The Original Club Racer: 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R
The Nissan Sentra SE-R isn’t a car for an extrovert. If you want people to know that you’ve made it — this won’t do at all. Most people will not even look twice at what appears to be a 30 year old Nissan econobox…but a few kooks will go out of their way to engage you in conversation; “Is that a real SE-R?” “I raced one of those in SCCA back in the day” “Would you like to see my collection of antenna balls?” The answer, in case you were wondering, to those conversations is an emphatic YES, because you are the guy driving the rarest of all 3rd generation B13 Nissan Sentras and you know a thing or two about being eccentric. The SE-R won’t feel fast compared to modern front-drive sport compact machines, but with only 2500 lbs to toss around and 140 horsepower from a SR20DE inline-4 mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox plus a limited slip differential…it isn’t slow or lame at all. Find this 1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R offered for $6,000 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.
From the seller:
1992 Nissan Sentra SE-R
condition: excellent
cylinders: 4 cylinders
drive: fwd
fuel: gas
paint color: black
size: compact
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: coupe
Listed for sale is a rare example of a clean 1992 Sentra SE-R, the car condition can be seen in the pictures. Odometer went out on it and stated that the miles are at 69k. Not many out there left in this condition. Clean title in hand.
See a better way to drive a B13? tips@dailyturismo.com
That shit is milk!
I bought 91 one from a local repair shop motor was blown but he had a line on a JDM crate motor i put it together fun car and pretty fast i believe the 5 speed had problem’s of poping out of 5th my car never had that problem.Mine was same as this black with gray interior wish i still had it. I think Red, Maroon and white were other color’s for the SE-R
I think this car is way undervalued… The market for the 80s and 90s icons like AW11 MR2s, 1st gen 4Runners, and Mk1!Rabbit GTI’s is heating up and shows now signs of slowing. Buy of all these cars the B13 SE-R is arguably the rarest. The rate of attrition with these cars is amazing and so few decent ones are left… Ask me how I know. I have been looking for a good one for 15 years and finally got it in March in the middle of this pandemic. 1992, black slick top no abs… The most desirable of all of them which is exactly the same as this car for sale. The owner is not asking enough imo.
I’ve owned a few of these. Great cars that are a lot of fun to drive- think fwd E30. The transmissions on these are not as strong as Honda’s so it held them back a bit. The SR20VE engine is a bolt in upgrade and turns up the tach to 9k instead of 7500. Rust is a killer on these and finding a stock-ish one is nearly impossible.
I dated a girl in Austin TX who owned one, circa 1995. It was an eye-opening experience the first time I drove it as up to then I was quick to clown on all Sentras as being anodyne secretary cars – but this one felt like a four door CRX Si. Sadly, I discovered she wasn’t fully rid of her previous boyfriend after finding a note on my car re. an imminent ass kicking – then noticed he’d scratched into her paint various unfriendly sentiments across the hood and driver’s side doors.
Never caught the chump, I would’ve loved some payback. Insurance fixed her car but the deductible was steep.
I remember the constant comparison in the car mags when these were new was that they were the second coming of the BMW 2002. I’m wondering if I drove one now, would I be completely disappointed? Seems like a better bet to let remain back in my long-inflated and built up memories.
This was the first car that I bought with my own cash that made me truly love cars, and pushed me headlong into what 22 years later is still an obsession with small, nippy, tossable cars that you wear rather than drive (I’m on my 27th such car, a track capable ’05 JCW R53 MINI).
In 1998 I took out a personal loan to buy a black 1991 Sentra SE-R. It had Enkei 5-spokes, JWT cams, POP-charger, Hotshot headers, and was straight-piped. Every underpass or tunnel in or around Albany, NY, presented itself as an opportunity to downshift into third gear and let it wail. Within my first week of owning it I was ticketed for 68mph in a 35; the 7500RPM redline and cam-climbing power delivery couldn’t be ignored, nor could my rising insurance premiums. After this, I owned three NX2000’s, one B14 SE-R, and a swapped 240sx (all SR20 powered).
Like others here, I wonder if this icon is best left in my memories, or if I should make the call, get the quote, and drag it to NY for a long overdue reunion.
Mine did have the Sunroof i sold it on Fleabay with no reserve did not make any money on it some Squid from Bremerton bought it.
With the Nickel Dimes going for 20K or higher these will be there soon. If i had kept my Datsun’s 510 AND 240Z also had a 240sx my 401K could be 50K Higher ! ya fool you !