Mazda 3, Sentra, Civic owners, do you like your car?

[WeLoveLilo05]

We are purchasing a new car (ugh!) and we really want to stay under $20,000. Here's some info on us.
We live in NJ, and have a DD who is 5. Fiance is pretty tall (about 6'2", he's average weight though for his height) We drive pretty local, fiance's job is only 12 miles away and I am A SAHM. Currently, we are a 1 car family and we plan on keeping our current car for me to just do my errands around town. Everything I need is withing a 5 mile radius. We would get pretty much nothing for our Chevy Cavalier so we figure we might as well just keep it. We are driving to Disney for the first time in Aug.

We are looking into a new Civic, Sentra, or Mazda 3 as those are 3 that fall into our price range. Before the massive Toyota recall we were hands down going with a corolla, but I don't feel safe putting my daughter in a car that has the potential to accelerate all by itself. So for those with those cars, do you enjoy them? Tell me what you like, don't like. Since fiance is so tall will he be like Mr. Incredible in these little cars?

 

[simba20]

I have a 2007 Sentra with keyless everything.

I am not "technical" so I can't sell you on those aspects of the car, but I do love my Sentra. My husband is 6'3" and he fits comfortablly in the Sentra. For a child riding in the back there is enough room, but for an adult the legs are a bit squished (espically when riding behind my husband). Also due to my husband ebing so tall and having to have the driver's seat all the way back when he drives, we had to put my daughter's car seat (when rear facing) behind the pasenger seat for space. Of course now she's in a FF car seat so it doesn't matter.

Our has all the bell and whistles (available crica 2007). The keyless entry and keyless start were always a blessing when DD was an infant and I had her car seat and bags in my hands -- just walk up and push the button on the door no need to dig out keys. We have the embedded bluetooth (easy to use and set up) and info center. The glovebox is HUGE (it can hold a laptop -- BTDT) and lockable. The trunk also divides into two parts with a divider and can be taken out. We've packed quite a lot in there for our Disney trips.

We live in the boonies and so mine has 58000 miles on it already (yes, BONNIES so I drive alot). I have done regular oil changes on it and haven't had a single issue with it mechanically.

 

[Gabes_mommy]

My husband and I both had Civics when we met. My DH is 6'3" and has very broad shoulders and he fit comfortably in his Civic. They are very reliable cars.

 

[FireDancer]

I have a 2008 Mazda 3 5-Door and love it. I wanted the room of the hatch without having to buy an SUV and pay for the gas mileage. I don't like the oil filter (they use a gasket style) but other then that I have no complaints.

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I have a 2007 Sentra with keyless everything.

I am not "technical" so I can't sell you on those aspects of the car, but I do love my Sentra. My husband is 6'3" and he fits comfortablly in the Sentra. For a child riding in the back there is enough room, but for an adult the legs are a bit squished (espically when riding behind my husband). Also due to my husband ebing so tall and having to have the driver's seat all the way back when he drives, we had to put my daughter's car seat (when rear facing) behind the pasenger seat for space. Of course now she's in a FF car seat so it doesn't matter.

Our has all the bell and whistles (available crica 2007). The keyless entry and keyless start were always a blessing when DD was an infant and I had her car seat and bags in my hands -- just walk up and push the button on the door no need to dig out keys. We have the embedded bluetooth (easy to use and set up) and info center. The glovebox is HUGE (it can hold a laptop -- BTDT) and lockable. The trunk also divides into two parts with a divider and can be taken out. We've packed quite a lot in there for our Disney trips.

We live in the boonies and so mine has 58000 miles on it already (yes, BONNIES so I drive alot). I have done regular oil changes on it and haven't had a single issue with it mechanically.

I am leading towards the sentra or mazda 3 myself.
I had a sentra about 7 years ago....but when I got pregnant we could not afford 2 car payments so we got rid of mine
I really loved my car, but I loved it when I was 20 and wondering if it was a family type of car.
I did have problems with it tho, but I think it was b/c I had the SE-R model and I think that may have been the first year that model came out (?????) and I remember the mechanic saying the "brain" of the car had problems. It just wouldn't start somedays, somedays it would. lol. I also beat the poop out of it, I drove around a lot when I was younger.
But I loved the way it drove and felt comfy and safe in it. I was concerned about fiance fitting inside as he never drove my car b/c "he liked his (chevy) better". But if your hubby fits in it and he is taller than my fiance then I don't think we should have a problem.
My fiance really wants the mazda 3.

 

[simba20]

I am leading towards the sentra or mazda 3 myself.
I had a sentra about 7 years ago....but when I got pregnant we could not afford 2 car payments so we got rid of mine
I really loved my car, but I loved it when I was 20 and wondering if it was a family type of car.
I did have problems with it tho, but I think it was b/c I had the SE-R model and I think that may have been the first year that model came out (?????) and I remember the mechanic saying the "brain" of the car had problems. It just wouldn't start somedays, somedays it would. lol. I also beat the poop out of it, I drove around a lot when I was younger.
But I loved the way it drove and felt comfy and safe in it. I was concerned about fiance fitting inside as he never drove my car b/c "he liked his (chevy) better". But if your hubby fits in it and he is taller than my fiance then I don't think we should have a problem.
My fiance really wants the mazda 3.

I believe that 2007 was when they changed the Sentra to the newer style. So we have the new model for the first year and in three years -- no trouble. We were trying to get an Altima, but couldn't afford the payments, so when the salesguy asked if I had considered the Sentra, I pointed ot the one on the showroom floor (the one with all the bells and whistles) and said "if you can get me that one"). I think it was around $18,000 compared to lower end models with less options that were in the $15,000-$16,000 range. We finally got a payment we wanted.

Last September I hit a small deer. Granted it was a small deer, but the only damage was to the front bumper of the Sentra. The body shop did replace the radiator just to be sure there were no cracks, but I was able to drive it home after hitting the deer, straight to my insurance agent who called the claims guy and a few days later it was at the body shop being repaired.

I do have a notice from Nissan about how they extended the warranty coverage on the CVT (CRT?) transmission, but I haven't had any problems with mine.

I don't know about Mazda's, but I think all the cars you've picked have great reputations. I also considered the Carolla at the time, but at first we tried for the Altima.

 

[puffkin]

I know you ruled out the Corolla which is a shame because we absolutely love ours. We test drove all the small cars you have listed and the Corolla won hands down. If we needed a new car, I wouldn't hesitate buying a Toyota again...if anything their cars will be even safer after all the public scrutiny.

Honda just had a big recall today on Elements/Odyssey's for brakes failing. None of the car companies are immune.

 

[mrodgers]

I've heard that the Sentra has VERY soft paint, as in you will scratch the paint with just your fingernail.

I would have bought a Sentra had I had a car I could have traded for the clunker deal a while back. I get a discount on Nissan and would have been in a new Sentra for around $6000. From my research, I wouldn't touch a Sentra for over $15,000 when comparing with other similar cars.

I have a 94 Civic that I just got. 179,000 miles when I got it in November and now has 184,000. I didn't pay anything for it (family hand-me-down). When I got it, it had a blown head gasket and still does 5000 miles later. Even with the blown head gasket and all the miles, it is easily the best car I have ever driven (sans the automatic transmission because I HATE autos.)

I would buy a Civic in a heartbeat with the exception of the newest body style. I sat in my wife's aunt's new Civic (the original owner of mine) and would not like the dash, front windshield, and front end arrangement at all.

I've read a lot about the Mazda 3, mainly on the poor gas mileage that is reported on the Mazda forums. But I've read that they run fantastic and are quite a fun little car, especially the Mazda3Speed.

I'm a driving enthusiast, not just someone looking for a vehicle to get me around. The car has to look good, perform good, and be reliable for me to want to buy something new. A car also has to have me in full control, something that is very rare these days, ie. the Toyota recall due to electronic throttle, lack of manual transmissions in cars these days, etc.

If it is my choice, which I am researching lately because I will be in the market soon, I would save the cash and buy something 2000-2005. I don't like where new cars are heading with all this electronic junk and how companies are constantly trying to "save money". Quality never was there with American manufacturers and is now heading down hill with Japanese manufacturers.

If I had my choice today, I would look hard at Volkswagon.

 

[Kirby]

My husband is 6'4" and I'm 5'4". Needless to say when we go car shopping, we only look at those that my husband can sit comfortably in. I would have him sit in the cars and make sure he's comfortable. And also check out the back seat, just because he fits in the front does not mean an adult can ride in the back when he's up front. Your daughter may have room at the moment but she's going to grow too.

 

[Freyja]

I love our Mazda 3. Neither DH nor I are very tall though, so can´t comment on that.