Comments on: Nissan Sentra Review

By: nozferatu

nozferatu — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:39:35 +0000

Oh another thing, while the Mazda 3 handles well and feels sportier, I sure as hell don’t want to sit in a car which, in this day and age, has a POOR side impact test rating…please…that’s pathetic sorry.

By: nozferatu

nozferatu — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 08:37:54 +0000

Some of you guys are hilarious…

The constant criticism of the “out-dated” rear suspension and acceleration, etc etc…

First off, I doubt ANYONE on this website will know the difference of a IRS and axle beam suspension setup while driving these cars in the road at 6/7 or hec 8/10ths of the car’s performance ON PUBLIC ROADS.

Second, now that the SE-R is out, it’s plenty quick for everyday driving and handles much better than most people will care to test its limits.

I find it funny that “car enthusiasts” criticize cars for particulars that have just about no bearing on real-life driving experiences and situations.

Most people buy a car like a Sentra for some fun, getting around, carrying things, having 4 doors, being reliable, looking pretty decent (as the SE-R’s do IMO), being efficient, etc etc.

All the traits the SE-R has…and being affordable to boot…well…now how about that?

Let’s ask how the poor sap who just got raped buying a $27K GTI feels while he beats me by .3 seconds to the next traffic light.

By: N P

N P — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:01:43 +0000

Oh no…this body style will not bode well for the se-r…no indeed…

By: CrunchyCookie

CrunchyCookie — Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:37:26 +0000

Great review. But tell me, am I the only tester who finds the Sentra’s obnoxious brakes to be the weakest part of its driving experience?

By: finger

finger — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 21:14:53 +0000

Let me see…
I can buy the Sentra for about $16,000 with 140 hp and 147 lbs torque no ABS and a 5 yr 60K warranty…or… a Cobalt LS with 148 hp/ 152lbs torque, ABS and a 5 yr 100K warranty for $14,000. Hmmm…tough decision…

By: max1138

max1138 — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 11:35:31 +0000

Will Nissan (Datsun) ever bring back the beloved 510.The greatest japanese car ever built! Now that thing was overbuilt!!!!I drove with blown headgasket for 5 years before I ever replaced the motor with a L-20B!

By: Brendan McAleer

Brendan McAleer — Thu, 30 Nov 2006 16:56:45 +0000

The SE-R is officially released. No Forced induction :(

http://www.nissannews.com/

By: Jon Furst

Jon Furst — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:13:57 +0000

HawaiiJim: I couldn’t agree more.

By: radimus

radimus — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:57:26 +0000

radimus,

Uh… don’t buy a Focus.

I’ll leave it at that.

Fear not. I have no intention to. I generally buy a car after the last owner paid to fix everything. :)

By: Speed Shifting | The Garage

Speed Shifting | The Garage — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 16:01:33 +0000

[...] In the real world, I’ve had a number of people who don’t understand why I don’t like Nissan’s newest dog, the 2007 Sentra. Over at The Truth About Cars, Brenda McAleer has this to say: If you’re young, stylish and sporty-ish, you buy a Mazda3. If you’re young, stylish, play too much X-Box and want a handbrake like a photon torpedo release, you buy a Honda Civic. And if you’re a veteran of the Crimean War or your personality’s been surgically removed, you buy a Toyota Corolla. So what does the Sentra bring to the small car party? Indeed, how will the Sentra compete? It won’t! [...]

By: Brendan McAleer

Brendan McAleer — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:44:21 +0000

Terry Parkhurst
This car is an excellent patient for some clever tuners to take to task.

Perhaps, Terry. I mean, someone’s already turbo’d a Versa, although having the exhaust manifold in back will make for interesting plumbing. I still think the SE-R version will need a lot of massaging to be able to challenge the other in-house tuners out there.
It’s not designed to be sporty though: Low-tec rear suspension so the trunk is larger, high center of gravity so that there’s more cabin space, etc. Somebody already blimped this ride, and any personal trainer’s gonna have their work cut out.

BK
Nissan’s whole shtick is ‘we don’t make a car for everyone, we make the perfect car for someone.’

Nissan has designed this car for 35-year-old drivers who are less interested in performance than comfort. Fine, it works just fine that way, excepting the visibility stuff. Like I said, 6-or-7/10ths driving.

Don’t keep bringing up the Corolla. Yes the Sentra is better than that car, but so what? You need to drive a Rabbit and a Mazda3 to see what you’re up against. Also, the Civic does have less torque, and on a wet auto-x course that may have made a diference. The Sentra still corners on its door handles.

On the other hand, you will sell lots of these because it’s cute and big at the same time. Just be aware that you will have a few objections to overcome.

By: BKCars

BKCars — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:04:16 +0000

I do work for Nissan. I sell them. I am genuinely enthusiastic about the new Sentra. I did actually drive the Civic, Sentra, and Corolla on the same mini-autoX course, on the same afternoon, in the rain. Those who think it handles like a boat – you drove the new one? It handles like a dream – I like the ride, and I own a Celica GTS.

Nissan’s whole shtick is ‘we don’t make a car for everyone, we make the perfect car for someone.’ So I can understand if this car isnt for you. Personally, I would have no compunctions about buying one for myself, if I was in this market.

I refuse to believe that all these detracters have actually driven the car. Until you do, jump off the bandwagon, and go find your own opinion.

By: ash78

ash78 — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 13:18:12 +0000

Jonny Lieberman:
These designers should climb into a BMW 2002 — that is what proper visibility is all about.

As an aside: I was just thinking that EXACT thought as I walked through the parking deck last night. I walked up to my 98 Passat head-on and compared the “glass-to-body” ratio with some other, newer designs. The old 2002 seemed like it had a 60/40 split in overall height between glass and body (looks really unusual to the casual, ignorant observer). My car is probably 50/50 with excellent visibility, while many of the new designs are 40/60. The bodies are really encroaching on the sightlines these days.

By: Terry Parkhurst

Terry Parkhurst — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 07:08:31 +0000

Wow, Brendan – tell us how you really feel. There are some of us to whom a smaller Town Car doesn’t sound like such a bad deal. Since I haven’t gotten one from the local press fleet representatives who handle Nissan, I can’t dispute much of what you say; but at least the thing looks better than the mid-Nineties Sentras, which just didn’t do much for anyone. This car is an excellent patient for some clever tuners to take to task. And no, I am not talking about “pimping the ride.”

By: Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:04:54 +0000

radimus,

Uh… don’t buy a Focus.

I’ll leave it at that.

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:55:34 +0000

>>> “Look at me!’ the Sentra shouts, “I’ve been styled!”

wonderful line

By: Brendan McAleer

Brendan McAleer — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:38:56 +0000

Ryan:
Isn’t that like being forced to choose between driving a Compass or a Monte Carlo?

My dad once asked a guy wearing a Rage Against the Machine t-shirt if he owned a Land-Rover.

jacob:
I’d add to this.. if you’re a hooligan, you buy a Subaru Impreza. Too much money? VW Jetta.

Hey, I want to buy a Subaru. I guess I aspire to hooliganism!

Point Given:
While I (obviously) didn’t love the Sentra, I too feel that it’s a quantam leap forward over the old model. So, I guess, erm, point taken.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 03:02:25 +0000

“I’d still rather have floor tickets to the Killers than box seats for Yanni”

Isn’t that like being forced to choose between driving a Compass or a Monte Carlo?

By: radimus

radimus — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:37:05 +0000

Jonny L. makes a great point. Hard to beat the Fusion for that kind of scratch. Best value for the dollar, bar none!

Agreed. People get on Ford’s case for not having a car in the same class as the Fit, Yaris, and Aveo but when you tack on the discounts and incentives they’ve piled onto the Focus you realize they don’t need one. I was pricing out all of these cars on Edmunds the other day. Once you kick in the discounts, the Focus comes down into the same price bracket.

By: radimus

radimus — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:34:15 +0000

How the Ion escaped TWAT branding is beyond me.

It’s a relative thing. When you put it next to the even greater wretchedness that is the GM minivan and the Monte Carlo it looks like a really nice car.

By: Nicholas Weaver

Nicholas Weaver — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 02:21:13 +0000

Uh, that fuel economy isn’t that great in the category. The Civic gets 30/40.

By: jacob

jacob — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:59:04 +0000

If you’re young, stylish and sporty-ish, you buy a Mazda3. If you’re young, stylish, play too much X-Box and want a handbrake like a photon torpedo release, you buy a Honda Civic. And if you’re a veteran of the Crimean War or your personality’s been surgically removed, you buy a Toyota Corolla.

I’d add to this.. if you’re a hooligan, you buy a Subaru Impreza. Too much money? VW Jetta.

By: crwpitman

crwpitman — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:50:06 +0000

I cannot wait for the day Nissan abandons clear lense taillights. They look like a cheap aftermarket version “ricers” would buy.

By: Jonny Lieberman

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:30:01 +0000

How the Ion escaped TWAT branding is beyond me.

Yuh-uck!

By: BerettaGTZ

BerettaGTZ — Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:27:56 +0000

Brendan, very entertaining, enjoyable review; I look forward to future writeups. On the subject of the Sentra, I can’t believe how similar the 3/4 rear view is to the Saturn Ion. If this car was made by Chery, they’d be sued by GM.