I've own Sentras for ever. My first car was an 86 Sentra back when it was a tiny, fuel-efficient model.

The 96 is a good choice for an older vehicle. I still own mine. I bought it in 97 with 30,000 miles. Let's have a look at what you should get if you're looking for a good, reliable one of this age.

First, you are likely looking at over 120,000 miles at this age. Mine has just 95,000 miles, but I don't drive as much as most people. At that mileage, you have a lot to consider, although I think you can score a good deal with this car.

The lifespan of the Sentra is pretty long - the timing chain, in particular, doesn't have to be changed until 120,000 miles, so, likely as it is that you'll buy one with this mileage, ask the question - has the timing belt been changed? When? By whom? This is the single most important issue you need to consider... a timing chain makes or breaks the motor on this car, and it is designed to last those 120,000 miles, give or take. Beyond that, this timing chain, in my opinion, MUST (absolutely must) be changed by a dealer as it's no simple procedure and requires finely calibrated instruments to be done correctly. It's also not cheap - about $300.

So, if the timing chain is in order, or you're willing to get that done, what else? Tires, brakes, shocks. These are just normal things, but consider them and ask how recent these things are.

You're buying an older car here so there are some things that you should know that will be troublesome, but none is particularly expensive. The Sentra has brake problems... they wear out a little sooner than the manufacturer suggests - give them about 20K for front and 40K for the rear.

Oddly, exterior mirrors my begin to deteriorate and fall off. (It's not that the "fall off" - they detach. I guess that's a better word.)

I don't live in a nasty climate, so I don't know much about body wear. I live in Texas where it is HOT-HOT, and occasionally cold. I report no body wear beyond the normal.

Unlike earlier models, this Sentra has better headlights that don't burn out here and there. The battery will last about 5 years and the starter (watch out for this) is not too reliable - it has a lifespan of about 6 years.

The cv joints go about now (2004). You'll beging to get knocking on turns and this is a sign that you should replace them before it becomes too serious. This is not a cheap prospect, but neither is it prohibitively expensive. $200, at most, should cover it.

The electrical system is still a mystery to me. It has failed me here and there for a few seconds and then restored itself magically. I have no dome light, now going on 4 years. I have no idea why that doesn't work. I've replaced the bulb, checked the fuses, and done everything else I can think of other than pay someone to figure it out for me! Expect this system to be "odd". I don't think it's dangerous, but at times I've lost dash lights (but not headlights) without explanation.

I guess that's it for maintenance. Otherwise, here's what you can expect in condition.

At this age, a Sentra will be faded in the interior if it's been in a hot climate like here. Nicely, this exposure to heat doesn't wreck the paint, nor does it make interior parts (like the dash) brittle. You may find that several non-critical parts are missing, however. For example, the trim around rear windows tends to fall off due to poor design. The shifter area and the center armrest area are likely to be quite dirty as they are hard to clean.

Other repairs you might experience are generally pretty minor, and the onboard computer tells the technician what's wrong. You should know that, if you're old like me, that the mechanic you've been using since the ice age must have the correct equipment to download the engines reports. If he/she doesn't, you're guess is as good as his/hers. Better to take the car to a place that has the proper equipement and expertise to understand the cars sophisticated systems.

Inside, the car is comfortable for 2. It has a back seat and four doors, but it's not really designed for more than two adults and a small child. Even then, like all economy cars, this is not a family sedan - it's a very nice commuter car (above Hyundai and Kia brands, above Tercel and Geo models, and about equal with Protoge, Civic, and low-end Corollas.) It isn't a tin can like a Tercel or Neon at all.

Views are clear and easy and the car drives well. It's just a 4-cylinder, so you shoulnd't expect a lot of power, but it has good pickup. Cruise control is pretty standard, as are power window and locks. It's a pretty nice car for the range in which it is.

I know I've made this car sound like a real lemon, but it's not. It's extremely reliable and very tolerant of lax maintenance. That being said, like any car, if you don't maintain it, it will fail, and likely when you need it most. When I bought this car, I went by Consumer Reports and they gave this model a lower rating than Protege, Civic, and even Tercel. When I read more closely, it seemed they based this on design and not performance. Now, 7 years later, Consumer Reports is making the 96 Sentra look like a bad Chrysler, complaining about such things as brakes, electrics, and more. Granted, these things have caused me trouble here and there, but not enough to warrant such low CR ratings.

I think that if you need a reliable car on a shoestring budget, you ought to be able to pick one of these up for $3 or 4K. I've found the car to be a strong performer with minimal maintenance and that maintenance to be relatively inexpensive.

I'm about ready to turn it in, but it has been a very, very reliable car with just a couple of things to fix here and there.
Amount Paid (US$): 9000
Condition: Used
Model Year: 1996
Model and Options: GXE