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Car of the Week: Nissan Altima Ups its Sophistication
By Frank SWashington,
AboutThatCar.com
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Standing in the garage here at
Nissan’s North American headquarters what stood out
about the all new Nissan Altima was that the midsize sedan
looked much more sophisticated than the car it replaces.
Amid the dozen or so test cars that were parked, I noted
that the lines of the 2013 Nissan Altima were flowing. The
car also appeared lower and wider. Still, the foot print of the
all new Altima was about the same. In other words, the new
Altima had not increased in size; it was an inch longer, one
inch lower and one inch wider.
In fact, the car looked like a smaller version of the Nissan
Maxima. More important is that the new Altima has Nis-
san’s design DNA: Rounded fenders, horizontal grille and
angled lamps fore and aft.
We honor the many
accomplishments of
African Americans.
It is our primary goal as a labor union to
better the lives of all people working in
the building trades through advocacy,
civil demonstration, and the long-held
belief that workers deserve a "family
wage" - fair pay for an honest day's
work.
A family wage, and the benefits that go
with it, not only strengthens families, but
also allows our communities to become
stronger, more cohesive, and more
responsive to their citizens' needs.
Our family wage agenda reflects our
commitment to people working in the
building trades, and to workers every-
where. In this small way, we are doing
our part to help people achieve the
American Dream. This dream that work-
ers can hold dear regardless of race,
color, national origin, gender, creed, or
religious beliefs.
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Representing more than
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Page 6 The Portland Skanner August 14, 2013
I learned about the dimen-
sions of the 2013 Altima
during the product presenta-
tion which started late
because one of the shuttles
ferrying reporters here from
downtown went to the Nis-
san plant in Smyrna instead
of Nissan’s North American
headquarters which is in
suburban Franklin.
Anyway, the new Altima
has two engine choices; a
2.5 liter four cylinder that
makes 182 horsepower and
180 pound-feet of torque.
The 3.5-liter V6 makes 270
horsepower and 258 pound-
feet of torque.
Both engines were mated to
the newest generation of Nis-
san’s continuously variable
transmission
(CVT).
It
accounts for 40 percent of the
improvement in the new Alti-
ma’s fuel economy.
The four cylinder engine
gets 27 mpg in city driving
and 38 mpg on the highway. The six-cylinder gets 22 mpg
in the city and 30 mpg on the highway. Part of the fuel econ-
omy improvement is due to weight reduction; the 2013 Nis-
san Altima is 79 pounds lighter than the model replaces.
We were given a bunch of information. The new Altima is
quieter than the car it replaces, Nissan said it is more com-
fortable because of a new seat design and it is technologi-
cally better.
The car’s new communication system has Bluetooth,
streaming audio, hands free texting, internet radio and an
iPod interface as well as auxiliary and USB jacks. The new
trend in automotive communications systems is connectivi-
ty; that is running Smartphone apps through the car’s audio
Nissan Altima
The car’s new communication system has
Bluetooth, streaming audio, hands free texting,
internet radio and an iPod interface as well as
auxiliary and USB jacks
system.
The 2013 Altima can be equipped with blind spot warn-
ing, land departure warning or moving object detection. The
car also has a tire pressure monitoring system.
But its little things like the remote start has a range of 195
feet or the windshield wipers will complete their cycle after
the car is shut off that will undoubtedly make consumers
appreciate the new Nissan Altima. Or, when putting air in
the tires, the Altima will beep its horn when the correct
pressure is reached.
But how the car drives will determine whether consumers
embrace it. On a relatively short test drive to Lynchburg,
home of Jack Daniels Bourbon, I discovered a few things
about the Altima’s driving characteristics.
My test vehicle was quiet;
especially its CVT. Nissan
has done a lot of work to
make the transmission
which has no gears operate
quietly. Handling was sharp,
continued from Quiz on page 3
the car went were I steered
it and it tracked well. I did-
1. ANSWER: C The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was set up in 2011
n’t have to make adjust-
to give consumers protection in their dealings with the financial products and serv-
ments to keep it centered.
ices industry. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/ It makes rules for financial servic-
The roads in this part of
es companies, enforces the rules, recovers money wrongly taken from consumers
and monitors the industry for problem practices.
See CAR on page 7
2. ANSWER: E The examples all violate the Dodd-Frank law against “abusive,
deceptive and unfair practices.”
3. ANSWER: B
4. ANSWER: A. The agency has recovered $430 million so far from more than
175,000 complaints.
http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201307_cfpb_2_year_graphic.jpg
5. ANSWER: D You can make a complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau online at their website or by calling 855- 411-2372. http://www.consumer-
finance.gov/complaint/
6. ANSWER: C Mortgage lenders generated 85,200 complaints compared with:
36,300 credit card complaints; 25,700 bank account complaints; 14,200 credit
report complaints; 6,000 private student loan complaints; 5,700 consumer loan com-
plaints; and 300 money transfer complaints. The agency began taking debt collec-
tion complaints in July.
7. ANSWER: D
Find out more about paying for college, and compare costs at different institutions
on the CFPB website. http://www.consumerfinance.gov/paying-for-college/
8. ANSWER: A
Sen. Jeff Merkley has been an outspoken supporter of consumer issues such as;
foreclosure prevention; affordable education loans and to rein in Wall Street. While
in the Oregon Legislature, Merkley led the effort to cap interest rates on payday
loans and fees.
Merkley has been “a godsend,” says Robert Stoll, the Portland attorney on the
CFPB advisory committee. “I’m very thankful he has been there for us. He was a
brand new first-term senator, but he was the number one leader in the Republicans
finally agreeing to confirm Richard Cordray to the CFPB. Oregonians should be
proud of Sen. Merkley.”
Sen. Patty Murray has spoken out on the need to keep student loans affordable.
She serves on the powerful Senate Appropriations committee and its financial serv-
ices subcommittee among others.
Sen. Maria Cantwell serves on the Senate Finance Committee and has supported
attempts to reform Wall Street. A bill to regulate the derivatives market succeeded,
but attempts to restore the Glass-Steagall Act, which regulated banks, ensuring main
street banks and investment banks remained separate, did not pass.
Sen. Mark Begich voted to prevent the doubling of student rates and to confirm
Richard Cordray as executive director of the Consumer Financial Protection
Bureau. He serves on the Appropriations committee, among others.
Answers