Nissan B16 Sentra Spec V

Considering getting a 4 door and Nissan B16 Sentra Spec V is hitting a lot of the boxes, Prices are low, 200HP, does not require premium, and is a 4 door. I am wondering if the reliability is the same as the B15? Anything else I should be looking for with these cars?

A lot of these grenaded engines early in their lives from inhaling the primary/pre-cat element. A lot of them seem to drink oil as well.

In reply to pointofdeparture: Sounds like the same issues the B15 had.

In reply to trigun7469:

Whoops! I was thinking of the B15. I would hope that they finally figured out the cat issues but honestly know nothing else about them.

Wow, I had no idea they produced an SE-R - let alone Spec-V - in that bodystyle.

Yep, they are a thing. I think the Spec V trim was the only way to get a manual SE-R

They're a pretty underrated car, overshadowed by the 06+ Civic Si. All the common QR25 problems were fixed in this generation. They didn't sell very well at all though...
MotoIQ has a pretty in depth review of the engine if you're interested.

http://www.motoiq.com/MagazineArticles/ID/1440/Extreme-Engine-Tech-Jim-Wolf-Technologys-Turbo-Nissan-QR25DE-Powerhouse-Part-1.aspx

Those are my favorite looking Sentras..

A very much improved QR25 engine in the B16 that seems to be holding up very well.

When shopping, check if it has am HLSD because it became optional on the B16. If you don't track or auto-x, it doesn't really matter. If you like wrenching, you can install an HLSD from a B15 into the B16 transmission.

They are very tall and not very fast stock, but they seem to respond well to mods.

They are a more confortable and practical DD than a 06+ Civic IMHO. Not as fast though.

I test drove an SE-r and a Civic Si and ended up getting an Accord as I wanted a little more room since I spend a lot of "days" living in my car. If you can find a later one the prices are a little bit too high for me. 2012 might be the last year?

In reply to fanfoy:

Is the test for an HLSD the same as on the B15 cars - floor it and if the steering wheel violently jerks from side-to-side while it searches for traction you'll know it has an LSD?

petegossett wrote: In reply to fanfoy: Is the test for an HLSD the same as on the B15 cars - floor it and if the steering wheel violently jerks from side-to-side while it searches for traction you'll know it has an LSD?

No that's to check if the crossmember bushings are toast...which can take as little as 50K miles on the B15's Don't know for the B16. With good crossmember bushings, preferably poly, there is no steering jerking in those cars.

I think there is a code on the transmission that indicates if it has an LSD...but not 100% sure.

I have a small brochure and DVD of the 2007 Spec V when Nissan was promoting it. Here it is from YouTube.

http://youtu.be/TaBgvW1MtVQ

Seems to be just a middle of the road contender for it's market segment. I suppose if the price was low enough I would take a look at one, but there's a whole lot more cars out there that do everything better, for the same money.