Nissan OR Toyota?

[Mumm]

Like some of you may know i'm looking for a new car that is easier on gas than my 1999 Explorer Sport (15mpg )

I think that I have narrowed it down to a:

2000 and newer Toyota Solara (not the convertable) I would like the V6 because even though I NEED a fuel friendly car, I WANT a sporty car too. Plus you could add a TRD Supercharger to the V6 but not the I4.

OR A:

2000+ Nissan Sentra (perferably a SE) I like the styling, but I need the Sunroof so only the SE, SE-R and the SE-R Spec V . The other modles such as the GXE don't offer the sunroof as an option.

I only have around $15,000 to spend and I'm not sure how much a SE-R would cost (Perferably a 2002?) Also I live in Iowa, more specifically Cedar Rapids and I'm 99% sure that I'm going to buy from a dealer too.

So give me prices, thoughts on the cars, opinions, whatever relates to these cars.

~Thanks!

[kman10587]

Seeing as how the SE-R Spec V is about $17,500 for a new 2004, you can get a 2002 for under $15,000 easily. I'd take it over a Solara, because it gets better mileage, is sportier, and looks much cooler. I haven't liked the Camry much since they redesigned it in 1997.

[91300zxtt]

i love the spec-v, but the solara is pretty cool too imo. if it were me id take the spec-v

[freakonaleash1187]

i usually would take a 2-door over a 4-door, but the solara looks way too big to be a 2-door. that has always bothered me about the solara. so i would take the sentra.

[JLad10687]

My mom got the SE Sentra for cheap when it was brand new in 2003. It cost her around $13000. I would definetley go with the SE-R Spec V because my mom's SE has no power at all, the max speed aint bad but it has no torque. My neighbor has the SE-R Spec V and it's much nicer and much more sportier looking. Also with the V6 Solaris, every V6 owner I know complains very much about the gas mileage, and I've even heard that some use more gas then V8's but I have never seen the proof. If you're strongly worried about the gas mileage you could buy a Civic and with the extra money, you could buy the mods and make it faster. The new Scion is very good on mileage and the people at Scion just made a sporty looking coupe and I believe it has a sunroof and one of those new only costs around $16000 and I've heard they have a little giddyup, however if you wanted to put any performance mods on that you may have trouble because it is such a new car.

[kman10587]

The Scion tC's are eventually going to come supercharged from the factory, making around 200 hp and 200 lb-ft of torque. The base coupe will cost about $16,500 with a 5-speed manual, the supercharged version will cost around $20000. It is a very good car for the money, and it is fairly fast (fast enough to keep with Civic Si and SVT Focus). By the way, not only does it have a sunroof, the whole entire roof is made of glass. I think the car is worth a look.