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View Full Version : Test Drove '02 SE-R Spec V and '02 Altima 3.5L


nismo270r
12-11-2001, 12:13 AM
Well, Rob and I went to Indy today to help a friend look at some new cars. We ended up getting to test drive the new Sentra SE-R Spec V and a new Altima SE 3.5L...here's the breakdown:

'02 Sentra SE-R Spec V 6-Speed

The Sentra was definitely a fun drive. 175hp and 180 ft.-lbs and a 6-speed tranny made for some entertainment. The salesperson said, &quot;Have fun...just don't wreck it!&quot; We did just that...:biggrin: The redline was just over 6k, which was kind of disappointing. The drive-by-wire throttle made for a nice, responsive pedal. Real torquey down low, but still has nice pull all the way through the band. The helical LSD gripped up the front nicely when we launched it. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> On one road we took it on, there was an &quot;S&quot; curve where the turns were real tight together, and were both at least 90 degrees, if not sharper. I was heading toward the first around 45-50mph, and I whacked the brakes, cranked the wheel, and yanked the e-brake...HEHE That was #### fun...keep in mind the car only had 162 miles on it. Funny though because the salesperson said that the new Sentra, Altima, and Maxima don't have a break-in period. He told us we could drive the piss out of it, so we did. Rob found out that it didn't have ABS...didn't ya? <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> I like the red/black interior scheme too. All around it's a fun car for the sticker price of 18~k, but I just don't think I could get a FWD car.

'02 Altima SE 3.5L Auto

Although the Altima was an auto...WOW! The 240hp 3.5L is badass in that car! And the Altima is freakin' huge now! We had to keep reminding ourselves we were in an Altima, not a Maxima! Once again, drive-by-wire throttle made for great throttle response, and the interior was just awesome. The leather looks and feels much nicer than what Nissan used to use. Definitely a fun car to drive...it doesn't feel like your in a bigass sedan. And who can forget...HID! &quot;BLING BLING!&quot; :biggrin: Overall, I think if I were in the market for a sedan, the Altima would definitely be what I got...It'd just have to the the manual gearbox is all. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Some info about the Z33:

Well, the salesperson said that the new Z is supposed to be out next summer for under 30k. He said that people have mentioned rumors about the summer of '03 a twin turbo, AWD (ATESSA) version of the new Z pushing 425hp is supposed to come out. Well, he told us these were NOT rumors...To his knowledge he said it WAS going to happen. Supposedly going to be around 45k or so, with a 0-60 time under 4sec. I don't know how believeable it is, but I guess we'll wait and see.

mistert
12-11-2001, 12:20 AM
that 425 AWD Z is what will be referred to as the &quot;Nissan GT-R&quot;, i.e. the new skyline GTR, but totally separated from the skyline//g35, and it will be based on the z33 chassis.

nismo270r
12-11-2001, 12:22 AM
Ahhh...it's ABOUT G'#### TIME! &nbsp;They had better not screw us with the new GT-R. &nbsp;I can see it now...&quot;Introducing the '03 Nissan GT-R with it's 2.4L 155hp engine!&quot; &nbsp;HAHAHA....

mistert
12-11-2001, 12:30 AM
hehe they're like &quot;BEND OVER AMERICA, we brought the KA24DE back JUST FOR YOU!&quot;

BlueSix
12-11-2001, 10:38 AM
LMAO... &nbsp;

I doubt that they'd market an AWD Z car over here, especially since there has been fairly obvious statements made that the next GT-R is being strongly considered for a world market... &nbsp;What was the quote? &nbsp;&quot;The GT-R has always been a car that crossed rational boundaries, now it is a car that is ready to cross international boundaries as well&quot; or something to that effect.. &nbsp;Charles Ghosn, the president or CEO or whatever of Nissan said this himself... If the GT-R does come out in the USA, it'll be a tough choice between the GT-R and the Z... &nbsp;I love both, but I love the GT-R more I think!

KoukiS14
12-11-2001, 11:08 AM
Well... After our test drives yesterday, looks like I can now trust Nissan to bring us something good!!! I was worried about them giving us the GT-R, cause they've enjoyed raping us in the past (with exception of Z32), but. . ####. . That Altima was my fav. . &nbsp;Felt huge until it's driven. . &nbsp; ALMOST. . got ahold of a 6 speed Maxima SE. . . it's cool, cause the shift knob they use in that is IDENTICAL to the R35 GT-R's knob, with the exception of the &quot;GT-R&quot; logo. . &nbsp; I wanted to gank it.

-Rob

nismo270r
12-11-2001, 04:42 PM
Well, from what mistert said, the &quot;new AWD tt Z&quot; I was referring to, isn't going to be the Z at all. &nbsp;That will be the new R35 GT-R. &nbsp;

That new 6-speed Maxima was awesome! &nbsp;I'm thinking it's probably using the Getrag system they drop in Skylines and 3000GT VR4's. &nbsp;Bimmers also use Getrag from what I remember. &nbsp;That #### shift knob was sweet...like lookin' into an R34 sedan or something. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'> &nbsp;I wonder how much it would be to buy one from the dealership...Probably like 300 bucks knowing OEM stuff. HAHA!

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Quote: from BlueSix on 12:38 pm on Dec. 11, 2001
LMAO...

I doubt that they'd market an AWD Z car over here, especially since there has been fairly obvious statements made that the next GT-R is being strongly considered for a world market... What was the quote? &quot;The GT-R has always been a car that crossed rational boundaries, now it is a car that is ready to cross international boundaries as well&quot; or something to that effect.. Charles Ghosn, the president or CEO or whatever of Nissan said this himself... If the GT-R does come out in the USA, it'll be a tough choice between the GT-R and the Z... I love both, but I love the GT-R more I think!
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