Sentra body styles?!? +generation/model info. Warning: it's long...

[CuscoMus]

I have a question about body styles. My family owns a stock 94 Sentra SE, and I really like the way it’s shaped; and found out eventually that 94 was the last year Nissan made this body style. At least I think so. That’s why I am writing this. I am really interested in the Spec V and other Sentra models, but don’t know as much about them since I used to drive a Toyota Camry. Anyway, like I said the Sentra is our family car; I want my own, but I’m confused about the newer year body styles. In 95 to about 98 to 00 Nissan radically changed the design all around. I think, for stock models anyway, the 95 was the fourth generation of the Sentra. The 95 with its squeezed in look, too-high rear, and odd conformity just doesn’t do it for me. I may want an even newer generation, but where can I go to see specific information on the body styles of each generation; BOTH stock AND special models. Some of the latest cars have gone back to the 80’s and early 90’s styles that I like. Tail lights long and strait and easy unexaggerated curves; not too big, with ugly circles and/or flat-bubbly-like as in most common Saturns (really, over half the cars of mid-90’s to 01 or 02 look like Saturn variations and have some very ugly curves). Uh, IMHO My interests lie in the models following the one started in 95. Sorry if you have/like those, but I just don’t think I could get used to the back (at least they did keep the good tail lights).

By the way, it bugs me that whenever I go looking for basic beginner information about a car model, it is hard or impossible to find really good information on the entire line. Getting to know my Camry, while I still used it, was much better and interesting after I knew the history of the car. Each generation with its specific model could be shown on a chart, or even separate pages for each year or generation, and it’s very important to have information on model variation. As a beginner it took me a lot of time to figure out simple details of our 94 stock. At first I thought Special Edition was like the Camry LE, meaning a more feature-rich and often better built version of the same model. I had to check other cars and found that it is more like the Camry DX. So it turns out that while the SE is apparently not the most basic version (what word do you use again? Class? Series?), it is a pretty basic model and thankfully was purchased with good options.

This is going to be way frustrating when I start choosing between newer Sentras. Anyway, I digress. Back to my original question: I was delivering an item to a house here, and I noticed quite quickly that the car he was packing the trunk of in his carport was a Sentra. I immediately glanced at the style, mostly stock I assumed, and estimated that it must be a 93 or 94, if not an updated 91 or 92. I asked him while a woman came from the house to retrieve the delivery what year the car was. As often happens in my town I came to a language barrier. I don’t speak Spanish, but soon his son (I assume) came out and I asked him what year the car was (it’s strange, but often you just know immediately if someone knows your language). I was told it was a 2001! I wish I could have expressed my surprise and been able to confirm this and ask more questions, but I had to leave soon after. People here can get very suspicious and even jalopies have car alarms; not knowing English I couldn’t tell him I was merely interested in details about the car model. I did get a quick look at the front and it just got weirder. The lights were HIDs! The side marker lights next to them were much the same as the 94, but had a strange kind of rectangular protrusion; curving with the cars corner, two or three inches long and right in the center of the lamp (it gave the lamp a slightly more distinct look). The grill design and some of the front glass was slightly different, and appeared shapelier (I liked it more by the moment).

This 2001, supposedly, had mostly identical looking body parts to our 94, and it looked great. The trunk was open so I never did get to see any make/model info, though it was absolutely Nissan (one can just tell). Anyway, even though the trunk was open I could tell it also had the better and more distinct trunk. The alignment of the things shape was so just right front to back and the trim was just like the trim of our 94. The man’s son said 2001, but I sure would like to know if it was true; and what model it was. I though that maybe the car was a model made in Mexico using older molds perhaps? This didn’t seem likely, but I live in southern Arizona, so I see a lot of variations of car models.

So, was this guy all wet? Are some newer model Sentras styled much like the 91 to 94’s? This was a hard question/post to write and I am sorry if I have not been clear. Thanks for reading and if I can clarify I will.

By the way, since writing this post, reading the article here has helped me: http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/january04/specv/
Quote: “The Spec V is the reincarnation of the original 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R”

Music to my ears, and from the pictures I have seen the body style also harkens back to the 94.

[SpecVCarman]

generations of sentra

first gen 1984 -1987

available has a 2 dr sedan 4dr sedan and 4dr wagon very boxy very ugly reliable cars but very basic

second gen 1987- 1991

still boxy available in 2dr and 4dr pretty sure there is no wagon still very basic square design

third gen 1992-1994

much like the second gen except they rounded off the edges, used some better lighting and interior designs. available in 2dr and 4dr models
such as E, XE, SE, and SE-R
E - bone stock option of auto/manual 1.6 sohc engin
XE - bone stock except power mirrors cruise control and 1.6 dohc engine
SE - fully loaded, pw/pl/sunroof etc..
SER - sports sedan version fully loaded but with SR20 2.0 liter engine

fourth gen 1995-1999

squished look avaiable in 2dr 4dr same models as third just way different look

fifth gen 2000-current

new look back to alot like the older third gen series but more aerodynamic little roomier in the cabin, nicer lighting and 2.0 liter engines with the optional SE-R series 2.5 liter 165hp different front end, changes in suspension and supporting. and then the
SPEC-V series same engine as SE-R but comes with stanard 6speed tranny, sporty interior, 17" rims, and beefier exhaust with is said to give it 175hp

the end hope it helps

[eolicom]

The car you saw is simply not a Sentra 2001. It is probably a Tsuru 2001. In effect Nissan rereleased the 1991-1994 sentras in Mexico under the name Tsuru's. and that is probably what you saw. Was the plate Sonora or Arizona State, since you saw the car in Tucson.