Just bought a new car... No.. not a prius.

How about an emissions comparison.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(etyler88 @ Jun 22 2007, 09:39 AM) [snapback]466281[/snapback]</div>

And mileage. That should be a big plus in the Prius column. Plus the Prius should have lower overall maintenance costs, although it's still too early to prove that conclusively.

Tom

 

I think you make lots of good points, but all of them are regard you and your car, and what *you* find most pleasing about the automotive experience (that's an individual choice, of course)...glad you're enjoying the "multiple cell phone association with auto select"!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 21 2007, 09:48 PM) [snapback]466168[/snapback]</div>

IF the hybrid system fails inside of 150,000 miles it can be serviced at a Toyota dealer for free.

(Not sure how accurate this may be) WHEN the Sentra's engine fails it can be repaired anywhere for cash.

The Prius needs less service. Period. I may not spend a dime on brakes in 100,000 miles. The Nissan?

I'm glad you enjoy the new car. May you have many happy years with it.

 

Thanks for sharing your insights. I think it's good to recognize that there are some improvements that we wish the Prius had. I know many of them are identified in other threads specifically addressing those issues. This discussion makes me want to go check my warranties again. However, I don't plan on losing any sleep over possible future repairs. So far my dealer has been easy to work with and I'm banking on Toyota's reputation for high quality functional vehicles.

I just remembered. Our local Firestone Center has Prius-trained techs if we need them. Hopefully we'll never need to test their efficiency and expense on any major repairs/replacements.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 22 2007, 08:17 PM) [snapback]466674[/snapback]</div>

I can empathize with your dealer experiences. When complaining about my Intrigue, Mr. Goodwrench's first response was always, "It's supposed to do that." The second response was "Can't reproduce the problem."

I'm not sure if they were completely clueless or running a warranty scam when they returned the car with the same problem and a warranty invoice. You can't imagine how p o'd I was when the bimbo Service Writer asked if I had an appointment when I took the car right back to the shop.

I doubt any Toyota dealer is paying a certified Prius tech for an oil change. ANYONE can do it. Just ask the DIY posters here. IMO sounds like you have Crappy Dealer Experience and that is enough to go to another brand.

The bottom line is that you are happy with the new car and what you paid for it. Our priorities and experiences are just different and served best by different cars. Again, my best wishes for a long and happy relationship with the Nissan.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Jun 22 2007, 08:46 AM) [snapback]466341[/snapback]</div>

You can easily look up EPA mileage and emissions estimates at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm.

Using the new MY 2008+ rating system, the CVT Sentra is rated 25/33, 28 mpg combiend vs. 48/45, 46 combined for the Prius. GHG emissions are 6.6 tons/year vs. 4.0. For air pollution score, it's a 6 or 7 depending on whether it's a Cali/CARB version of the Sentra vs. 8 or 9.5 for the Prius.

Not meaning to burst the OP's bubble but Sentras have been made in Mexico for a LONG time and have had mixed reliability. I would not buy a first model year of the Nissan product (judging by how the 03 350Z and first model year Quests, Titans, Armadas and QX56s fared). (BTW, I am somewhat of a Nissan fan as I used to own two and follow the company and Carlos Ghosn.)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 22 2007, 06:17 PM) [snapback]466674[/snapback]</div>

The CVT or any transmission on any Nissan is covered by the same length warranty as Toyota powertrains: 5 years/60K miles.

As for not having any Prius certified techs on weekends, well, there are numerous Nissan dealerships (http://www.falorenissan.com/ is an example) which don't even have service departments open on weekends.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jun 23 2007, 10:50 PM) [snapback]467093[/snapback]</div>

I think that Consumer Reports report might fare up a little better with the 2007 Sentra, but I'm not too sure. I owned a 2005 Sentra for a little while. It was a nice little car! That is, however, until I saw the crash ratings for the thing. The older Sentras are definitely tin cans. I hope that the retooled Sentra fares better. I really do.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 23 2007, 11:14 PM) [snapback]467102[/snapback]</div>

I honestly wouldn't put much stock in CR's car reviews these days, as most people don't anymore. I've found the car repair history DB on truedelta.com to be really informative, as it goes into a bit of detail about trips to the dealer for major and minor issues, and you can see what was done. It's far superior to CR's hit and miss attitude with their reliability surveys.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jonnycat26 @ Jun 24 2007, 10:17 AM) [snapback]467278[/snapback]</div>

Reviews are one thing. I can understand why people might not put faith in their car revieers. CR just posting statistics is a separate thing. As for most people not putting much stock in them... I don't know about that. Perhaps that's a true statement (as in, most people don't even LOOK at anyone's reliability rating), but amongst CR readers, I think that's not true.

As for truedelta.com, I think you were the one pushing them in the past and I'd never heard of them until they were brought up here. I most car owners have never heard of them either, which means their sample sizes are likely going to be too small to be accurate.

I've found CR's reliability results to be pretty accurate across all the vehicles my parents I and have owned.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ozyran @ Jun 24 2007, 09:33 AM) [snapback]467258[/snapback]</div>

I doubt it. First model year reliability of virtually every make and model is worse than subsequent years. The 07 is the first model year of this new generation. They'd been making the previous gen for several years already.

As I stated earlier, the 1st model year Quest, Armada, Titan, and QX56 all fared VERY badly but they were built in a new plant in Canton, MS.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cwerdna @ Jun 24 2007, 03:42 PM) [snapback]467324[/snapback]</div>

Actually, I had first heard of truedelta from this site... and they seem to have quite a following. What's really refreshing is that unlike consumer reports, they actually look at what's going on when a car goes in for service. Instead of a red or black CR circle, which could mean anything, you get something like this (taken from a Corolla):

Month Year Odo Cost Description
Aug 2004 0 0.00 Bought the car. Had paint chip one day 1, repaired right away by dealer
Oct 2004 2000 0.00 Backseat's seam was pulled up, repaired under warranty
Nov 2006 20000 0.00 Light was on saying door was open, but it was a missing part from the door. Check Engine light came on because gas cap was defective. Mechanic noticed a fluid leak which was repaired. All under warranty.
Feb 2007 25000 0.00 Sold car back to dealer and replaced with 2007 Prius.


Again, I can't take CR seriously after the Monte Carlo paint thing was exposed... it really goes to show how little effort they put into quantifying the difference between a black and red circle, and I suspect that's just the tip of the iceberg.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 21 2007, 10:48 PM) [snapback]466168[/snapback]</div>

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lowspeed @ Jun 22 2007, 09:17 PM) [snapback]466674[/snapback]</div>

Where do you live? Alaska? I have never had anybody have a problem Valeting the Prius or at carwashes, and it doesn't take a Prius Tech to change the oil...

 

Is the Nissan Sentra built in Mexico?