Thread: B15 Spec V thoughts?

My daughter is 16 and the time has come for her to get behind the wheel, which means we may need to add another car to the lot. My initial though is to give her access to the Pathfinder and for me to pick up something else to daily.

Being a Sentra aficionado for a good portion of my adult life, I am naturally drawn to the B15 Spec V, but I am also well aware of the QR cat failure/oil consumption issue. From what I've read, the latter years ('05-'06) are "less prone" to the issue, so my goal would be to purchase a late model from an original, or early second owner, so that I could discuss the history of the vehicle. This in itself might not be an easy task, but they're out there.

So, other than the obvious, are there any other common B15 issues that I should look out for?

Weren't they consuming their throttle plate bolts? Or maybe that was the integrated cat failure thing?

Both, BenFenner. Balance shafts rattle apart in the bottom end.

The last years are the better years. QR25DE usually replaced by QR20DE and that engine seems to have few problems. I never owned one. Drove a few. Seem safe, but everything post 2004 has to be safer if sold in this country.

Hmm, never heard about the balance shaft issue, good to know.

Why not a B15 SE with the sr20?

I'd prefer something newer than what I have now (2004), but they're definitely on my list, just trying to gather info on the Spec V. Also, the B16 Spec V numbers look good, but I don't know if I could deal with looking at.

Ok. Ya the upside is that the Spec Vs are pretty affordable, B15 or B16 because they aren’t as desirable as their competitors. B16s have a decent chassis supposedly, sharing the same platform as the Renault Megane (one of the best European hot hatches). However they are super ugly. I remember reading reviews on them and they seemed ok. Ive never heard of reliability issues. Seems like whatever problems they had with the B15, they got sorted out for the B16. I imagine the QR25 in those is decent. With B15s though, go with 2006. Carcomplaints.com shows that 2005s still had issues.

Can't have reliability issues if no one buys any.



Shop Mazda 3s?

The 3 is a fine car, but I'm jonesin' for a bit more performance.

The more I ponder the Spec V the more I think I'm just asking for trouble. But, like some hot, crazy girl who you just know will cause you heartache, the Spec V keeps glancing at me and smiling, luring me into doing something I know I'll regret, just like that Dodge Shelby Charger I bought so many years ago. My father warned me about cars like this.

If it were me, I’d scratch the B15 idea and check into the B16s for no other reason other than reliability.