Car question

[Gliderjohn]

Considering purchasing a 2015 Altima SL. Doing some searches on several Nissan forums one serious complaint came up on all the forums. That was how poor the headlights are on the low setting. I live in the country and this could be significant. Anyone here own one or know anything about this possible concern?
GliderJohn

[fotoguzzi]

don't know but why aren't you looking at a Subaru?
the 2008 Forester I got came from Kansas and it's great.

[Gliderjohn]

From fotoguzzi:

don't know but why aren't you looking at a Subaru?
the 2008 Forester I got came from Kansas and it's great.

Mainly cost. Most 2014 and newer Subarus are running well over 20K. The Altima I am looking at is loaded and only has a bit over 17K miles with just under 17K posted price. Also does 0-60 in low six second range.
GuzziJohn

[fotoguzzi]

well if J is the first letter in the VIN it's probably a pretty good car..

[scura283]

It appears that an Altima uses an H11 low beam bulb, with a 30 second modification, an H9 bulb plugs in.
H11 bulbs are 55 watts and H9 are 65 watts, almost  20% brighter.
I’ve done this to several vehicles and it makes a  huge difference.

[TimmyTheHog]

It appears that an Altima uses an H11 low beam bulb, with a 30 second modification, an H9 bulb plugs in.
H11 bulbs are 55 watts and H9 are 65 watts, almost  20% brighter.
I�ve done this to several vehicles and it makes a  huge difference.

Exactly what I would do

My old accord had the same issue and couldn’t see shit even if a deer decided to jump at me.

Changed out to H9 with white beam heat range...day and night different

[jas67]

Considering purchasing a 2015 Altima SL. Doing some searches on several Nissan forums one serious complaint came up on all the forums. That was how poor the headlights are on the low setting. I live in the country and this could be significant. Anyone here own one or know anything about this possible concern?
GliderJohn

Go for a test drive after dark before agreeing to buy.

[Gliderjohn]

From jas67:

Go for a test drive after dark before agreeing to buy.

Will try and do that.
GliderJohn

[twowheeladdict]

Does it come with fog lights, or are they easily installed?  I was able to add fog lights to my frontier plug and play.

Also, check to see if the lights are height adjustable.  Many of these modern cars have a very sharp cut off to keep from blinding oncoming cars at night. 

[Kev m]

Go for a test drive after dark before agreeing to buy.

Yeah, but I would think that one could relatively easily upgrade lights from bulb changes, to going to HID's if it's important enough.

I guess though it's easier on some than others. I mean on my tinker-toy (Wrangler) $200 got me Hella E-code housings, higher wattage halogen bulbs, and a custom wiring harness with relays to wire it direct to the battery and work off the OEM switches.

[bigbikerrick]

I have read that Subarus have  had problems with blown head gaskets, above 80k miles.
Has that issue been resolved, or is it still a problem? I have read that the block/head interface doesnt have enough metal for a proper seal/bad design.
Rick.

[Gliderjohn]

I don't think that Subaru has had problems with that since 2013.
GliderJohn

[calfruit]

I purchased a new 2015 Subaru Forester, had many many problems with it. The final blow was right before the 3year warranty expired, it started have ecm trouble. Subaru could not or would not find the trouble. Not wanting to go thrpugh the lemon law hassel——i traded it in on a Honda CRV

I find the Honda to be a far superior car, however is is 3 years newer and has many features the Subaru did not

[LowRyter]

Altimas are good cars.  I like Accords myself but nothing wrong with a Nissan.  Don't know about the headlights.

[Gliderjohn]

From Lowryter:

Altimas are good cars.  I like Accords myself but nothing wrong with a Nissan.  Don't know about the headlights.

I have owned four Accords and my current one is a 2003. Have liked them all and have had minimal problems but for whatever reasons currently the Accords are running about 2-4K higher for equivalent years, miles and features and the Camrys are falling in between.  The Nissan has more power and the Bose stereo.
GliderJohn

[JJ]

Never owned one myself, but my good friend "Fast Eddie" is on his 3rd Nissan Altima...and he swears by them.   He always buys them used and puts 150K-200K on them without any issues... 

Regarding the headlights, I am sure that can easily be upgraded to hi-power LED bulbs, yes?

[Noguzznoglory]

they all hold up pretty well if maintained
my only knock on nissan is they use those cvt trans on everything and we sell a lot of
 nissan transmissions.

[fotoguzzi]

I have read that Subarus have  had problems with blown head gaskets, above 80k miles.
Has that issue been resolved, or is it still a problem? I have read that the block/head interface doesnt have enough metal for a proper seal/bad design.
Rick.

it seem like a common thing to replace the head gaskets at the same time as the timing belt at around 100k, mine was supposedly done at 127k.. but yeah I've heard a lot about that problem with Subi's.

[Zoom Zoom]

I have read that Subarus have  had problems with blown head gaskets, above 80k miles.
Has that issue been resolved, or is it still a problem? I have read that the block/head interface doesnt have enough metal for a proper seal/bad design.
Rick.

The biggest contributor to that was owners not keeping up with proper maint. on the coolant. There are anti corrosive additives that are supposed to be there that become less effective over time. Many ignore that part of maintenance. Suabru actually has an additive that is supposed to be added when coolant is changed.

On another note, the newer Subies, 2012 and up 2.0, and somewhere in that time frame the 2.5, went to a chain to drive the cams, with the exception of the engine in the WRX, although that may have changed by now too. So there is now 0 maintenance on a cam belt.

John Henry

[LowRyter]

From Lowryter: I have owned four Accords and my current one is a 2003. Have liked them all and have had minimal problems but for whatever reasons currently the Accords are running about 2-4K higher for equivalent years, miles and features and the Camrys are falling in between.  The Nissan has more power and the Bose stereo.
GliderJohn

that's because the Accords are more popular.  drive one and you'll see why.  (I've always said "you have to have a good reason why you'd spend more or less money for a car than buying an Accord.") 

Having written that, the Altima should get you down the road from point a to b as reliably as the others. 

[twowheeladdict]

they all hold up pretty well if maintained
my only knock on nissan is they use those cvt trans on everything and we sell a lot of
 nissan transmissions.

Not on my frontier. 

[fotoguzzi]

  On another note, the newer Subies, 2012 and up 2.0, and somewhere in that time frame the 2.5, went to a chain to drive the cams, with the exception of the engine in the WRX, although that may have changed by now too. So there is now 0 maintenance on a cam belt.

John Henry

GTK, thx I might get a newer Subi in the future..

[Mr Pootle]

Good headlights are important, particularly if your eyes are ageing. I bought a Volvo V50 new five years ago. Two days later I went back to the dealer and asked if something was wrong with the lights. He said not. I then went onto the Volvo owners forum, to find that nearly everyone who’d got a V50 with halogen lights was complaining about them. I’ve tried different bulbs, but they’re no great help. Finally, this winter, I can stand it no longer, and I’m getting rid of the car. It’s a shame, because I like it in every other respect, but when I go out after dark it’s a nightmare once I get to areas where there isn’t good street lighting.

[Rough Edge racing]

it seem like a common thing to replace the head gaskets at the same time as the timing belt at around 100k, mine was supposedly done at 127k.. but yeah I've heard a lot about that problem with Subi's.

 Subaru head gasket issues were finally fixed around 2006... It was  a poor head gasket design and materials that Subaru tried to ignore....Generally speaking, aluminum liquid cooled engines can and do have gasket problems..The usual reason is the aluminum compresses slightly under the head bolt or stud and can loose clamping pressure...If you buy a new vehicle and it costs you 1500 bucks after 100,000 miles to fix something that stays fixed, well, that's maintenance  costs...
 
 

[Noguzznoglory]

Not on my frontier.

cvt's are on the FWD cars only.  and we sell a lot of frontier/pathfinder transmissions but that's due to bad radiators

[bigbikerrick]

cvt's are on the FWD cars only.  and we sell a lot of frontier/pathfinder transmissions but that's due to bad radiators

Do you know if bad radiators also affects the automatic transmission in a 350Z ?, I imagine what you refer to is the ATF cooler inside the radiator leaks, and puts coolant in the transmission?
Rick.

[Noguzznoglory]

Do you know if bad radiators also affects the automatic transmission in a 350Z ?, I imagine what you refer to is the ATF cooler inside the radiator leaks, and puts coolant in the transmission?
Rick.

haven't seen anything on the 350Z. just the rear drive trucks. plenty of info on the internet regarding coolant migrating into the trans fluid. nissan is extending the warranty on them.

[Gliderjohn]

Appreciate everyones input. I am going to see the car in person tomorrow and if we both agree concerning my trade and accepting the Altima according to the deal we tentatively arrived at over the phone, I will be buying it.
GliderJohn

[twowheeladdict]

cvt's are on the FWD cars only.  and we sell a lot of frontier/pathfinder transmissions but that's due to bad radiators

I thought was fixed in the newer trucks. 

[Kev m]

cvt's are on the FWD cars only.

And AWD variants based on the FWD units...(if we're being particular).