1997 Nissan Altima gxe from North America

Summary:

Great car couldn't kill it with a hammer

Faults:

Front end problems really have been the only problems. Have replaced the rotors at least 4 time, and pads more often. Tie rods and boots etc.

General Comments:

This is by far the most reliable car I have ever owned. I drive it daily, it has been driven every day since it was purchased, through tonnes of snow in northern Ontario. Never got stuck, never had a wipe out, very stable. Only begining to rust now and that's my fault for not washing the road salt off it in the winter.

At 230000km its still ripping along, does my daily commute of 45km every day without complaint.

However... I change the oil religiously, I try to keep it clean, it gets regular checkups (every 6 months)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th September, 2008

1997 Nissan Altima GXE 2.4 V4 from North America

Summary:

GREAT!! I Highly Recommend Altima!

Faults:

When I got the car in June of 2006 I had to put $800 into it to pass emissions, but I only paid $1800 for it, so it was well worth the money. new CV joints December 2006.

General Comments:

This car is a very good car, I bought it as a salvage title and I didn't know that it was a salvage title when I bought it, but there was no damage that I noticed. for having 178,000 miles on it it runs like it only had 90,000...MY friend has a 1996 Honda Accord with 144,000 miles on it and my Altima shifts better. The trunk leaks, and I have to vaccum and Lysol the trunk out sometimes, but only once since I got it. The handling is great, and it handles superior! The interior is great also, but one design flaw was the cup holder place in front of the radio, but I have XM Radio installed and now I hardly ever even use the radio. The seats can get a little hard during long trips, I Drive from Atlanta to Savannah at least twice a month and I have never had a problem, the cruise control comes in handy on I-16 to Savannah, I usually set it at 87MPH and it drives smooth and great. I highly recommend this car to anyone, but a large person and a large family. I LOVE MY ALTIMA!! It's a great 1st car for me!! (16 years old)

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th January, 2007

5th Jan 2007, 18:32

Thanks! Isn't XM radio great! You love your Altima as much as I love mine!

27th Feb 2007, 08:18

Maybe a little off topic, but I do own and appreciate my '97 Altima. Stop paying for satellite radio!! Remember HBO when it was on $20 dollars a month? Probably not, but they too had no commercials and offered "superior reception". Now HBO has turned into "cable" and at a minimum is $600/year aaaaaand you still get commercials up the whazoo!...they're making money on both ends!! My advice, get HD radio and if you don't like commercials, plug your MP3 player or iPod into it... Again, I do appreciate my Nissan Altima, best car I've ever owned to date.

1997 Nissan Altima GXE from North America

Summary:

This car is beautiful but frustrating

Faults:

Car idles heavily, chugs, then dies at stop lights. I took it back to the dealer and he had a sensor replaced, but a week later, it happened again.

If anyone else has had this problem I would appreciate their input.

General Comments:

The a/c is cold, the transmission is smooth and the car is beautifully clean. It is the perfect car for my 19 year old.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 3rd July, 2006

12th Jul 2006, 03:26

If you have oil in the distributor the problem lays there; it burns out the cam position sensor, very common with these cars. The distributor needs replacing, it cannot be repaired.

16th Oct 2009, 01:33

I've own a 97 Altima too, same problem, engine wants to quit when stopped at red lights. Bring it to the shop, mechanic told me that the exhaust manifold gasket was leaking air, got the fix, problem solved, not quite sure if he really did fix the manifold gasket, but problem solved...