The invitation to Nissan-Palooza-2, which was printed on stationery embossed with psychedelic artwork better suited for the wall of a head shop, is what first piqued my interest. What were they offering at this event which promised "total vehicular enlightenment?" Would they serve Kool-Aid that would mess me up for the rest of my life? Would it prompt the cerebral spillage necessary for me to look fondly upon minivans? I had visions of shorn-skulled journalists clad in tie-dyed pajamas, brainwashed into selling hemp jewelry to tourists at truck stops. Super Street called Nissan's bluff and lined up for generous servings from a smorgasbord of all things Nissan packed into a two-day span. In the end, it was not the pigs in the blanket or the garlic shrimp that proved most bewitching, but rather the newly minted 2002 edition of the Nissan Sentra SE-R. This new- generation, four-passenger, sizzle-sedan was the dessert on the Nissan front-wheel-drive menu.
After an eight-year hiatus, presumably spent in a cave in the Himalayas mailing chain letters, the Sentra SE-R badge returns to Nissan showrooms to continue a tradition of value driven performance sedans that goes all the way back to the 510.
Whereas the styling of the original '91-'94 Sentra SE-R was more subdued, the '02 SE-R slaps you in the face with its performance clothing. The aggressive front fascia, foglights, and mesh grille opening give the new car a smile similar to some really pissed-off, predatorial fish. The new fascia unashamedly borrows much of its styling from the ethereal R34 Skyline that is still not available stateside. Body-colored side sills and rear spoiler round out the revamped profile. The track-ready performance theme carries over into the SE-R's interior treatment, which is highlighted by a supportive race bucket visually tweaked with black and red accents. The gauge cluster is souped-up with a metallic finish, and the wheel and shift knob is covered in leather. From first glance, the SE-R is clearly the hot tart of the bunch, differentiating itself easily from the "fat homely girl" that is the base Sentra. Perhaps the nicest interior tweak is the 300-Watt, 9-speaker, Rockford Fosgate audio system that offers an in-dash 6-disc changer. The system is highlighted by an eight-inch subwoofer that pounds out aural delights not expected from the average OE audio system. From a distance, the new SE-R appears endowed with the right ingredients.
Beneath its Skyline-esque skin and 17- inch wheels we find a healthy gulp of performance car substance in the way of a six-speed manual transmission, a larger-than-Civic or Focus 2.5L motor, a limited-slip differential, a sport-tuned suspension, and a throatier-sounding, horsepower- liberating exhaust system. To many drivers, this is the sort of freshly baked "fun" car that's built just right for behind the wheel thrills. For others, it's merely another example of a factory giving the tuner consumer an even better place to start.
The members of the press got their chance to taxi dance with pre-production examples of the 2002 Sentra SE-R Spec V on the Laguna Seca road course and on an autocross cone course. The 180hp, six-speed transmission Spec V is the saucier version of the SE-R and, luckily for us, it was the only version made available for the test. Peak power on the new QR25 engine arrives early at only 6,000 rpm, so it doesn't require excessive revving. Replacing the venerable SR-20 is a thoroughly modern engine featuring variable valve-timing, an electronically-actuated throttle, micro-finished journal surfaces, and lightweight moly-coated pistons. The 180hp SE-R Spec V promises sub 7-second 0-60 times. Brisk acceleration is nice on the boulevards, but a car's balanced handling and razor-sharp chassis manners spell its character on the autocross course. This is certainly a point-and-shoot kind of car, reacting well to driver input and easily forgiving error. The Spec V is blessed with higher spring rates than the standard SE-R's, and the shock absorbers are tuned to match. Exhibiting minimal body roll and a steering response becoming of the SE-R badge, the new Sentra proved to be most at home in between the cones, driven at near its limit by a gang of cackling journalists until the brakes wouldn't stop smoking. Meanwhile, smiles abounded at the trackside buffet.
Acting as chaperones for this petrolhead dance party were instructors from the Jim Russell Driving School, who accompanied us on our "hot laps" around the Laguna Seca road course, mostly to make sure we didn't stuff the vehicles into a tire barrier while trying to answer our cell phones. Their smug grins seemed to belie that they were keen to the fact that some of us were barely scratching the surface of the Sentra SE-R's performance envelope. For the mere price of a "hello" and a handshake, one of these driving gurus was content to take us press-rubes on a white-knuckle, stomach-somersaulting ride through the cones, reminding us that brisket tastes better on the way down. In their hands, the most impressive characteristic about the SE-R proved to be how comfortable Nissan's new machine could be at its limit, completely at ease in its balance between handling, power and braking.
Though brief, our encounter with the SE-R certainly got our attention, and made us long for a another dance. With a promised price of "very competitive," we can't wait to see how the SE-R compares head-to-head against other ultra-value performance machines like the Focus SVT and Civic Si. For our tuner culture mindset, the new SE-R provides a formidable ready to stomp showroom chariot, but still affords room for improvements. Rest assured, a QR25 turbo conversion won't be too far behind from the aftermarket. While we're dreaming, how about a stripped-down version of the SE-R forsaking all the conveniences and weight for use on the SCCA circuit (A/C, the body kit, stereo, sound deadening, and higher price). For the disciples of ICE, the ample room and four-passenger layout make the new SE-R a great platform for a mobile disco or rolling theater. In either case, the sub-18K performance car segment just got a whole lot more interesting.