I am in need of a good commuter car and something tunable. I am seriously consider an 03+ Spec V. I Can see to stay away from the 02 year. But how is the Spec V for room? What about the shifting is it really rough? What else do I need to know? What are the pro/cons? Thanks

Most 03's should be fine. Take one for a test drive and see if you don't mind the torque steer.

What exactly does the Torque steer feel like on a Sentra?

The steering wheel will jerk to either side when you step on the gas a bit. You just have to keep a tight grip to keep it straight during a run.

pros
-cheap for the performance
-bolt ons do wonders if you have access to better than 91 octane
-torque all over the place. it will feel quite fast around town.

cons
-FWD
-low tuning limits(which doesnt matter if your just getting a daily driver)
-not the most reliable, but not at all bad either
-average gas mileage

you need to put on a catless header and remove the balance shaft just to make it a reliable car. some people don't like the shifting in the car but it's really not bad. gas mileage sucks, no question. I forgot, you also need to loctite the butterfly screws in the intake.

you need to put on a catless header and remove the balance shaft just to make it a reliable car. some people don't like the shifting in the car but it's really not bad. gas mileage sucks, no question. I forgot, you also need to loctite the butterfly screws in the intake.
does the balance shaft removal really improve the reliability? how? I'm just curious, I'm thinking about doing it myself

if you don't remove the balance shaft the bearing in the balance shaft can break apart and go into the engine. The balance shaft spins at twice the speed of the engine. So when you're redlining that thing is spinning at 12,500 rpm's. Imagine the stress that puts on the bearing. Not to mention it a weak bearing to start with.

And just so no one asks, the pre-cat in the exhaust manifold likes to deteriorate and get sucked up in the engine. They were supposed to have fixed this in 2004, but I don't know if they did. I think everyone knows about the butterfly screw. In case you don't, a butterfly screw could come loose and get sucked into the engine. The death of most of these engines is stuff falling apart and falling into the engine.

Which is why they should start putting the VQ altima engine in specs,. haha :P

plus, the balance shaft assembly sits in the oil pan and goes to town on your oil. imagine an egg beater at 12500 rpm...

plus, the balance shaft assembly sits in the oil pan and goes to town on your oil. imagine an egg beater at 12500 rpm...

But I like my oil full of shafty balance. Really, does the thing even make a difference in vibration?

Which is why they should start putting the VQ altima engine in specs,. haha :P

i WISH!! YEayah, Sentra GT-R!

[QUOTE=fugiot]But I like my oil full of shafty balance. Really, does the thing even make a difference in vibration?

It doesn't really make a difference. The only time you feel a difference is like at 3k to 3.5k rpms. And if you really want a vq in your sentra they make a kit for it.

And if you really want a vq in your sentra they make a kit for it.

Yeah, but my work doesn't make a kit for easy access 4 grand.. :P
I plan to do it in a couple years when I'm done with school.