the altima isn't a bad car... sort of soulless and not as fun (esp in auto) but has a decent interior for the price and the engine should prove to be basically bullet proof. dunno about that tranny... their manuals are ok (a little clunky, but lasts forevar) but i haven't heard much about their automagic. it should be quite a bit nicer to get around than the neon though. at least from what i remember of the old neons, anyway.