2017 Nissan Sentra SR... TURBO/MANUAL
 

https://youtu.be/rudMR5Gsmtc

OK, so the Sentra of this generation won't win any aggressive styling awards. But it's a car that is extremely practical and I would say mid-sized comfortable for a compact car size and price. In some ways it's the better buy for the average Joe whose on a budget.

Honda, Kia, Mazda all produce much more exciting cars in there appropriate segment in the Civic, Forte & Mazda 3. So the Sentra and Corolla are dead losers in the game. Even Chevy's Cruise has a peppy well sorted engine and very good handling.

I say finally Nissan is thinking with there Brain n not their ***.... even though the sentry is going to need a sportier redesign next generation.

The very exciting and best compact turbo engine in the Juke has been shoved into the Sentra. And we gave a comeback in MANUAL transmission cars with the sentra.

YES THERE ARE BETTER CARS. But at least it's a step in the right direction, unlike the bloated Q60 with 3,700lbs and 208HP. That's almost 200lbs more than the C class Benz it shares an engine with. Being lighter than a Benz shouldn't be a hard feat even for sub premium brands....

But I digress.

188hp lol no thanks

That engine pushes the awd Juke in 7.3 seconds to 60. It's peppy and it's an easily upgradeable DIRECT INJECTED turbo for $22,000 I GUARANTEE you've never driven a Juke. It's just as fun as a Z. And it's perceived torque feels like more than the Z. That's the best sub 200HP engine out there.

http://www.jukeforums.com/forum/vend...ates-here.html

Juke owners are running $150 Ecu tek tunes and gaining30rwhp from stock and alot more with bolt ons

Sentra is a sub 3,000lb car. If you get 240FWHP out of bolt ons and a tune. You're talking Z numbers for about $2,200 extra.

That's the bigger picture behind 188HP.

Being a person who owns a Juke nismo AWD :iagree: Put that engine in a car that weighs 400lbs-600lbs lighter than the Juke, that will be impressive.

Not just the whp from Ecutek, but almost 50 torque can be gained as well.

Not bad, the front end looks better than the outgoing version. I don't think I'll buy another FWD, but I hope Nissan used the C13 Pulsar front end.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nissan_Pulsar_(Europa)

I'm all for fun products with manual transmissions but this is more Civic EX-T than it is FoST, GTI or even an Si. It should be obvious that even Nissan acknowledges this given how they opted to badge the car "SR Turbo" as opposed to "NISMO".

The problem with this car IMO is that while it will be priced like a Civic EX-T... (and not like a FoST or GTI) most buyers who want a practical car with some oomph will opt to go with a Civic over this thing, especially given that the Honda was just redesigned whereas the B17 is about to enter it's 5th model year. The only thing the SR Turbo has over the Civic is the option of a 6MT and let's face it, those of us who want to row our own are a dying breed making the option a niche one at best, especially when you consider that someone who wants to shift will almost certainly opt for a more powerful or more fun alternative.

Nissan's problem is that they couldn't figure out if they wanted to undercut the least expensive offering in the segment in the Civic EX-T (they didn't, pricing will be similar) or overpower the competition from Ford and VW. Without brand recognition (sorry but the B15 and B16 SE-Rs were always a step behind the competition, and no one outside of a very select few remembers the B13) those are the two moves you when you enter a performance-based segment like this one. Instead Nissan chose some sort of awkward middle ground and they managed to build a better Civic Si...which is about to be replaced in a year by a new, more powerful model. Truth is the 1.6L MR turbo and 6MT should have been the drivetrain powering the SR three years ago. Too little too late IMO.

Now had they gone and put this engine into a Note...well...that may have caught my attention. Until then, I'm happy as f*** with my FiST. Now there's a proper hoonicorn. :driving:

Nissan needs a fast and fun hatch for this segment.

Most definitely.... :iagree:

A lot of these points about where people will go in reality is neither here nor their. At least for NOW??? The sentra hasn't competed in that segment of cars you mention for a few years now. Until we see a sentra Nismo. No sense in mentioning a GTI. Especially when this car in this trim would be a Golf competitor not GTi.

Sentra past SE-R models had a cult following vs the populous following of cars like the civic and GTi. In the end it targets a MUCH DIFFERENT BUYER. Sentra are less for enthusiasts and more for the everyday person looking for a Lil extra punch in an ordinary car.

Though civics and GTi are ordinary as well. The buyer EXPECTS performance out of those cars. Sentra buyers are more just happy they can pass better on the highway. Lol.

Here's a first look at the Sentra.... I can't watch it yet.

https://youtu.be/XHlIbaAzAmk

meh.. looks like their other sentra's and power is not enough.

:iagree:

You guys should know by now Nissan does everything in baby steps. Like the Z getting an HR engine in 07 then on the redesign they bored it out and added vvel.


This mid cycle refresh of the engine to me is a sign that the next gen sentra will be going back to its sporty routes. I wasn't expecting this car to be anything special just cuz it has a turbo/manual.

But the manual whiners were complaining that all cars were becoming floppy paddled. Here comes a Nissan product with a stick and a turbo. The evolution of this first year is in my opinion the importance of this car. If they make a 215HP Nismo, that would be good. It's not a car I'd personally buy. Not my taste. But the brand needs to focus on tradition. I would call a turbo manual Japanese tradition.


It's a start. Cuz Nissan has been falling off.

:iagree:

The sentra has only been without a manual, 4 years. I'll wait and reserve my opinion for a full test drive. The Juke engine is torquey and linear. Acceleration is brisk. So we'll see?

It will be a nice addition to the enthusiasts list of cars nissan makes. The Juke is a fun car and decent in snow but has a slightly high center of gravity whether CVT or MT, though the MT is in at around 2850lbs. Coming from a person who started out with a 1990 nissan stanza traded up to 2006 Sentra Spec-V, I loved that little sporty car, cannot wait to see a sporty Sentra return. Much like Unknown, not my taste either, anymore anyway, but some young man or woman will buy one of these and fall in love with and be hooked on the Nissan brand.

https://youtu.be/hVKD6JgPgvk


Here's a first look at the Sentra. Nissan put an embargo to not give a first impression review till all journalists have driven the car. But what was said was positive.

-Throttle tip in was aggressive and "touchy". That would be reminiscent of the Juke.

-Steering is linear, progressive and we'll weighted. Also reminiscent of my experience driving a Juke.

Styling most certainly lacks in this car and I'm hoping it's 2019 redesign is revolutionary. For now they can spend the next couple of years tweaking the engine and suspension in preparation for the next gen car.

Sentras suck. I traded in a very shitty Sentra for the Z. Best car move I've ever made.

OMG you should read the comments on that video! lol man people are brutal. Supposedly this guy is bias on his reviews.

What do you think about a Nismo version of this Sentra:stirthepot:

Personally, my own view is I don't like any of them.... but I think it's imperative that Nissan inject excitement into the brand. Sentras as a whole aren't bad. No they're not GTi's but there is a value aspect to the sentra moniker. A Nismo sentra could be as fun as a Nismo Juke.
I think people get too caught up in public perception and not individual achievement of a brand/moniker.
Example, people always knock Hyundai when Hyundai is 80% of the time, the better car in its price range. But people will not test the car... rent the car and yet still have an extensive opinion.

Given that Nissan has made fun to drive practical cars in the past. I can appreciate Nissan bringing back fun in the experience you get behind the wheel.

Hopefully, 2020 will bring a nicer more exciting shell on the sentra.

:iagree:

Pontiac and Hyundai are the only cars I've ever rented that broke down on me. Multiple times each, and I don't even rent cars all that often.

The Sonata is a lot of car for the price - good power and comfort. But the reliability is definitely an issue for me. I would never consider purchasing one.

I understand your view, but I have a mechanically irresponsible aunt that buys Hyundai religiously every 8 years. She puts 200,000 miles IP n them with like 4 oil changes in there life. And they run when she gives them up to dealers. And they absorb NY brutal winters.

So there are varied experiences.

Oh.... I went to stay in my condo in PR for a month. I was on a budget that time and rented a Kia rio.
I was AMAZED once I put that thing on the mountains of Cayey, Lares & Arecibo. It went from a flat land snooker to a torquey mountain cutter once on a steep incline. Fun Lil car on mountains. I would have NEVER thunk it. Lol

Personal experience has warped my view of Hyundai. I'm fully aware of the condition of a rental car that has likely been beaten to within inches of its life several times in its 8K mile lifetime. But I have been stranded for 3 hours before in one, and that prevents me from making reasonable assumptions about other products by the same manufacturer.

I could blame Hertz, but once I was able to find a phone to call them and let them know my situation they were pretty much on point as they drove a replacement vehicle straight to me and sent me on my way while they waited for the tow truck.

There are "Friday" cars for every brand. Some more than others, maybe Hyundai is one of them? From my, very limited experience with Hyundai, in close to 40K miles i have on her, the sunroof button has stuck a little. Knock on wood.

One of my friends in NY has a Porsche 911. We've broken down twice out of a dozen times we been out. I'm just wondering if I should say Porsche's suck? Lol.

I thought I made it pretty clear that I am well aware that my dislike of Hyundai is unreasonable because it is based on a bad personal experience.

A Porsche could break down on me daily, and I would still hold it in higher regard than a perfectly running Hyundai. That's just me and my unreasonable affinity for Porsches and my unreasonable dislike of Hyundais. You don't have to agree with me, but you can't unread my opinion :p

When they stopped producing the B15 SE-R Spec V, the Sentra died for me. It looks like the pendulum is swinging back around. NISSAN usually release their best products at the end / beginning of a decade.

I'm not trying to. I'm just expressing a reality of irrationality in this world that now you have stood up for.

You can have any opinion you like. In reality idgaf either way. You're debating the wrong forum member, cuz I'll only debate facts. You're free to block yourself from receiving as many opposing opinions as you like.

I was just making a general statement based off a n observed one sided rationale you freely admitted to.

:iagree:

I just wanted to add to an earlier comment I made about owning an 06 Spec-V and giving the current conversation here. When I owned my Sentra, it was in a weird time in my life before my currently wonderful career in the aerospace industry, I actually worked pizza delivery 48 hours/6 days a week with the Sentra. In three years time I racked up 88,000 miles on it only needing tires, brakes, and fluids. After five years I traded it in and needed a rear wheel bearing at 96,000 miles. THAT was stop and go traffic, non-stop, for three years. It held up nicely, I wasn't always gentle either because it was a Spec-V. This is why I stuck with the brand, if I had Merican, it would not have held up. The Kia and Hyundai were garbage in the late 1990's to mid 2000's but are actually built a lot more durable now. Just my 2 cents.

From 98 on Hyundai was model dependent. Elantras and Sonatas, Santa Fe's were doing really well already. The rest were hit or miss. But you're about right on Hyundai

Now you're putting words in my mouth. I never stood up for that way of thinking. I simply acknowledged that I am guilty of it in when it comes to Hyundai.

:iagree: My ignore list has a population of zero :tiphat:

Right, but the problem is most people think they are right when they think that way and refuse to try to see it from another perspective. Whereas I understand the problems that can stem from that kind of bias. Now, seeing as my decision to like or dislike Hyundai harms no one either way, I'm not worried about having an irrational opinion. But you can't do that when you're making important decisions that affect other people, especially when it comes to their livelihoods. Yet many people still allow irrational thoughts and emotions to cloud their judgement even when cold hard facts are slapping them in the face :shakes head:

Lol, I wasn't really talking in the extreme of ignore lists. I think I have 4. Most of the old, so-called "370z we love mustangs more than Z's clique are on it.". You can only hear so many my mustang is better than my old Z because" stories for so long. Then being self righteous when you're challenged.

But yeah.... I completely agree with the last part of your post. And this is a car forum, so we should be able to have personal opinions without taking it personal, until obviously, some people will anyway. Lol.

At this point, to me at least, its like why bother. Sentras are decent rental cars.

I would like to see Nissan come back to its 90's status. I remember when every car in the lineup had performance injected into it....

200sx
Pulsar
240sx
300zx
300zxTT

MAXIMA and even the Altima was performance oriented with amazing 60-90mph highway passes for a lowly 4 banger. A company like Nissan or Toyota should have NEVER become appliances. This us a company with a unique sporting heritage. It was able to show that heritage in every single car they made from $11,000 to $40,000 in the 90's. Why should it be different today?

Chevy/Ford/Chrysler/Honda make enough rental cars. It's time for Nissan to step up. and get back on home plate.

Mine was practically falling apart by the time I traded it in on my Si. It held up well for the first 6 years, but the last two were not kind to it.

Yah, I see wat u say, but it also killed the company for having so many different platforms and trims by the late 90's. Nissan needs a performance hatch for the segment, not a sedan.

I agree... but making a good SR & Spec-V version of a sentra couldn't hurt the brand. Nissan should bring back the Pulsar name in a FWD/AWD GTi competitor? In theory, that would be nice.