I got the fever

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As you some of you may know by my forum name, I'm somewhat partial to Nissan fourbangers for a number of reasons. I've got the Boss's OK to pull the trigger on a new '06 Sentra Special Edition 1.8 with what passes for bells and whistles in that class. $2200 factory incentive, decent credit union finance package, and the last model year before they upsize the Sentra to a mini Altima meets my specs for a reliable, affordable, economical people mover. Mazda3 priced themselves out of the picture and Corolla about the same even though they are both probably a bit more car. I really could pass on the spoiler on a 126hp car but what the heck. The Scion x/A and Honda Fit also seemed a bit pricey. All feedback appreciated. Be kind... If/when I get it be prepared for the usual angst about break in oil, warranty requirements, detailing, dealer service, etc. Plus, it's got 9 speakers with the sound system!!!
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Not sure exactly what feedback you're expecting. Sounds like the decision has already been made.
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From my own experience, we have an '05 Sentra SE 1.8 at my company, and honestly, I would never buy it with my own money. The interior is just really cheap and the engine is a dog (with the auto tranny). Probably the only good thing in it is the half-decent audio system (for a car of that segment).

If it was me, I'd pay the extra for a Mazda3. Much better fit and finish and overall interior feel. Of course, not everyone is as crazy about interiors as I am.
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And of course, we're talking about a company car, so price does matter.
 
Our Honda dealer can't keep Civic's in stock with these gas prices.

Check out these numbers for June:

Acura-19.4% at 15,107 (June 2005: 18,744)
Audi11.3% at 8,039 (June 2005: 7,209)
BMW3.4% at 24,179 (June 2005: 23,392)
Buick-36.6% at 23,738 (June 2005: 37,446)
Cadillac-21% at 23,265 (June 2005: 29,444)
Chevrolet-25.5% at 243,353 (June 2005: 326,632)
Chrysler-21% at 51,986 (June 2005: 65,594)
Dodge-11% at 96,485 (June 2005: 107,997)
Ford-7.2% at 226,250 (June 2005: 243,678)
GMC-46.5% at 47,604 (June 2005: 88,971)
Honda3.4% at 111,342 (June 2005: 107,672)
HUMMER-16.2% at 5,661 (June 2005: 6,754)
Hyundai4.3% at 44,508 (June 2005: 43,051)
Infiniti20% at 9,300 (June 2005: 11,623)
Isuzu-8.4% at 1,652 (June 2005: 1,803)
Jaguar-25.2% at 2,160 (June 2005: 2,888)
Jeep-19% at 37,475 (June 2005: 46,441)
Kia1.3% at 27,443 (June 2005: 27,095)
Land Rover12.7% at 3,847 (June 2005: 3,414)
Lexus6.3% at 27,686 (June 2005: 26,043)
Lincoln-11.1% at 9,610 (June 2005: 10,808)
Mazda8% at 23,727 (June 2005: 22,063)
Mercedes-Benz14% at 20,802 (June 2005: ~18,247)
Mercury1.7% at 16,670 (June 2005: 16,395)
MINI-1.4% at 3,556 (June 2005: 3,607)
Mitsubishi-.04% at 10,004 (June 2005: 10,621)
Nissan18.9% at 65,854 (June 2005: 81,158)
Pontiac12.1 at 41,115 (June 2005: 36,665)
Porsche10.4% at 3,058 (June 2005: 2,770)
Saab-50.2% at 3,295 (June 2005: 6,614)
Saturn.70% at 23,790 (June 2005: 23,618)
Subaru3% at 18,476 (June 2005: 17,946)
Suzuki28% at 9,516 (June 2005: 7,449)
Toyota15.71% at 195,332 (June 2005: 168,832)
Volkswagen5.5% at 20,121 (June 2005: 19,071)
Volvo-11.4% at 10,867 (June 2005: 12,266)

COMPANIES
 
Check out the Hyundai Elantra. They have it in every configuration, 4 door, hatchback, GT. Comes loaded for 14K, and with the 60K bumper-to-bumper warranty, how ya gonna miss?
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The 1.8 Sentra engine is not the best. I(t has a higher rate of head gasket failures. I own the 2L Sentra which is a great engine. I jsouldn't buy the present generation of Sentras. The platform is ancient. It needs upgrading and so does the 1.8
 
Hey 929, I'm a Nissan fan as well. If you really want a sweet Nissan ride with a 4 banger, try looking for their vehicles with the SR20DE 2.0L 4 banger like Al has. Granted, you'll have to get a used one but if you hold out, you can find ones that have been pampered by a Nissan nut! The cars to look for: 91-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R, 1995-1998 200SX SE-R, 1998-1999 Nissan Sentra SE, and 2000-about 2005??? Nissan Sentra SE-Rs. Also, any model Infiniti G20. Cars equipped with these engines have awesome handling/braking and the Sr20 motors have a cult following for power and bulletproof reliability. I'm currently on the lookout for a 91-about 95 Infiniti G20; they are just great little cars.
 
Did some more looking around. Local Toyota dealer quoted $16,300 (plus t,t,&l) for an '06 Corolla CE with power trim amd auto after a whopping $500 rebate. Still within budget but starting to pinch my cheap hide. Recent Corolla owners care to comment on those figures or the car itself? The $2200 Nissan Sentra rebate on the last year model before the upgrade comes on the heels of a sales stoppage for a five month production run on the 2.5l engine which has hurt the whole brand. Also, sales figures listed above show Nissan slipping 19%. Must be a reason. I did see the first Versa hatchbacks off the truck in this area. Each dealer got one apiece with a sticker near $17k. Sedans not out till the fall. I think Nissan is now down the list. Might see if another dealer can come down on the Corolla. The Yaris also just arrived here in small numbers at about $14k. Nice but tiny and not much of a track record. I think I'll just go home and put a sharp stick in my eye. I hate buying cars. But as usual your comments are appreciated.
 
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Originally posted by 9296D21B14:
The Yaris also just arrived here in small numbers at about $14k. Nice but tiny and not much of a track record.

I'd say check it out anyway. The interior is actually not that tiny when you sit in it. And as far as track record, it's been sold in Europe for about 5 years now if not longer. Even won some kind of a car of the year award at some point... if you can get past the looks and centrally mounted instrument cluster that is.
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I always feel that used cars are a much more economical buy. Let someone else take the big depreciation hit. Also lower tags and insurance costs to boot. If you're buying a reliable car to keep for a while, you shouldn't be worried about a new car warranty, which is only 3/36 on some of the major Japanese brands anyways. my $.02
 
Hope this thread has not become completely annoying. Re: used cars. Last three purchases were such (see forum name) and thanks to BITOG in particular they have all kept rolling but not without a price, ie, increased repairs, break down worries, etc which get somewhat discounted against the new car depreciation hit. Also, the used car market post Katrina here is, shall we say, a bit damp? Anyway, over the years my brand loyalty
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has been more with Mazda than Nissan. '84 B2000 long bed pick up, '90 first generation 323 with the 1.8l, and the 98 Pro 1.5l all bought new and served well. So, it's the Mazda3 2.0l which I drove (again) this afternoon and was surprisingly quoted with a competitive price against the Corolla. Here goes! Where's that sharp stick when I need it most? Zoom, zoom. Right. Again, thanks for the help in thinking this through.
 
Well, you know what they say about opinions.
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We've had two Nissan Sentra 1.8l. An '02 GXE and currently a 1.8s.

I disagree with cheap interior comment. At least in the 1.8s it's pretty decent. The plastic doesn't appear cheap and has some good texture. It has a pretty darn good stereo that you can plug your iPod or whatever into. For the money it seemed to me to have very good standard features.

We got the $2500 rebate and also the extended warranty.

My only negative would be the gas mileage. It's rated at 28/34 but realistically it will be a couple mpg lower.
 
If you use price as equal to value you only have the focus and sentra to choose from as they carry similar discounts to move older tech.
I give the edge to Focus even if it has a cheaper interior, some cheap struts but handles well and for me 4 qts of oil not 2.5 qts of the Sentra in its crankcase.
 
I own a 2002 Sentra GXE (1.8L). The headgasket on mine began seeping (externally) around 42,000 mi. Replaced under warranty, but given how small the leak was, I bet there are plenty more of these driving around out there with the same problem.

Sounds like you lost the "fever" already, but thought I would chime in anyway.
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