This Nissan Sentra SE -R Spec V from 2004 was built to dominate autocross – Jalopnik

From the Honda Civic type R to the Hyundai Elantra N, Toyota Gr Corolla and even the Subaru WRX, we live in a time when regular compacts offer really incredible performance for your dollar. However, Nissan is not even in the conversation and has not been for years. I mean, it tried a bit back in 2017 with the Sentra Nismo, was immediately defeated at his own game by the Elantra Sport and then gave it up. But in the day the Sentra was a legitimate sports compact, and the best of the couple was the Sentra SE-R Spec V. And now there is one For sale on cars and bids.

With a 2.5-liter inline four under the hood that makes 175 hp and 180 pound-foot torque, you will not win any drag races in this car, unless the person you racet, I don’t know, a Toyota Echo. But there is also more sporty cars than linear speed, and this thing has written Autocross Champ everywhere. That is partly because the Spec vs had sportier suspension arrangements than the regular Sentra SE-R, but Nissan also put a spiral-shaped-shaped slip differential in it, which was still a big problem in the early 2000s. Not bad for a car that cost around $ 18,000 when it was new.

So yes, it may still be a front-wheel drive Nissan Sentra that is on power compared to a new Prius and still has a Sentra interior, but it is still the cool Sentra, relatively rare and set up to be an absolute Giller on an autocross course. Oh, and you can’t forget the manual six -speed gearbox. When Engine -boning said at the time:

The standard Torsen-Type Limited-Slip Differential of the spec V ensures that the front-end has the feeling that it really digs for traction, regardless of how much accelerator pedal you throw against it. Beat the steering wheel back and forth and the power assist keeps your enthusiasm (something rare in this class). The brakes are effective and the optional ABS does not come in too quickly.

Yet we are talking about a two decades-old Nissan Sentra, so it is understandable if you are worried about how it will stand. The good news is, although there can always be a few gremlins that you had to deal with, it looks absolutely incredible to his age. There are a few scratches and chips in the paint, some interior clothing and a little rust here and there, but the previous owners took incredible care for this car (given that it is still a Sentra at the end of the day).

Part of it has to do with the fact that it only has 31,100 miles, which amounts to slightly less than 1500 miles a year. They also kept the interior about as close to the showroom condition as you will find on a 22-year-old Sentra. That said, it’s not entirely stock. According to the offer, it is now supplied with an aftermarket air inlet, a cat-back exhaust, a motor oil catch and LED lamps in the headlights and fog lamps. Fortunately, at least based on what you can hear in the video that the seller contained, the new exhaust does not completely ruin the car. Yet you would probably like to have the headlights look at least, so you are not blindly blind drivers with the LED globe.

Regarding the interior, it may have been felt cheaply in 2004, but a little nostalgia will be a long way in 2025, especially if you are fed up with screens and touch controls. There is a small display that shows the time and radio station, as well as a digital kilometer counter, but it is about for screens. Even better, there is a real, physical check for every position. Do you want to show up the radio volume? Turn the button. Do you want to blow colder air out of the ventilation openings? Just turn the button. Do you want route description to that new restaurant? Print them from your computer or take your phone off, because this puppy certainly does not have a navigation system.

Will this car be for everyone? Not at all. But if you are looking for a generally affordable autocross car, you can certainly do much worse than this 2004 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. After all, there is a good chance that this thing will not even reach $ 10,000 by the time the auction ends.