2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R

At the risk of annoying two vehicle manufacturers with one stroke, I must confess that when I saw the 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R waiting for me in a parking lot, I thought it was a Neon.  (OK.  The sun was bright.  The “Vibrant Blue” paint was, well, vibrant.)  When I got behind the wheel of the Sentra SE-R and looked upon the cheesy plastic and rather odd containers (just what is someone supposed to put into the flip-top box that sits top center on the IP?), I thought I was in a Neon.

But when I pulled out of the parking lot and onto a street, I thought about Newton.  As in Isaac Newton.  As I pushed the accelerator forward, the consequent velocity pushed my head backward into the seat as the 165-hp, 2.5-liter DOHC four cylinder did its job—and then some.  I knew I wasn’t in a Neon.

Then I got to wondering why a car with that red “R” tagged onto its logo—Hester Prynne’s scarlet “A” was put on for a sin of passion; nowadays, otherwise normal compact sedans get a scarlet “R” for ostensible raciness—is fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission.  Don’t get me wrong.  There is something to be said for those of us who are fundamentally lazy and automatic transmissions.  But if the point is to go-fast, then where’s the clutch?  (I later learned that the Spec V version has a six-speed.)  Still, the car moves out in a manner that is fitting of a pocket rocket.

To be fair, a closer examination of the Sentra shows some nice touches, such as the serious-looking halogen headlamps in the front and the chrome exhaust tips in the back.  And the package I drove was equipped with—and I’m not making this up—an “Audio Fanatic Package,” which is based on a 300-W Rockford Fosgate AM/FM/CD player (you’ve got to look at the size of the unit in the trunk that kicks the tunes), as well as a sunroof, mats, side airbags, ABS, and an in-cabin mircofilter.  The total was just shy of $19.5K.

The vehicle is equipped with front independent MacPherson struts and Nissan’s patented rear Multi-Link Beam, with 2-mm larger front and rear stabilizer bars, performance-tuned front and rear shock absorbers, and a front strut tower brace for additional stiffness and suspension feel.  The car also is fitted with 16-inch alloy wheels with 195/55R16 tires.  In terms of the front end, however, it had a bit too much feel, as while driving down a somewhat smooth stretch of freeway I found myself having to adjust the steering wheel back and forth like I was a skipper of an old-type sailing ship.

The Sentra SE-R is said to be something of a tuner’s dream.  The Skyline sport sedan, which isn’t available in Nissan dealerships in the U.S. is the real tuner’s dream.  I’m not so sure that this vehicle fits the bill (e.g., the auto tranny).  Then again, I’m not a tuner.