Nissan Sentra or Altima?

[bettymae1121]

I'm looking to buy a new car this time next year. I'm expecting our first child in February and I want a new car with updated safety features. Right now I drive a '98 Saturn, and while it's reliable for such an old car, I'd feel better in a new one.

At first I had decided on the Nissan Sentra S, it's right within my price range, it's similar in size to what I drive now and it has all the features I want, including built in navigation. We plan on having no more than two kids so it should work for us for the long haul (I tend to keep cars a long time). But still, for two adults and two kids, if we take a long road trip it would be tight. Doable, but tight. After the down payment, it will be $300 a month for 3 years.

But on a whim I priced out the Altima 2.5S, it's larger so that solves the "long trip" issue with the Sentra. But to keep it in our price range I have to forgo some of the options I want, like the navigation. And even without the extra features it's almost $5k more, so that will add $100 a month to our payment.

We can swing it but I like the sound of $300 a month much better than $400 a month. On the other hand, I dont' want to be in a situation 4 years from now where we have a 2nd child and decide it's just not big enough and now we're car shopping again.

I figure we'll be taking at least one long road trip once every one to two years, MIL lives in PA and my father splits time between AZ and MO, and we're in the Chicago area. I wold also love to drive to WDW someday rather than fly. So the extra room on trips is apealing. On the other hand, the rest of the year the car won't be driven much and not very far, so room isn't such an issue on a daily basis.

What do you all think? Is the extra room worth the extra $100 a month? And for Nissan owners, what do you think about Sentra vs. Altima as a vehicle, ignoring the price factor?

 

[wvjules]

I just upgraded from a Sentra to an Altima on Friday!

If you are thinking of adding to your family in the future then go with the Altima. There is only me, DBF and DD16 and the Sentra just seemed too small. I didn't get the navigation system. I have the conveneince package 1 and package 2 which means I have a moon roof, automatic seats, dual zone A/C (which is awesome), blinkers in side mirrors, alloy wheels. It rides so much nicer than the Sentra too. It has front and rear side curtain airbags too.

So my $100's worth. lol Go with the Altima if you can afford it. The extra room in the back and in the HUGE trunk is totally worth it, IMO. If you get the smaller car now and have another baby soon you will not have enough room.

I got a 2011 which was on a decent markdown so keep an eye out for those deals.

Oh and Sentra vs. Altima ignoring price? Altima all the way. It is just a much nicer car than the Sentra. It rides so smooth and feels like a much better car.

I also test drove a Sonata and I really, really wanted to like it because they look so cool and I love the interior lights but it just didn't compare to the Altima. DD also said the backseat was really uncomfortable. IMO, for the price class the Altima is a great car.

 

[ILUVPOOH1]

My last 2 cars have been Altima's. Actually my old Altima is now my DS's (17) car. When I bought my new one I saved it for him. I love my car and would have to say that my next car will probably be an Altima as well! Comfy, tons of trunk space, roomy, love the push button start, great ride.

 

[bettymae1121]

Thank you both! One more option I have is instead of buying in Sept. '12 I put it off until Jan '13, by then I'd be able to save a bigger down payment and could have the Altima at $300 a month. But I don't know if I'd want to wait the extra couple of months, driving a by then 14 year old car in the winter months with a baby.

But keep the reviews and opninons comming!

 

[plutolovr]

I have a 2008 Altima and let me tell you it saved my friend's life. We were hit by someone running through a red light in a 1976 Cadillac (huge boat of a car) and all the side airbags deployed and neither of us got hurt. All my friend could talk about was how safe that car is. It's been fixed since.

Don't worry about not having the Nav system. Just go buy a Garmin or some kind of portable GPS. The car is great on gas too.

 

[TLuvsD]

D has my MIL's Altima, that car is so comfortable. We drive it anytime we have a longish drive, it's just more comfortable than our cars (both BMW's). And the trunk is huge.

We keep cars forever, so I understand that...I would go with the Altima. Kids grow, you haul kid gear, it just takes up a LOT of room just to run errands/afterschool activities with two kids. If you are serious about the length of time you plan to own the car, go with the Altima. You can do an aftermarket GPS for very little money (D has a tomtom that was about $120). Get the safety features and the add-ons that aren't easy to do in an aftermarket situation now.

 

[bettymae1121]

Thank you, everyone! We've got a year to decide and we'll have to see what finances look like this time next year, but assuming everything goes as planned, I'm leaning towards the Altima now. Thanks again!

 

[NemoMom07]

I just got an 2010 Altima Hybrid. I traded in a 2006 Nissan Quest. I LOOOOVVVVEEEEE this car. I can get 600+ miles a tank. It is very room and my son is comfortable in the back. I love all the air bags. Now the trunk space in the Hybrid is smaller due to some of the space is used for the hybrid components, but it is good for me. I dont take trips often. My DH who is 6'3, myself, and my ds5 will be taken it on its first road trip next weekend. She drive beautifully and I feel great in it.

 

[wvjules]

I just got an 2010 Altima Hybrid. I traded in a 2006 Nissan Quest. I LOOOOVVVVEEEEE this car. I can get 600+ miles a tank. It is very room and my son is comfortable in the back. I love all the air bags. Now the trunk space in the Hybrid is smaller due to some of the space is used for the hybrid components, but it is good for me. I dont take trips often. My DH who is 6'3, myself, and my ds5 will be taken it on its first road trip next weekend. She drive beautifully and I feel great in it.

The hybrid is what I originally went to test drive but I couldn't give up the trunk space. I was so disappointed.

My Sentra had a 12 gallon tank. The Altima has a 20 gallon tank. I will need to fill up tomorrow. I am preparing for sticker shock. I'm glad they gave me a free full tank on Friday. lol

 

[Irin997]

Have you looked into low mileage but used 2011 and 2010 Altima's? Last year I upgraded from my 1997 Accord to a 2009 Toyota Camry from a private seller (financed through my credit union) and saved about $10,000 off the brand new price for the same features. My car is fully loaded with leather and nav and buying used with 30k miles on it was the best decision ever. Even now, my car is worth more than I paid for it last year. Just a thought!

 

[ellenec]

I had my Sentra for 18 years and I loved it <3!!! This past year I finally bit the bullet and went looking at both. I bought a used 2007 Altima 2.5 SL. It only had less than 20,000 miles. I love it!! It is so roomy and I love my leather heated seats and moon roof!!! If you can upgrade, do it

 

[FINFAN]

Altima, hands down. Black. Looks very cool for those non-family date nights If you have a smart phone you have navigation right there, no need to have it in the car. If you ever decide to trade in, the Altima is going to be a better trade than the Sentra as well. I personally can't have enough metal around my family in a car for peace of mind...the Sentra is too small for my taste. I live just West of Chicago, you know our potholes will swallow that Sentra whole.

 

[crazelion]

I have 09 Sentra that I bought it so roomy. It way bigger than my 1993 sentra that bought brand new in high school. Still go the sentra two.

 

[teacherlisa1978]

We have an 04 Sentra and it's been a good car. It's the second Sentra and 3rd Nissan my husband has owned. I don't like driving it just because I prefer an SUV where I sit up higher to see, but my husband commutes 60 miles a day and likes it. Now all that said-get the Altima!
We are waiting to bring home a 15 month old from Korea and with the rearfacing Cosco Scenera carseat in there awaiting his arrival the space is tight. I sat back there on one side the other day (carseat is in the middle) and it was crowded. The back of the seat touches the two front seats and we had to move them forward to get proper placement. I think you'll be a lot more comfortable for the long haul in the Altima.

 

[puffkin]

We had an Altima as our rental car in Disney 2 weeks ago. It was very nice and extremely roomy. I was very surprised at how much gas it ate up though in our 4 days there. We did about 120 miles and put a hair over 6 gallons of gas in it which seemed pretty bad to me.

 

[disneymarie]

I would ditch the pricy Navigation in a heart beat. When I was looking for a new car recently I leaned to an Altima. The Sentra is far to small as a family car. Put in a stoller and no room for the suitcases. You could not believe how much room a comfy stroller takes up. Oh, and buying a car seat. The better models front facing, take up so much room.

Also, up until 2011, the few years prior there was a transmission in the Altima that if the one part the would go, went, it was inside the entire unit. A huge repair job. So Nissan was giving a 100,000 mile warranty. But, out first Nissan had almost 200,000 on it, (many replacement parts 89). So do buy at least a 2011 left over.

Another thing, I actually stopped the desire to buy a Nissan Ultima and went with a Volkes Wagen Passat. The Jetta and Passat both have such a great reduced price. Not sure why but really now affordable. My son bought a Mazda 3 by VW and out the door paid $17,000. '

Another plus on the VW, the safety. I have been working as an insurance adjuster, retired law enforcement, while traveling and of course as law enforcement I have seen, or witnessed multiple accidents. I remember a few weeks ago, a VW Jetta rear ended a Lexus SUV. I have to tell you how impressed I was with the Jetta, there was no leg compartment intrusion at all, but the front end was gone. He blasted the back of that beast never seeing it as he was texting and traffic stopped.

They only injury he had was a bump on his leg from the arm rest. He had his long leg bent up and the impact caused him to whack the arm rest. He got out sore, but not a scratch on him. I have seen many, many accident, but was blown away how this car held up.

Good luck on your growing family.

 

[4 DZNY NUTZ]

We went from a 1997 Altima to a 2007 Altima. My husband loved his car when he bought the old one which was a no brainer when he bought the new one. Good Luck, you will love your Altima!!

 

[Duchie]

I can't really comment on the Altima vs Sentra, but wanted to make a comment about the navigation system. The downside to having them installed in the vehicle is that you have to pay for upgraded maps, and it's expensive ($250 for our Odyssey). We purchased a portable one for our other car from Costco that included lifetime map upgrades and find it to be SO much better. We can even take it on trips (we took it with us when we went to DLR this past February and it was so nice to have). So if you wind up not getting it on whichever car you choose, then this may be another option for you.

 

[mrodgers]

My son bought a Mazda 3 by VW and out the door paid $17,000. '

This makes no sense. Mazda 3 is not made by VW....

Another plus on the VW, the safety. I have been working as an insurance adjuster, retired law enforcement, while traveling and of course as law enforcement I have seen, or witnessed multiple accidents. I remember a few weeks ago, a VW Jetta rear ended a Lexus SUV. I have to tell you how impressed I was with the Jetta, there was no leg compartment intrusion at all, but the front end was gone. He blasted the back of that beast never seeing it as he was texting and traffic stopped.

They only injury he had was a bump on his leg from the arm rest. He had his long leg bent up and the impact caused him to whack the arm rest. He got out sore, but not a scratch on him. I have seen many, many accident, but was blown away how this car held up.

My Jetta insurance fully covered is cheaper than liability only on my worthless Honda Civic. I asked how that is with switching from liability only to a 10 year newer and fully covered car. Insurance agent said it was because of the safety ratings of the car.

What I like about the VW cars is the turbo motor, which unfortunately you can't get with the Golf any more unless you get the GTI model, not sure about the Jetta and Passat. I have the 1.8L turbo and it has gobs of power. It is not about horsepower, but about torque and 4 cylinder cars severely lack torque. My Jetta on the other hand has monster torque for a car at low RPM. That means no shifting on hills, I can take any hill thrown at me in 5th gear, where in my previous cars (Civic, Altima, Toyota 4x4s) I would be shifting down a gear or even 2 gears and revving the crap out of them. Love that low end torque on the VW turbos. Makes driving so much easier in the mountains of western PA.

As the driver, I so wanted my Jetta when we were going to Disney and driving through West Virginia. The Jetta would have eaten up those I-79 mountains. Instead, we were in the V6 Ford Escape (Mazda Tribute) and half the time it was running in 2nd gear trying to hold at least close to the speed limit.

 

[MyHappilyEverAfter]

I can't really comment on the Altima vs Sentra, but wanted to make a comment about the navigation system. The downside to having them installed in the vehicle is that you have to pay for upgraded maps, and it's expensive ($250 for our Odyssey). We purchased a portable one for our other car from Costco that included lifetime map upgrades and find it to be SO much better. We can even take it on trips (we took it with us when we went to DLR this past February and it was so nice to have). So if you wind up not getting it on whichever car you choose, then this may be another option for you.

Totally agree... In my opinion, buying a portable navigation system is a lot more convenient especially when map upgrades are needed. In our Audi, the map is pretty useless because I refuse to pay the unreasonable price to update (too cheap?? ) - plus you can move it from vehicle to vehicle!