Newer car purchase Options

[Taxiwardance]

Anybody have any experience with either the Mitsubishi Lancer ES (2004-2006) or the Nissan Sentra 1.8 S (2003-2006) I am looking to buy a car on Monday and have narrowed it down to the two. I can get the Sentra for 13,990 brand new off the lot or the Lancer 2004 for 10K with 30K miles. Both are autos. I drove the Sentra and it seemed OK but the ride wasn’t that great. Haven’t drove the Lancer in about a year but I drove stick when I took it for a test drive before. I have the wife and 2 kids and just looking for a cheap get around car with 4 doors and great gas mileage. Any opinions, will be buying first thing Monday so I can make a cross country trip and I can’t make up my mind. Any other cars I should be considering, under 13K if possible. Insurance is cheaper on American cars but I can’t find anything that gets good MPG and doesn’t look like a piece of ass (Aveo)!

[Taxiwardance]

I’ve looked around at a lot of Civics and will be checking out one Monday morning but I have one of those “Capitol One Blank Checks” maximum value is 14.5K and the car must be at or under 30K miles and 2000 or newer from a franchised dealership. So trying to find a civic that meets that criteria has proven to be a real PITA! If they would let me do a private party purchase then that would be my first choice. Only thing holding me back on the Sentra is the depreciation of a new car. Especially a Nissan Sentra! The lancer has a bit of that removed but I’ve never really cared for either much.


*EDIT * I know there is no 06 Grand Am i let that slip by me

[Kazz5]

I'd check into Mazda Protege models and Toyota Corollas also, although I don't know if they'd end up in your price/mileage/age range. I'd have a personal preference to go there over either of those you mentioned - but that's a personal preference.

I heard something about engine fires with 4 cylinder ... Sentras? Or was it the Altimas... I think it was the Altimas but a quick search will tell you.

I'd hedge towards the Nissan, actually because they have more reliability record than a Mitsu (gonna get flamed now, aren't I). Otherwise this is a personal/family decision as to what works best.

I showed my wife the STi, the Evo, and then SRT4. She said the Neon was too small and a Neon and the STi was too ugly... so, ta-DAH! *Laughs* Of course, it's what I had planned, but, the point is, if you have to please everybody make sure your choice pleases everybody...

Good luck and do a VIN search...

[turbohcar]

MidwestDSM and I worked in a local Nissan dealership together recently and between the two of us, we could pretty much answer any questions you might have. Personally, I like the Lancer idea, but I'm just basing it off of the 2.4L powerplant and the exterior looks of the car. Problem with the Sentra is it's the only Nissan made in Mexico and it shows. Everything about the car is cheap cheap cheap. Granted it's only 13k but in my opinion, it's only about 8k worth of material. The 1.8L is a great/reliable motor but it's severely lacking in the power dept. 126hp is all the 1.8 is rated at and it's amazing it makes that much. The front end pushes and gives the steering input of a tugboat making a 90* turn.

The girlfriend bought an 04 Grand Am last year and so far, I'm quite happy with it. She's never calculated mileage but I estimate somewhere in the high twenties to low thirtys on the highway between Champaign and LeRoy. She got an SE with the 3.4L and it will get up and go when pushed to do so. The stock tires on the car were absolute crap from the beginning though. We recently put Kumho Solus KH15 tires on it to replace the stockers (a Grand Touring All Season) and they really woke it up. It handles almost as well as the Talon did and only seems to push when it's at the limit. There are two main concerns about the Grand Am though. The 3.4L likes to spit intake gaskets at the higher mileages and you have to stay on top of the transmission services. The transmissions are pretty sensitive and if not taken care of properly, will fail at an early age. Change fluid and filter every 30K and you'll be fine.

I've got absolutely no first hand experience with the Lancer but from verbal reviews and magazine articles, they seem to be a pretty stout package for the little cars they are. Zippy, and fun handling are two phrases that seem to keep reappearing. Good luck in your search!

[haunter]

we were very happy with our 02 GA GT

it wasnt the very best on gas, but its a larger car with a torque-y V6

all of them should do the trick, but I hated my friends 00 sentra 2.0 as it felt very disconnected from everything

[Ralliartist]

the lancer he is looking at has a 2.0 not a 2.4! it's great on gas milage and still is kind of peppy to not have that much horsepower. it handles decent too. it will last you a long enough time. no real concerns about the car have ever really been noted. I say get the lancer! take it from a lancer owner!

[AWD DSM 1]

We used to own a 99 grand am v-6. Best car we ever had. 3.4 is very peppy. We got 34mpg out on the highway and 28 around town. My sister actually owns an alero (same car under the olds name) and has 50k on it, only repairs have been brakes. Very solid, handles nice.... plus they can be found pretty cheap with a feew miles on them.

[black92_tsi_awd]

I know it wasn't one of your choices...but consider looking at Impalas. The 3400 series motor should be the same as the Grand Am. Gets decent gas milage (25-30) and has a huge trunk. Hauls the family (2 kids) on trips nicely with all the associated crap.

[Taxiwardance]

Thanks for all the help! I ended up going with D - New 2006 Lancer ES . Took it and the sentra for a ride and the sentra (even though the color, and darker interior I wanted) just didn’t seem as good of a car. So I guess long term the lancer was what I was looking for. I had heard a few negative things on the sentra as well. So New Lancer it is. Sticker was 17,6XX got it for 13,5XX plus tax, etc etc. Nice DD. I'm Headed down to Wichita in a few hours for the week so thanks again for the input, and swaying me away from the Sentra!

[turbohcar]

the lancer he is looking at has a 2.0 not a 2.4! it's great on gas milage and still is kind of peppy to not have that much horsepower. it handles decent too. it will last you a long enough time. no real concerns about the car have ever really been noted. I say get the lancer! take it from a lancer owner!

Sorry for the misinformation, I thought they had put the 4G64 in those cars.

[Ralliartist]

yea, the base lancers have the 4g94 and the ralliart (the one I drive) has the 4g64. no biggie tho!

[Taxiwardance]

Well just got back this afternoon. Car runs great although it lacks the power I would have liked. But that was expected when the car was bought. 3k miles in 6 days and a “moderately” roomy interior, back seat is a lot bigger than the Sentra. Saw around 26 mpg hwy while driving about 90 to 100 mph from Peoria to Austin TX with the air on the whole way. And around 33-35 mpg the way back with the air off and around 80 to 90 mph ( Car is Auto) . From Dallas to Wisconsin Dells in just under 13 hours . Was a lot of fun though, although I believe I blew more money in the Dells than I did the entire trip combined .

This post has been edited by Taxiwardance: Jun 24 2006, 06:15 PM