Somewhere along the line, Nissan went from “Major Motion” to Big Altima Energy, and I don’t know that there was any one event that caused it. But it is difficult to reconcile today’s purveyor of CVT-equipped rental specials with the powerhouse that built the turbocharged dream machines of decades past. But if you choose well, a cheap used Nissan can be a great deal.
Yesterday we looked at a couple of well-worn Hondas. They were mechanically more or less the same, but wrapped in very different packages. The Pilot SUV was generally in better shape, and the vote reflected that. I think the sun-damaged wrap job on the Ridgeline didn’t do it any favors, nor did its threadbare interior.
But to me, the Ridgeline felt more honest. And the rust on the Pilot scares me. I’d rather pull wheel bearings, and if you’ve ever done it, you know that’s saying something.
All right, let’s check out a couple of inexpensive used Nissans. Don’t worry; there isn’t a CVT in sight in this lot. They’re a little beat-up, but they’re both strong runners. Let’s see which one you think is the better deal.
2008 Nissan Titan SE – $4,000
Engine/drivetrain: 5.6-liter DOHC V8, five-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Tacoma, WA
Odometer reading: 170,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
Thirty years ago, you could get a small truck almost anywhere, but if you wanted something full-sized and V8-powered, you had to buy American. But after Toyota broke into the full-sized truck market with the T100 and later the Tundra, Nissan followed suit with its own big truck, the Titan. The American trucks still rule the sales charts, but the Japanese upstarts definitely have their fans – among them our own one-man auto rescue, Stephen Walter Gossin, who has a beat-up Titan not unlike this one, and swears by it.
You need a V8 to play in this league, and Nissan doesn’t disappoint. The Titan is powered by a 5.6-liter, 32-valve V8 that puts out over 300 horsepower. The only transmission available is a five-speed automatic, which in this case drives the rear axle only. The seller says it “starts right up and drives as it should,” and it’s ready to be put to work. I do see a low tire pressure warning light on the dash, but about all you can do is check the tires, air ’em up, and see if the light comes back.
Inside, it shows a little wear and tear. There’s a rip in the driver’s seat, and the center armrest doesn’t look too great. The seller also says the overhead console is broken. But none of that will keep it from doing whatever you need a truck to do.
I think it’s a rule somewhere that once a truck reaches a certain age, it is required to have some minor damage on one bumper or the other. This Titan passes that test with flying colors. The front bumper is mangled on one side, and there’s a plastic cover piece missing. You could replace it, but something would happen that would just bend it again.
2009 Nissan Altima 2.5 S – $3,800
Engine/drivetrain: 2.5-liter DOHC inline 4, six-speed manual, FWD
Location: Hayward, CA
Odometer reading: 98,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The Nissan Altima has become the butt of a lot of jokes in recent years, and that’s too bad, because it’s actually a pretty nice car. It’s a little sportier than a Camry, and probably just as tough. It has to be, to survive the kind of treatment it often gets.
In these days, the Altima came with either a 2.5-liter four or a 3.5-liter V6, either one available with a six-speed manual or the dreaded CVT. This one has the 2.5 and the manual, which strikes me as the correct choice for an inexpensive beater. The 2.5 had some oil-burning issues earlier in its life, but it was all sorted out by this point. It’s still under 100,000 miles, and it just passed a smog test, which is a good sign.
As you’d expect from the low mileage, it’s in good condition inside. There’s nothing fancy about an Altima’s interior, but there’s nothing unpleasant about it either. And the seller says everything on this one works.
It’s virtually impossible to find an Altima of this age without some body damage on it somewhere. This one has a wrinkle in the right front fender and some scrapes along the right side. It’s not bad, but it was apparently enough for an insurance company to total it; this car has a salvage title.
There is a stigma attached to Nissan ownership these days, but it’s not the fault of the cars, nor is it fair. If you avoid the CVT issues, they’re durable and reliable cars that drive pretty well. Your choice today is between a big brawny truck and a good sturdy sedan with a stickshift. Which one appeals to you?
Definitely the Titan. VK56 sounds so burly. Those trucks did have some differential issues, but if it’s made it this far, it’s probably fine.
And a 2WD pickup is just about the perfect utility vehicle without all that spinny stuff for 4WD you never use but sure does burn up the wallet when it needs repair and maintenance.
I had some press car Altimas of that generation with the manual, and they were fine. Nothing wrong with an Altima, TBH, though if I were FORCED to go Altima, I’d go first-gen. Man, that thing was a cool looking way to tell the Stanza “we’re going with a different candidate who’s got more up-to-date experience” (the final Stanzas were also cool-looking with an early ’90s style-sleekening right before getting smothered with a pillow)
Titan is a bit more useful and the 5.6 is pretty strong and should be ok with minimal maintenance at 170K. But the Altima is kind of a Unicorn. It has the start of the Altima bodywork going on, but I feel like the manual saved it from full on BAE. In this instance I would take the Altima and go destroy it at the Freedom Factory Altima 500