My brother bought a car today....

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #1 (**permalink**) 05-26-06, 11:19 PM

1996 Nissan Sentra GXE.

I havent driven it yet, but from what I can tell, its the average commuter car. Essentially the perfect first car. 27/36 MPG, which is probably the best part of the car. It'll get probably double my mileage. It's got a 1.6L 16 Valve DOHC I-4 (98 cubic inches, less than 1/3 my engine size!!) I think it's kinda neat that the car has variable valve timing, I'm not sure if that covers all the valves, or just the intake ones, either way it's pretty cool for a car with a $15,000 MSRP in 1996. Actually, I havent sat in it, but I've looked at it, and it looks pretty decent. Real clean, it's a tannish exterior, with grey cloth interior, it's got a Automatic tranny, cassette player, power windows, power locks etc etc. It's actually kinda loaded for a subcompact. It's 170" long, which means its 38 inches shorter than my car!! Kinda a neat car.

I'll take pics and look 'er over tomorrow.

**Jesda** · #2 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 12:39 AM

I had a Sentra. BOOOO!

Its probably a well built little car, like mine was.

Night Wolf · #3 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 02:40 AM

one point six

Nope, can't do it....... my 400cc Briggs has a more cool factor

.

Nice little cars, get a manual tranny and they are fun.

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #4 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 09:10 AM

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention. He's 16, so it's his first car, and he paid $2000 cash for it, with 65,000 miles.

B Hoth · #5 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 10:15 AM

Here in Fla their are quite a few runing around. They look good, theirs lots of them, and their inexpensive. Their are also a lot of them running around with the fart cans attached. I think they would sound better just going the intake route and putting on the SER models muffler. Theirs one in my neigborhood set up this way, nice sounding machine.

90Brougham350 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 10:43 AM

Hope he has good luck with it, just make sure he doesn't EVER try to rice it out or win a drag race, lol.

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #7 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 10:44 AM

It's cool that there is actually an aftermarket for it. I've seen lots of modded ones on Car Domain, of course, if he changes his at all, it'll be tastefully done.

gary88 · #8 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 03:15 PM

Looks like he got a pretty good deal for it, 65,000 miles is pretty good for a '96

mccombie_5 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 07:22 PM

Itd cost me about $5,000 or more to insure a 1.6 car here!

I'm looking at either 1.05 VW Polo

945cc Citroen AX

OR I I really push the boat out and get a decent job, I can get a Rover 214 SEi.

These are luxurious for a first car, electric sunroof, mirrors, windows, half leather, alloy wheels..

Pretty cool for your brother, I wish I could drive at 16! I've only had one driving lesson so far!

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #10 (**permalink**) 05-27-06, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccombie_5

It'd cost me about $5,000 or more to insure a 1.6 car here!

That's right, Britain's road taxes are based on engine size!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mccombie_5

Pretty cool for your brother, I wish I could drive at 16! I've only had one driving lesson so far!

Yeah, he got his first car before I got mine. I got mine two days after my 17th birthday, which would be like him getting this car on July 10th.

mccombie_5 · #11 (**permalink**) 05-28-06, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I~LUV~Caddys8792

That's right, Britain's road taxes are based on engine size!

Everything seems to be! Road tax for cars older than 2001, if the engine is less than 1400cc it comes in a cheaper tax boundry than bigger engined cars, and also insurance, you'd be surprised how much difference 100cc makes in cost!

Quote:

Yeah, he got his first car before I got mine. I got mine two days after my 17th birthday, which would be like him getting this car on July 10th.

I wanted one for my 17th to learn in but I couldn't / can't afford one, so until I can afford to buy and insure a car for me to learn in, I'm using a driving school. Also though ( dunno what the law is in some states) but I know some rules allow learners to drive on their own there?

Not here.

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #12 (**permalink**) 05-28-06, 11:38 AM

Here's some pics of his car with mine for comparison:

mccombie_5 · #13 (**permalink**) 05-28-06, 06:10 PM

I wonder whcih I prefer

**Jesda** · #14 (**permalink**) 05-28-06, 06:21 PM

The nice thing about a short car is parking. Our garage entrance is a 90 degree turn off the driveway, and my stepbrother parks behind the garage, making my entrance rather tight. Not easy in the Q, which is just a couple inches shorter than the Fleetwood Brougham.

Once I do get it parked, there's almost no room to walk around the car. I have to remember to leave the garage door open so the passenger can get around it.

**I~LUV~Caddys8792** · #15 (**permalink**) 05-28-06, 06:58 PM

I drove it for a little bit today, it's like driving a tin can. It's quite cramped inside, and when you shut the doors, it doesnt have that full, heavy sound like Caddies do, it has a tinny sound, and theres like no sound insulation. I could hear pebbles and things bouncing off the bottom of the car at 30MPH. And, in a drag race from a stop, that '84 Sedan deVille I drove could probably take this thing down. It has no torque at lower speeds, but it is a 1.6L! Neat thing is it's been driven about 45 miles since we filled up, and the needle has barely moved!