Topic: Test Drive: 2010 Nissan Sentra 2.0

[Juke1]

This would be a great car for the remake of "back to the future"....it looks like it was designed in 1980....lol.

Let me see...this car has been a real hit! As far as japanese import cars go, it gets out sold by the civic, the corolla and the mazda 3.  The funny thing is that the mazda 3 does way better than this car and they have half the dealer network....

Nissan should have scrapped this a model long ago....along with the useless CVT transmission it comes with (what a joke!).  They should call it the WTF transmission instead of the CVT transmission, because that's what most people say when the dealer hands them the repair bill....WTF!

We have a case here of someone who simply has no idea what he's talking about.  But hey forums are forums and as long as the door is open to "guest" to post unfounded crap like this will make it in here.

Sorry Altima1 is right (lol…guess what he is driving….there’s a unique car the Altima….not many of those on the road…heeeeheeee).   You should all go out and buy a Sentra, I was wrong, they out sell the civic, the mazda 3 and the corolla.  And wow what styling!  Nissan is not really extending the warranty on the CVT transmission because they cost so much to repair.  All those news reports that say they are doing that are false (they should really call it the WTF transmission).  Listen to ALTIMA1 he is objective…even if he drives a NISSAN Altima.  What a world, what a life, I’m in love!

For your information we have 3 Nissans in this household, an 08 Altima, 08 Sentra, 08 Versa, all bought the same week.  The more you type in this thread the more your level of intellect comes out, school must have been painful for you, did you ever get to finish?  I suggest you do a little bit of reading before spewing your ignorance in here, please have a look at the sales figures of the Altima as of 12/31/2009 you will find that Altima is just behind the Camry in sales.  Not bad for a company half the size.  You could also educate yourself a little further by checking out the news and see for yourself what dominates the headlines right now, it's not pretty.  You could also back your post with something credible outlining the CVT disaster that Nissan has on their hands, I'm very interested in reading about it. By the way Cartalk Canada is free, why don't you be a big boy and join so we could get to know you better;)

[Juke1]

The lack of door bumper strips takes it off my list. I had a car like that once, and it was a ding magnet.

That said, this seems like a good value for the price. I wonder if cars like this are part of the reason sales of the Honda Fit are slumping.

An attractive strip with chrome accent is standard on the Sentra S and up. On a Corolla it's an accessory, on a Civic I can't find anything, aftermarket?, saw a Civic this morning on my way in and what I taught was a crease is actually a moulding, excellent.  on an Elantra I can't find anything, aftermarket? same for the Mazda 3?

[Seafoam]

The lack of door bumper strips takes it off my list. I had a car like that once, and it was a ding magnet.

That said, this seems like a good value for the price. I wonder if cars like this are part of the reason sales of the Honda Fit are slumping.

An attractive strip with chrome accent is standard on the Sentra S and up. On a Corolla it's an accessory, on a Civic I can't find anything, aftermarket? on an Elantra I can't find anything, aftermarket? same for the Mazda 3?

I don't think those strips give much protection to your bodywork anyway,just for looks really. If you don't like dings buy a used saturn with those plastic panels or park away from everyone else in the parking lot. Most people don't care about their cars let alone the one they are parking beside.

[Spec5]

You know funny thing about those strips. I didn't even think about it until mr.annoyings ramblings... I had two probably 3 good scuffs on them on my '03 Spec V right down to the black plastic underneath. If it weren't for those strips........

Definately agree with Altima1 though. Never heard ANYTHING bad about Nissan's CVTs. I read about the extended warranty but wondered what it was about as I've heard NOTHING. I figured if they're extending the warranty it probably means they've got more faith in it.

Speaking of CVTs I've said this elsewhere but Nissan definately makes the best one out there. There's no denying they help huge on saving fuel. In the cheaper cars like the Sentra its somewhat noticeable but its not annoying like in say a Caliber where there's a huge rubber band effect. In my dad's new Altima its downright unnoticeable. He even got his first speeding ticket in his life at age 66 because the engine was ticking over at 1500rpm while he was doing 80 in a 60.

[Juke1]

The lack of door bumper strips takes it off my list. I had a car like that once, and it was a ding magnet.

That said, this seems like a good value for the price. I wonder if cars like this are part of the reason sales of the Honda Fit are slumping.

An attractive strip with chrome accent is standard on the Sentra S and up. On a Corolla it's an accessory, on a Civic I can't find anything, aftermarket? on an Elantra I can't find anything, aftermarket? same for the Mazda 3?

I don't think those strips give much protection to your bodywork anyway,just for looks really. If you don't like dings buy a used saturn with those plastic panels or park away from everyone else in the parking lot. Most people don't care about their cars let alone the one they are parking beside.

In most cases they will offer protection, in my case the X-Trail had them but did nothing for me when a a$$hole with a RAM2500 jacked up parked next to me.  Other than that the numerous little red, yellow, white paint markings were living proof of their effectiveness.

The way I view the new warranty on the CVT is that if you have a CVT failure out of warranty and they cost twice as much to repair, naturally that would have a negative impact.  This has nothing to do with frequency of failure.  This proves to me Nissan has faith in their technology, otherwise after 7 years(Murano being the first) they would have slowly started to shift back to the traditional.

[wing]

I've heard of CVT failures  but only in the murano.

[Juke1]

I've heard of CVT failures  but only in the murano.

ditto

[WTF Transmission]

Personal attacks are not welcome here buh-bye

[libraman]

Spec 5 says: "There's no denying they (CVTs) help huge on saving fuel."

My personal experience is that they save no fuel whatsoever. This is backed up by CRs real world tests. What are you comparing them to?

[stodge]

Spec 5 says: "There's no denying they (CVTs) help huge on saving fuel."

My personal experience is that they save no fuel whatsoever. This is backed up by CRs real world tests. What are you comparing them to?

Like any transmission, you can save fuel with slower accelleration, otherwise I've noticed no savings with my '08 Sentra. I find it's programmed so frugally that you have to keep the revs high(er) to get anywhere.

[Juke1]

Once people learn to drive them properly and get over the perception of slowness due to the behaviour of the CVT, they will realize they are as good as anything out there.  On my altima I have achieved 1054km on a tank, but it's awfully boring.

[Shnak]

What's the point of going with a CVT if they're not noticeably more fuel efficient when driven the same way we do with regular automatic transmissions?

The rest of the vehicle would have to be damn spectacular for me to even consider buying a CVT at this point in time...

[Blueprint]

What Chris Chase failed to mention is that the current Sentra is heavily based on the previous-gen Renault Megane Berline.  The basic bodyshell is even the same.  This explains a lot regarding the "Buick" suspension, as French cars are know for their smooth ride.  It turns out that the car handles as well on rough, broken pavement, something a Mazda 3 has issues with.  The grey interior looks better than the tan one IMHO, and the "S" trim level brings a few upgrades as well, like chrome metal door-pulls that spruce-up the look.  Passengers have given me compliments, thinking this was an Altima-class car.

With Blizzaks, this thing is also quite adept at handling winter roads.

[Spec5]

Spec 5 says: "There's no denying they (CVTs) help huge on saving fuel."

My personal experience is that they save no fuel whatsoever. This is backed up by CRs real world tests. What are you comparing them to?

The fact that every hybrid I can think of uses them for starters. I'm pretty sure thats an indication - that many engineers CAN'T be wrong!

The fact that my old Spec V and my dad's new Altima get about the same fuel mileage despite the Altima being a bit porkier.

[ironwood]

We are in the market for a new compact car for my wife, and have driven upscale versions of the Civic, Elantra, Corolla and Sentra.  There is nothing wrong with any of them.  My quick takes.  Civic...responsive, go kart like as someone else said, nice lines and interior but seating too laid back for me, last year for current model.  Elantra...nice lines, too much black plastic in dash, good value, seemed a little sluggish.  Corolla....cheap interior, plastic dash, resale value now a big question, no 'come back to Toyota' offers yet.  Sentra....nice comfortable sitting high ride over rough pavement, though handling not as crisp as civic, big interior, nice dash and features, and the CVT felt responsive enough! I don't mind the look...a baby Altima.  Good loyalty offer.  I was surprisingly pleased with the Sentra S I test drove.

[Leviathan]

It turns out that the car handles as well on rough, broken pavement, something a Mazda 3 has issues with. 

The solid rear axle on the Sentra I had made it handle anything BUT well on rough, broken pavement.

[libraman]

Here are the CR real worl numbers for the Sentra in miles per US/gallon:

2.0 litre with CVT: 27 overall, 19 city, 35 highway, 32 for their 150 mile trip
2.5 litre spec V with 6 speed manual: 30 overall, 23 city, 39 highway, 33 for a 150 mile trip.

I would guess that the 2.0 liter with 6 speed manual would beat the CVT even more. Those numbers for the 2.0 liter CVT are also significantly less than Mazda 3 with 2.o litre automatic. 

[stodge]

It turns out that the car handles as well on rough, broken pavement, something a Mazda 3 has issues with. 

The solid rear axle on the Sentra I had made it handle anything BUT well on rough, broken pavement.

Rough surfaces really knock the Sentra off kilter. Take it from me - I drive a Sentra every day.