Faults:

All sensors replaced (mass airflow, crank position, oxygen sensors, etc).

One of the catalytic converters replaced.

Timing chain.

ECM.

Wheels (recalled).

Two back speakers.

CD player.

General Comments:

Nice looking car and a good size. Back seat is a little cramped for leg room. 40/60 split back seat is limited by the large plastic barrier (only a hole to allow things to extend from trunk space into cabin).

Great gas mileage. Nice interior/features/price for a base car at the time. All power features still work. A/C still going. Runs well, reliable.

Has had its issues and repairs, but better than the average car, and has been reliable since repairs were made. I have kept oil changed, etc regularly. Keeping my fingers crossed to have it going until 200k.

Faults:

I had to change the ignition coils twice on the same cylinder. The first time, the service shop did the job; it cost me around 300. The second time, I recognized the issue and purchased the ignition coil and installed it myself. I paid around 120.

Check engine light is on. The dealer and various shops tried to turn the light off, but for some reason it comes back. I wasted around 100 for diagnostics. The shops were saying it was the coil. After a while I just ignored the light. The car has been running great for 2 years with the light on.

I changed brake pads and rotors at 130000 miles. I performed the job myself and paid around 250 for parts.

Fan resistor broke. I installed it myself. It cost me $18 for the part.

Driver side power window switch stopped working at 110000m. I got the part from junk yard for $35.00 and installed myself.

General Comments:

Overall, I am pretty happy with the car. There were minor issues with it as I noted above. The car has been great. Nothing major went wrong with it. I just changed the oil and drove.

It has decent acceleration for 1.8L engine. The car gets 32 mpg (which is not bad).

One thing I don't like about the car is the cheap plastics the interior is built with. What can you expect, as it's an entry level car. Also I find that the seats are not comfortable for long trips, and it is hard for me to find a comfortable driving position. Also the interior is a bit noisy.

I can't complain though, because it is still a reliable car.

Faults:

When I first bought the car, the rooters needed to be replaced on the car. Then, the dealership informed me that the side air bag light when off. They needed time to fix this as well. When I was ready to drive my car off the lot, it would not start. The reason for it not starting is: it now needs a new battery, and alternator.

General Comments:

This is my first car, and I had to wait almost a week to drive it home.

The car runs very well, the interior is average, but it is very good on gas.

The brakes work extremly well too.

Faults:

Will have to replace brakes soon.

Nothing, really.

General Comments:

I'd like to preface this with the comment that I realize this is Nissan's lowest end car; I didn't expect a Jag. But overall:

While being perfectly fitting, the car is somewhat cheap. Everything seems just a little flimsy, or creaky or thin. When I crank the (stock) stereo up, I can really see the windows vibrating. Then again, it weighs about 11 pounds, so it's expected. The maximum passenger capacity is 850lbs, and boy oh boy do they mean it. Chuck 3 fat mates in there, and that sucker isn't doing much going in the forward direction. This is, without a doubt, a 1 or 2 person car; "seats 5" is a sales gimmick.

Engine has some pep, certainly nothing comparing to the SE-R Spec V or Mazda Protégé MZDSPD (both of which I tested), but more than enough to get around. It's a quick car and pulls hard out of 1st, but you don't get the impression there's power to burn. Mostly because there isn't power to burn.

Mileage is good without being spectacular; a combo of city and highway driving, around 40 miles a day, yields about 30MPG. I should quantify that statement with REASONABLE driving; if I drive fast I pay through the nose for it. I get about 300 miles out of a 10 gallon tank; I drove fast and fun this week and only got 226 (ouch!).

I’m not fond of the gearbox, but there’s nothing particularly wrong with it. It’s by far the smoothest drive when you rev it up to 4 or 5 thousand RPMs, but it’s awful loud up there. My clutch, at least, is often touchy. The ratio’s are very supple, but 2nd is tiny, as is 1st. You absolutely can’t get into 1st if the car is moving at all; no matter how hard you try it won’t let you. Which is good, because 1st isn’t good above 10 miles an hour.

The brakes are the real weak part of this car. On a test drive you probably wouldn’t note this as nothing at all appears wrong at lower speeds. However, they do not inspire confidence of any form at higher speeds. They’re terrible. They get real hot real quick, then they start to grind, and then you start to consider evasive. This car isn’t all that light, and these brakes just aren’t good enough for serious driving. Around town, they’re swell. But don’t look to stop in a hurry, because you won’t. The handbrake is also worrisome; you have to really give it a good tug if you’re on a hill, or you’re rolling.

Handling can best be described as “stiff”. It’s almost as if there’s no power steering, which provides for a very high resolution, precise line. Fun and easy, sticks well. Again, though, this car weights enough to notice, and you can pretty easily find the limit of the sway bars.

This is my first car, and perhaps an overly sensible one at that. Paid $6000 for it; I'll drive it for another 8 months or so and then I'm off to the city again, so it's gone. Is it a Corvette? No. It’s not even as good as a Mazda Protégé ES (fantastic car), but it’s cheaper than both by far. What it is is a very nice little cheap reliable car. (and no, I don’t consider six thousand dollars cheap, but it is good value).