Ok speaking w/regards to facts. I like the way the SER looks, but we all know looks only go so far. What are the facts that the SER does not check out? Does anyone have any personal experience w/the car or know anyone w/one who has some bad stuff to say about it?

 

You don't want a V6 correct?

 

what i know is that it's a good little car for the money. TORQUEY, you'll enjoy driving it. personally, i hate the way they look, but i'm not buying it, you are. Nissans have always been pretty good as far as reliability goes. their main criticism in the past few years has been interior quality/ergonomics. hondas just have this feel like they're hand-built or something. inside, outside, mechanically, driving feel, etc, the fit/finish is excellent, the overall build quality amazing, and the ergonomics perfect! the nissan will be a little bit of a let-down after that, but it will be ok. go drive the shit out of it and report back. if what i mentioned didn't seem to bother you, buy it and love it. but before you buy the SE-R, test-drive the comparable honda and see what you think. we all drive hondas for a reason.

 

Accord V6 sedan.

/thread.

 

Since I made a rather provocative statement at the beginning of this thread, I ought to quantify it with my first-hand experience. h:

In late '03, I test-flogged a new one that belong to a rather "distant" friend at college (he was interested in my opinion, so I was pretty much forced into it). I drove it from Kentfield up Mt. Tam and back down to Stinson Beach, over mountain roads that I knew like the back of my hand. It was dry and mild, and the roads were clear enough that I could wind the car out and truly drive it.

The seats were comparable to the DC4 with reasonable bolsters and lumbar support, but the rest of the interior looked and felt rather cheap.
As I hit the joints and ruts on Panoramic Hwy, bits of the interior squeaked and chirped. :a:

The shifter wasn't as smooth as the Integra; it did not like being rushed.
But above all the low redline of the QR25DE bothered me more than anything else. It would pull strongly, but the combination of short gearing, a recalcitrant shifter and a 6200rpm(?) redline conspired against smooth progress.

There weren't any glaring omissions (aside from that low redline), but I came away from the drive rather unimpressed. For the amount of money Nissan charged, I felt like the SE-R should have been more refined. :shrug:

Now, just to play devil's advocate... I suppose if you upgraded the shifter, removed the balance-shaft assembly and installed the NISMO valvetrain and ECU, along with the usual I/H/E mods, the problems I noticed would be solved.. But since I'm in CA, the majority of those options aren't really practical.

That's just my 2.3¥. For the 11k the dealer is charging for the SE-R, I'd rather have a sedan that is more refined, even if it is slower.

 

DAVE - that is one HELL of a drive! i love that stretch of road all the way up to stinsin beach; it's like a fucking racetrack! fond memories with the Cal Sport Riders Club. have you ever driven hwy 1 all the way up to Gualala? (sea ranch) when i took my gsr up there last year, i was literally giggling like a little kid, saying "holy shit!" over and over while my girlfriend clutched the oh-shit handle in terror. fun times.

but yeah, back to the point - drive it thoroughly, see what you think, drive another honda, see what you think, and make SURE you remember your salesperson's name if you go back to the dealer. and ask for him 1st thing when you walk in the door.

 

Shit. I never knew you lived in the North Bay..

To answer your question: Yes, I have. It's a fantastic run.

Hwy 1 was my Sunday Morning ritual for years. My usual route was to go north on Shoreline from Tam Junction to Panoramic Hwy over the West Peak of Mt. Tam... then north on Rte 1 through Stinson Beach, Dogtown and Pt.Reyes... all the way up to the mouth of the Russian River, then east on 22 and south on 121 through the west side of the Napa Valley. Then head back west on 37 and south on 101 to Mill Valley. I miss those roads now that I think of it..

I need to do some recon trips up around Mt. Wilson next week.. :thinking:

But back to the real topic (pardon the interruption h: )...

 

Only for reasons of gas. If I were to get a V6 I'd probalby start looking at SUV's like my wife's Escape. We don't need 2 of those.

 

I have not commited to anything yet, just trying to gather some facts. I hear what your saying about honda's.

 

Ah ha...here we go now. So you've put this thing to the grinder and it was right up there w/ass sucking. However, although unrefined from the factory, it can be made refined...now was there anything you liked about it? At all?