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?
Buy both. Then set up a crash test to see once and for all which prevails… the unstoppable force (Altima) or the immovable object (Titan). Whoever loses, we all win!
I went with the truck mostly because of the salvage title on the Altima. Either is probably fine for the price.
I already own two v8 trucks, and yet I still voted for the Titan. I just really dislike trunk-laden vehicles. I favor practicality.
I need a truck right now, mainly for hauling my kayak, but this is not the truck I need. It’s too big and too thirsty. I’ll take the Altima for the manual and far fewer miles.
Hunh! A Titan for sale in Tacoma. I wonder if there’s a Tacoma for sale on Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, to you know, keep the universe in balance.
I’m not really a fan of either of these. I am not reflexively anti-Altima even though the only ones I’ve driven were rentals with CVTs. I find the taillight clusters on this gen particularly hard to look at.
SWG’s praise aside, I don’t recall ever reading anything very complimentary about the Titans.
The Altima has a stick, so I went with that. Despite the taillights.
Has an Altima ever pulled The Autopian Cab around in its time of need? I think not!
I don’t doubt you or it. I’m just going on what I’ve read in the old mainstream car mags. If the Titan was 4WD, I probably would have gone for that as I already have a FWD four door sedan.
For you, the Titan is an appropriate tool for the jobs you do. I had a 1st gen Tundra when I used to have a lot of yard waste and what not to take to the composting yard at the waste transfer station. But I don’t need to do that anymore.
Long before that, back in the mid-80s, I had a Nissan 720 that put up with all the abuse I heaped on it without any permanent damage. And I had a ’68 510 wagon before that, so I still wish Nissan well. Unlike VW, none of their products has stranded me or surprised me with an expensive repair.
Crap, voted Titan only because it could tow a horse trailer, and then saw that the Altima had a stick.
The Altima is probably the better deal here, as long as you don’t mind driving it. There was probably something funny about that accident, but the truck has probably seen about the same.
MT means BAE today.
Had to check that the Altima was a timing chain engine, as a timing belt job would equal the cost of the car (because I’m not tearing my arms up doing that). So I’m gonna go for Big Altima Energy today.
I can drive it on crappy weather days to keep dirt, mud, snow, and salt off my Civics and still enjoy working a clutch.
The truck could do the same thing, but hauling groceries in the winter with kids is gonna be a PITA without a covered bed.
I’m usually in the Nissan Is Never The Answer camp but I kinda like both of these for different reasons. They could replace 2 of my crappier vehicles, a very high mileage 2009 Corolla 5 speed and 1992 F-250 beater.
I was for the beater truck, but that Altima is CLEAN for that price, with a 6 speed?
I’ll take better MPG and a sedan before I take a truck I don’t need at this point in my life.
There are some Nissans I wouldn’t mind owning but these ain’t them. Eh, truck I guess.
Taking the Altima, removing the bumper covers and headed to the Freedom Factory…
Altima. Had one of this gen where the CVT was starting to go at 90k miles despite a fluid change at 40k. Soured me on the brand in its post 2003 form, but it was a good car outside that. Nice ride/handling balance, good steering and brakes for what it was, better interior materials than Honda and Toyota at the time, and it was quiet on the highway. With the 6 speed this would be worth rolling the dice on.
I personally have no use for a big higher mileage gas hog RWD V8 pickup.
Going for the smogged manual Altima. I’ll drive it politely and enjoy the fact that everyone will still get out of my way.
That misaligned hood coming up in the rearview will earn respect. And maybe fear. Actually, probably all fear.
That’s what put me off; what else is out of whack if that’s on the wonky?
I voted for the Altima because I don’t need or want a big truck, but if I did, the Titan isn’t a bad choice.
When the Titan first came out, the Tundra still wasn’t quite full size (it would be a few years later with the next gen). Therefore, the Titan was the first serious threat to the US full-size pickup market from a foreign nameplate. I wish it had been more successful.
The Titan’s biggest problem is that there was no regular cab or V6 to lower the base price and get some more work trucks and fleet contracts.
Titan. Those were decent trucks, and the differential issues were mostly resolved by 2008 and certainly are fixed on that particular truck by now.
I picked the titan but the altima is tempting with that manual
Altima all the way here…I can take it to SE DC and never get jacked as it has that pesky 3-pedal anti theft device. Keep it super clean and drive it normally and watch as everyone in the DMV gawks at the antithesis nature of your machine.
I like those Titans a lot, for about the same money I have a hard time passing on the truck. The Altima seems like a decent value given the car market today, and I really should get a beater to commute in, but I really like large and/or fun vehicles. Good reasonable cars just don’t do it for me.
I’ll take the Titan as I could always use a full size 2wd truck around the farm.
I still subscribe to the “ordinary car with a stick shift is better than a fancy car with an automatic” maxim.
I know someone with a Titan of that vintage with over 300k on it and it still runs fine. Good amount of battle damage but it spent its life out of the salt so its not rusty. Just a good overall truck for doing truck things.
I’m going to pick Big Altima Energy, though. Should make a nice cheap commuter and having a manual is a plus.
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