5k: Craptastic: 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V
The Nissan Sentra was a forgettable compact from Japan, built in various generations since 1982, but the SE-R editions did raise some eyebrows in gearhead circles. In the B15 generation (model year 2000-2006) the highest trim level was the SE-R Spec V, a special edition of the special edition. Mostly it was a horrible car with a wretched engine but equipped with a 6-speed gearbox and LSD. Find this 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V for sale in Brooklyn, NY offered for $5,750 via craigslist.
The basic Sentra was built with the quality of a 17th century Turkish mud-hut and most are forgettable… but the SE-R Spec V version was built for enthusiasts and adds a 6-speed manual, limited slip diff, optional Brembo brakes and stiff suspension all around.
The SE-R is powered by the QR25DE, one of the worst late model engines built by a reputable corporation. The 2.5 liter engine puts out 175 horsepower and 180 ft-lbs of torque in a droning and un-eventful way, but life with the QR is anything but uneventful. The QR was notorious for ingesting pieces of its own catalyst substrate while under part load, high passive EGR settings that essentially sand-blasts the cylinders and leads to low compression and catastrophic engine failure around 70k miles. Interesting that this car has a “new” engine put in it around 90k miles – expect to get about the same life out of this replacement powerplant.
Cheap plastic covers the inside of the SE-R like a body bag at a crime scene; the only redeeming feature is that the playful chassis and manual gearbox should keep your concentration focused on hitting each apex instead of lamenting the prison cell decor inside the Sentra.
See a better SE-R? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
That's why I like Daily Turismo: you guys can trot out any blob of landfill such as this here Nissan and then make us laugh! You could probably write about a used gas range and be funny, without any of the tight-sphinctered preciousness that presides at some classic car blogs.
^ this
I see these all over CL, what does he mean "Rare". simply use a search bar and your car isn't rare anymore.
i don't know much about nissans, but i've been keeping an eye out for a good example of the classic B13 (2001-04) first SE-R version Sentra, with no luck at all – very few, and most are a mess – haven't even seen many of this or other later versions either, guess now I know why
doh! meant 1991-94
Reminds me of the 05 Corolla XRS: All the right bits to be sporty, in the car that least deserves it. What would the ads say? "From the car company of your last forgettable rental comes a car nobody asked for that trades reliability for worse NVH so you'll think it's racy."
It is rare since it is one that is still running.
Yes these things just ring pure poison. I test drove one in 03, a champagne se-r spec-v. I was so appalled by it after the drive I told the salesmen that I dont know how nissan could sell them to the public. I took my eown payment and bought a 86 celica gts which was much more fun and didnt seem like it was going to eat its own oiley bits. I drove it across canada (vancouver to halifax) and for a few months and sold it for more than I bought it for, with a dead #3 cylinder.
Man..ya'll didn't drive the same car I did. I had an 02 SER Spec-V, only problem I had was a crank sensor that failed under warranty, and an AC line that was replaced at about 65-75000 miles. I drove it from Mckinney to Mesquite, about 35 miles one way, in North Dallas traffic for 4 years. When I traded her in she had 100000+ miles, and was running good albeit a little beat up underneath due to finding a ladder in the fast lane at 0-dark thirty and 80 mph.
I had a lot of fun with that car, no, it was not refined, but it was fun, and did what i asked of it.
Cash