PRO: Longest available factory extended warranty (8-yr/120k), good chance of Honda providing goodwill assistance once out-of-warranty, uses regular fuel, easy-to-service transmission, standard stability control, interior quality and design.
CON: Wind and road noise, expensive tire replacement (About $800/set for touring tires), timing belt replacement every 105k @ $600-$1000 (depending on the shop), higher 0-60 time compared to Altima and Camry, lack of manual mode for transmission, worst fuel economy @ 21 mpg (compared to Altima and Camry) according to Consumer Reports.
Camry SE V6
PRO: Styling (subjective, I'll admit), good 0-60 time, manual mode for transmission, reasonable tire replacement costs for long-life touring tires, timing chain, uses regular fuel and obtains 23 mpg overall
CON: Transmission still has some flare issues (very few with 2008 models, but still exists), difficulty of transmission service (filling and level check are difficult for DIY), possibility of premature transmission failure (before 150k), interior quality, steering wheel adjustment (Altima and Accord have a better driving position), difficult to find equipped with stability control, oil filter access (upside down mounted cartridge oil filter located underneath the vehicle), cost of water pump replacement (engine and transmission have to be removed)
Altima 3.5SE V6
PRO: engine/transmission performance, 0-60 time, CVT transmission w/manual mode, interior quality is better than the Camry, timing chain, water pump job does not require engine removal
CON: CVT durability is unknown and premature transmission failure (before 150k) is a possibility, requires premium fuel, expensive CVT fluid ($20/qt), unappealing interior design, unknown long-term durability, stability control is difficult to obtain without special order or purchasing higher-end trims
I'm quite certain that any of these cars will need a transmission rebuild/replacement around 150k. I've checked the price of a factory remanufactured unit and they all run about $4000 including parts and labor, so one isn't significantly more expensive than the other, surprisingly.
I'm still not sure which vehicle to choose. I want something that's low maintenance, powerful, and has decent reliability. Any advice?
