2008 Nissan Altima Coupe: Cashing in on the Coupe Crowd
Written by Anqoinette Crosby
A friend called the other day bragging that he just shelled out 10 grand for a fully loaded 65-inch plasma TV because his neighbor bought one. He admitted to adhering to the “keeping up with the Joneses” mentality. You know, it’s where we constantly compare ourselves to those who are doing better than us.
Well car companies are no different. For some time now, Nissan has been trying to catch up and cash in on the coveted under 25 grand coupe market. It’s a lucrative segment that has seen a resurgence in recent years with Nissan’s biggest rivals, Toyota and Honda, enjoying praise and profits. Now Nissan wants a piece of the action. To do that, they’ve expanded the brand by launching the all-new, first ever 2008 Altima Coupe. With a starting price of around 20 grand, this sexy two-door is a real contender to heat up the coupe competition.
The Altima is Nissan’s bread and butter so there’s a lot riding on its success. Nissan Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn is said to have told senior execs that, “the coupe can’t fail.” Now when your boss puts it that way, you better deliver a product that’s magnificent -- not mediocre. It’s no wonder the coupe has subtle similarities to the wildly popular Infiniti G35 and Nissan’s own 350Z - automatically giving it sporty credentials. When I asked if the coupe was a poor man’s version of the G35, which costs $10,000 more, company execs defensively replied, “no way.” But the complimentary comparisons sure won’t hurt sales. The Altima first debuted as a sedan in the early 90s when it bumped off the snoozer Stanza. Now in its fourth generation, this five-passenger offspring is built on the new Nissan “D” platform which sports increased body rigidity and a redesigned suspension.
With assurances from the Nissan folks that this sexy coupe is no fam sedan, I welcomed the chance to slide behind the wheel for a day of test driving on roads that ran parallel to Minneapolis’s glistening lakes. My driving partner, who stands a towering 6’9”, and I took turns testing the two offerings - the 175-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder and a 270-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, (V6 comes in just shy of $25,000). Each comes with either a 6-speed manual transmission or, drop $500 more and get Nissan’s advanced Xtronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) if you don’t want the hassle of shifting.
We first chose the four-cylinder. As I was searching for my sunshades, my partner had other issues to deal with-like if he’d be able to fit. Surprisingly, his head didn’t even graze the roof. The two front seats were comfy and roomy enough, but the back seat is a different story. Even I, who stands a mere 5’7’’ in heels, wouldn’t want to get stuck riding in the backseat. I’m not claustrophobic, but fitting five people comfortably may be a stretch. As I looked around for the car keys, I was pleasantly surprised that it came with an “Intelligent Key,” a wireless device that allows drivers to unlock and start the cars at the push of a button. But before you get too giddy about this feature, Nissan just issued a warning that cell phones kept too close to I-Keys can erase their electronic code and make them unusable. Luckily, we didn’t experience any glitches and we glided effortlessly past the city’s stunning riverfront architecture.
After driving about 60 miles, it was time to switch cars so we hopped in a black V6. While commenting that the CD player seemed “low budget” because it wasn’t integrated, we realized we had crossed state lines into Wisconsin where the landscape and our driving experience changed dramatically. We’d gone from historic and hip to crops and cows in a matter of minutes. We’d also gone from a smoother drive in the four-cylinder compared to the disappointingly clunky V6.
We both noticed that there was a potentially dangerous blind spot on the left side, given the sloping roofline and smallish rear windows. Remember, don’t rely on your mirrors to change lanes. You must look over your shoulders to ensure the coast is clear. It’s quite a task on the Altima Coupe and something you should take into consideration when test driving. With the coupe being smaller and weighing less than the sedan it has an undeniably sportier feel. And its handling through tight turns and stability at various speeds is topnotch.
Although Nissan says the coupe is being marketed to the young and young at heart, they did make a point to show off the cars oversized vanity mirrors. I was also drawn to side and rear mirrors that were adorned with turn signal indicators that sparkled like rhinestones. If those little feminine touches don’t scream girly ride, I don’t know what does.
Also offered is a long list of user-friendly techno features that any man or woman can appreciate - a premium Bose audio system with nine speakers, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, XM Satellite Radio, and dual-zone automatic climate control. There's also an optional navigation system with XM real-time traffic info, and a rear camera. Other standard safety features include front-seat side-impact air bags and side-curtain air bags for front and rear passengers, and a tire pressure monitoring system. Electronic stability control is available on V6 versions. The four-cylinder engine comes with 16-inch wheels, while V6 models get special 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. Nissan isn’t offering any tuner upgrades - yet. When asked whether owners could add a spoiler, I saw one of the designers cringe at the mere suggestion. Visions of this pristine piece of metal being defaced…uh I mean customized with tacky add-ons made them shudder. Yeah, but wait until SEMA.
Make no mistake, Nissan’s attention to styling, both inside and out, make their coupe competitors seem ho-hum by comparison. When it comes to the auto industry, “keeping up with the Joneses” isn’t such a bad thing because it forces all of the brands to take note, then take action. That competitive compulsion breeds cars like the Altima coupe. And if we’re lucky, it may even spawn a convertible!
