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nissan sentra SE-R SpecV

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Old Sep 30, 2002
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nissan sentra SE-R SpecV

so what do you all think about this car??

I know the GXE version's arent that pretty
but the SpecV is actually pretty sporty

anyone know of any problems with the specV?

it's decently fast and it's packaged with great features
(slipdifferential) (variable intake) (6speed..just for fun that is)

would any of you trade your civic in for one??
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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I was thinking about trading in my civic to get one but they have had MANY problems with the engines. The Spec V's are pretty fast, and they are 4 door which is nice. Either way look around on the net before you buy one I got a fully loaded Spec V down to about $19,500 I think it was, just send e-mails to different dealships and say you already got like $19,800 and ask if they can do better.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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i checked one out before i bought the civic, but it wasn't the spec-v, it was a regular se-r ( with 165hp engine and auto ). i had two problems with the car:
1 ) the car was pretty noisy on the interstate ( so at high speeds i guess ), i tested the civic on the same stretch of the interstate that i tested the se-r on, and the civic was quieter. the problem with the se-r could have been the tires, but i didn't want to buy a car, spend extra cash to change the tires, and then still have tons of road noise.
2 ) (this is more of a concern to my dad than it was to me, since he is the one that payed for the car ) the se-r had low gas mileage, it was something like low 20's for city, and high 20's for highway. my dad wanted to get a more economic car than a sporty one.

se-r is a nice car, maybe the one that i tested had something wrong with it, and thats why it was loud on the interstate. car has a nice engine, nice sound system, and it looks nice to ( 17" rims are a big plus ). i've seen a video of a stock se-r spec v doing the 1/4 in 15.0XX, thats pretty darn good if you ask me.

test it out, see if you like it, cause it is a step up from the civic in my opinion.

btw, the 2003 se-r's now have a black/silver interior option, as opposed to the black/red interior offered for 2k2.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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I noticed the road noise as well, it gets kinda loud but then again you are buying a car that is suposed to be a "high performance" car so I didn't worry too much about it, it comes with some nice tires, Z rated something's I forget it was a long time ago.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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It did not seem like a very well built car. The new Nissans overall seem a bit junky built. Thats the same reason my parents didn't buy an Altima, the hood rattled down the interstate. It also seems that they are having mechanical problems. It was very fast in a straight line, but not really that great at cornering. The gas milage is pretty crummy for a 4 banger, and the fact that it comes with Z rated tires sends you straight to tire rack for winter tires. I looked at it, and just didn't like it. So I traded in my 89 Stanza for the Civic instead.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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Yeah I drove an SE-R and it was quick, but felt clunky and sluggish through corners. It had decent torque, but the handling just wasn't there.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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just curious Intruder are you saying the handling wasnt there as in the civic has better handling, or just wasnt up to your expectations?
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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yeah it looks cool, except for the back-end, but the interior is black with lava mesh, or some crap like that, and no matter what color exterior you choose, the interior will always be the black and red. So, my point, in order to match the colors to make the car look good, as opposed to: colorfully gaudy, it limits you to like 3 colors. WTF, I like Blue, not red!
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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[hr]Originally posted by: TYPE7RS
yeah it looks cool, except for the back-end, but the interior is black with lava mesh, or some crap like that, and no matter what color exterior you choose, the interior will always be the black and red. So, my point, in order to match the colors to make the car look good, as opposed to: colorfully gaudy, it limits you to like 3 colors. WTF, I like Blue, not red![hr]
as slick said, the 2003's come in black/silver interior.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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the 6spd has problems with 3rd gear synchros grinding under load.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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[hr]Originally posted by: 01civic911
just curious Intruder are you saying the handling wasnt there as in the civic has better handling, or just wasnt up to your expectations?[hr]
I didn't push it, it was only a test drive, but in my opinion, the Civic is steadier through corners. The SE-R didn't seem very well balanced and was very twitchy. Also, for the straight line performance it can put out, the level of handling leaves something to be desired. It seems that they just put 17's and Z tires on a stock Sentra suspension (look at the brakes, they're tiny). I don't know if that's the case, but it didn't feel very stiff.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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HELLO EVERYONE READING THIS.......THE NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPECV WILL TOTALLY

RAPE ANY STOCK CIVIC!!!! (EX,LX,SI) I have driven one and WOW will that thing haulz ballz!! Noisy....Yes, but who cares!

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Old Sep 30, 2002
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Yes the Sentra SE-R will beat any Civic on the market. The new 2003 Sentra SE-R Spec-V will come in a new Sunburst yellow and different interior. As far as handling, you guys must be talking about the SE-R not the Spec-V as far as the handling being shaky. The SE-R has the Sentra SE suspension from 2001. The Sentra SE-R SPec-V has improved suspension and its amazing in corners. Ask anyone who has driven one. It has more than sufficent power with 175 HP and 180 lb/tq while the SE-R has 165 HP and 175 lb/tq. The SPec-V also has HLSD, 6 speed tranny, Spec-V Suspension, Stock 17" wheels, and some other things I can't remember. Overall I think the Spec-V is the best bang for the buck. I have seen people get them for as low as 17,500 fully loaded, it just depends on what dealer you are dealing with. As far as problems are concerned, the QR25DE engine had some oil burning problems but in 2003 they are fixed. What can you expect with a first year car. The Spec-V tires do suck, they have continental sport tires which I have heard nothing but complaints. Terrible in rain and dry weather. 1/4 mile times they have averaged from 15.8 with a bad driver to 14.9 with an excellent driver stock. Give it a couple years and the aftermarket will be booming for the QR. Peace.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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I strongly considered the spec v and pondered over it for a month or so. IN the end, I just couldn't get over that horrible rear end and just thought the car looked cheap.
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Old Sep 30, 2002
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I've heard mixed thoughts on the Spec V myself... I was thinking of getting one also, but after looking at everything, decided against it for a number of reasons. It's quick, and I like how it looks from the front but the build quality didn't seem to be there for me, so I passed. Just my 2 cents.
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Old Oct 1, 2002
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so....the question

rsx type-s vs sentra se-r spec v??

both are great cars...which one has the advantage

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Old Oct 1, 2002
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I wouldnt get a rsx-s or a spec V, just get the wrx basically same price as the rsx-s and hell of a lot faster
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Old Oct 1, 2002
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the Spec-V is very nice car. I test drove it but still i picked the civic for better look and little cheaper! Also the dealer won't even drop a penny on the Spec-V cuz the dealer can sell it fast.
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Old Oct 2, 2002
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[hr]Originally posted by: Bulletboy
HELLO EVERYONE READING THIS.......THE NISSAN SENTRA SE-R SPECV WILL TOTALLY

RAPE ANY STOCK CIVIC!!!! (EX,LX,SI) I have driven one and WOW will that thing haulz ballz!! Noisy....Yes, but who cares![hr]
A)

B) it will not "rape" any civic. Trust me, i know first hand.
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Old Oct 5, 2002
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JoeB16,

OK, all mighty rainbow-boy, explain to all of us people with no brains how YOU seem to know everything about everything. I have read things posted by you and you are nothing more than a confused little punk, so back off. The Nissan WILL take a Civic, I know, I have two of them and they are not these 4-wheeled rocketships everyone seems to think they are. I have a 99 Si and an 01 Ex and neither one of them would be considered "fast"...peppy....maybe.

Go flame someone else or step up to the plate with some hard facts to prove your point.

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Old Oct 5, 2002
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Hey Jack *** bulletboy...read his post again....joeb16 did not say that it wouldnt beat the civic...just that it would not "rape" it. To me raping would have to be like beating someone by 4 car lengths or more.
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Old Oct 5, 2002
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[hr]Originally posted by: Bulletboy
JoeB16,

OK, all mighty rainbow-boy, explain to all of us people with no brains how YOU seem to know everything about everything. I have read things posted by you and you are nothing more than a confused little punk, so back off. The Nissan WILL take a Civic, I know, I have two of them and they are not these 4-wheeled rocketships everyone seems to think they are. I have a 99 Si and an 01 Ex and neither one of them would be considered "fast"...peppy....maybe.

Go flame someone else or step up to the plate with some hard facts to prove your point.[hr]
you = fawking dumbass.

Edit, on that note, let us compair ETs for said cars. I see Spec Vs at the track all the time. Granted there are crappy drivers and decent ones, but every time i see a Spec V (either stock, or close to), it runs between a best of 15.2 to a worst of 16+. I personally ran a 15.4 Bone stock, a 15.2 with intake and clutch and a best of 14.9 with said mods and motor mount inserts (no wheel hop owns you). I also ran a Spec V on the street with the afore mentioned mods. From a 10 MPH roll (read: no launch threfore its ALL car.), I jumped half a car and held that untill the top of 4th (WAY after a 1/4 mile) when he slowly walked by my as soon as i hit 5th (guess the 6spd helps in top end gearing eh?). So...

A) No, a Spec V will neither "rape" or beat me. Even stock for stock, Ive yet to see a better time then what I ran.

B) Maybe you can speak from your own experience since you "own" an Si as well. Then again IM willing to bet you are one of the pathetic owners who can barely break out of the 16s with his car. Dont try to wrap your driving incompetence in a blanket statement involving all civics or even just mine.

C) bite me.
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Old Oct 5, 2002
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Why I didn't get the SE-R.

1. the build quality and ride on the civic was much better.
2. appearance. the civic's back isn't fugly like the SE-R, and the front looks good too.
3. interior. OMG the SE-R's interior is nasty.
4. 50hp, the 6-speed and the nice sound system just isn't worth the extra $2000 or so considering the bad points.
5. resale value
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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"Dont try to wrap your driving incompetence in a blanket statement involving all civics or even just mine."

[IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG][IMG]i/expressions/laugh2.gif[/IMG] exactly what i was thinking.
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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Well I consider the spec an excellent bang for the buck, but common guys what were you expecting? an awd 12 second car? remember it is still just a sentra, as well as your civic no matter if it is an si or ex its still just a civic, and the resale value is excellent and I always get props about my interieor, everybody around here likes it, and about the 2000 extra, putting an lsd into your civic would be like 1100 bucks plus labor ONLY the lsd is worth that, and the car just handles great, it would own ANY stock civic out there in the twisties, and my spec behaves well in the highway, I can go up to 100 miles and the car feels great. So you guys get your info straight before talking...
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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excesuse me? i can get a quaiffe for 800 installed. I also test drove a spec V. it has MAD body roll. if not for the tires a stock 99/00 Si would hand it its *** in the corners.
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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WTF !!! MAD body roll!! I think you test drove a base SE-R, the spec has a VERY stiff suspension, and theres no way, no way a stock Si would own a spec in the twsities, the stock spec would run cirlces around the Si in a course.
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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High torque + lsd + great suspension and i mean great = your si owned just face it
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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yes, compaired to my car before the suspension upgrades, my 240SX and many other cars ive driven/raced/owned it has a LOT of body roll even for stock. and when was the last time you auto-xd an SI? yea, i though so.
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Old Oct 6, 2002
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btw, i make more torque at the wheels then you do at the flywheel. who owns who?
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