Give me all the good reasons and the bad to trade in my 626 V6 for a Sentra SE-R ... Which I will, it's all a matter of getting an engine for the Mazda and selling it.

Basically, what are the things you love and hate about your car?

LOVE
-not a Honda
-not a Civic
-its got balls
-it sounds mean
-its tossable as hell
-I love the classic boxy 510 look
-I love whooping up on similar 140/160HP cars.
-I love the cup holders
-I love the tautness of the car
-Limited slip

HATE
-have to check oil every damn time
-bearings should be a recall
- NO 5TH GEAR FOR ME!!!!!
-transmissions are weak!!!
-Hondas will last forever and ever and ever and ever and ever
-engine bay is over crowded with wires everywhere


Would I buy another? NO. But I'll ride the hell out of this one!!!!

Personally, the only thing in Smooth's Hate Column that I have a problem with is the crowded engine bay!

LOVE:

1- lightweight
2- more fun and challenging to drive during rush hour than the 300ZX
3- surprising amount of low-end tq for such a small motor
4- waaay cheaper to maintain than the 300ZX (i.e. parts, tires, gas, etc.)
5- waaay better gas mileage than the 300ZX
6- waaay easier to work on than the 300ZX (if you think the SE-R engine bay is crowded, then you'd get crossed-eyed looking at the 300ZX engine bay!)

HATE:

1- no folding back seat(s)
2- leaky trunk when it rains (this is a common problem???)
3- driver's seat has no memory after it's folded down (ok, I'm picky about this!)
4- torque steer
5- I feel safer in the 300ZX
6- Oil filter location (I thought it was bad on the 300ZX!)

Cheers!

Michael.

I have to add these as well.

LOVE:
- lightweight
- surprising amount of low-end tq for such a small motor

HATE:

1- no folding back seat(s)!!!!!!! WTF!!! is it that hard!!!!!
2- leaky trunk when it rains (this is a common problem???)
very common problem that silicone will take care of.
3- driver's seat has no memory after it's folded down (ok, I'm picky about this!)- Im picky too!!!!
4- torque steer
DAMN THAT TORQUE STEER!!!!
HOLD ON TIGHT!!!!!!

but no car is perfect!!!!!

Originally posted by SmoothDaddyFig
2- leaky trunk when it rains (this is a common problem???)
very common problem that silicone will take care of.

Eh... you wouldn't happen to know the procedure to test and fix this, would ya? The puddle in the spare tire well and moldy smell is gettin' old pretty fast.

DAMN THAT TORQUE STEER!!!!
HOLD ON TIGHT!!!!!!

LOL, hey man, you kid about that, but I've nearly kissed the ditch a few times already. The first time it happened was a real doozy and caught me off guard. And I know I'm not exagerating about it because I let a friend drive it this past weekend and he commented about the tq steer. :)

Michael.

Damn, I want an SE-R so bad, but my Mazda will be getting the j spec engine(200hp) and it's going to be so much faster(35 hp difference between the two)... Maybe I'll get bored with it and then sell it.


What's with the oil level, I've heard everybody mention it. Bad bearings?

What's with the oil level, I've heard everybody mention it. Bad bearings?

high rpm exibition + low oil level = rod knock and time for a JDM engine swap

Matt's likes:
-Not everyone has one
-Light (~2450 lbs)
-Engine responds well to mods
-Engine has no flat spots anywhere in powerband
-Cheap as shit to insure (it's a SENTRA for crying out loud!)
-Easy to sell the parents on (it's a SENTRA for crying out loud!)
-Draws little attention from police (it's a...well you know)
-Engine is bulletproof, given proper maintenance
-Independant rear suspension
-Limited slip diff. :)
-Great stock seats (really, some of the best I've sat in that didn't have "Corbeau" or "Recaro" printed on them)

Matt's dislikes:
-5th gear popout (which I will get someday)
-oil filter is a bi-atch
-small stock brakes
-power steering fluid blows out during spirited driving
-Narrow stock wheels
-Too little suspension travel! Can't lower it much without big $$$ short body struts.

If I had it to do over again, I might find one with a busted engine for a JDM transplant since those are so cheap.

Originally posted by MaddMatt


high rpm exibition + low oil level = rod knock and time for a JDM engine swap


That's the reason my car is getting a new engine, but the oil level was fine as I watched that every morning for the previous 4 days after the oil was changed.

Eh... you wouldn't happen to know the procedure to test and fix this, would ya? The puddle in the spare tire well and moldy smell is gettin' old pretty fast.


Buy a silicone tube and gun from Homedepot and spread the silicone around the tailights in the trunk well.


LOL, hey man, you kid about that, but I've nearly kissed the ditch a few times already. The first time it happened was a real doozy and caught me off guard. And I know I'm not exagerating about it because I let a friend drive it this past weekend and he commented about the tq steer. :)


Dallas, who is kidding!? Im serious!!!
I almost kiss the "Welcome to McDonalds" sign every morning by my house!! torque steEr is DANGEROUS!!! hold on tight!!!!!
AND I WAS UPSET WHEN I FOUND OUT MY REAR SEATS DIDNT FOLD DOWN!!! Oh well............. Just gotta live with it.

Originally posted by Michael-Dallas
...6- Oil filter location (I thought it was bad on the 300ZX!)

...

The upside down in a cramped location for the oil filter was designed by the same guy who decided that a dipstick was not necessary to check transmission fluid.

sh*tty glove box!!!! ...........................LOL
-Mammouth shifter

Originally posted by dontblameme


The upside down in a cramped location for the oil filter was designed by the same guy who decided that a dipstick was not necessary to check transmission fluid.

You dudes are all smoking crack. The SR20 oil filter is in a great location. You only have to go under the car to unplug the oil plug. It is soooooo easy to remove. Just turn it upside down on the way up and walla. I have seen some wierd locations for an oil filter and I actually appreciate the SR20 oil filter location. At least it is not on the back of the block. Only Toyota has a better location on it's 2.2 4.

Originally posted by dontblameme


The upside down in a cramped location for the oil filter was designed by the same guy who decided that a dipstick was not necessary to check transmission fluid.

No dipstick for tranny? You serious?

Damandre - nope and that annoyed the hell out me when I went to check the fluid


Pretty White - would rather have the oil filter on the bottom of the car, less mess, but that's my opinion

i like the location of the sr20 oil filter...its a little tight in there, but unlike my 240sx or my dad's accord, or even my aunt's 2.2 Camry, oil doesn't slop out everywhere when you unsrew the filter.

Originally posted by dontblameme
Pretty White - would rather have the oil filter on the bottom of the car, less mess, but that's my opinion

Less mess and I also like to put oil in the filter before I install it to prevent oil starvation -- can't seem to do it on the SE-R if the filter is on the side of the engine.

Cheers!

Michael.

Originally posted by Michael-Dallas


Less mess and I also like to put oil in the filter before I install it to prevent oil starvation -- can't seem to do it on the SE-R if the filter is on the side of the engine.

Cheers!

Michael.


I wouldn't worry about that. You don't need to put oil in the filter on startup.

I hated the location of the Oil Filter when I first started changing it, but now it doesn't bother me. Trust me, there are a LOT worse designs out there (like the Ford Probe for one - I can never seem to change those without getting burnt).

Interestingly, Nissan did move the Filter in it's 99+ SR20's to just above the oil pan (underneath the engine).

try changing the oil filter on a 95 and under 4-runner!!!!