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1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R |
Model specs:140 hp |
Got a killer deal on this car and purchased it with the intention of being a replacement for my Talon. I did many modifications to make it a competent road-course car, however I only really drove it at one event. The car handled wonderfully, was very neutral, and it was an absolute blast to toss into a corner, however it was extemely lacking in the power department. It was peppy and great for driving every day, but it felt like I needed to get my oars out to help it get down the back straight at VIR... During my ownership an assortment of suspension components were upgraded including both sway bars, all four shocks, and the addition of a Lower Control Arm brace that triangulated to the chassis. I even went so far as to buy a brand-new set of highly-coveted Progress coil-overs, however I never installed them for a variety of reasons and actually ended up selling them for a profit b/c I had bought them at such a good price and they were in such high demand with limited production planned in the near future. I also experimented with this car on a cheap, home painting system using Rustoleum paint, mineral spirits and a roller. When I bought the car it had very slight surface rust on the roof which I had wanted to repair and the stock painted had faded to a dull red, however the kicker came when a deer ran into my driver fender and I ended up buying a used one in great shape that happened to be black. It stuck out like sore thumb, but I was broke, so I figured I'd give it a shot... All in all, it was definitely a success. The paint turned out looking very good and glossy, however it took my an extremely long time to get it this way and by the time the project was over I wished I had bought a paint gun. The color choices are kinda restritive, so it ended up having a very bright red (it was called Safety Red) that was definitely not my style. I accented this by painting a lot of the trim peices in flat black and lettering in a gloss black. There was at least 100 hours of labor in the project, which required the painting of 2-3 thin coats, followed by wet-sanding to smooth it. Repeat this process, moving to a finer grit at each interval, until it has a smooth, glossy finish. I finished with a final polish and then several coats of wax. It did look very good, however it never quite had the depth or luster that a quality auto paint has. In terms of money, it was definitely quite cheap, however it wasn't worth the amount of time that I put into it to make it look good. I eventually sold this car to a good friend when I began consolidating my toys in hopes of buying a house.Overall, it was a great car to drive every day, a lot of fun on track (though quite underpowered), and quite economical and enjoyable for my commute. I would highly recommend an SE-R to anybody looking for a car in its class. |
Modifications:KYB AGX shocks |
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