Quote Originally Posted by vinj View Post
I used to own a 2001 Sentra Exalta Grandeur:
- Performance is quite good (even with no mods, kayang-kaya niya ang 180kph on a flat highway... which is it's speed limited top speed).
- FC was around 7.5 to 8+lkm/L in the city and around 11km/L on the highway.
- Suspension is soft and the car has good insulation. Problems is that the suspension is too soft that when your shocks are old/soft already, there is a tendency for the rear to bottom out at road humps, dips or climbs.
- The engine Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor should be cleaned with electric contact cleaner every 10,000kms or so (not that hard as long as you have the proper hex screw/wrench); it's sensitive to dirt so when the MAF is dirty, engine response at the higher rpm range is noticeably nonexistent (hirap) and you'll encounter engine detonation or tope. you might encounter this with some units you test drive so it's good to know that it's a simple fix.
- The weakness of this model was that the power door lock actuators and antenna were easily broken.

As for the City; i find that model just too plasticky and thin when i look at the build and finish. The 1.5L VTEC models were fast and peppy though, if i recall correctly.

Keep your options open and test drive several units of both the City and Exalta. Go with what you feel would be the best for you and your wife.
we also had the 2002 grandeur gs with the vcd system with 6 disc changer (broke after a few years). was able to hit 175kph-180kph max in star toll. pretty reliable aside from the locks. handling is not very sporty but it was comfortable to drive. steering is lighter than i wanted it to be. as mentioned suspension is on the soft side so it easily bottoms out in the humps especially if medyo luma na un suspension.

imo, i still think this is a way better pick than the honda city.