Hi I am new here..

Stacy--welcome to the forum!

I have never driven an Altima, but a five-speed '83 Sentra wagon was my first car when I was in college and I loved that little car. I hope that the Altima gives you many trouble-free years, and perhaps down the road a Prius will be right for you.
:welcome:

 

welcome.

there are plenty of used prius' out there at very reasonable prices.
I sold my 08 #6 for only $15K, which was a good deal considering that it was
fully loaded with all the bells and whistles.

have you priced the C?

 

Something to note, Stacy, that the newer Prius cars, such as the Prius v, c and the plugin Prius will have what is called Vehicle Precense Notification System (VPNS). This would be basically a noise maker that will help kids, blind people and also people who aren't paying attention to notice that the Prius is driving by, especially under 15 miles per hour, where the car would normally be 'silent

Also, from the cnet test drive, the Prius c is not nearly as 'high tech interior wise if that is what scares you as well as being smaller, and cheaper on the pocket.

 

Prius will have what is called Vehicle Precense Notification System (VPNS). This would be basically a noise maker that will help kids, blind people and also people who aren't paying attention to notice that the Prius is driving by, especially under 15 miles per hour, where the car would normally be 'silent

I would love to change that space age sound for the sound of a Big Block with a 3/4 racing cam. I cannot what for that app.

 

The point of the VPNS is not to make it obnoxious, Red Hot, but to make people aware the vehicle is there and is at some sort of speed. The failure people have with regards to the VPNS is one of the reasons the Anti-Prius Videos harp about, and also one of the proposed bills going on to make sure Hybrid vehicles, such as the Prius, the Volt, the Leaf and other future electric cars have something of that nature.