- sedan 125,205
- 420 below average
- 2,988 good
- Tampa, FL
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- autoshopper.com
- 420 below average sedan 125,205 gasoline white automatic
2003 nissan sentra review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. It looks handsome and solid. The sporty se-r models are terrific cars, fun to drive, with responsive suspensions and a bigger engine that's strong and smooth. with prices starting at just $11,799 for the xe, the sentra is a good value. Perhaps a better value is the gxe model, which comes loaded with popular equipment for just $13,749. for 2003, the sentra gxe is available with the se-r's bigger, more powerful engine. For its part, the 2003 se-r gets bolder styling in front. There's a killer stereo available, making these cars a great choice for people who want more than basic transportation in their lives. . lineupthe nissan sentra comes in a range of trim levels: the basic sentra xe 11,799); the more luxurious gxe 13,749); the sporty se-r 15,999); and the track-tuned se-r spec v 16,999). Fog lights and a rear spoiler are optional. an automatic transmission 800) is available. Side-impact air bags and antilock brakes come as an optional package 749). Nissan scores an a for creativity in naming option packages for the gxe: the road hugging package 499) adds 15-inch aluminum wheels, 195/60hr15 tires and fog lights. The road trip package 359) adds cruise control, a 180-watt cd stereo with seven speakers, map lights and an overhead sunglasses bin. The synergy package 999) combines the road trip and road hugging packages and adds a rear spoiler, illuminated vanity mirrors, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob. se-r brings a sporty personality into the sentra. Rated at 165 horsepower, the engine uses compact balancers keep the power delivery smooth. To this, it adds a six-speed manual transmission, a helical limited-slip differential, 17-inch wheels with 215/45 z-rated high-performance tires. The spec v comes with a hot lava-red interior featuring sport seats and black and silver accents. se-r and se-r spec v options include the audio fanatic package with a 300-watt nine-speaker rockford fosgate audio system 549), an in-dash 6-disc cd player 399), and a power sunroof 699). Automatic transmission, abs, and side-impact air bags are standard. For 2003, all california-certified 1. 8-liter sentras meet sulev (super low-emission vehicle) and zero-evaporative emission standards. . walkaroundthe nissan sentra was designed by nissan's california styling studio, the same group that penned the exciting xterra sport-utility and the aggressive frontier compact pickup truck. The goal for the current-generation model was to eliminate the entry-level look, to design a car with its own character that happens to be in the right price range for a lot of people. The result is robust, rounded. We think it's sassy. (that's 'sass-eee.') nissan learned from its previous-generation (1995-99) sentra that refined and nimble economy cars don't sell too well if they're boring. Economy cars face a lot of competition these days from bigger used cars, which are now off-lease and selling at attractive discounts. But many folks still prefer new, reasonably priced sedans with full warranties. the term compact is relative, as all of these cars seem to grow over time. The sentra pushes the boundaries of its industry classification. New for 2003 is a bolder front fascia with large, integrated fog lights and a mesh grille, modeled after nissan's legendary home-market skyline sport coupe. The se-r is particularly striking in sunburst, a bright yellow that's also new for 2003. . interiorthe sentra interiors are well-designed and everything seems to fit well. The interior is roomy, both for people and cargo. The rear seats can accommodate grownups, and all seating positions provide good breathing room. All three rear-seat positions have three-point belts, though three back there is a crowd. In the gxe, the seats adjust for height with dual lifters. the seats in the se-r are supportive, with big side bolsters. One knob on the side adjusts the front half of the seat bottom; another knob adjusts the rear half. Leather covers the se-r's steering wheel and gearshift knob. New fabric upholstery for the se-r spec v features silver accents. the trunk is big, with 11. 6 cubic feet of cargo space. The 60/40 split folding rear seatback can be unlatched from the trunk (difficult to figure out without help), making the sentra a versatile cargo hauler. The available fosgate subwoofer looks like it could get in the way here, however. red markings on black gauges are difficult to read on bright days with sunglasses on (there's a surprise), but they look cool at night. Stereo controls are positioned high on the center console, making them easy to adjust, and the metallic trim of the faceplate matches the latest in trendy continental design. Other controls are straightforward and easy to use. A compartment on top of the dash is useful for storing a wallet or sunglasses. The cup holders work well for standard-size cans and cups. the optional fosgate stereo sounds fantastic with crisp bass and clear highs and no clipping at high volumes, but the controls are on the small side. . driving impressionthe sentra is a terrific car and we love the sporty se-r and spec v models. They offer lots of power and great handling. We instantly felt comfortable in them, feeling like we could drive them right to the limit the first time we climbed in. The se-r and se-r spec v rekindle memories of the famed datsun 510, and of the original se-r that appeared in nissan's lineup from 1991-94. throttle response is immediate, and strong torque propels the se-r quickly. Based on the architecture of nissan's v6 engines, the se-r's 2. 5-liter inline-4 features variable valve timing, silent-chain cam drive and a compact balance system to reduce vibration. The power band is very linear. the spec v adds to the fun with even more power and it sounds really cool with the low-restriction exhaust. Weighing in at 2,708 pounds, the spec v weighs only 15. 5 pounds per horsepower, compared to 16. 4 for the standard se-r. Nissan claims the spec v will squirt from 0 to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds. handling is even more impressive than acceleration. It's easy to rotate the se-r in corners using the throttle, making it a lot of fun to drive. Tossable is the word that comes to mind. The rack-and-pinion steering provides quick and direct control. Handling is aided by larger front and rear stabilizer bars and front suspension tower bracing. big disc brakes slow the se-r quickly. Whether we were lapping laguna seca raceway or blasting along the cliffs on pacific coast highway, we found the brakes easy to modulate. The se-r's front rotors measure a full 11 inches, larger than in many so-called sporting machines. While the spec v gets the most immediate attention, many enthusiasts will opt for the standard se-r with a five-speed manual, and will use it as a base for their own aftermarket modifications. spec v builds upon the se-r's handling capabilities, with tighter shock tuning and spring rates 15 percent stiffer in front, 16 percent stiffer in back. This special differential allows the front wheels to rotate at different rates without slipping, greatly reducing understeer in hard cornering. This lets the driver get back on the power much sooner, and improves the spec v's balance when accelerating out corners. the six-speed manual shifter tends to be notchy. Fifth gear can be almo. AM/FM✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Cruise Control✔ CD Player✔ Aluminum Wheels✔ Sunroof/Moonroof✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
2,988 Tampa, FLTampa, FL at autoshopper.com