actually, the 3.5 in the altima and the 3.5 in the 350 are both VQ35DE’s. granted the 350’s VQ puts out more horesepower, but the altima doest have the extra weight of a rear subframe, independantly cased differential, driveshaft and many of the other parts that make a rear wheel drive car heavy. that is one advantage of FWD, the entire drivetrain is packaged into one neat, lightweight unit.
dont underestimate the 3.5 altimas. they are VERY quick in stock form.