When it comes to bad driving, it’s the person behind the wheel that makes the difference – and the internet has pinned Nissan Altima drivers as the main culprits.
Ever since they first hit the streets in 1992, the humble sedan’s drivers have been the punch line for endless jokes.
Now the cars have a cult following of their own online, with enthusiasts uploading photos and videos dedicated to “Big Altima Energy” – or BAE – characterized by car crashes, hair-raising police chases and comedic errors.
Some car enthusiasts argue that motorists guilty of BAE aren’t limited to Altima drivers, with one Reddit user describing it as “an idea, feeling, or lifestyle that goes beyond one car or brand…BAE means so messy to be possible.’
A wild clip shows a woman panicking after an Altima driver clipped her car, with many saying her unhinged behavior also falls under “Big Altima Energy.”
While social media has always been awash with wild rants and stupid driving videos, Big Altima Energy’s rise seems to be more of a niche.
The craze stems from a reckless, laissez-faire attitude to the road, where drivers drive around without windows or with massive dents and don’t care about the damage.
“What really defines BAE is a total lack of accountability,” said one social media user of the trend.
They explained that while a BMW, another car with a bad reputation for driving, might cut someone off, their drivers will probably still look to see if there’s room to do so because “they’re still worried about what’s going to happen.” happens to their vehicle.’
“It doesn’t matter to an Altima driver that his front bumper is missing,” they added. “If you get in the way, they don’t mind getting another dent.”
This is evident from research by an insurance comparison site Value penguinNissan Altimas was the ninth most likely car to be involved in a fatal accident between 2013 and 2018 – although the vehicles were only responsible for about a third of the 10,845 wrecks involving the leader, the Ford F-Series trucks, in the same time frame were involved.
Followers of the ‘Big Altima Energy’ trend often note that it is fueled by carelessness where drivers ‘don’t mind another dent’
Motorists exhibiting “BAE” strive to be “as messy as possible,” according to social media
One chilling clip shows an Altima racing down a residential street, chased by a police car
The rise of ‘Big Altima Energy’ follows in the footsteps of other hilarious internet memes such as ‘Karens’ asking to speak to the manager, with clips of BAE behavior often showing crazy, unhinged situations.
In one viral video shared on a special BAE Facebook On page 10, a woman was seen booting up the front bumper of an Altima after it snapped into her car. As a growing crowd screams on stage, the driver apparently gives a perfect example of “Big Altima Energy.”
With no regard for their own battered engine, the driver rushes into the woman’s car, continually denting and damaging the vehicle.
Some viewers added that the woman’s anger was also a good example of the hold Altima seems to have over people, with someone describing her as “a mess.”
Another absurdity Altima-inspired fiasco saw a family was talking on the side of the road when one of the Nissans flew past them at breakneck speed.
The Altima was quickly followed by two police cars lighting up the road, as viewers said the daring chase was typical of “Altima energy.”
Many note that “Big Altima Energy” is not limited to the Nissan cars, but instead is a “feeling” of messy, crazy or even sometimes creepy motorists. Pictured here is a Toyota Corolla for sale, despite appearing to be covered in blood
Altima drivers are known for their laissez-faire, carefree attitude to their broken engines, driving around with blatant damage from their many car accidents
In a statement to DailyMail.com, Nissan said it “encourages safe and considerate driving” and that “all motorists are responsible for obeying the traffic laws wherever they drive their vehicle.”
Ironically, the reason Altimas have earned their reputation for accidents and mistakes may be due to an advantage the cars had more than a decade ago.
In 2002, Nissan was at the forefront of engine production and was one of the first automakers to install continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) in their cars.
Within a few years, many Nissans were upgraded with the technology, including Altimas. The CVTs ensure that the engine’s pistons fire at the most efficient speed thanks to the extended gear ratios.
This essentially gave the cars a powerful acceleration that caused them to jump off the line, and gave their drivers an extra push in situations such as overtaking.