Hey Scotty I need advice on going to buy a car of a used car lot . The car I want is a 2011 nissan sentra. It's listed for 5,900 it has 152,000 miles on it. Transmission is cvt . This is my first time buying a car from a lot and I'm a little worried about if the cvt transmission going out later on and wonder if the car is worth buying . Please help.
https://www.cmmotorssc.com/details/used-2011-nissan-sentra/74518768
Edit: Original poster also has the option of a 2010 Corolla on the same lot, and ideally wants a navigation system.
Nissan CVTs are weak and its on borrowed time I would avoid this car unless you have an extra $6-$7k to replace the transmission soon.
For 6 grand, I'd get a 2010-2013 Toyota Corolla.
There is a 2010 corolla right next to it on the lot . Perhaps I should look into that one instead
Yes, the Corolla is an excellent choice if maintained. Make sure to have a mechanic check out whatever you plan to buy BEFORE you buy it. That way you know you are getting a car that was maintained and has life left in it. $100 pre-purchase inspection is well worth the money.
Good luck!
Definitely pass on that Nissan Sentra, it’s got high mileage and with a Jatco CVT - it may be on its last legs, especially if you have no idea how the previous owner (or owners) maintained the vehicle (and transmission).
No. Don't buy a Nissan with a CVT. You have $6,000 to budget on a used car. Why would you gamble on a proven loser?
Keep looking.
Bring a mechanic, check the car history, realize that the prices at a used car lot will always be too high. There are too many sad stories, on this Forum, about naive buyers who actually believed what they were told, at these lots. Engines blow up, transmissions break, money is paid for repairs that never get done, and unnecessary debt piled up, too often.
Do your homework. Visit carcomplaints.com. Know something about cars and how to inspect them, mechanically and digitally, and remember, always: CAVEAT EMPTOR. CAVEAT EMPTOR.
In this case it’s a high mileage Nissan Sentra with Jatco CVT - a definite pass for me.
As others have chimed in run away from Renault-era Nissan vehicles with CVTs.
Most used car dealers are selling vehicles at auction with an unknown past, in many cases trade-ins that new car dealers don't want on their lots. Sometimes it is just due to age and the cars are OK, but sometimes they are at auction due to having serious problems.
Used car lots buy these auction cars on the cheap and sell them for 2 to 3 times the auction price, usually with just a cursory check and detailing. (Shiny tires and clean seats sell cars.) Not all used car lots of course are of the shady "buy here pay here" bottom-feeding variety, some are legit.
Shop around to make sure the car you're looking at is not a ripoff price and be sure to have a mechanic (not the dealer's) check it out for problems.
Scotty has videos explaining exactly how you can install it, yourself -
Ofcourse, if you don’t intend to replace it yourself, have the car audio joint install it in your vehicle, for a small fee.
If you get a car without a navigation system its easy to add one, for 200-250 bucks you can get an android based system with navigation, backup camera, even a DVR dashcam. Now shop around if you decide not to install it yourself. One with a backup camera can be harder to install correctly. Some car shops will only install what they sell, and in most cases charge more than what you can buy same unit for online. Plan on spending about 200-300 max for a install from a shop With a radio with all those options. Anymore than that is a ripoff. And if you just get a unit with navigation only the install cost is cheaper as well. Good Luck!
I'm going to be honest what caught my eye on that car was the built in navigation system . You don't see alot of cars with them on earlier models .
Maybe try going on cargurus, filter in price and put navigation system as the feature and look from there. Honestly you could use your phone for nav system but if you want it you can always filter it. I would look into the Corolla you mentioned.
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inventorylisting/viewDetailsFilterViewInventoryListing.action?zip=95628&installedOptionIds=4&showNegotiable=true&sortDir=ASC&sourceContext=carGurusHomePageModel&distance=50000&sortType=PRICE&entitySelectingHelper.selectedEntity=d295
Just realize Nissan in the early 2010s sold well because of the CVT fuel efficiency and features but other brands caught up a couple years later. It isn't worth all the repairs that would come wiht the Sentra. They have head gasket issues and transmission failures are infamous on those.
What’s wrong with putting in an aftermarket stereo which supports navigation, in the Corolla?
Wasn't aware I could do that . Is that expensive to put in?
@inthrustwetrust
They seem to be around 150-200 bucks, though I personally haven't tried one out. Scotty replaces his Matrix's sterio with an aftermarket one:
https://www.google.com/search?q=aftermarket+android+stereo+toyota+corolla&rlz=1CAPPDO_enUS861&source=lnms&tbm=shop&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjI8O-u497vAhUYK80KHfzEAPMQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=1242&bih=547
I'm going to be honest what caught my eye on that car was the built in navigation system . You don't see alot of cars with them on earlier models .
Chances are it is out of date.
A relatively inexpensive android smartphone and a vent or windshield holder would give you better navigation results than what's on an old Sentra.