The Auto Channel-Sports Car International Magazine

Affordable Sports
1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R

1991-94 Nissan Sentra SE-R 5.0

About 30 years ago, US buyers got their first taste of a new genre of automobile: the sports sedan. Sure, a few Americans had already been lured by assorted Italian and British machinery that might have fit the mold, but it took two specific models, the BMW 2002 and the Datsun 510, to convince people that a sporty car was not limited to two seats and minimal luggage space. These square, upright boxes could be thrown through the corners like no subcompact before, earning them a reputation on the street and on the track. While the 2002 and its 3 Series successors became the cornerstone of BMW, Datsun never really replaced the original 510, concentrating instead on the sportier-looking 200SX and Z cars.

Flash forward to 1991. Among the various 1.6-liter models offered as part of the redesigned Sentra range was a new performance-oriented version carrying the letters SE-R. Though indistinguishable from lowlier versions except for a subtle front air dam and rear spoiler, plus a set of attractive 14inch alloys, the R badge signified one important addition: the 2.0-liter 16-valve motor shared with the frumpy NX2000 hatchback and the upscale Infiniti G20. The combination of the larger motor (dubbed SR20DE), a close-ratio five-speed transmission with limited slip differential, sport-tuned suspension and four-wheel disc brakes (with optional ABS) brought the economy car platform to a level not seen at Nissan dealerships since the 510.

The SE-R earned instant acclaim from the press, many likening it to, of all things, a modern 2002. Highest praise went to the 140 hp motor's ability to spin effortlessly to its 7500 rpm redline, while the competent chassis and decent performance figures (0-60 in under eight sec., quartermile in around 16 sec. at 87 mph) were also mentioned.

As used vehicles, the SE-R's qualities are enhanced by exceptional reliability. There are few major problems with these cars, and the minor ones can be rectified fairly easily. The SR20DE has proven to be a very trouble-free engine, able to accumulate high miles with just oil and filter changes. Fuel pumps can fail, however, and Nissan issued a service bulletin for all 1991-early '93 Sentras calling for a replacement pump. Also, some motors suffer from a rough idle. This can be caused by duty injectors and/or throttle body.

The EGR system is another a source of niggling driveability problems, from rough idles to low rpm surges. The culprit is usually a buildup in the metal tube that connects the EGR to the exhaust manifold.

A good cleansing should put things right. Poor running can also be linked to the oxygen sensor, which has been known to fail at anywhere from 60,000-100,000 miles.

Perhaps the most serious problem that many SE-R (and NX2000, G20) owners complain of concerns transmissions that refuse to stay in fifth gear. Though Nissan never officially recalled the gearboxes, they did update the synchro on later units, helping to alleviate the problem.

The Sentra SE-R lasted just four model years, before evolving into the 200SX SE-R, a heavier, slower and aesthetically-challenged offspring of the original that, unsurprisingly, met with less favorable reviews on the newsstand and at the dealers That makes this Sentra a surefire future cult classic, but that status is still a long way off. Except for a few fanatically maintained examples owned by SE-R diehards, most cars trade hands for just a bit more than a regular Sentra of the same vintage. That means just $3000 will buy an early car with high miles, while $7000 should secure one of the last '94s in showroom condition. For reliable Japanese transport that doubles as a serious canyon carver, it's tough to top the SE-R.

- Alexander Palevsky

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