Avis Rental #2 - Nissan Altima

 I returned to San Francisco, CA for another 2 week visit and upon my arrival to the SFO airport and the Avis rental (this time I went with the airport Avis) I was expecting another economy car like the Ford Focus I had previously. Much to my surprise I was given a 2012 Nissan Altima - bright red. I haven't had much experience with Nissan in the past. My impression of these cars was that they were more for College age folks that wanted something flashy, but still affordable (come to find out, affordable isn't necessarily the case). Since I personally prefer a practical or fun (I know - two extremes) and on the smaller side of cars, this just was never in my radar of makes I would pursue.

My first impression of the car was that of technological overwhelming. I was handed two "keys" (more like Fobs) that were very odd to me. I have a feeling that I expressed confusion and bewilderment on my face since the Avis rental car attendant said to me "You use this button to unlock, and then push the button to start the car." That's right, I "push the button" to start the car.
There's always this slight adjustment period one goes through when getting into a new rental car for the first time. Adjust the seat, check the mirrors, quickly figure out the radio (music is a must have), and get to know the wipers and headlights before you drive off. This one took a bit longer of an adjustment with the way it starts up. Because there is no key, I had to figure out to press the break and then push the start button.

Once the car was started I was well on my way. The car handled well, and acceleration onto the freeway went with ease. Not to mention how it took the corners - that was a little too much fun. Nissan debuted the fourth generation Altima in 2007 and since then the Altima line has seen minor changes. The Altima Coupe (which is what I was driving) drives much like the Sedan, but adds a unique body styling, sportier suspension tuning, and more aggressively bolstered seats. Which is what left me in awe as I felt like I was driving a high priced sports car.

 The 2.5 Liter 4-cylinder engine gives you plenty to zip past those slow going cars in the right lane, and the CVT Automatic transmission allows you the freedom to just drive.

I actually looked into buying one while I stay  in San Francisco, CA more often but the newer models are definitely out of my price range with the 2012 Nissan Altima Sedan starting at $20,550 and the 2013 Nissan Altima Coupe starting at $24,040. I could probably get an older model with the 2000 Nissan Altima Sedan priced around $4,000, which isn't bad.

I definitely enjoyed driving this one, and began to get pretty spoiled with the fob. I had gotten into the habit of just leaving the fob in my purse and using the push button on the door to open the car. From there I just put my foot on the break and started the car. I was too easy and convenient, that when I got home to my Kia I actually felt burdened with the key.

Thanks to Avis - Ford Focus

Used Ford Focus Models and Price Estimates

• 
  2009 Ford Focus 
• Coupe Used TMV from $10,884
• 
  2009 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $10,240
• 
  2008 Ford Focus 
• Coupe Used TMV from $8,823
• 
  2008 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $8,928
• 
  2007 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $6,961
• 
  2007 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $7,087
• 
  2007 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $8,436
• 
  2006 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $5,884
• 
  2006 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $6,007
• 
  2006 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $6,776
• 
  2005 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $4,497
• 
  2005 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $4,576
• 
  2005 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $5,623
• 
  2004 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $3,969 
• 
  2004 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $4,012
• 
  
  2004 Ford Focus 
• SVT Used TMV from $6,389
  
• 
  2004 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $4,909
• 
  2003 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $3,663
• 
  2003 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $3,720
• 
  
  2003 Ford Focus 
• SVT Used TMV from $5,366
• 
  2003 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $4,693
• 
  2002 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $3,165
• 
  2002 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $3,213
• 
  
  2002 Ford Focus 
• SVT Used TMV from $4,301
• 
  2002 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $3,983
• 
  2001 Ford Focus 
• HatchbackUsed TMV from $2,882
• 
  2001 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $2,966
• 
  2001 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $3,718
• 
  2000 Ford Focus 
• Hatchback Used TMV from $2,638
• 
  2000 Ford Focus 
• Sedan Used TMV from $2,718
• 
  2000 Ford Focus 
• Wagon Used TMV from $3,427

I have been travelling from Seattle, WA to San Francisco, CA for several months now, and during my trips I have been renting a different cars from Avis. If you follow me on Twitter you have probably seen my tweets anticipating what car I am going to get as I land in San Francisco. Then of course another tweet with the results of receiving the highly anticipated car that Avis gives me.

My first trip was about 2 weeks and while I didn't use the Avis at the airport, I had found a small Avis just down the road from my office in Redwood City, CA. The Avis there had given me a white 2010 Ford Focus to drive around. Now the smell inside the car left a lot to be desired. It was a machine type of smell, not quite gasoline, but it seemed to be a hydraulic fluid of some sort. At first I figured I could deal with it, but I found myself arriving at my hotel room and my clothes were covered in the peculiar smell, I decided to buy an air freshener the next time I hit the grocery store. I sprayed the fruity smell, but found myself emptying the bottle before my first week was up.

Odd smell aside, the car itself was quite fun to drive. The 4 cylinder engine was just enough to get up to speed on the freeway without holding anyone behind me back. The compact design made it easy to navigate through the city, and heavy traffic. My husband even paid a visit over the weekend and we took the car on a small road trip to the coast. The little car was very comfortable on the long 1.5 hour drive through the windy roads to the coast.

Now here's where I geek out on the car a bit:

The car itself is very affordable, but doesn't feel like a cheap car. It has definitely been built like a Ford (as they say, "Ford Tough"). The newer models are built with a four-cylinder engine that is more fuel efficient than previous models. The car itself is very easy to handle due to the advanced suspension and Ford has put in a great deal of new technological features.

The engine itself is a 2.0 four-cylinder with 160 horsepower and 146 feet of torque (if that means anything to you). What that translates to is that the engine is not as powerful and as fast as say the Toyota Camry (2.5 liter four-cylinder engine producing 178 horsepower and 170 feet of toque) which is the next class up to the Ford Focus. For an inexpensive commuter car, the Ford Focus rates pretty good.

If you're concerned about fuel efficiency (and really, who isn't these days?) the Ford Focus is rated at 40 miles to the gallon on highways. Personally I only had to fill the tank once before I dropped it back off with Avis at the end of my 2 weeks. The tank was still 1/4 full, and that's using the car daily to and from the office ( 4 miles each way) with a 30 mile road trip over the weekend.

If you're looking for a good used Ford Focus the 2008-2011 models are the second generation of the bunch. Ford made a coupe and sedan model with a more squared off styling to distinguish them from the first Focus. Ford started integrating technology into the Ford Focus with a voice control over cell phones and the audio system was made available. This was very unusual for the economy car segment at the time.
In 2002 Ford made the four door hatchback available in both automatic and manual transmission.
personally in these newer cars, I prefer the automatic transmission. I gotta say, I also like the technology that Ford provides with the Focus. It kind of makes you feel like you're one of those high rollers, without having to spend your years salary on a car.