Re: First Drive: 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V --

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Date Posted: 23:48:57 01/22/03 Wed
Author: Brad Loomis
Subject: Re: First Drive: 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
In reply to: gtmash 's message, "First Drive: 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V" on 15:56:23 10/18/01 Thu

>i have tricked out my spec-v by having 01 civic tail lights inplace of sentra lights
>"R" You Ready for This?
>By John DiPietro
>From Carnanddriver.com
>
>Nissan's Sentra SE-R is back...with a vengeance.
>
>Introduced in 1991, the SE-R was a high-performance
>version of the Sentra two-door. A rather dowdy car to
>look at, the SE-R was much more exciting when in
>motion. One print ad compared it to the old BMW 2002.
>The gist of the ad was that, like that old entry-level
>BMW coupe of the early 1970s, the Sentra SE-R was
>something of a wolf in sheep's clothing � a boxy,
>practical, affordable four-passenger car that just
>happened to be able to cover ground in a hurry. And
>the SE-R was a much better performer than the old 2002
>in terms of acceleration, braking and passenger
>comfort.
>
>The 1991 SE-R had a 140-horsepower 2.0-liter
>dual-overhead-cam inline four, four-wheel disc brakes
>and 14-inch alloy wheels wearing 185/60R14 tires. Back
>then, that was impressive hardware for an econobox,
>allowing it to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 8
>seconds and give some sports cars a run for their
>money on a twisty road.
>
>Although Nissan claims the Sentra SE-R was last
>produced in 1994, car buffs will recognize that it
>lived on, in a way, as the 200SX SE-R. When the Sentra
>was redesigned in 1995, the two-door version was
>essentially rebadged as the sportier 200SX, which
>shared the Sentra's underpinnings and was available
>(as an SE-R, as well) until 1998.
>
>When the fifth-generation Sentra arrived in 2000, only
>four-door models were available. The sportiest trim
>level, the SE, came with the 140-hp 2.0-liter, but it
>still lacked the hard-core personality of the SE-R.
>
>For 2002, the SE has been shelved and two SE-Rs will
>be available: the standard SE-R and the full-bore SE-R
>Spec V. Both SE-Rs announce their arrival with an
>aggressive front fascia featuring a mesh grille and
>the obligatory foglights. Big wheels come on both
>cars: SE-Rs wear 16-inch alloys with 195/55R16 tires,
>while the Spec V has 17s shod with chunky 215/45R17
>rubber. Out back, both cars have a rear spoiler and
>chrome exhaust tips.
>
>Beating under the hood is a new 2.5-liter DOHC inline
>four (shared with the '02 Altima) that boasts
>leading-edge technology such as electronic throttle
>control (also called "drive by wire") and continuously
>variable valve timing. The big four pumps out 165
>horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque in the base
>SE-R. The Spec V cranks out a bit more: 175 ponies and
>180 lb-ft of twist, thanks to a tuned exhaust system.
>A chief advantage of the relatively large displacement
>engine (most cars in this class have 1.7- to 2.0-liter
>engines) is its healthy torque output, which means you
>don't have to rev the whee out of the engine to get
>the power.
>
>To reinforce its serious sporting demeanor, the Spec V
>comes with a six-speed manual gearbox, as well as a
>limited-slip differential to optimize acceleration and
>handling performance. The base SE-R comes with a
>five-speed manual; a four-speed automatic is optional.
>
>Both SE-Rs have four-wheel disc brakes standard, with
>ABS as an option. A sport suspension with front and
>rear stabilizer bars is fitted to both cars, as is a
>front strut tower brace. The Spec V has firmer springs
>and shocks, as well as the larger wheel/tire combo
>mentioned earlier.
>
>Several interior elements separate the SE-Rs from
>run-of-the-mill Sentra sedans, such as
>titanium-colored gauges, different seat trim and
>leather wrapping for the steering wheel and gear shift
>knob. The Spec V goes even further, with sport seats
>tailored in a two-tone black and red mesh cloth and
>red accent stitching for the steering wheel rim.
>Optional is a 300-watt Rockford Fosgate audio system
>that gets the message through, loud and clear. Side
>airbags are also optional on both models.
>
>Our sentiments toward the cabin were mixed; we
>appreciated the seat's comfort and support as well as
>the simple and familiar control layouts. But we didn't
>care for the orange over titanium gauge markings, as
>there isn't enough contrast for them to be read
>easily. And the cupholder location is not ideal for
>those with big hands, as our editor found out when he
>crunched his knuckles into his water bottle during a
>couple of aggressive gearchanges.
>
>Seat time was limited to the Spec V (yeah, we know �
>your heart bleeds), so we can only comment on that
>model. The car's peppy nature is noticeable
>straightaway. And from around 2,000 rpm on up, there
>is plenty of grin-inducing pull. Nissan claims the
>Spec V will rocket from rest to 60 mph in less than 7
>seconds, which would put it fender-to-fender with a
>number of pricey sport sedans.
>
>In general, gearshift action was crisp, except it was
>too easy to miss the upshift to the fifth cog. There
>should have been more resistance laterally on the
>fourth to fifth gearchange. As this was a
>pre-production car, we're hopeful that this will be
>ironed out before the car goes on sale. Beyond that,
>changing gears was a snap, and the clutch takeup was
>smooth and linear.
>
>Of course, the Spec V is more than a straight-line
>car, and when the road starts to dance, this pocket
>rocket doesn't miss a step. Dynamically, the Spec V
>was a standout, with responsive and well-weighted
>steering, flat and neutral cornering and strong, even
>braking. The ride is definitely on the firm side, but
>nothing that will rattle your fillings. Keeping in
>mind that this was the stiffer of the two SE-Rs, that
>is by no means faint praise.
>
>All too soon, our ride and drive was over. But in
>spite of the brief amount of quality time we had with
>Nissan's junior sport sedan, we came away duly
>impressed. As of press time, we don't see anything
>that would compete directly with the SE-R Spec V in
>terms of all-around performance and practicality.
>Upcoming Ford Focus SVT? That's going to be a two-door
>hatchback. And the same goes for the Civic Si. Mazda
>Protege MP3? Not nearly the same power. Subaru Impreza
>WRX? Yep, it's a sedan, and it has all-wheel-drive and
>227 horses. But it's out of reach for enthusiasts who
>want to spend under $20,000 for a fun four-door.
>
>Although firm pricing was not available at press time,
>a range of $17,000 to $19,000 would be a reasonable
>educated guess for the SE-R siblings. Nissan states
>that the car will be ready to go on sale around
>mid-October. With such a well-rounded little gem, we
>feel that a lot of budget-minded enthusiasts will be
>more than ready for the new SE-R.

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