Used car recommendation: Protege vs. ???

[canadapaul2]

I have a 1997 MX-6 LS with the 6-cyl and the leather and a stick. My fiance has a 1996 Paseo with a stick. We love both the cars, and recently have dumped about $1500 into them (new discs and pads for me, new water pump and A/C compressor needed for her).

But I hardly drive mine at all, as I returned to school to get my Masters degree and I'm a 10 minute walk from my office. And since my income is now distustingly low, its time to bid farewell to our 2-door sporty coupes and buy a nice 4 door. It will be a return to sedan-land for me, as I used to drive (and love to death) a 1983 626 (racked up 260,000 km on it).

So we're thinking Protege, 626, Altima, Sentra, Camry or Accord. The last two are the preferences for us, but both are very expensive to buy used. Our budget is about $10,000 CDN. The Camry has a bit of a family image that we'd like to avoid for the time being. We've taken a look at a few of these at different used car lots and private sales, and have come upon the following:

1999 Protege SE: underpowered, even with the stick. Anything but exciting. Very light car. 5 spd tranny feels spongey or rubbery. Shifting isn't vague, it just doesn't feel crisp. DX model does not have height adjustable driver seat (bad for fiance at 5'2"). No tachometer? What were they thinking? Cost cutting at its worst. I blame Ford. Mazdas used to be loaded with interesting features. Not that impressed, but driving a DX tonight to see the difference.

626: We would only buy a 1996 or 1997, as I hear that they worked out the bugs from the early 1990's models by this point, and that in 1998 they got really bad (I blame Ford, again). I would be comfortable with this car, as its basically my current car with 4 doors (mechanically identical I think). But reliability doesn't hold a candle to the Camry/Accord (nothing does, apparently).

Altima: Seems like amazing value for the dollar. We looked at 2 cars for under $10,000 that were both 1999 models with less than 150,000 km on them. Seems a big step up from the Sentra. But we haven't driven Nissans in years and don't know what to expect.

Sentra: If we are going to cut costs, this is what we'd get. Its $2000 less than the Altima, and seems to be about the same size as a Protege (give or take a little). No experience/knowledge of these cars. Worried about power.

Accord/Camry: If we go this route, we can only afford a 1995 or older.

We will only go Japanese, and only with a stick. I refuse to drive automatic on the grounds that it may domesticate me (I'm dangerously close with a 4-door, I don't want to push it any further).

Does anyone have any recommendations or experience with these cars? Suggestions? I'd love to stick with Mazda, but our first test drive of a Protege was not promising. Thanks!

 

[sundevilMP5]

subaru...you could probably find a used impreza for cheap...they're fun to drive and reliable...good for the winters up there in canada...i'm thinking maybe a 95 impreza L...you could even get an outback maybe...i really don't know how the resale value is around you...

 

[fastdrvr23]

Out of all the cars you've listed I would go with #1 -- Altima, and #2 -- Protege'.

I would look for a an SE model Altima if possible, with the GXE coming as my second altima choice because of available options. The 2.4 Liter 4 cyl. the altima's have is quite impressive, and seems to be very reliable. A friend of mine has driven his 5-speed 1995 Nissan Altima GXE since new, and he has ~180,000 miles on it. He said he would recommend it to anyone.

Secondly, I would recommend a 1998 or so LX 1.8 Protege. I owned a 1990 LX 1.8, and it was a great car. Fun to drive, and lasted very well. I wrote a little about it here.


I'll also agree with sundevil, imprezas seem to be damn near bullet proof, and would make a great winter driver as well.

Anyways, good luck!

 

[JasonTK]

Just thought I would chime in about the sentra.

Previously to my MP3 I drove a 2000 sentra for a year.

It was an automatic, but it was a very solid car. Tons of options, power everything, keyless everything (well, not engine start), very comfortable and roomy. Its a very nice car for the money, but its not a sports car for sure.

 

[canadapaul2]

Drove a Sentra last night and...

We took a 1998 Sentra out for a spin last night, and it felt fairly similar to the 1999 Protege. Both were a stick, and both were underpowered (I think my 1983 626 had more get up and go). The Sentra engine was pretty noisy, and alot of vibration could be felt through the gas pedal. The clutch throw was long, and engaged abruptly. Felt like a small car (thought they could have done a better job of hiding the fact). The shifter was rubbery, just like the Protege. Seating position was good, head room was good (I'm 6'2"). Defrost (thunderstorm in the area, humidity was 100%) was absolute garbage. We let it run for 10 minutes and the window was still 60% covered. Rear defrost worked fine though.

I think maybe the Sentra is too much of a step down. The more we think about it, the more an Accord looks like the car we should get. We're test driving a couple '99 Altimas tonight, and maybe a 1997 626 (all with stick, of course). We also checked out the Lemon Aid guide for used cars and some book called Canadian Used Car Buyers Guide at Chapters last night, and it never fails: the more you read, the more different opinions you get on cars. One says the 626 is fine '96 and '97. One says the reliability is horrendous, and another says they're just okay. But one thing in common is that they all say the Camry is the best car made in the last 10 years, and the Accord is a close 2nd.

 

[canadapaul2]

Drove an Altima and...

It was SO much better than the Protege or Sentra. Mind you, it seems as though Nissan has a poor grasp on the proper 'feel' for a manual transmission. The shifter feels rubbery (I mean, the end of the throws) just like the Sentra. The Protege was a bit better in that regard, but nowhere near our Paseo, MX-6, or the best, my old 626.

But the Altima was roomy, great sounding engine (quiet, unlike the reviews I'd read before), stylish, VERY comfortable seats, and lots of power. We actually drove two, almost identical '98 models and they drove exactly the same. We both loved it right away, except here's the kicker...

The place we looked at these cars is called Barg Automotive. They're a used car dealer, not sure if they're in the States at all but they seem to be all over southwestern Ontario. Both cars had 140,000+ km on them, which for '98 models is quite high, about 35k to 40k per year. The salesman said they pick them up at auctions, which to me, sounds like they're either ex-rentals or fleet cars. I don't know much about the ins and outs of used car dealers, but I think these auctions are also places where dealers take cars that they can't sell and try to get rid of them. It seems really strange to me that '98 Altimas for $9,995 CDN (about $6300 US) would not sell right away (hence, why would Barg be able to pick them up at auctions?). Something seemed fishy, and used car dealers always give me the creeps anyways (good place to test drive, bad feeling when handing over the money), so I don't think we're going to go back. The average price for a '98 Altima in Ontario is $12,500, and Barg was considerably under that price. Also, both cars had small amounts of damage (one had a crack in the console, the other was missing the aerial, and both had small rust spots forming on the bottom of the rear driver side window) the salesman attributed to "not having been to detailing yet". Hmmm

Anyways, tonight I'm driving to Listowel to see a '91 Accord 5 spd with 165,000 km on it (private sale). My fiance isn't thrilled on the prospect of replacing our '96 and '97 model year vehicles with a '91, so I'm going alone. I figure if the price is right ($4000 or so), I really can't lose, and I can't afford to let my '97 MX-6 sit in the driveway and depreciate any longer.