannot afford huge maintenance cost on this lemon. I have noticed most of the complaints are with S, and SL trims. The only major flaw with this car is the excessive oil consumption, and this model burns oil like crazy it does not even leak. It surely is a lemon, I didn't spend a lot on it except had keep up with oil replacement twice a month, which sounds really awful for a car that was rewarded as car of the year back in 2002. Nissan got bad reputation because of this car. Now I am looking forward to buy MAXIMA 6th GEN. They are a lot powerful and reliable.
mine
This car is the best, it has good handles on the turns and the design of the inside and outsies is the best.
My New Altima
I purchased the 2002 Altima 2.5L S with the automatic transmission. I was torn about whether or not to spend the extra $3,500.00 and get the 3.5L V6. I have to say that I am very pleased so far with the 4 cylinder. It is very quick and surprisingly powerful. The new body style looks more elegant and is a very welcome change to last year's dull body style. The only thing I think that Nissan could have done was spice up the interior a litlle more, or maybe its just me? Overall for the one month that I have had it I am very satisfied. I'm one who tends to keep their car until its ready for the junkyard. Hopefully, I'll still feel the same about it in 7 to 10 years.
Better than average vehicle
While this car has had many recalls since first purchased it has been a very reliable vehicle. It was my parents before they gave it to me, and as a student, I find it great to own. It's fun to drive, looks nice, and gets average fuel economy. Other than the recalls, I have only had minor issues with the vehicle. I have no complaints. Love it!
Velvet Is In All Year!
I purchased my 2.5SL in October '01 (around the time it first came out). Took a test drive and was hooked. It's a beautiful car (Velvet Beige of course). Drives smoothly. Definitely an eyecatcher. Gets a lot of double takes. And the best part about it is -- I look good driving it!
Good job for a first year
The car has a few minor issues, but that is to be expected from a car in its first year of production. Overall it is a very good driving experience
Very Happy!
We got a 2002 2.5 SL with ABS/side airbags, seat warmers, sunroof for $290 a month with $4000 down--a pretty good deal. We leased the car at Quirk, but also spent a lot of time at Frost. Frost was great, but they weren't able to match the price at Quirk. So far (it has been almost a month), we are very pleased with the car. As the other reviews have mentioned, it really does turn heads. It's a peppy drive, and a great buy for the money.
At Last
Having driven an 1989 and 1993 Maximas I was beginning to wonder if Nissan would ever again put out a car that I found attractive and a good performer. Well now they've done it. I've had it for two months and the performance and appearance are great. The torque steer at low speed when you really jump on the gas seems excessive. Handling is otherwise impressive.
Loaded 2002 Altima 2.5SL
With the 2.5SL Altima loaded, I felt I made the best purchase of my life. No Regrets at all. Compared to Honda and Toyota, its was a quick decision. And specially, compared to the Euro-cars, its a no brainer. This is not what we call "you get what you've paid for", but more of "you get a lot more that what you've paid for" situation. More power and better looking styling than most car in its class. I had the sporty-looking sheer silver color with all black interior dash and black leather seats....and just imagine.......what a classy sport sedan. I feel this car can stand right beside the best of them, BMW 3series, Audi and VW, when it comes to overall VALUE.
Holy Smokes
I've put 5k on this car in about 2 months and love it more everyday. Great balance of power and economy. I drive about 45 miles to work each way with about 25 of it highway and the car constantly gets 27mpg or more. Not bad for 240 hp. Interior is not nearly as bad a people say. It is different but most importantly it is tight, no rattles nothing so far. Cupholders could hold a small child, or at least a 32 gatorade bottle, brakes are great as I've already missed a deer thanks to them. Other note, states it needs premium fuel, runs on (89) no difference in milage or pickup and it does not ping. I HIGHLY recommend this car.
Not worth the money
If the Altima truly wants to compete with the Accord and the Camry, then Nissan has to stop adding on all the extras, that already come with on the Accord and Camry. I love the engine and the color but that's about it. The BOSE system that came in most of the pewter colored cars that had the other features I wanted is definitely not worth the extra $800. I paid for it.
My Review
I got my 2002 Altima because my 2000 Altima was a lemon. The Dealership was great in working to buy back my car. The 2002 overall is just fair. I have an annoying rattling sound coming from dome light that I have to take back to the dealershio again (second time) to fix. The design of the exterior is beautiful. Renault (parent company) is showing it's crappy history of not paying attention to build quality & detail.
BEST CAR FOR THE MONEY
BEST CAR FOR THE MONEY EITHER FOREIGN OR DOMESTIC.GREAT HIGHWAY CAR WITH 25 MPG RESULTS.GOOD LOOKING WITH A VERY COMFORTABLE INTERIOR.I HAVE 2 NEGATIVES.FROM DAY ONE I HAVE A VALVE TAP AND THE AUTOMATIC TRANS IDLES QUIETLY OUT OF GEAR AND VERY ROUGH IN GEAR.AT MY 1500 MILE FIRST OIL CHANGE THE DEALER TOLD ME HE HEARS AND FEELS NOTHING.I'LL SEE WAHT HE SAYS AT 4500 MILES.
Look out the Nissan is coming
THe new ALTIMA is way better than any other car in it's class. Pickup , accelatation and the comfort of the Altima shouldn't be compared with the CAmry. It's like 10 timeas faster then the cars in it's class.
Fits me
I tried all of the competing makes, Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and etc. The bottom line is I'm 6'3" and the Nissan was the only car that I fit into. The car during the test drives stood neck n' neck with all of the others. The interior was not the best of the lot but very functional. I bought the car and have nothing but kudos from everyone who has seen it. I travel 66 miles per day for work and I am averaging 28 to 29 mpg with less than 1000 miles on the odometer.
Not the same car as in the commercial.
Actually, I really like the car alot, but since delivery have had an ongoing problem with driveability. That is, bad tires are giving me a rotten taste in my mouth. Nissan switched to Continental all-season tires from Firestones. These tires do not sit well in the lot. I have been told to drive my car more to even out flat and high spots, but the bouncing and steering pull are driving me nuts. Nissan says it doesn't warranty new tires. So much for the whole car concept!
beautiful!
looks like a lexus, but half the price, what more could you ask for, excellent car
Excellent Car
Great car!. If you don't want all the bells and whistles you can get it for well under $20K. The stick shifts well. The 2.5L has plenty of power. I've had mine about 8 months now and still love it. When I went away for a week for vacation and came back my heart was pounding from anticipation of driving this car! Getting 25-29 mpg depending on conditions. A/C and heat are almost instantaneous. Seats are very comfortable. Steering is solid and it holds the road very well. I've gotten so many complements on this car! If you're looking for a good solid car that moves, is fun to drive, practical, and won't break the bank, this is it!
Unbelievable!
I fell in love with the appearance of this vehicle months before it was available. As soon as I test drove one, I knew I had to purchase it. Every one of my friends has an Accord, Camry, etc. But I wanted something different and much more exciting. VALUE, ROOM, SPEED, GAS MILEAGE, & GOOD LOOKS, this car definitely has it all!
Altima stole us away from Toyota
We've been a big Toyota supporter, but The Altima SE stole us away from a Camry. At first my wife was pretty skeptical of test driving an Altima(she was thinking of the previous model years, bland!). She was pretty set on a Camry. That all changed after driving an ALtima. The exterior is no contest, Altima SE is far superior. Altima SE has 50 extra horses and is extremely quiet. The ride is very smooth and comfortable. Camry beats Altima for interior quality, but not by much. Good gas mileage(27 mpg), with the only down side using premium fuel. To sum it up, Superior looks, more power, more room, switched us to Nissan (Still love my Tacoma).
Almost as good as my hubby's Infinity
I just purchased my Altima SL on 3/29/02 but have found it to be a wonderful car to drive and look at. The following day, my husband bought a new Infinity I35. Although his car is a bit more luxurious, my Altima shares many of the features of his car. Although my Altima is a 4 cy., it has a good pick up when I need it. Smooth ride is great. It just took one drive and I was sold on the car. The dealership where we purchased the car was top notch. All car buyers should be so lucky to have the professional, caring salesman we had.
great car
i replaced my 92 lincoln town car that i had for 9 years. being 75 years old, my wife was concerned that we were buying a young persons car. love my altima. the four cyl. performs great and the gas mileage is awesome. just as roomy as my lincoln even though the car is smaller outside. had to raise the passenger seat 3/4 inch to please my wife. wish the inside looked as expensive as the outside, otherwise, no complaints.
Very Happy !
I bought this car in November and have put about 8000 miles on so far, including a 2000 mile trip. I fell in love with the styling at first site and ended up getting an SL with most options. I have no complaints and I get unsolicited compliments about the car from complete strangers almost every week. This model is not a sports car, and does not perform like one, but even the 2.5 is more than adequate for me. I love it !