I was finally able to commit to a payment plan on a new car. Of course I've had my eye on an SE-R since they came out, but after going to the dealer I found out 3 things...
1. I can't afford an SE-R
2. The 2.5s doesn't come with a manual transmission(why Nissan, why?)
3. I can just barely manage the 1.8s with a few options(hey I'm a poor college student)

I also didn't find any used '01-'03 SR20 or 2.5 equipped sentras for 300 miles of where I live. :disappoin

Is their any reason, performance related, that I should avoid that 1.8 and try to find a 2.5. I mean there are obvious advantages to the 2.5, but is the 1.8 a dog, or just a little econo engine? It's got 126hp and 129trq respectively, on a car that weighs 2537. I'm not looking to install No2 or anything extreme, I just want basic bolt ons, and a fun daily driver.

1. That's always a tough decision to come to, it's good that you can admit that and not get over your head in debt
2. The 2.5s doesn't come with a manual for some reason, I don't know what nissan was thinking, but I believe the base se-r still comes with an available 5-spd and the spec still has the 6-spd

As far as performance goes it is pretty far behind the rest of the lineup. I believe the gxe (same as the 1.8s, just renamed in 04) runs mid 17's stock. It should be faster than all civics except the SI, and with i/h/e/p you should be running pretty close to an SI. The qg18 really isn't that bad of a performer, but you just have to remember it is nissan's little econo engine, although it isn't that bad, it still wasn't built to have crazy power.

It should be faster than all civics except the SI, and with i/h/e/p you should be running pretty close to an SI.

That's good to know. What about the new Corolla S?

I read on sentra.net the QG18 has a nice wide powerband, so that it feels faster than it's HP suggests.
It's also got direct ignition, do civics or corollas have this?

Hehe, if this isn't irony...

I had fully prepared myself to commit to the little 1.8, with no factory performance goodies, as a long term project when...

I scored the luckiest deal I thought I'd never be able to afford.
Here's the dealer's advertised photo:
http://www.you-are-a-huge-nerd.com/public/freepix/247-P8583.jpg

It's an '02 spec V with 19k miles and all the options :rofl:

A funner car I have not yet driven.

i think u should look for a used sentra ser spec v from like 2002 or even older b/c the older ones have sr20de in which u have many options for bolt ons and the option to make crazy power.

i think u should look for a used sentra ser spec v from like 2002 or even older b/c the older ones have sr20de in which u have many options for bolt ons and the option to make crazy power.

The spec v was not made before 02, and it has never had an sr20de in it. You're either thinking of the 00-01 se, or the b13 and b14 se-r (no such thing as a spec-v back then) with the sr20de.

beautiful photos dude
:smokin: