1994 Nissan Sentra XE review from North America

Alternator failed at 3000 miles - fixed under warranty - replacement alternator still working at 103,000 miles.

Windshield cracked by a rock at 12,000 miles - replaced by the insurance.

Windshield cracked again at 94,000 miles - replaced by the insurance.

This is not a flaw of the car, both times hit by a rock from a very big truck (I live in Central Arizona which is one big construction site). Moral: If you live in Arizona, get full glass insurance.

Fuel injector blew at 90,000 miles.

The radio buttons and cruise control buttons are worn out.

Still using the original clutch.

I hit a rock on a dirt road a couple of months ago and bent some of the steering linkage.

You may be surprised by my rating this car as 8/10 in performance. I put on 225/50x15 tires on Sendel rims when the first set of tires wore out. With 50 series tires and tire pressures adjusted just right, this car can take a corner very nice. It is a front wheel drive so there always seems to be some mind understeer. But consider this... with wide tires it is faster in a curve than the BMW Z3, Mazda Miata or pretty much any car by an American manufacturer except a Corvette.

OK-OK at 1600 CCs this is not a fast engine, but... there is no electronic rev limiter on the engine. You can stomp on the gas, hear a little chirp, leave your foot down while you adjust the radio, and upshift with a satisfying little jump. Try that with a Viper and you will be spinning in circles before you cross the intersection.

The point is that this car is extremely reliable even if you treat it like a toy car and throw it around corners and stomp on the gas and crunch the gears EVERY DAY like I have for the last 7 years and 103,000 miles.

It will never be a sports car, but it is a great training car. By the time you learn how to eke every last bit of acceleration and handling out of this car, you can head down to the local BMW dealer (like I did last month), zip off in a BMW 328i Convertible, and absolutely demolish that Porsche Boxster that tried to stay ahead of you during the twisties. Sure he had the faster car, but sometimes it's all about driver confidence and experience.

4 doors, 31 miles per gallon (89 octane) day in day out, and still fun.

I have really enjoyed this car, but I think next year I'm buying a convertible. Should I buy a Boxster S, an M3 Convertible, or maybe a Corvette? Decisions, decisions.