@@robertdiehl9003 that brings back great memories. As a kid in the early 90s, pre internet, pre cable (for our family at least) I used to sit and wait for motor week to come on PBS. I would watch every second with amazement. Now we are a little spoiled that I can go on UA-cam and watch so many MW segments whenever I want……yes it’s totally awesome, but it makes it just slightly less special
After my grandfather past away, i later got to drive his datsun with a weird automatic seatbelt. think had less power than a broken school bus, but was solid. more than can be said of nissan of this era.
I drive a 2004 Sentra (pre CVT) its got 125,000 miles and still going. Nothing special but it gets the job done and its paid for. Oddly mine has has a trunk release on the fob ...
My dad has a 2011 Sentra. I remember hopping in it at the dealer in 2010. I was 7 years old and remember the car being so futuristic compared to his old 93 Sentra. He has accumulated 360,000 miles with 2 transmission replacements. He also swapped the engine (the donor car 1/3 less miles so why not?) and changed many starters. Most of these mid 2000's Sentra's now have peeling clear coat, rusty hoods, and hazed headlights which fascinates me because my dad's car is flawless. Yeah there was so much work but he says that hell drive it until its classic (which we all know won't happen LOL).
They were using CVTs before then though, but not in North America. The 2009-2018 Avensis had a CVT if you didn't get the diesel engine (diesel engines used a 6 speed automatic transmission). The Corolla Verso (an MPV version of the Corolla) also had a CVT. BTW, you could still get a manual transmission on the regular Corolla until 2023 (of course, this doesn't include the GR Corolla).
Great video as always. Had a 2011 Special Edition (just an SR trim with all the options as standard) of these for many years with the CVT and it was honestly a great car, very peppy engine and the CVT held its own. I agree the CVT is weaker than a conventional transmission (of the era) but TBH they weren’t actually as bad as people made them out to be. I was studying engineering in college while we owned this car and was fascinated by the CVT for a while after hearing of the failures and got curious as to why, where was the absolute weak spot. Obviously it was the belt but I learned something very worthwhile and many mechanics and the automakers have caught on as well. The biggest hit to reliability to these transmissions was the painful learning curve to their maintenance. Conventional transmissions of the era could easily do 100k miles before maintenance on the trans fluid was even suggested and many people tended to maintain these cars with the same mindset and even the engineers and mechanics were over optimistic with these, thinking they would also last that long in between trans fluid changes. But now we know CVTs NEED a fluid change every 25k miles (less if it’s a vehicle that tends to tow and/or carry lots of cargo often) because the failure was always caused because the fluid becoming so burned out that it’s lubrication properties in between the individual links in the belt itself would cause the links to eat away at themselves from the poor lubrication of the aged fluid and creating the same affect of a spun rod bearing in an engine making the individual link fail and destroy the belt. Keep up with the fluid changes and the CVT can actually last much longer than you would think. So yeah, look for low mileage examples of these cars, or those with a recent trans replacement, or have the previous owner show proof of good maintenance on the trans fluid; then immediately change the trans fluid upon purchase and keep up with that afterwards. If not then it is best you just walk away unfortunately.
Changing the cvt fluid and filter will greatly increase the life of the cvt. The cvt fluid starts out a green color and over time turns just as dark as motor oil. Do this and you will have a happy car.
I was waiting to see you attempt to fold the seats down when you showed the diagram at 5:50. I used to know someone who had one and it was the most cumbersome process I've ever seen in a sedan before.
God I was just thinking how I don’t really see this gen anymore while I see plenty Civics and Corollas of that time. The following gen wasn’t any better. Sad how fast Nissan fell, they have a lot to prove if they’ve truly changed at all.
9:04 we had a Nissan Terrano II (it was never sold in North America) with a manual transmission that we bought new in 2003. It was fine until about 2007 when it started to have several issues, including clutch failure. On one or more occasions the car almost caught fire. Had a 2003 Pathfinder in 2011. After one year of recurrent fuel pump failures we got rid of it. I personally won't consider Nissan again.
Cvts (which they failed to tell consumers) need to be serviced. That extends the life of them a lot better. My 2012 Altima got me to 286k miles. The transmission had to be rebuilt (which is temp fix) at 152k miles. Modern cvts are much better but still zap the fun out of cars
The cabin air blower motor was a PITA to replace when the one in my sister's 2012 died. (Same generation) Took me like 2 hours, a ton of contorting my body in the driver's pedal area, and a few cuts on my hands/arms to replace it. Surprisingly, it's still driving on the original transmission and CVT fluid.. At over 150k miles. It has problems, yes. Making noises, some power loss in the summer, and other small things. But she understands it's a problematic transmission, so she's babying it.
I had a 2007 Nissan Altima which I traded for a 2009 Corolla. Even the Corolla with its anemic engine and traditional automatic transmission was better than the Nissan.
I had a 2008 Sentra L. It was clean on the inside, but under the car was rusted because the first owner brought it down from New Jersey. It was bad from the start because it sat in their driveway for years just rotting. I had to buy a new engine. The amount of money we sunk into it was *NOT* worth it. It was a slow car with a terrible CVT. I got a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (yes, I know, the Cruze is known for having bad transmissions too), replaced the transmission, and it drives like brand new. My Sentra only lasted roughly 75k miles (I only had it for my senior year in high school and my freshman year of college) and the Cruze had 100k when I bought it in July. I'm in my second year of college and I commute about 40 miles to school twice a week, and those miles add up. I won't have the Cruze forever, but I'll cherish every moment, unlike with the cursed Sentra.
I can relate wit the weird time in life going from elementary Catholic school with 23 people in my grade to public school in middle school with over 600 in my grade...
So after having worked @ a Nissan service Dept in parts, i can definitely tell you that this trans isn't bad compared to the one from 2013+ . Sure it feels like dog shit, but quality wise, not terrible.
My niece had a Nissan Sentra se R back in the days and I thought it was pretty quick for what it was.. wish it was a spec-v though only because Manuel!
Just get a 2000-2006 with the 1.8 or 2.0 (the 2.5s had head gasket problems) and you'll be fine. You get a 4 speed automatic transmission if that's what you're looking for. Or just get a similar year Versa, most of them had a 4 speed automatic transmission as well.
I like the looks on this generation Sentra SR. Gives it a little sporty look to it. Not a fan of the CVT but would consider one of these with fog lights and at a decent price and good condition.
You found one with all of its body panels securely attached and no tape on the lights, nice. These cars have Big Sentra Energy, the cheaper version of Big Altima Energy. The orange lighting was very pleasant at night, much more so than the blue and white that's the style now. The drink size dial is fascinating.
My girlfriend had a 2010 Sentra, bought it brand new, put over 150k miles on the stock CVT, unsure if she ever had the fluid changed, very few issues with the car, i drove it a couple times and was shocked at how tight the steering rack was for a little econo car, lol, she traded it for a Subaru last year (also with a CVT of course!)
147k on the 2011 Sentra here, CVT jerks on low-speed takeoff but otherwise it's been pretty good. Just had to replace subframe bushings though and that was kind of a pain in the driveway.
I thought about one of these with the 6-speed manual because REAL transmissions are better, but it's still a Nissan, and they have a negative brand image and customer base
Hi, how has it been? Power, wise and gas economy wise. I might buy one, there is a guy selling one with the 6spd transmission. I need a commuter, going to be daily communing 3-hr round trip. Thanks for the feedback.
CVT transmission fluid needs to be changed every 30,000 miles a lot people did not do that when they brought the car let run with same oil this transmission has 2 filters for the transmission and needs to be changed as we'll but I heard of you take good care of it should last up to 150k miles some are lucky and it last them up to 200k or 250k it's like a egg but they if get it for cheap like it's worth it with low miles
When you get big and famous, please don’t stop doing cars like this.
Agreed. Zack to me is the new John Davis from Motorweek automotive television show who's lasted over 40 years doing the same.
@@robertdiehl9003 that brings back great memories. As a kid in the early 90s, pre internet, pre cable (for our family at least) I used to sit and wait for motor week to come on PBS. I would watch every second with amazement. Now we are a little spoiled that I can go on UA-cam and watch so many MW segments whenever I want……yes it’s totally awesome, but it makes it just slightly less special
The engines in these were actually pretty good, but the CVTs really killed them overall. I’m sure this with the 6MT is pretty reliable overall
After my grandfather past away, i later got to drive his datsun with a weird automatic seatbelt. think had less power than a broken school bus, but was solid. more than can be said of nissan of this era.
If I recall these have plastic timing chains. They ain't that good bro
I love when you review real normal people cars!!
I drive a 2004 Sentra (pre CVT) its got 125,000 miles and still going. Nothing special but it gets the job done and its paid for. Oddly mine has has a trunk release on the fob ...
At least it doesn't have Big Sentra Energy
Nah, Big Sentra Energy is real from the people who couldn't quite afford an Altima. At least the Sentra is too slow to go careening through traffic.
I really like these reviews of mundane commuter cars for some odd reason...
You’re in the right spot!
This was my first car I had. millions of memories with this car.
My dad has a 2011 Sentra. I remember hopping in it at the dealer in 2010. I was 7 years old and remember the car being so futuristic compared to his old 93 Sentra. He has accumulated 360,000 miles with 2 transmission replacements. He also swapped the engine (the donor car 1/3 less miles so why not?) and changed many starters. Most of these mid 2000's Sentra's now have peeling clear coat, rusty hoods, and hazed headlights which fascinates me because my dad's car is flawless. Yeah there was so much work but he says that hell drive it until its classic (which we all know won't happen LOL).
Toyota didn't start using CVTs on the Corolla until 2014 and then it became standard in 2017
They were using CVTs before then though, but not in North America. The 2009-2018 Avensis had a CVT if you didn't get the diesel engine (diesel engines used a 6 speed automatic transmission). The Corolla Verso (an MPV version of the Corolla) also had a CVT. BTW, you could still get a manual transmission on the regular Corolla until 2023 (of course, this doesn't include the GR Corolla).
Great video as always.
Had a 2011 Special Edition (just an SR trim with all the options as standard) of these for many years with the CVT and it was honestly a great car, very peppy engine and the CVT held its own.
I agree the CVT is weaker than a conventional transmission (of the era) but TBH they weren’t actually as bad as people made them out to be. I was studying engineering in college while we owned this car and was fascinated by the CVT for a while after hearing of the failures and got curious as to why, where was the absolute weak spot. Obviously it was the belt but I learned something very worthwhile and many mechanics and the automakers have caught on as well.
The biggest hit to reliability to these transmissions was the painful learning curve to their maintenance. Conventional transmissions of the era could easily do 100k miles before maintenance on the trans fluid was even suggested and many people tended to maintain these cars with the same mindset and even the engineers and mechanics were over optimistic with these, thinking they would also last that long in between trans fluid changes. But now we know CVTs NEED a fluid change every 25k miles (less if it’s a vehicle that tends to tow and/or carry lots of cargo often) because the failure was always caused because the fluid becoming so burned out that it’s lubrication properties in between the individual links in the belt itself would cause the links to eat away at themselves from the poor lubrication of the aged fluid and creating the same affect of a spun rod bearing in an engine making the individual link fail and destroy the belt. Keep up with the fluid changes and the CVT can actually last much longer than you would think.
So yeah, look for low mileage examples of these cars, or those with a recent trans replacement, or have the previous owner show proof of good maintenance on the trans fluid; then immediately change the trans fluid upon purchase and keep up with that afterwards. If not then it is best you just walk away unfortunately.
🙏🏼🙏🏼
1:47 A CVT was in the Subaru Justy in the late 1980s, and the CVT in cars dates back decades earlier than that.
Changing the cvt fluid and filter will greatly increase the life of the cvt. The cvt fluid starts out a green color and over time turns just as dark as motor oil. Do this and you will have a happy car.
Nissan in the 90's was peak
Those jatco cvts really ruined all these Nissans. With a manual it's actually a decent car.
I appreciate you reviewing Generic Cars. Thanks.
My mom had this exact car growing up, same spec to the t and i loved it. it never gave her problems and i miss it an unreasonable amount
Now that I think about it this could even be hers, its oddlt similiar and we did live in milwaukee which is not too far away
I was waiting to see you attempt to fold the seats down when you showed the diagram at 5:50. I used to know someone who had one and it was the most cumbersome process I've ever seen in a sedan before.
God I was just thinking how I don’t really see this gen anymore while I see plenty Civics and Corollas of that time. The following gen wasn’t any better. Sad how fast Nissan fell, they have a lot to prove if they’ve truly changed at all.
Nissan has really stepped up with the new Sentra. They are light years better.
9:04 we had a Nissan Terrano II (it was never sold in North America) with a manual transmission that we bought new in 2003. It was fine until about 2007 when it started to have several issues, including clutch failure. On one or more occasions the car almost caught fire. Had a 2003 Pathfinder in 2011. After one year of recurrent fuel pump failures we got rid of it. I personally won't consider Nissan again.
Cvts (which they failed to tell consumers) need to be serviced. That extends the life of them a lot better. My 2012 Altima got me to 286k miles. The transmission had to be rebuilt (which is temp fix) at 152k miles. Modern cvts are much better but still zap the fun out of cars
The cabin air blower motor was a PITA to replace when the one in my sister's 2012 died. (Same generation)
Took me like 2 hours, a ton of contorting my body in the driver's pedal area, and a few cuts on my hands/arms to replace it.
Surprisingly, it's still driving on the original transmission and CVT fluid.. At over 150k miles. It has problems, yes. Making noises, some power loss in the summer, and other small things. But she understands it's a problematic transmission, so she's babying it.
My favorite Sentra. I always loved the look of these.
I had a 2007 Nissan Altima which I traded for a 2009 Corolla. Even the Corolla with its anemic engine and traditional automatic transmission was better than the Nissan.
Need to do a review on a 2006 Nissan pathfinder!!!
💪💪💪💪
I had a 2008 Sentra L. It was clean on the inside, but under the car was rusted because the first owner brought it down from New Jersey. It was bad from the start because it sat in their driveway for years just rotting. I had to buy a new engine. The amount of money we sunk into it was *NOT* worth it. It was a slow car with a terrible CVT. I got a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze (yes, I know, the Cruze is known for having bad transmissions too), replaced the transmission, and it drives like brand new.
My Sentra only lasted roughly 75k miles (I only had it for my senior year in high school and my freshman year of college) and the Cruze had 100k when I bought it in July. I'm in my second year of college and I commute about 40 miles to school twice a week, and those miles add up. I won't have the Cruze forever, but I'll cherish every moment, unlike with the cursed Sentra.
My brother had one of these that looked exactly like this. What did it do? Blow the CVT..
‘Cars we grew up in’? A cohort statement. Great video though.
I'm diggin' the retro gaming intros🤌
The first gen Versa (maybe just the hatchback?) also has the sueded door panels.
I have a 6mt so the weak link ends up being the engine which burns quite a bit of oil. Gets 30 easily on the highway but is a heavy car for the size.
I bought a 2009 Corolla instead. $16,999 out the door
I put 265,000 on it, until trans fragged.
Traded on a 2014 Prius
Ok
I had a 2012 Nissan Sentra SL with the CVT and it ran completely fine. Never had any transmission issues. I dont get it
I can relate wit the weird time in life going from elementary Catholic school with 23 people in my grade to public school in middle school with over 600 in my grade...
I like your previous intro track better...
So after having worked @ a Nissan service Dept in parts, i can definitely tell you that this trans isn't bad compared to the one from 2013+ . Sure it feels like dog shit, but quality wise, not terrible.
Wish I could find one of these in good shape to buy.
My niece had a Nissan Sentra se R back in the days and I thought it was pretty quick for what it was.. wish it was a spec-v though only because Manuel!
What does Manuel have to do with it?
@Jonathan-mp32x No disagreement there, but who is Manuel?
Just get a 2000-2006 with the 1.8 or 2.0 (the 2.5s had head gasket problems) and you'll be fine. You get a 4 speed automatic transmission if that's what you're looking for. Or just get a similar year Versa, most of them had a 4 speed automatic transmission as well.
I like the looks on this generation Sentra SR. Gives it a little sporty look to it. Not a fan of the CVT but would consider one of these with fog lights and at a decent price and good condition.
You found one with all of its body panels securely attached and no tape on the lights, nice. These cars have Big Sentra Energy, the cheaper version of Big Altima Energy.
The orange lighting was very pleasant at night, much more so than the blue and white that's the style now. The drink size dial is fascinating.
I almost leased on of these because it was a special for $99 a month 😂
Neat looking Sentra for sure
My girlfriend had a 2010 Sentra, bought it brand new, put over 150k miles on the stock CVT, unsure if she ever had the fluid changed, very few issues with the car, i drove it a couple times and was shocked at how tight the steering rack was for a little econo car, lol, she traded it for a Subaru last year (also with a CVT of course!)
I just picked up the same car with a six speed stick to help save gas on my F150. I have no complaints.
The little brother versa manual is awesome and fun this must be super fin manual too
I think when you drove the 1989 sentra from me its probably much more reliable than the 2009 😂
This was such a bad translation of the 2005 AZEAL concept. Which was actually kinda nice.
I know 100% 2011-2012 the headlights changed and grill and trunk lid, radio, odometer color dark orange now. I think those years are the best
This looks like a smaller version of the Altima - basically the Nissan Altima shrunk
Honey I shrunk the altima
Dodge was also pretty early to the cvts with the caliber.
The units used by Chrysler under Daimler's thumb were ALSO Jatco units, as are The Mitsubishi Lancer's (Caliber and Lancer had same basic platform)
147k on the 2011 Sentra here, CVT jerks on low-speed takeoff but otherwise it's been pretty good. Just had to replace subframe bushings though and that was kind of a pain in the driveway.
Didn't these cars come with French Renault engines?
Now in modern days agricultural Tractors have CVT and idk if they are good or not
I know you're a positive type of guy in your videos, Zack, but I have to say, any time I see a sentra, I can think nothing other than "terrible".
Awww it's the granddaddy of my 2020 Sentra, which is also blue!
A CVT transmission is okay for a small motorcycle, minibike, go cart, not a car! Every 4 cylinder should be mated to a manual transmission.
I’m still waiting for a review of the versa hatchback from this generation. 1.8l 4cyl standard a/t transmission no cvt .
I thought about one of these with the 6-speed manual because REAL transmissions are better, but it's still a Nissan, and they have a negative brand image and customer base
Hi, how has it been?
Power, wise and gas economy wise. I might buy one, there is a guy selling one with the 6spd transmission. I need a commuter, going to be daily communing 3-hr round trip.
Thanks for the feedback.
CVT transmission fluid needs to be changed every 30,000 miles a lot people did not do that when they brought the car let run with same oil this transmission has 2 filters for the transmission and needs to be changed as we'll but I heard of you take good care of it should last up to 150k miles some are lucky and it last them up to 200k or 250k it's like a egg but they if get it for cheap like it's worth it with low miles
The engine is solid. I'm not dumb enought to have a CVT 😂 6speed manual
My Coworker had one, CVT broke two times before 130k .. Got him self a new one Nissan Altima with a CVT 😂
This is just a weak and terrible car in general. Too many good vehicles out here to get used, but fools get this crappy Sentra or Versa.
Buy one of these and you will replace the cvt.
Never anything special? I think you forgot about the Sentra SE-R & Spec V 😯
Their CVT's haven't improved much.
140hp is not terrible? That's like the worst you can get lol
No, it's fine. It's an *ECONOMY* car. When I was a teen, there were still some 90HP 80's holdouts running about.
You're clueless git.
Even today Nissan uses those junk Jacto transmissions that are very unreliable