1994 Nissan Altima GXE 2.4 from North America

Summary:

Good: reliability, performance, and fuel economy,

Faults:

Starter needed replacing at 108,000 miles, not unexpected as the previous owner had used a junk yard part.

Replaced spark plugs at 115,000 miles, gap was bad and water got in, otherwise they would have lasted much longer.

Replaced muffler and exhaust pipe at 125,000 miles, Minnesota roads use salt in the winter, 11 years of rust took its toll.

General Comments:

This car is quick for its class, performance is excellent when compared with fuel economy.

When I'm driving on the highway, I get 30-32mpg. In town it's lower 20's.

Seats are decently comfortable once you get used to them.

Felt small on the inside when I first purchased the car, now it seems to be plenty of room and I would not ask for any more.

I keep up with regular oil changes and this car has not failed me on anything serious. Everything that needed fixing thus-far has been normal for a car at any age.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 13th April, 2006

1994 Nissan Altima GXE 2.4 from North America

Summary:

Very good and reliable car for the price

Faults:

Cam cover gasket leaked.

Plastic radiator tank leaked.

Distributor shaft leaks.

Heater/AC switch replaced.

Alternator failed.

General Comments:

Very nice driving car.

Decent gas mileage, approx 23/31.

Rear legroom cramped.

Poor radio performance.

I bought this car from my son who had it from 20K miles. He had very little trouble in the 5 years he owned it. It's the first Japanese car I have owned, but it won't be the last. It has been far more reliable than any American or German car I have owned, and I have owned over 30 in all.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th March, 2006

28th Aug 2006, 15:05

I agree that the car is a good deal - I bought mine for $1,800 and although I put $1000 into it (tune up, 2 oil leaks, oil change), it is in pretty decent shape at 119,000 miles. I hope to have it for at least a solid year of driving. The clear coat is gone on its black paint job, but it is a very solid comfy ride, I don't think I could've gotten a better deal in my immediate need for a car. The car antennae is broken, but my ipod FM transmitter works perfectly in it! Speakers are crap, but those types of accessories are cheap to replace. AC works, cruise does not, and my repair records show that the window motors have been replaced twice (so hopefully I won't have to do it!) Previous owner just did brakes and pads (thanks!), and it easily passed the CA smog test. The cupholder stinks and is the most annoying feature, I have to say. I am envious of the new Altimas, they're pretty hot. But, my '94 was a super deal and I love this car! Get one! Maybe someday I'll be able to score a newer one at a killer price.....

1994 Nissan Altima GXE 2.4L from North America

Summary:

Recommended to anyone looking for a dependable car.

Faults:

Front back pads replaced at 138,000 miles.

Passenger side CV Axle replaced at 138,000 miles.

Front wheel bearings replaced at 143,000 miles.

General Comments:

The car is a quite good handling car.

Is not the most comfortable interior, but fairly comfortable and does have good functions.

Very low maintenance car that will be on the road forever. I have put 13,000 miles on the car in 4 months. Out of 23 vehicles before this here car it is the best car I have ever owned.

The small 4 cylinder gets great gas mileage of 25mpg city and 30mpg highway. It also has a lot of power for a small motor, and acts more like a six cylinder on power.

I used this vehicle as my primary response vehicle for the rescue team I was with until getting a Ford Ranger and knocking the Altima down to a secondary response vehicle, and it served me very well considering the abuse it has received. It still gets driven several times weekly as my truck is always breaking down.

Nissan out did their-selves on this car, and once again proves to me foreign cars will always be better than American any time of the day. I don't think I could part with this car for $100,000 considering how well it has served me. If anything ever happens to this car, I can garuntee I'll buy me another Altima.

The rescue team I am with is even thinking about purchasing several Altimas for our command officers as a patrol vehicle because of the great MPG and quality of them.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th December, 2005

6th Dec 2005, 17:55

I had a 93 Altima and I absolutely loved it, but it was a piece of crap and I cursed at it many times. I bought it for 500 bucks and it had been sitting in the grass for a year in the previous owner's yard. The entire rear crossmember was rotted out, it took 4 days of welding with 1/8 inch plate steel to get it sufficiently repaired for a safety inspection. Thankfully my dad did the welding for me, or else it would have me quite a few hundred bucks. My dash lights didn't work, the heater control was stuck, the motor mounts were soft, I believe it had a bad tranny mount, and the intake manifold gasket was leaking bad, the upper timing chain guide was noisy, the AC didn't work, the flexible exhaust joint was rotted out, but I still loved it. It sucked down a full tank of gas in under 300 miles which was pretty bad. That's what I get for buying a car that's been sitting in the grass for a year or more.

16th May 2006, 15:59

Here it is May of 2006 & back in December was when I made my first post about this car. My PCV Valve clogged up & I was unaware of it & ended up driving it until it broke down. Do to that it did cost me about $400 in order to repair it, as it needed the distributor cleaned, new distributor cap, ignition rotor bug, new PCV valve, PCV system cleaned & new gaskets as the valve cover & intake had to be taken apart to replace the PCV Valve & clean the system. However considering the car now has 146,000 miles, which is 16,000 miles more than what was on it when I purchased the car a little over 8 months ago. I paid $2300 for it & have spent less than $1000 on repairs. I actually started using it as my primary vehicle again, as it gets 10mpg better & runs a lot better. As with any vehicle it needs proper maintenance, but as long as it gets the proper maintenance these cars can run strong longer than most cars are ever on the road for very little cost in repairs.