Why would you buy a Protege instead of....

[Sentra SE-R]

Why would you buy a Protege 5 instead of....

Hi, I'm new here and I DO NOT want to start a flame war here, just some intellegent conversation.

I own a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R and the Protege5 was one of the cars I looked at before buying. I made the decision based on many, many factors and was wondering why you guys bought the Protege.

Between the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V and Protege 5

-prices are about the same(~21,000cdn or17,000US)

-AC is standard on SE-R

-ABS standard on Protege5

-SE-R have 45 more horse power(175)

-Same gas mileage (~24-29mpg)

-2 secs faster form 0-60mph (7.5 vs. 9.5)...yes the performance is
near the RSX type S and Celica GTS at $10,000 more. Heck, it's
faster than a BMW 320 at $20,000 more.

-SE-R has standard 17' rims performance tires($2000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has standard slip differential ($1000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has 6-spd tranny

-SE-R has variable valve timing (same as V-Tech)

-SE-R handles better (.88g road holding vs. .85)

The most appealing factor for the SE-R to me is that it's a very RARE car! You do not see one everyday, it's a very exclusive car, you feel special driving it.

All for the same base price. Why did you guys buy the Protege5? is it for better looks? Is it because of you didn't have to wait two month for delivery? Is it because you did not know the SE-R existed? Thanks I just wanted to see how you guys felt.

 

[1sty]

Look at any media publication. Car and driver, road and Track edmunds all prefer the Protege over the sentra.

The best part of the protege is driving it. The sentra holds a better turn but the proteges slalom is far better. The performance of the Sentra, non SE-R isn't that good either.
Not to mention the protege is a much better looking car.

All in all they are a faily evenly matched car but the Protege usualy comes out on top.

 

[BK's black P5]

I wonder how many of us P5 owners that love our rides are surfing the Sentra SE-R forums?!?! Hmmmmmm.

 

[robgaloshes]

i test drove both and preferred the p5. one thing i disliked about the se-r initially was looks, both inside and out. the p5 was also more practical for me cos of all the space in the back for sports related gear (i do mountain biking, snowboarding, skateboarding, tennis, etc).

 

[LinuxRacr]

The Mazdaspeed Protege is the redemption factor. And when the Mazdaspeed wagon (rumor) comes out, it will be too! Do a search on the Internet for the Mazdaspeed Protege.

 

[Rogue_Biker]

The Sentra SE-R looks too bland. It virtually disappears in traffic. And here in the US, it's not an "exclusive" car. The Protege5 stands out from the crowd. Everytime I look at it it makes me smile because it's such a cute car. And I can't tell you how often people have come up to me and asked me about my P5 because they too love its looks. Yes. The SE-R is faster. But the P5 is better balanced. It's not slow nor fast yet it's so much fun to drive. And finally, it's built in Japan. It's a quality piece. The SE-R is made in Mexico. Is there a difference in quality? You be there is. Go inside a Protege5 then compare it to the interior of the SE-R and you'll see a big difference in quality of materials, fit and finish. It's not all about performance. It's about the whole car ownership experience. If you have to ask what that means, then you won't understand.

If I had to do it over again, I'd still get the P5. Okay, I may have waited for the Mazdaspeed Protege Turbo. However, I would never consider the SE-R. I'd get the Matrix XRS before I'd get the SE-R.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Well, we too considered buying an SE-R Spec-V and although I feel this thread is not truly intended to find out an opinion, I will respond.

From a performance standpoint, the Spec-V is most likely the better car. From a practical standpoint, the Pro-5 is a better car. I guess I will sum it up with my wife's response to which car she wanted. When I asked what she thought of the Spec-V, she said, "well, I know it is a faster car..but it is STILL a Sentra and to be honest, the back of the car is ugly" So she decided to buy the Pro-5. Now the fact that we own a 240SX and that she was turning in a leased Altima might have something to do with it too. She probably just wanted something different. Performance was not her main goal I guess, as long as she is happy, I am happy. I will make this statement, the Spec-V is NOT RARE!!!! There are three in my parking lot at work alone and I have a buddy that has one (works somewhere else) and there are 2 in his work lot!! I see them on the road all the time and they are not hard to get. They are all over the Nissan lots in my area. I drove the Spec-V and was impressed by it, although it has a little too much torque steer, it was an impressive car. If I were to buy a daily driver to replace my truck, I would consider one. I word of forwarning though, be carefull if your driving this car in snow, you will need winter tires. Enjoy your car man.

peace
Griff

Hi, I'm new here and I DO NOT want to start a flame war here, just some intellegent conversation.

I own a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R and the Protege5 was one of the cars I looked at before buying. I made the decision based on many, many factors and was wondering why you guys bought the Protege.

Between the two cars:

-prices are about the same(~21,000cdn or17,000US)

-AC is standard on SE-R

-ABS standard on Protege5

-SE-R have 45 more horse power(175)

-Same gas mileage (~24-29mpg)

-2 secs faster form 0-60mph (7.5 vs. 9.5)...yes the performance is
near the RSX type S and Celica GTS at $10,000 more. Heck, it's
faster than a BMW 320 at $20,000 more.

-SE-R has standard 17' rims performance tires($2000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has standard slip differential ($1000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has 6-spd tranny

-SE-R has variable valve timing (same as V-Tech)

-SE-R handles better (.88g road holding vs. .85)

The most appealing factor for the SE-R to me is that it's a very RARE car! You do not see one everyday, it's a very exclusive car, you feel special driving it.

All for the same base price. Why did you guys buy the Protege5? is it for better looks? Is it because of you didn't have to wait two month for delivery? Is it because you did not know the SE-R existed? Thanks I just wanted to see how you guys felt.

 

[ZoomZoom]

Oh yea, ABS is not standard on the Pro-5, well, at least not in 2002. I purposely picked a car from the lot that did not have ABS. I also think that AC is standard on the P5, but not 100% sure. The one thing that I do like about the SE-R is the "baby skyline" front end. But I like the similarity of the P5 front end to a IS300 also. Eh, to each their own.

peace
Griff

 

[Equinox]

I don't like how the se-r looks aftermarket or new, the rims, 17" or not, I don't care for, and it may have horsepower at the crank, but at the wheels it's horrible and no better than the last SE-R

 

[Patio]

you know, its still a sentra, sounds so girly

+ its slower than my car, lol


my favorite line "ever been beat by a wagon?"

 

[ZoomZoom]

Yea, it does sound girly, that is because it was said by a girl!! Well, a woman actually, lol.

peace
Griff

 

[Equinox]

Re: Why would you buy a Protege 5 instead of....

Hi, I'm new here and I DO NOT want to start a flame war here, just some intellegent conversation.

I own a 2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R and the Protege5 was one of the cars I looked at before buying. I made the decision based on many, many factors and was wondering why you guys bought the Protege.

Between the Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V and Protege 5

-prices are about the same(~21,000cdn or17,000US)

-AC is standard on SE-R

-ABS standard on Protege5

-SE-R have 45 more horse power(175)

-Same gas mileage (~24-29mpg)

-2 secs faster form 0-60mph (7.5 vs. 9.5)...yes the performance is
near the RSX type S and Celica GTS at $10,000 more. Heck, it's
faster than a BMW 320 at $20,000 more.

-SE-R has standard 17' rims performance tires($2000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has standard slip differential ($1000 if aftermarket)

-SE-R has 6-spd tranny

-SE-R has variable valve timing (same as V-Tech)

-SE-R handles better (.88g road holding vs. .85)

The most appealing factor for the SE-R to me is that it's a very RARE car! You do not see one everyday, it's a very exclusive car, you feel special driving it.

All for the same base price. Why did you guys buy the Protege5? is it for better looks? Is it because of you didn't have to wait two month for delivery? Is it because you did not know the SE-R existed? Thanks I just wanted to see how you guys felt.

Some things of notew on the protege5 -

Almost all imports have variable valve timing, it's jsut Vtec is talked about more because honda was one of the first to have it - it's no longer a big deal.

The protege5 is 8.9 0-60 not 9.5 regardless what car and driver says.

ABS is not standard on Protege5 - which is a good thing.

Gas mileage for the protege5 is not 24-29 it's 25-31

A/C IS standard on the protege5- and if it wasn't I would have gotten a p5 without it for less weight.

Standard on a P5 is also, leather steering wheel, leather shift knob/shift boot.

Spec-v has terribly small foglights, the p5 doesn't.

 

[smp3000]

Now if you're just comparing a "protege" and an SER then I can see pro's and cons for both....

but when you try and compare the SER-V and the MP3... In my eyes there isn't much of a comparrison. Before my turbo days I had been known to loose to ever SER-V I'd race (hence the horsepower difference). But get me on some side streets and there's no way any sentra could keep up with my handling. There's a reason we beat the Vette int he slollom.

Plus my mom had an 88 Sentra at one time and it looked like a tin can. I don't think I coul ever get that image out of my mind.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

Three Words-ITS A NISSAN, also the variable valve timing isnt always a good thing, you cant just look at the horsepower. Take a look at the torque on all the cars with the variable valve timing, 175 hp, 105 ft-lb of tq, also when do you get that hp number at redline of course. What good is that gonna do you, other than piss you off? The P5 is way better than a sentra any day.
My .10
Mike

 

[Sentra SE-R]

Re: Re: Why would you buy a Protege 5 instead of....

>Some things of notew on the protege5 -

>Almost all imports have variable valve timing, it's jsut Vtec is >talked about more because honda was one of the first to have >it - it's no longer a big deal.

Why doesn't the P5 have it?

>The protege5 is 8.9 0-60 not 9.5 regardless what car and driver >says.

the manufacturer claims 10.4.

>ABS is not standard on Protege5 - which is a good thing.

In Canada it is.

>Gas mileage for the protege5 is not 24-29 it's 25-31

A corolla with the same hp rating gets 32/40

>A/C IS standard on the protege5- and if it wasn't I would have >gotten a p5 without it for less weight.

I wouldn't buy a car with A/C

>Standard on a P5 is also, leather steering wheel, leather shift >knob/shift boot.
Same on the SE-R

>Spec-v has terribly small foglights, the p5 doesn't.
Proteges has terribly small engines, SE-R doesn't.

...anyways I just like to say that the two cars caters to different people. The SE-R is about sheer performance and the Protege caters to a more mature buyer that does not rank performance as the number one factor.

As for the people who called Sentra girly, read this:

protge (prt-zh, prt-zh) n. A woman or girl whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by an influential person.

 

[Sentra SE-R]

175 hp, 105 ft-lb of tq, also when do you get that hp number at redline of course.

...What are you smoking? Do a little more homework before you speak.

 

[Equinox]

Re: Re: Re: Why would you buy a Protege 5 instead of....

>Some things of notew on the protege5 -

>Almost all imports have variable valve timing, it's jsut Vtec is >talked about more because honda was one of the first to have >it - it's no longer a big deal.

Why doesn't the P5 have it?
+It does, that's what I'm saying

>The protege5 is 8.9 0-60 not 9.5 regardless what car and driver >says.
the manufacturer claims 10.4.
+ and they are wrong.

>ABS is not standard on Protege5 - which is a good thing.
In Canada it is.
+I'm not in Canada

>Gas mileage for the protege5 is not 24-29 it's 25-31
A corolla with the same hp rating gets 32/40
+I'm faster than a corolla, not to mention shorter, and look better. We're talking about your car and mine.

>A/C IS standard on the protege5- and if it wasn't I would have >gotten a p5 without it for less weight.
I wouldn't buy a car with A/C
+then why mention that A/c is standard on spec v?

>Spec-v has terribly small foglights, the p5 doesn't.
Proteges has terribly small engines, SE-R doesn't.
+500cc difference isn't a terrible thing, it's not like it's a 1.5l honda

...anyways I just like to say that the two cars caters to different people. The SE-R is about sheer performance and the Protege caters to a more mature buyer that does not rank performance as the number one factor.
+If this is true why'd you come here and ask about it?

 

[MikeBlueP5]

You drive a Nissan Sentra-What am I smoking?
Directly from nissans webpage-
2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder engine
175 hp @ 6,000 rpm
REDLINE ANYONE????

 

[MikeBlueP5]

protge (prt-zh, prt-zh) n. A woman or girl whose welfare, training, or career is promoted by an influential person.

too bad it isnt spelled that way. awww damn gotta hate that.

 

[MikeBlueP5]

its aight we realize that you nissan guys are jealous that our car was rated #1 and yours wasnt. itll all be ok. (when nissan makes a better car)