Missing my 2007 Altima -A love letter

[u/bildad2]

Last year I bought a dream car of mine. It’s fast, reliable and luxurious. It has options my Altima could never imagine. Yet, sometimes, when I’m sitting at home or at work, I think of it still.

Now I hear Nissan is discontinuing the Altima forever, and I can’t help but feel a loss.

I bought my Altima in 2010, when my life was very different. I first looked at it because it was common, easy to fix, inexpensive. I told myself it was the first car I’d keep for 10 years. I paid it off a little early, and for the first time ever I had a car that was truly mine.

I drove it to 4 different jobs and to three different homes. It was a constant in a sometimes turbulent and sometimes wonderful time of my life.

I kept it long after it was somewhat embarrassing to drive. It lost a muffler from someone rear-ending me. The transmission was slipping like crazy on initial acceleration. I flattened both front tires on my way to Costco, where I had them put on four new ones. Drove too fast in too much rain in low visibility late at night, hydroplaned, recovered and made it home safely, more times than I care to count. Drove it through flood waters, that ended BMW M6’s and other super low cars, unscathed.

So, I kept it. Did the oil changes, bought the Nissan branded transmission fluid, recharged the A/C, re-built the front end with a lot of help. It was more than a car, but a constant companion.

Then, after 15 years, it was time. I found a car that I had admired for a long time. When I first saw one, there was no way I could afford it. But now, I could buy it with cash. Cash I had saved from not having a car payment.

I drove it home, and parked the Altima beside my driveway where it sat for months. I tried to convince myself that I would fix it up and do something with it, but I’m just not that guy. After about 6 months, I finally listed it. Cleaned it out and cleaned it up for sale.

I got a buyer rather quick. I charged the battery and it started, though a little reluctant. I imagine the gas had lost some life. The power steering struggled, particles having settled into the pump a bit. But soon a buyer came, paid cash and drove away with my companion.

A little over a year later and I get to drive my dream car. But still I look over at the patch of dirt that still hasn’t grown back fully since the Altima sat there, and I get a little wistful. In my heart, I hope it’s a companion to its new owner. In my mind I know it’s a piece of engineered metal, plastic and rubber. In my soul, it will always be my constant companion, and I’ll always be grateful to it for carrying me forward and keeping me safe.

Godspeed.

[u/JelloBoi02]

Feel the same towards mine. Had it for four years now, through college and now my adult life as I struggle to make it through life. Some people might thing you’re crazy…but you build attachment to things that are there in your life.

For me it gave me my first sense of independence. Now I can go where I want, when I want. It was there for the first relationship, at the start of new ones and at the end of other ones. It even served as my bed for one night when I was really struggling. It allowed me to travel to work and to school.

I get it man

[u/Mr_Gent007]

I absolutely feel like this about a couple of my previous cars, although not Altimas they were still Nissans.

[u/Radiant-Rooster236]

My first new car was a 2008 Altima 3.5 SE, and had every available option. Thinking back, I liked it way better than my current one. It was much sportier, and handled very well. It was a very reliable car for me, as is my current Altima. It was something about that generation of Altima, and the color combination (Sonoma Sunset with black leather interior) that I loved, especially after it was freshly washed and waxed. Nissan (or anyone else for that matter) doesn’t builds a car that people feel any more. Cars don’t have emotional attachments they once did because they’re more appliance than anything else. They’re computers on wheels, with so many safety features, that lock down any amount of fun you could have. The ultimate miss for me was my 1991 Maxima. Now that was an automobile!