Need Opinions on a B12 Sentra (I need a beater car)

[Kensuke]

Hey guys, this if my first post on the forums...

A co-worker of mine is selling a B12 Nissan Sentra. I think it is a 1989 model with a GA16i engine and a 4 speed automatic. It has 151k miles on it, and appears to be running in reasonably good condition. It also has working A/C. I'm in Phoenix so it could use a little bit of paint, but the interior is in remarkable shape for the year, and it appears to accelerate okay and shift between gears real well (it doesn't "jerk" like a completely worn out transmission).

Kelly Blue Book lists it as $995 in the condition it is in, and I am thinking about offerring him $750-800 cash. I just need a car that will get me to work and back and maybe a couple of other places around town.

Wikipedia says that the B12s are known for being nearly indestructible, cheap to find parts for, and easy on gas.

NOTE that I don't want to mod this car for performance. 90HP is fine. Phoenix is flat as a pancake. I just want a reliable ride. If I do anything to it, it would probably be a paint job and some tune up stuff. I don't give a rat's @$$ if it has single port injection and a single camshaft. That just means there is less to go wrong.

Any opinions?

- John

[RED_DET]

Welcome to NICO, John.

Seems as though this would be an excellent DD. It's cheap and reliable, seems like a good recipe to me.

[i240sx]

1.6??? ok motor but rather get the 2.0 b12 se-r...sr20 is F***** reliable

[Streetdrifter007]

If you Don't care about the car and are just going to drive it till it breaks down then you've got a good car, I have a 1989 Nissan Pulsar with the GA16i engine, and i have gone through 3 engines since april 21st, but if you want to keep the car for its great mileage I would get the SR20 version. The Reason why I have gone through 3 motors is because of a nylon timing chain tensioner that has broken in each of the motors, and once it breaks the GA16i is shot, you can repair it but your power will dramatically drop and so will your mileage

[nametakennow]

1.6??? ok motor but rather get the 2.0 b12 se-r...sr20 is F***** reliable

You're thinking B13. Why on earth is that image in this thread?