Used 2003 Nissan Sentra Consumer Reviews
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One Bad Box
SERookie, 11/12/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The first time my friend showed me a photo of the SE-R I was so turned off by the fact that it looked like every other Sentra. Then I drove one. This car is absolutely the best thing out there for under $18k. The ride is silky smooth once you get past 2nd (a little bit of torque steer in 1st and 2nd due to power). I feel in love once the dealer told me the monthly payment, and the driving just gets better and better.0
Street Racer
Mark F, 01/17/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought the Spec V because I needed a 4-door car to transport the wife and kid, needed a low payment and good fuel economy, yet still wanted to autocross on the weekends. The Spec V does it all very nicely thank you. Room for the family and it also powers around the pylons like crazy. No complaints.
Fun, Fun
Nissan Convert, 04/03/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've got 3,000 miles on the car so far and it is been perfect so far. The acceleration and handling are great. The upgraded Fosgate stereo sounds great too!
2003 SE-R Spec V
bnewton_xp, 11/02/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is a great car! I love everything about this car. I have about 400miles on it so far - I have nothing but good things to say about this car.... bnewton
Yikes...
Chris0101, 01/20/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra 2.5 Limited Edition 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has real punch. I'm still amazed how quick this car is after nearly a month with it. The transmission does a good job of kicking down quickly too. Nice to get 4 wheel disc brakes, side airbags and abs in a car for $15.8K
nice but fragile
JMSFred, 01/05/2004
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After I had put 1500 miles on my Spec V both the airconditioner and cruise control failed to work. They were both fixed under warranty.
econmy car that doesnt act economy
actionjackson, 04/06/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought the SE-R this weekend, fun car, excellent price at 15,700 with .9% apr
Good car so far, but some problems
Jeremy the Bear, 11/21/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car in October 2002. I had a 1992 Honda Accord that I bought in 2000, but put $6,000 worth of repairs into. I have heard good things about Nissans so I thought I'd buy one.
Fast and Fun
BCutler, 04/15/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Fast and fun are the keys to this car. Quick off the line with the 5 spd. Accelerates nicely over 70, but seems to drink gas. Getting only 23-25 mpg. I have still less than 5000 miles on the car.
GREAT SMALL CAR
BRUNO, 08/27/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
ALOT OF FUN TO DRIVE GOOD ON GAS AND IN NYC EASY TO FIND A PARKING SPOT GOOD LITTLE CAR AND HAS SOME POP
Buck Bangin' Silver Bullet
Spec Vicious, 04/17/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
ABS/Side Air Bags, Audio Fanatic, Sunroof packages. I'm already surprised at neck snapping performance. I haven't experienced the torque steer problems yet, but I'm driving conservatively during break in. Stock Contis have me worried for wet weather, so I'm already planning to replace them. Rockford Fosgate system sounds better than BOSE in Mercedes and Volvo for rock, jazz and classical. Shifter feels precise but clutch pedal travel is a little long. Brakes feel great and stop with authority. Instrument cover is cloudy with inside smudges. Ride is firm but not uncomfortable, a great compromise.
awesome car
BaBabooey, 09/28/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
the car is great.. this is my 1st car & i am thrilled w/ it. im glad i picked this over the civic - its nicer lookin, more horse & more fun to drive
Lots o'fun
poogman, 04/19/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got my Spec V 10 days ago and am very happy with it so far. Still in break- in period so I haven't been on the gas too much, but even still it's strong up to the 4k rpm break-in limit. The best part is the shortage of them on the roads. There's millions of Civics out there, and it's a nice car, but not many SE-Rs. From what I hear, the Matrix/Vibe needs to hit 6k rpm before the alternate valve timing kicks in. Glad that's not the case on the SE-R. A Sentra is a compact car, so don't expect to comfortably fit a family of four in it, but for a daily single/double occupant driving, it's hard to top.
fast Spec v
suave0007, 08/08/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought my Spec v in Jan. of 2003 that is the best car I have ever owned. The speed the car has is great. It's a quick car and good on gas. Just the wheels are very weak.
Phat
Sentra Spec V, 11/26/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Love my baby.I like the interior and the exterior and especially the sound system!
SpecV The car I wanted
Daytona, 05/07/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Got it 2 wks ago. Good car. Probably paid to much though. Fun to drive. Watch out shifting from 4 to 5. Gas milage seems okay. Very noisy on concrete roads. Not many on the road, this is good.
Good Enough to Buy it Twice
03SpecV, 09/26/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I purchased my second '03 Spec V yesterday. I had my first one for about 4 months and was rearended, and 2 weeks later before I got the damage fixed, a 16 yr old pulled out in front of me totalling the car. I put 7,000 miles on it in that short time. After shopping around again, I could not bring myself to buy the ugly 04 Spec (Nissan's design team shouldn't have messed with the front of the car). Even though I paid $1200 more than my first one, I still bought another (RF stereo included this time). I have all options on the new one except the "safety" package(ABS, side airbags) and still paid under $17500 including shipping costs.
Sentra GXE 2003
Yves Boisvert, 03/04/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Up to date, my experience is wonderful, before I bought this car I had a road test with the Hyundai Elentra VE but even if the performance are better with the Elentra, the interior is too much better in the Sentra. I bought the luxury package that game me the 15" mag wheels, in dash compartment and 180 audio system + more... and I appreciate it. The look of the car is impressive ( vibrant blue ) and interior look is just perfect. For fuel economy, i can't really express my self, i'm little disapointed cause it is too much for now, buy I have only 2500 miles done yet. My m/gal will improve soon i'm sure of that i'm not worry.
Love my Sentra
rbw, 04/24/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car since late December. I have a little over 5,000 miles as of late April. I have had NO problems what so ever. My mileage has varied between 30 and 39. I commute 39 miles a day each way. Most of my miles are freeway miles with few hills. I'm a big guy, 6'3" 230lbs. The car is comfortable. I got the synergy package. It's an incredible value. I also test drove a Toyota Corolla and a Mazda Protege. I liked those cars too. But, I got more car for the money with the Sentra. PS: It is a fun car to drive.
Your info is wrong!
Dar, 09/27/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Your info listed for this car is wron! There are many more options than you list. You have 'not available' listed for many things that are available! I have auto locks/windows/ mirrors, front interior map lights,vanity mirrors on both sides, abs brakes, split seats in the rear that fold down w/ acces to the trunk, alarm system that shuts the engine down if someone tries to steal it, cd player and other things. So, please list that these things are available. Thanks!
Fun and powerful
Carlos M Larios, 02/27/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
WEll i just bought my car yesterday...i love the power and i got a great proce on it...1740O w/ moon roof and audio package not including Tax, tags, and freight...the second i got in the car i knew it had to be mine. You can just feel the power that this small car has. i test drove it and loved it. the 6 speed manual tran is a beautiful thing...responsive and generally has a good sports car feel to it. I will update my enrty as time goes by. Honestly don't pass this one up...i was in the market for amazda 6 but when it cam,e down to it the Spec v had the power and enough options to keep me happy and at a good price.
great little sports car!!!!
thenebean9, 12/05/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i just bought this car a couple of weeks ago, and i cant stop driving it! it is so much fun to just drive around, and EVERYONE turns to look! (especially since my car is in sunburst yellow!) you dont see many spec-v's out on the road, and its nice if you want a car that will get people looking in your direction! it also drives like a little power house...quick starts, smooth shifting, i cant get enough of it!
More car then you pay for!
LI SilverSE-R, 01/16/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has more torque then any other NA 4 cyl new car. If you are looking for great gas milage I suggest a civic or a corolla, they are far superior to the GXE and XE. However if you want a quick car for very little money this is a very good choice. Especially if you are lazy like me and like automatic because no other auto in the price range offers this much power. This car just moves effortlessly. It handles great, its very fun to drive and its not bad looking. The engine sounds great too!! The 180 watt 7 speaker stereo is pretty decent too.
Mixed reviews
Harley, 01/08/2005
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Had the car for 1 month catalyst backed up into engine. Nissan replaced engine. Torque steer very pronounced, makes handling a 2 hand job. The car is fast and handles nice, but needs some refinement.
Spec V rocks!
Spec V driver, 03/06/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is the best sport compact for the price. I have the sunroof and rockford fosgate system, and it is great having a loaded car (17" wheels, 6 spd, helical limited slip, racing suspension, strut bar, sports seats, mongo brakes, etc) without breaking the bank. Extremely fun to drive, plenty quick, corners awesome, and the car has plenty of "attitude." Go buy one now!!!
Terrific!
Donne, 10/15/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra XE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
What a great car! Can't go wrong with this baby!Much better than others in the same class, yet value priced!
Great Car for the Buck!
Dwayne G., 05/14/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Overall, great car so far and from all I've read (which is a lot) it should be for a long time. I have the 1.8L 4cyl which is the one I wanted because of the great fuel economy, but it could stand to be a little more peppy. With the rear spoiler, fog lights and alloy rims package, which I got, this car looks really good for a sedan, kind of like a small Maxima. The Stereo/CD system sounds great.
#1 sports car under $20,000
Royal Mist, 10/06/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
One word to discribe this car: awesome! I was looking to buy a new car, and was considering the following: RSX, Celica, SE-R, Eclipse. SE-R has the best Aggressive exterior looks, BEST performance of 165hp/175lb torque ! 4 dr acaully saved about $500 on insurance. I'm glad I brought the LAST new 03 SE-R model in all the dealers of my area, beause the 04 model is just BUTT UGLY. took me a few days to find this one (black) I wanted to get a Spec- V but it was $5000 more and the car was missing parts, it was also the last brand new one in the all of the dealers in my area.
Wolf in sheep's clothing
happyspecvdriver, 05/09/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After trying to find a used MaximaSE manual for a couple of months, I decided to go with the SpecV as my commuter car. It doesn't have as much power as my wife's Max SE, but it is very quick and gets on the freeway with ease. I have an 80 mile commute, the limit is 65, but traffic routinely moves at 70plus. Not a problem cruising at 75, revs at 2700 with plenty to spare. Techwise, it's got a lot of perks, which all combine to make it an economy car with attitude. This isn't your grandpa's Civic or Corolla. Ready to race out of the box, no after-market parts required. And at $16312 it was a great deal. Best thing is, I'm not one of the Civic or Corolla or Jetta masses.
Wow!
Brant Walker, 12/09/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've had my Spec V for 2 weeks and came out of a 2002 Maxima SE 6 speed. Wow! the go-kart handling, powerful engine, precise steering, etc. The 6 speed is a world apart from the clunky 6 speed in the maxima. Nissan did their homework on this one. The ride tolerable on all but the worst of roads. What a fun time can be had with the relatively small price of this vehicle.
reliability
ginubrian, 04/16/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Realibilty on this car is extremely questionable. I am not alone either...try checking the spec v forums.
Foreign is the only way to go.
jennerz20, 10/20/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
After owning a Honda, then a Ford and now a Nissan, I have to say I will never own another domestic car. The options I got on my car are incredible for less than 15k and the reliability and depriciation was a major factor in my purchase.
Love the car... hate the tires
phillipw, 09/03/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I love the car I justwish there was more room in thebackseat and that the tire (Bridgestone Potenza's) were better in wet weather. I have slid into a curb causing the alloy wheel to be replaced and hydroplane quite often at such low mileage (4300) the tires are horrible but the car is great.
What a ride
automonogamist, 11/08/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I drove a 92 SE-r for 10 years and upgraded to the Spec V earlier this year. What a car for the money. Styling is on par with anything out there within 10 grand. I am biased, but you can't beat this one in black.
Sentra Good? My family owns three!
toga333, 01/22/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
The Sentra GXE offers great styling, and reliablity. The ABS/Side air bags are only availiable as an add-on package. Fuel economy is 29-32MPG, with about a 300-340 mile Range. We have had no issues with the 3 Sentras my Family owns (01SE,02GXE,03GXE). 180 Watt stereo in uplevel packages are a plus, so are alloy wheels. oh, and make sure you get a rear spoiler, it really improves the rear look of the car!
Somewhat tame SE-R
mossimo, 03/04/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra 2.5 Limited Edition 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
There's no doubt about it, the SE-R is a supercool car. There is another option though. I have a medical condition (head injury) which makes it very hard to drive a standard. The same condition also makes me want a car with the latest safety features. The LE comes with AT, ABS, and side air bags standard. The SE-R was impossible to find with this combination, at least for me. However, the LE comes with the same 2.5 liter engine as the SE-R. It provides the same grin inducing forward motivation as the near legendary SE-R. The LE is great for driving around town with its abundant low end torque.
Love my Sentra
RBW, 04/24/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I've owned this car since late December. I have a little over 5,000 miles as of late April. I have had NO problems what so ever. My mileage has varied between 30 and 39. I commute 39 miles a day each way. Most of my miles are freeway miles with few hills. I'm a big guy, 6'3" 230lbs. The car is comfortable. I got the synergy package. It's an incredible value. I also test drove a Toyota Corolla and a Mazda Protege. I liked those cars too. But, I got more car for the money with the Sentra. PS: It is a fun car to drive.
almost perfect
butkus, 11/07/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
this is my second sentra in nine years.my last is a 93sentra with 180,000miles and still running.i wanted an upgrade with a little pep.that is why picked spec-v.
Good as they say...
himura_kenshin, 12/13/2002
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I was finally fed up with all of the reliablility and fit and finish issues with my 1999 Ford SVT Contour and was looking for a new vehicle. All of the reveiws said that the Sentra SE-R Spec V was an affordable and fun to drive car (including Edmunds)and I have to say that they were correct.
Very Pleased
cheap, 01/24/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Overall I am very pleased with the Sentra. I previously owned an Audi A4 so I miss many of the little comforts of the Audi, but I do not miss the expensive upkeep and low gas milage. The Sentra is reliable, performs well for the gas milage it get's and with a spoiler it's not that bad to look at either. I've only had the car for a few months and I already have 14,000 miles on it. If the 2.5 was out when I bought it, I would have gotten the 2.5l
Great So Far...
G&G, 01/21/2004
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
We are leasing a 5-speed, and have been very pleased so far. About 24,000 km to date, mostly highway commuting to work. No major repairs required to date. Controls are easy to find and operate, split seats in back make it easy to "borrow" more trunk space when we need it, great storage space inside. We test drove the Mazda, Honda and Saturn in the same category and feel we are getting more car for the money.
awesome
lisa711, 06/24/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This car has amazing power, especially for being a 4 cylinder. The seats are very comfortable and great on long trips. My oly complaint is that its a little hard on ga.
For the price, y not
jjcc, 02/15/2004
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
i got this car in jan 2003 simply out of necessity. i had a 93 altima that was giving more problems as each day passes. budget was a concern so the cheapest, reliable vehicle was what i was looking for, looked at other sedans like civic and corrola but we stopped in nissan first and got a convinng salesman so we got it. pick up is slow, bumper sags, my nissan dealership likes to rip people off so i will not buy a nissan anytime soon.
Fun car, but could use some work!!
Kip, 01/29/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Over all this car is a good bargin for the bang, nice looking, nice interior, and decent performance. Although they could improve on a few things,second and third gears are a bit crunchy, and my biggest complaint is the traction, i mean, I went from owning a 2002 Ford Mustang Gt, and it had better traction than this car, this cars tires just spin with little gas, and im not trying to fry these tires, thats why i steped down a to a cheaper car, to save money. anyway, what im saying is, if you want a car with good traction in rain or snow, this is not your car, its really bad in the snow, really really bad.
New Spec V Owner
03spec v, 03/01/2006
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
One of the better cars I have owned. Not the best nor the fastest but I am truly amazed everyday I drive it. One major draw back is I had to buy Snow/Ice tires for it since the factory wheels are "Z" rated. Kind of costly but it is the only negative thing.
Can't find a better replacement
Lance, 04/24/2006
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 6M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I'm looking to buy another commuter car this year, and I'm having a tough time coming up with a better choice for under $20K!
2ND Nissan Sentra
CURTIS, 11/13/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is my 2nd Sentra, the 1st was a 2000 with a 2.0 ltr. on a lease. The 2nd was to buy and keep and thus so far it has been a great car. The only problem i've had was to replace the CD player 2 times because the CD's wouldn't come out, but other than that 3rd CD player seems to be working good, thanks to a warranty. Since this is a 1.8 ltr. it is not as powerful as the 2.0, but the gas milege is pretty good and the car feels soild and comfy.
SE--R
WilliamB, 01/30/2003
2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R 4dr Sedan (2.5L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Well, I have to tell you, this SE-R is extremely fun to drive! But, please, if you are looking at the SE-R, get maual transmission. Plus, the higher end SE-R Spec V is not too much more and comes with 175 horsepower, 6 speed manual, and other features. The SE-R is very fun to drive, but can swerve a little when accelerating. That isn't too abvious, and isn't that big of a deal. Very good job on the car.
No Cruise Control!
bapper64, 04/16/2004
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I bought this car, sight unseen, after a recommendation from a friend who had it thoroughly checked out. Not at all disappointed except for one thing. I have the GXE model and there is one thing that really bugs me - there isn't cruise control. This car is loaded for the price has power everything else including keyless entry. I'm not sure why cruise control isn't a standard feature since it ranks pretty low on the ladder of options. Overall, I'm very happy with it and would recommend this car to anyone who wants reliable and reasonable transportation.
My Old Faithful Nissan Sentra
Jose, 06/05/2010
2003 Nissan Sentra GXE 4dr Sedan (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I have nothing bad to say about my 2003 Nissan Sentra GXE. Ever since I bought my car in 2003 it has performed very well, just the normal wear and tear maintenance issues like tires, struts, belts, etc. Great, reliable car.