1998 Nissan Sentra GXE review from North America

I have followed the standard maintenance required by the manufacturer.

No major problems with the engine or transmission.

In the six years I have owned the car I have replaced the tires twice and the brakes three times.

One factory recall complied with on the windshield wiper bearing. Multiple wiper blades and holders have been replaced.

At 65,000 miles the clutch now needs to be replaced, the pedal when pressed to the floor is slow to release.

The original manufacturers' battery was replaced in January 2004.

Fuel lines need cleaning fluid run through periodically.

The car has recently had problems starting; the engine will turn over and immediately shut down unless the accelerator is pressed during ignition (undetermined diagnosis by dealer maintenance).

Moderate wear and tear of driving has produced numerous dents and dings on the body of the car.

The power window switch had to be replaced on the drivers-side door (expensive through dealer maintenance).

Overall, the Sentra is a decent car to own.

I travel frequently through city traffic and until recently (clutch going out) the car has handled excellent.

The gas mileage is better than average, which is good with the price of fuel today.

If you use the dealer service department standard maintenance and repairs are quite costly.

The interior of the Sentra has held up beautifully and the seats are quite comfortable. All of the console switches are easily reached from a driving position.

I drive with salt on the roads during the winter and no major rust has developed in the six years I have had the car.

The original windshield has no cracks or chips.

The air conditioner has never been recharged since I purchased the car and still works great. However, when the air conditioner is running the engine feels like all the power is being sucked out of it, especially up steep hills from first gear. I find that turning the air off is necessary for quick acceleration in a pinch.