1988 Nissan Stanza GXE Sedan review from North America

* Clutch replacement

* New fuel pump (the original was still in there after 165k)

* Factory tape deck died, but I wanted a CD player anyway

* AC failed due to a leak, haven't bothered to fix it

* Typical old car rattles and squeaks

It's a great little car. It's closing in on 200k and going strong, I don't see why it won't make it to 300k. Despite having a 97HP 4 cylinder, it performs quite nicely with the manual transmission, and it is fun to drive.

The ride isn't bad, though, and I find the seats to be comfortable in the front and the back. There is enough room for me, at 6' 5", which I can't say for many other smaller cars.

I get great fuel economy, usually about 27mpg in the summer, and 22mpg in the Minnesota winters. In the winter is always starts right up, and gets warm pretty quick, though on the cold days you have to let it warm up or it's too stiff to shift (plus you should let cars warm up anyway).

The winters have taken it's toll on the body, which is rusting in various places. The rear passenger door and driver's door seem to rust the worst on most Stanzas I have seen, though I don't know why. Despite the rust it still looks good, especially considering the miles.

The only thing I can't figure out is why Nissan didn't sell very many Stanza's. I think it's a much better car than the Honda Accord 4 cylinder, which (if you ask me) is built and handles like a cheesy economy car. I'd say it is a lot more like a 4 cylinder version of it's cousin, the V6 Maxima, and very much like the late 80's 4 cylinder Toyota Camry.