How does Nissan compare to Honda and Toyota?

[Psylence]

I'm looking to buy a used (1990-1993) 4 banger that gets good gas mileage and is reliable. I've narrowed it down to either a Honda Civic, a Toyota Corolla, or a Nissan Sentra. I found a pretty good deal on a Sentra but wanted to get others people's options on how Nissan's compare to Honda's and Toyota's. I've always thought Nissan's were just as reliable, but a friend of mine doesn't seem to think so. Do you consider them to be in the same league? Anyone have any firsthand experience?

 

[RossMAN]

How much is your budget?

 

[Beau]

All of the certain grainy type auto enthusiasts here will tell you lots of good stuff about Nissan. I don't know much about the older Nissans, but I love the newer ones ('99 +).

 

[vi edit]

I believe that at that age, I believe that the ownership and treatment of the car is far more a factor than the make.

 

[RossMAN]

I would check Consumer Reports online (FREE for 1 month with no cc required).

If you know which years Sentra you're considering check out Edmunds.com.

 

[Thegonagle]

Sentras are good deals, since they are good cars that last a good long time, and you can get them for less money, new or used, than a Civic or Corolla.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

They are all in the same league. Are you located in the US and also do you want a little performance with your car? If so, go for the '91 Sentra SE-R 5-spd.

Otherwise if your just looking for a communter/beater car for getting to point A to point B, I would suggest the Corolla. My family had a '91 Corolla base <no a/c, no power windows/doors/mirrors, etc..> and it was extremely reliable.

Few things to look for in '91 Corollas:
- they have a crappy muffler that will need to be replaced atleast once
- and the intake manifold gaskets <something like that> have a poor design..they also need to be replaced every few years or so...but it only costs $50..well it doesn't need to be fixed..u just hear a deeper sound at idle and a mettalic sound during acceleration.
- their inside door handles break pretty easliy

apart from those minor things..its a great car. I would rather get the Corolla than the Civic of the same year mainly because of the engine. The Corolla's 1.6L is a fairly torquey/peppy engine...it pulls straight to redline and has plenty of power in the lower RPMs..so its good in the city.

 

[RossMAN]

My sister's first car was a 1990 Toyota Corolla which was a great commuter point A to B car, then she bought my friends 1996 Dodge Neon Sports Coupe which is in a whole other class of cars.

I have a 1994 Toyota Corolla which I am very happy with. Good fuel efficiency and extremely reliable (knock on plastic).

 

[Psylence]

<< How much is your budget? >>



$2800

 

[RossMAN]

$2800 is a good budget.

What's your zip code and city?

 

[Psylence]

76180 - North Richland Hills. I've been checking cars.com and autotrader.com.

 

[edro]

Go with Honda. They are awesome. You can't kill the bastards..... I have a 92 Civic with 248,000 miles and it runs perfect. My hometown is Marysville, Ohio (where all Honda Civics, Accords, Goldwings, Shadows, some Odysseys, and Acura TLs are made) so I might be a little biased.

Mine gets over 30 MPG easily. Just change the oil every 3-5000 miles and it will runs forever. Everyone in my family drives a Honda.

Toyota and Nissan are good too, so I hear. If you want a good reliable car that gets great gas mileage and will last you forever, get a Honda.

 

[edro]

GREAT DEAL:

http://autotrader.com/findacar/vdet...advanced=n&color=&car_year=1993&ac_afflt=none

 

[Ns1]

TEST DRIVE THEM!!!~

their interiors are drastically different, so go with what you like best ^_^

 

[Imdmn04]

im not too sure about old nissans, but the newer ones rule.
but one thing to keep in mind is that nissan was in a very deep hole fianicially just several years ago, there is probably a reason for that. it might be the cars, or it might be bad marketing.

nissan always makes their cars half of a level up(or down) compared to their competitors.

for example:
a sentra is a bit more pricier than a tarcel, (now replaced by the echo)
an altima's price tag is between a civic and an accord, or between a corolla and a camry.
a maxima is a little more expensive than an accord or a camry, but less than an avalon

 

[Ornery]

For a car that old, I'd be more worried about repair costs than anything else. If one breaks down more than the others, but is easy and cheap to fix, I'd go that route. Who is going to be doing the repairs? Ask your mechanic which one has the best repair record.

 

[Angrymarshmello]

<< 76180 - North Richland Hills. I've been checking cars.com and autotrader.com. >>



I wasn't going to respond but you live in the DFW area too

You really can't go wrong with either of those 3 cars. A 1990 Accord could probably be had for that price. (Civics have always been too small for my taste) No matter what car you get, take it to a qualified mechanic who can give you the 411 on the car. If you want it, I can give you the name of the guy I always go to. (He's in Carrollton though - not that close to ya )

 

[toant103]

I have a 92 Civic with 248,000 miles and it runs perfect.

jesus,
that's a lot of milege for a 92.

 

[CocaCola5]

For that year, go with the Honda Civic. The Corolla is just as good except it looks more bland than the Civic. I don't know much about the Sentra but its probably a distant third. However, for new models, the Nissans seems to be the best, then Toyota, then Honda. I don't know if this had anything to do with the fact that Toyota(starting in the early 90s), and later on Honda, has turned cost cutting into a religion almost, where as with Nissan they continued to build their cars exactly the same as before.

 

[LAUST]

<< I believe that at that age, I believe that the ownership and treatment of the car is far more a factor than the make. >>


Right on the money

 

[RossMAN]

Here's a few Sentra's I found that are in your price range:

link

Results: 1-30 | 31-43 | Next | Show All 43 Results
Year Vehicle Price Mileage Photo Seller Body Color Distance My Picks
1989 Nissan Sentra $1,500 -- Classified Ad 26 mi.
1991 Nissan Sentra $2,500 75,000 Classified Ad Coupe 26 mi.
1994 Nissan Sentra $2,700 -- Classified Ad 36 mi.
1995 Nissan Sentra $2,900 92,173 Frank Kent Motor Co

 

[Psylence]

Thanks for the info RossMAN! I'd actually called on one of those already.

Hehe, check out this guys review of his Sentra. Note his similar products used. ROFL!!!

Model/Year:
1987 GXE

Price Paid: $8000 at SERRA NISSAN

Summary:
I AM COMPLETELY AMAZED AT THE GOOD REVIEWS ON THIS POS CAR! IT WAS, BY FAR, THE WORST CAR I''VE EVER HAD OR KNOWN ANYONE TO HAVE. I KNOW SEVERAL OTHERS WITH SENTRAS WHO HAVE HAD HORRIBLE PROBLEMS, AS I DID.

Strengths:
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. WELL, THE STEERING WHEEL NEVER FELL OFF-I''LL GIVE IT THAT! THE HUGE PARTY I HELD WHEN IT FINALLY DIED!

Weaknesses:
EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT GRILL TO THE BACK BUMPER:I HAD 4 TRANSMISSIONS IN 9 YEARS, NUMEROUS ALTERNATORS, CV BOOTS, THE BACK DOORS STAYED LOCKED AND PEOPLE WHO SAT BACK THERE HAD TO BE LET OUT FROM THE OUTSIDE(VERY EMBARASSING!), THE TRUNK RELEASE DIDN''T WORK, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER WENT OFF, IT WAS INCREDIBLY UNCOMFORTABLE TO RIDE/DRIVE, THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT WOULDN''T STAY CLOSED, AND SO ON.....

Similar Products Used:
THE TOILET

 

[StageLeft]

NIssan is forever.

 

[StageLeft]

I bought my 93 sentra (XE limited edition so it has AC) for $2300 in November. It's a 5 speed with 142,200 miles at the time. It now has around 148k miles on it and not a repair in sight. When I got it I had not had it inspeced so first things ifrst mechanic wanted to change CV boots and some seal somewhere. That was about $350, but since then I've had no issues and I took it in last time to get oil changed and nothing. It's a hell of a lot more reliable than 89 accord I owned!

 

[Thegonagle]

That guy would have problems with any car if he kept using the same crappy mechanic (or did it all himself with the cheapest parts he could find). Numerous alternators? Well, that ain?t the car's fault. It's most likely Checker auto parts, or something. Cheap rebuilt driveshafts? Not the car's fault. Check engine light on? It was probably never even properly diagnosed. Back doors stayed locked? RTFM! It's in there. It's called "child safety lock," or something similar. 4 transmissions? Don't let that "lowest bidder" shop keep working on them. Oh, and change that fricking transmission fluid, for crying out loud!

Some people think that thousands of moving parts will just work together forever with no maintenance, that all mechanics are of equal skill, and all replacement parts are equal, too. They're not.