Used 2002 Nissan Altima Consumer Reviews
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Geat car
If you want afast sedan!
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.
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $4,599340 mi away
- 2.5 S SedanMSRP: $6,490362 mi away
- 3.5 SE SedanMSRP: $2,976426 mi away
What a car!
Under the guise of buying a "family sedan" I chose the Altima over the Accord and Camry because it blows those cars away in performance. I keep reading about how cheap the interior is but I strongly disagree. My interior is terrific, as is the sound system, and everything else about the car.
Excellent Car
This car is great. No mechanical issues over the three years I have owned the car. I bought it used with 31K miles and have put over 60K miles. Oil change and brakes and tires over the three years. Excellent design inside and out. Very fast with great pick up from dead stop. Takes corners like its on rails. Going to buy a 2007 Altima in a couple of days.
So far so Good
So far I think I made a good purchase. The power is good for a I4, the interior room is great, the standard sound system actually uses Clarion speakers but wish the reciever wasn't so oddly shapped so it could be replaced with an aftermaket. Squeaks and rattles are my main concern with the car. The front suspension makes a squeaking noise when stopping down a hill and the rear suspension seems to rattle over bumpy roads. We will see how it holds up in the long run.
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.
great car for the price
i like the comfort,the way it handles,the radio controls on the steering wheel,the roomy truck space,big back seating.........im vvery happy with my purchace would recomend for some one who likes to drive.
farro
This is a great car. It is fast, comfortable and it turns heads. I have gotten so many complements for it.
Serious Satisfaction
Very enjoyable automobile. It may not be a BMW! Although it's a great value for your dollar. I travel up to 1,250 miles per week. After more than 10K miles, it's comfortable, responsive, quiet, and gets great gas mileage. Best MPG was 35.5, average is 31.5, worst was 23. Most of my miles are highway (very little city driving). Not one problem or trip to the dealership since the first oil change.
More Fun for the Buck
Fast and fun to drive. Plenty of room inside and in the trunk. Lot's of creature features. Just a joy to drive
A blast!
Loved the abdundance of thrust and power throughout the rev range. The engine was sweet. The torque steer was kind of scarey though especially when the roads were damp and one had to tred lightly as a result. The manual stick was vague and made rowing the gearbox somewhat a chore and I had trouble making smooth changes .The build quality was chintzy and cheap especially the interior with the manual boot and cup holder needing replacement before 8000miles. At 9000miles the clutch gave out and needed replacement.
Concerned consumer
This car is a real improvement over the pevious year models. I have owned a 98" and 99' and never had any problems with either of them. The 2002' model looks and drives great and is a real improvement overall compared to previous years. One thing that does concern me is a thumping noise that occurs during acceleration and while turning. It has been getting worse over the months and we have 4,300 miles. According to a Service rep at Bankston Nissan of Dallas it isn't normal. I will have it checked out soon.
Altima is number 1
I've had this car for almost 2 years now and I'm still in love with it! It turns heads every where I go, and handles and drives great. The 2002 Altima 3.5 SE V6 : - Best Horsepower & Torque for its class - Most Room in it's class - Nissan Reliability - Best Exterior for its class - Excellent Leather Interior - Super Quality BOSE sound system. Best price at John Elway Nissan (In less than 3 hours I was on my way out the door).
Oh what a ride!
If you're looking for a car that is refined and distinguish looking. Then the 2002 Altima SE is your pick. If you're looking for a car that is so fast you can blame your receding hairline on. The 2002 Altima SE is your pick.
02 Altima Review
The Altima is good choice if you prefer a family car with some performance. The car is dependable has decent power, good handling, and has looks good.
Not Impressed!
I have had my Altima in the shop a couple of times now because it just won't start. The first time I was able to get it started by pressing on the gas several times. But, the last time it happened, that didn't work, so I had to have it towed from my garage. The first time the service dept. said they had no idea what was causing it. This last time all they said was basically it was my fault because I didn't have the 15,000 mile RECOMMENDED service done. But, that's not the problem because the first time I took it in with this problem, I only had 10,000 miles on it!
get a honda
for the most part the i happy with my altima. i have had it in for repairs 4 time in a year and a half. transmition and stalling problems. the trunk now leaks, the cup holder doesn't close, and the rear window doesn't roll up by itself(i need to wiggle it as i raise it). i am selling it soon.
I love my Altima!
I really love my Nissan Altima, it is very comfortable and has a lot of nice features and looks great and sporty. I also love the rear lights they really make the vehicle look euro.
Excellent Value
We got the 2.5S model with the standard transmission. We're glad we got the standard, it is so peppy and poweful, I can't even tell that it is a V-4. We're both very tall, over six feet, and can fit comfortably in the front of the back. Excellent ride. We hope to have it forever.
dissatisifed
Handles great, a blast to drive. Plagued with problems. This car has burned oil from the day I got it. Two service managers and the GM agree it should have a long block. I have had this problem tracked by driving to the dealer every 500 miles for documentation. Nissan won't stand behind their car. I should've stayed with Toyota!
Altima 4 cylinder
Fun to drive.Very peppy for a four cylinder.Still love looking at it. Averaged 30MPG on my last trip out of town,with a.c. running and cruise set at 85. My only regret is the cheap looking interior.
No first year problems with 02
When I purchased the 2002 Altima, I wondered how much risk I was taking with a first edition new model. I have owned the Altima for approximately 20 months and have been had no problems with any aspect of this vehicle. As with many other reviewers and critics, the interior and some of the interior assemblies have a feeling of "value engineering", or cost cutting. But all in all, this has been a very solid car.
2002 Altima Review
Great car overall. Since I bought the car about a year ago, I have had to replace the boot on my shifter, because it came apart, and I have had to get the black part of my window repaired twice. Wish the dealership was a little better. Have gone there along time, since they changed owners they have been going down hill. The car handles great, I wish they offered sunroofs in the 2.5S, that is all I wanted when I bought my car, but I could not afford to go up the next step.
New Owner of Altima
My 2.5S (Altima) is beautify, however I thought it would be a lot smoother on bumps. I'm wonder if I should get different tires.
2.5SL Altima Silver
I searched for months on what type of vehicle to buy, I went from a coupe, to SUV, to truck, and then I was online searching in the sedans category, I never realized they had redesigned the Altima. I bought it for the realibity, it has 20,000 miles on it. I bought it from a peronal owner with 11,000 miles on it. I love it!
Nissan Altima 2.5SL
Great car overall. Great value. One warranty repair 1st year.
XMAX
Having owned 3 Maxima SE's, I never thought I would consider buying an Altima. I was looking at the Acura TL Type S, Jaguar X type and pre-owned BMW 330 series.On a visit to my dealership, they had a silver/black leather on the floor,and I could'nt believe I was in a Nissan dealer!The Maxima was starting to look very dated,but the Altima grabbed my attention,especially after I spent a day driving it around. Needless to say, I now have a Silver/Black leather parked in my driveway,and feel that I received great value for 30K!
Will never buy a Nissan again!
The transmission went in this car with less then 3,000 miles on it and left me stranded on vacation. I wanted a new transmission they said no it had to be repaired. The car now gets 13 miles to the gallon city and about 20 on a trip compaired to 22 and 30 prior to this happening. I spoke to both the dealer and Nissan and they both pointed the finger at the other and were willing to do nothing about it. Worst customer service I ever dealt with. Save your money!
What a ride!!!
I have only had this vehicle for 3 months now but.....Wow! This car is a keeper. The ride is extremely smooth and the style (interior and exterior) are outstanding. I have had a ton compliments on the luxury look of the car often comparing it too much more expensive cars such as the Passat and Lexus. There is room galore. This car is great bang for the buck...tons of value. Plus there is also the HID headlight option, truly outstanding lighting. I never would have thought that headlights could be so great.
lets drive
easy to move in and out of traffic
This car ROCKS!!!
I bought this car after a neighbor bought a 2.5S. I had a decked out Focus that I was planning on slamming till I saw his ride and found out it came with a 3.5l V6 w/ a 5 speed! I got the car a month later and paid the same price I paid for the Focus with 100 fewer horses under the hood. Needless to say it was icing on the cake when I test drove the Altima and found I wasn't rubbing elbows with my passenger and my daughter was no longer able to kick the back of my seat! This car has ROOOOOOM to just "be" and enjoy the drive! It is surprisingly easy on the gas too. In fact, I get 24 city and 28 highway.....slightly BETTER than the Focus!!!!
fun
fun to drive, needs more insulation from noise
great!
I was in a car reck.I was hit from the side(driver side) and I hade nothin wrong whit me but my car was gone so I will be on the market for a new Altima for sure.I`m a mother of to kids and I`m home whit them after one day of my car exident, so thak you a lot form me and my kids.
Just What I Was Looking For...
My 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S was just the car I was looking for. It's 4 cylinder engine has more horsepower (175)than the V6 (170hp) Chevrolet Malibu that I traded in. This is much more car than I have ever had in the past! The convenience package is a definite PLUS... as is the power sunroof and the rear spoiler. The keyless entry allows me to roll down the front windows with just the touch of the button. This is VERY nice on a simmering hot day when the car has been locked up. To top is off, the body style is S-L-E-E-K!! You won't regret purchasing a 2002 Nissan Altima 2.5 S!!
In Your Face Camry
Best 25K i ever spent, leather, moonroof, bose system, 17" rims, 240 horsies to paly with? what is there not to like? Can the camry even compare with its fish looking tail end and sorry 192hp engine?
My dream car exceeded expectations
I've driven many different cars & minivans for 20 years. I drove an Altima once and found its handling superior to anything I knew - so when I went to buy my next car I had to try the new model Altima. Now almost two years later I still smile each time I get in it - it was the best decision I've made in a long time. It still handles crisply, hugs the road on corners, brakes and accelerates responsively, is very roomy and comfortable - while looking and feeling sharp. The interior has maintained like new. This is an excellent car and a delight to drive - all distances and in all weathers. Not a single problem.
Nice car
Great car. Nice ride, quiet on the road. Surprising power from a 4-cyl. engine. Car has 21,000 miles and no reliability problems. Car is a real head turner, I have received many nice unsolicited comments about the styling. Getting 23 mpg in extreme city driving, averaged 29 mpg highway on recent 1,500 mile round trip.
Great Buy, performance for 5
Purchased my Altima less than a month ago, I just hit 1000 miles and am already getting 28 miles/gallon. I have not owned anything but German since my '91 300z but this car brought me back. Nothing like passing the BMW's with three of your friends waving. I was looking at AUDI but you can not beat this car for the price.
Luxury Performance Sedan
Love it! Even the 4 cyl. engine delivers awesome power- same horsepower as other 6 cyl. such as Accord and Camry. I was a die hard Honda fan until I drove this car. And talk about being the center of attention . . . . Easy on the wallet too- insurance only increased slightly and it's a lot of car for the money. Since I have an 11 month old, the interior room and trunk space is significant-- backseat seems bigger and more comfortable than 2000 Accord. I've always been a "wait and see" person when it comes to a new make/model, but don't worry about this one-- go for it! No bugs.
I LOVE this car!
Rides nice, and handles exceptionally well...and it looks good too!
Disappointed
Overall I have been disappointed with this vehicle. When it is running I would say it is a good car but I have had so many mechanical problems that I rarely get to see how fun it can be. At times it seems this car has been in the shop more than it has been on the road. I have had it die on me in rush hour traffic 4 times, had the struts and rotors replaced within a year of buying it, and now I have to replace the catalytic converter and header pipe. The shifter bezel has come apart on me for the third time and my headrest cover continues to come apart. I purchased this car thinking I would get a reliable car to get me to and from school and work but all it has done is let me down.
room with zip
Planned to buy a Passat until I saw the first one of the new Altimas. Checked it out and was very impressed. The handling is incredible, changes lanes as fast as my race tuned Datsun 2000! And if you are over 6 feet tall, this is the sedan for you. More leg room front and back than my wife's Volvo. The car has some great, well thought out features normally found on more expensive models. The key fob that opens the windows remotely is a great feature I didn't give much thought to but use daily, and the Bose stereo has got to be heard! Be prepared to find onlookers gathered around the car when you come out of the grocery store.
It's all that
Eye-catching, comfortable for 5 (I'm 6'4" and 4 other adults fit nicely), quick when you want it, thrifty if that's your goal, power sound system, and that ain't all. Load up with options and you're still priced under an equivalent Toy/Honda/Passat. Oh yes, it's got a huge trunk and sips at the Regular tank at the gas station.
I love this car!
I bought my car two years ago. I was one of the first in my area to purchase the newly re-designed Altima and I was a little nervous at first.I didn't know what it's track record would be. Well,I haven't had any problems, and I love driving it! It looks good, rides well and hasn't required any repairs. I love this car!!!!
the 2002 altima
This is the first brand new car that I bought. I really liked it at first until problems started coming up. when it was about 7 months old, it had to be towed due to crank sensor problems.while just a year old, car at times won't accelerate despite pressing down gas pedal all the way --- now in dealer to check problem. steering wheel used to shimy, transmission gets stuck at times, too.
I'm being realistic...
I love this car, but the faults of it really annoy me. The engine is the best in the world, hands down. I'm even getting around 27MPG, which is excellent. That said, the interior and build quality is really the weak point. For a $16,000 car, it's right on the mark. For a $22,000+ car that the 3.5 SE is, it's seriously lacking. I love the whole layout/style of the interior. It's just that the materials are cheap, and the fit and finish suck. The car is a BLAST to drive though. Great fun, and sexy as hell!
FAST AND FUN
This car is very fun and fast and has room to tool your friends about
Loved it, but time to move on?
I bought this car used from a rental company about 5 years ago. It had 37,000 miles and I am very near 110,000 now. Most expensive repair was window switch which was less than $100.00. Just had to replace the sending unit to the transmission yesterday and my mechanic said not to expect more than 25,000 - 30,000 more miles before needing a new transmission. Now trying to decide if I should sell it or spend the $2500 - $3000 on the transmission and hope it lasts me a few more years. Overall this car has been very reliable and I love it. Hope I can find a reliable newer one as my next car!
Happy, Happy
Have only owned the car for a few weeks, but am very impressed with the spunkiness of the 4 cyl and the handling is very nimble. My first 4cyl since college (many years ago) and I'm very happy with it.
SPEED DEMON!!!!
I purchased this car while overseas. It was great gift for myself coming back. I took it instantly on the highways of Southern California. It is great and fun to drive. Passing is a breeze and handling the car at high speeds was also simple. Oh I have to say that its top end speed is the most alluring factor. While on a late night drive on I-15 I hit 140 with pedal to spare.