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Love that Craigslist - got a nice area rug for $50.
I'm impressed by the size of the Altima's trunk. Split folding rear seats are common in most sedans but having the realease straps in the trunk and not inside makes using the car in this way easier.
Anyone think having the release inside the car is better?
Brian Moody, Road Test Editor...
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penboy says:
03:33 PM, 07/28/07
I would have to say that the Mazda6 5-Door has the best system I've seen, with buttons for release near the headrests, and handles on either side of the trunk to cover that to cover all the bases. The wagon uses the same system, but I haven't been in a non-Mazdaspeed sedan, so I don't know if it's the same.
bimmerjay says:
04:07 PM, 07/28/07
In sedans the release location in the trunk is also for security - so you are able to completely lock out access for valets, etc. In my 3-series, flipping the "trunk release off" switch in the glovebox disables the remote release, the button on the decklid, and the button inside the car. Lock the glovebox and with the seatback releases in the trunk, there is no access other than the ski pass-through.
On another note, those are some fine Ford Taurus-quality unsheathed gooseneck decklid hinges.
penboy says:
06:47 PM, 07/28/07
I never would have noticed it until bimmerjay mentioned it, but those hinges are very, very disappointing thing to see in a brand new ~30k car. Even most compact cars come with better folding hinges nowadays...
zoomzoom22 says:
07:51 PM, 07/28/07
I agree with penboy....the Mazda 6 has the best system i've ever seen, and it is nearly identical to the one in the three series. i have a sedan (non mazdaspeed) and it has two handles in the trunk with a lockout button for the system in the glovebox. and ditto to those cheap hinges....the 6 (and i'm sure the 3 series) has nice, modern hinges that are like those on a liftgate of a minivan and dont eat up any trunk space. love that engine, nissan, but clean up the details.
drunkenpanda says:
06:31 AM, 07/30/07
Personally I like the releases inside. On road trips it kinda nice to be able to get into the back with out having to stop. Also I like the goose neck hinges better. I've driven plenty of company and rental cars that have the hydraulic strut and I hate how much effort it takes to open. With my Camry, I hit the trunk release button and the trunk pops open so that you actually know its open. Then I am able to use my elbows to open the lid and drop all the snacks that will be accessible from inside the car.
nitsudima says:
07:39 AM, 08/24/07
Accessing the trunk in the 07 Altima can be done from inside the car or through the trunk. The release mechanism for the rear passenger-side seat is inside (near the headrest), and from there you can reach through to the driver's-side rear seat release inside the trunk. If you only want the driver's-side down you can do that, but you do have to go through the trunk (there is no interior release for that side). The interior release button is lockable with the key.
Similar to the BMW system described earlier, the glove compartment has a trunk release deactivation switch that disables the trunk release inside the cabin as well as the intelligent key trunk release on the fob and on the trunk lid itself.
So, if you're leaving your car with a valet, you can flip the switch in the glove box to lock the trunk, lock the glove box door, lock the interior seat release button, and give the fob to the valet (keeping the actual key yourself). No one could get in your trunk unless they ripped off your glove box door!