1998 Nissan Sentra XE 1.6 DOHC

Summary:

Best $8k I could possibly have spent on a car in grad school!

Faults:

Replaced one drive axle at about 150,000 miles. CV was bad... was cheaper just to drop in a bigger composite part. This is the only thing that has ever FAILED.

Oil, tires, brakes, belts, etc. are all regular maintenance.

Still on the original clutch, but I think it's getting to be time to replace it. Other drive axle is making a noise... hey at 200,000+ miles... what can you expect!

Looks like I will have to replace a couple of engine seals that might "total" the car. We'll see what happens.

General Comments:

Not fast. Not flashy. Not sexy.

But... Never a pain in my... you know.

This has been a GREAT little car! Super reliable, incredibly cheap (I still get high 30's on the highway and 30 in town... but I pay attention to my driving to save fuel). I've had it 14 years and may have it a couple more.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd October, 2014

1998 Nissan Sentra GXL

Summary:

Save your money for something that won't have a million things wrong with it, all at once

Faults:

Check engine light comes on constantly.

Had to replace the clutch after owning it for only 3 years, front wheel bearing had to be replaced a week after I replaced the clutch. Fan went out and my car over heated constantly in this same time period.

Mechanic told me that the computer in my engine was ruined.

Stock CD player stopped working a year after buying the car.

Driver side window stopped working.. now it won't roll down without getting stuck.

Apparently there's some kind of pressure problem in my gas tank, which sets off my check engine light at least once every 2 months.

Gears stick a lot.

General Comments:

Decent car when I first bought it, not many problems at first.

After about 6 months of owning the car, things starting falling apart.

The pro of this car is it gets awesome gas mileage, mine's around 40 miles a gallon.

Reliable when I wasn't having problems with it.. but after a few months of owning the car, things starting falling apart. In one month I spent over a thousand dollars on it in repairs. Really really frustrating.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 29th January, 2010

1998 Nissan Sentra GXE 1.6

Summary:

Good for the family safety and budget

Faults:

Rear main seal early on.

Headliner at 150k.

Alternator about 130k.

Timing chain @ 160k.

Speed sensor and odometer @ 199,850.

Radio back dash lighting about 100k.

Both Radiator fans about 150k.

Thermostat around 160k.

Power steering line 220k.

Right front brake caliper @ 150k.

Left front ball joint @ 190k.

Batteries, plugs, belts, brakes, filters when needed.

Electrical and cosmetic issues, nothing major.

General Comments:

Shut A/C off when accelerating, gives better juice.

Get Japanese Tires... it makes a difference in driving.

When you hear a gurgling rattle you can't find below the back of the engine... it's probably the guides on the timing chain.

Use zip ties and clamps and check all hoses and connections. After a while things jostle loose.

Good highway driving; a little loud, but well balanced on the road.

Cosmetics were skimped on, but very reliable engine and transmission. I might get 300k before it's over.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 29th August, 2009

21st Jul 2012, 14:45

That's awesome to hear a true review. I'm at 168,000; same things pretty much as you said. Alternator at 100k, I constantly go through brake pads and calipers, but I drive it like I stole it, and the fact this car has survived my punishment and refuses to die is amazing. Regular maintenance.

I just changed the valve cover gasket for 20 bucks. It took about half an hour. That was at 160k.

Window regulator on the driver's door went bad. Had to replace that around 75k, but that was most likely due to all the windows being down in the pouring rain, but I'm not looking forward to a timing chain or odometer sensor.

For the most part she runs like brand new. Of course she has her bad days, because she's an old woman, but the car never moved much in the first place, unless you're up in the 4000 RPM+ range.

She likes clean oil; I'd recommend always changing the oil around 3000 to 3500 miles.

Most expensive repair I had to do was the whole exhaust rusted away and needed replacing. That ran about 900 bucks; maybe because mine is a California edition; the aluminum is so cheap and thin, I don't know how they expect it to last through the salt filled roads winters I've been taking this car through.

She's great, and I hope she keeps on trucking. I'd love to take her to 300k with no problems.