"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
08/02/2014 at 18:52 • Filed to: None
2
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"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
08/02/2014 at 18:52 • Filed to: None | 2
| 5 |
Headed down to Oklahoma City and my mom rented this from the local enterprise: a base-model Nissan Altima "full-size" mid-size sedan.
Meh.
Disclaimer: Nissan wanted me to drive the 2014 Altima so much that they built the damn thing.
Looks: 7/10
The Altima is a pretty middle-of-the-road performer for looks. It doesn't look terrible, but it isn't outstanding by any means. I like the gently recurving character line along the sides, the grille is unoffensive and actually quite nice, the butt isn't bland, though the headlight clusters look a bit like odd growths from certain angles.
Ours is the same color as the picture, a beautiful flecked slightly-lighter-than-burgundy color that catches the sun pretty well, with a black interior that heats up to approximately four billion degrees in this summer heat. Bleh.
Toys: 6/10
It's a base model. There's not much to speak of but IT HAS AN AUX JACK, EVERYBODY. Drivers seat is motorized, passenger seat isn't. There is a basic radio, cruise control, push-to-start and keyless entry, and automatic raising and lowering windows.
I just found the Bluetooth on the stereo. Pretty nifty. A color LCD between the tach and speedo can cycle through to show things like tire PSI, mileage, and audio info. Pairing my phone was a matter of hitting a button on the steering wheel then typing "1234" on my phone, then I could make and take calls and control music from the steering wheel, while the currently playing track/album/artist shows on the dash and radio.
Storage: 9/10
This thing has compartments EVERYWHERE. A large bin in the center console under the radio with a 12v outlet in it, and under the armrest is a cavernous compartment that could swallow a 12-pack, and contains another 12v outlet.
The glovebox, unlike most, doesn't lie about its size. That big door comes down and reveals a large compartment. Could store lots of gloves.
The trunk doesn't look like much until you pop the hatch. Despite the rear window coming nearly all the way to the back of the car leaving a small hatch, the trunk space itself is on par with my full-size Buick. Storage for 6 bodies. 12 if you stack them.
Audio: 7/10
The speaker system, despite having 9 speakers doesn't seem all that better than my base comparison: the "high end" 14-year-old six-speaker system in my Buick. Mids are muffled, highs are a bit exaggerated, bass is crisp but starts to clip at 50% volume.
The engine noise is nonexistent. Unless you have your foot shoved through the footwell this thing won't make a peep. On the plus side, it's super-quiet cruising at highway speeds.
Engine: 6/10
Propels the car pretty quickly. Good in a pinch. Smooth as hell. Not much else to say.
Transmission: 5/10
Honestly, the CVT isn't awful. It emulates an automatic, which is pretty dumb, but shifts are pretty damn fast when put in sport mode.
Handling: 6/10
Corners incredibly flat, but has next to no road feel and the power steering is so fast that I could spin the wheel with my pinkie. The whole driving experience is incredibly disconnected— even more so than my Logitech Momo racing wheel, which is a pity because it really does handle pretty well.
Conclusion: Too lazy to do math
It's not a terrible car. Good commuting appliance with no major drawbacks, not offensive or hideous, and the build quality is pretty good. It can have a little fun if you really push it, but this isn't something you'll want to get with the intention of carving up Nurburg.
ly2v8-Brian
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 18:56 |
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meh car is meh
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Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
> ly2v8-Brian
08/02/2014 at 19:03 |
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Pretty much. Meh, but nothing really *bad* about it.
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ly2v8-Brian
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 19:24 |
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exactly, meh
All Motor Is Best Motor
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 19:51 |
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I drove a rental and can confirm it's a decent car. It's not exactly sporty, but it handles flat and is actually pretty eager to change directions. It is somewhat detached feeling through the steering. The ride is taut but smooth. The interior was pleasant and clean without too much fuss. I found the rental engine surprisingly groany though. It groaned under normal acceleration any time you pulled away from a stop. It was slightly intrusive.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
08/02/2014 at 20:19 |
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Nothing wrong with cars that serve the intended purpose: point A to point B
I guess we could all mock beige Camrys and then complain our Porches costing so much to maintain, as is customary.