Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Sentra SE-R

Stew · 05-09-2011, 08:52 AM

This Saturday I was a little bored and decided to just go and look around at the local Nissan Dealership. I had no expectations of, or really wanted to, drive anything. I actually got out to look at a Sentra SE-R Spec V. I usually don't like these cars, but this one was in a nice blue (As a Ky boy, it looked Ky blue

) with gray wheels. While I was looking a salesman snuck up on me. He asked if I wanted to take it out and see how she handles I hesitated for a moment and then said "sure"

Basics: 2011 Sentra SE-R Spec V: Upgrade package (Limited slip diff, nav, backup camera, upgraded stereo, etc, etc). $23,800

2.5 4 cylinder, 200 HP, 28 MPG Highway, 6 speed manual transmission.

Exterior: I have never been a fan of the current Sentra. The SE-R add-ons help though, along with the blue color and gray wheels this one looked better than most Sentras.

Interior: There was certainly a sporty feel here. I loved the stylized shifter, thick wheel, the metal pedals, the supportive sport seats, basically they did a better job on the interior than the exterior. This car excelled on room as I had plenty of headroom even with this cars sunroof and the even the backseats and trunk were pretty large. Everything worked, the AC was good and cold and got there quick, seats were comfortable enough, though I think the tilt only steering wheel, especially on the top of the line model, is a bit of big detail to miss these days, especially as the steering wheel seemed awfully close to the dash. I found the aux gauges at the top center of the dash rather useless and the nav screen seemed a bit smaller than some competitors.

Powertrain: the engine provided plenty of torque, and had no problem getting going and I even got a nice bark from the front tires on the 1-2 shift. The shifter felt good, but throws were a little longer than I expected. The clutch seemed very abrupt at first, (yes I stalled it once), but felt fine after a few minutes of getting used to it. The drivetrain worked smoothly and there was actually no drivetrain lash even during a bad shift.

Ride/Handling: The handling on this car was very secure. it responded to turn-ins quickly, there was no body roll, and it seemed eager to tear up curvey roads. That is the good part. The bad part is that the great handling came at the expense of the ride. On some potholes it actually felt like the little car was getting a little airborne and I wasn't going "that" fast. Yes, this road is a bit worse than the ones I drive on everyday, but this is the same road I took the Elantra up and it certainly didn't ever seem to be "launching" on the potholes. That said, I do realize the SE-R is the sport model where the Elantra doesn't even offer one, but it is probably the roughest ride of any vehicle I have driven and even worse than my 01 Dakota Running trimmed R/T springs in the front and lowering blocks in the rear.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: Fun to drive, manual transmission, nice interior, roomy, torquey motor, good handling

Cons: beat with the ugly stick, some interior niggles, horse and buggy ride, fuel economy could use an upgrade

Overall: A fun to drive car with room and features to spare, a good price, an plenty of power, the ride is probably the biggest handicap, along with looks that make the car seem bloated..

Scrappy Doo · 05-09-2011, 09:16 AM

We shopped the Sentra before the Cruze too. Same opinion.

Get the Cruze Stew........

How many vehicles you got left in this epic tale?

Stew · 05-09-2011, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scrappy Doo

We shopped the Sentra before the Cruze too. Same opinion.

Get the Cruze Stew........

How many vehicles you got left in this epic tale?

Just the Focus. They are still MIA locally LOL. I really think I am going to wait and get a Sonata turbo, they are nice and people are getting into the mid 14s in the 1/4 mile. Yeah, it's not super quick, but quick enough to be entertaining and still get 33 mpg hwy. Now, maybe they'll offer a Cruze SS, that would be pretty cool. GIve it about 190-200 HP from the turbo mill and it would be a damned fun little runner, or even better the 2.0 turbo with 260 HP.

The Sentra wasn't really on my list, I just couldn't resist the offer to drive it lol.

Scrappy Doo · 05-10-2011, 01:15 PM

A cruze ss would be neat. Got over 40 mpg's the otehr day on a highway run. LOL

05-09-2011, 08:52 AM	#1
Stew Drives: 92 Luminadead/01 Dakota/97 F150 4x4 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Eastern, Ky Posts: 3,789	Test Drive: 2011 Nissan Sentra SE-R This Saturday I was a little bored and decided to just go and look around at the local Nissan Dealership. I had no expectations of, or really wanted to, drive anything. I actually got out to look at a Sentra SE-R Spec V. I usually don't like these cars, but this one was in a nice blue (As a Ky boy, it looked Ky blue ) with gray wheels. While I was looking a salesman snuck up on me. He asked if I wanted to take it out and see how she handles I hesitated for a moment and then said "sure" Basics: 2011 Sentra SE-R Spec V: Upgrade package (Limited slip diff, nav, backup camera, upgraded stereo, etc, etc). $23,800 2.5 4 cylinder, 200 HP, 28 MPG Highway, 6 speed manual transmission. Exterior: I have never been a fan of the current Sentra. The SE-R add-ons help though, along with the blue color and gray wheels this one looked better than most Sentras. Interior: There was certainly a sporty feel here. I loved the stylized shifter, thick wheel, the metal pedals, the supportive sport seats, basically they did a better job on the interior than the exterior. This car excelled on room as I had plenty of headroom even with this cars sunroof and the even the backseats and trunk were pretty large. Everything worked, the AC was good and cold and got there quick, seats were comfortable enough, though I think the tilt only steering wheel, especially on the top of the line model, is a bit of big detail to miss these days, especially as the steering wheel seemed awfully close to the dash. I found the aux gauges at the top center of the dash rather useless and the nav screen seemed a bit smaller than some competitors. Powertrain: the engine provided plenty of torque, and had no problem getting going and I even got a nice bark from the front tires on the 1-2 shift. The shifter felt good, but throws were a little longer than I expected. The clutch seemed very abrupt at first, (yes I stalled it once), but felt fine after a few minutes of getting used to it. The drivetrain worked smoothly and there was actually no drivetrain lash even during a bad shift. Ride/Handling: The handling on this car was very secure. it responded to turn-ins quickly, there was no body roll, and it seemed eager to tear up curvey roads. That is the good part. The bad part is that the great handling came at the expense of the ride. On some potholes it actually felt like the little car was getting a little airborne and I wasn't going "that" fast. Yes, this road is a bit worse than the ones I drive on everyday, but this is the same road I took the Elantra up and it certainly didn't ever seem to be "launching" on the potholes. That said, I do realize the SE-R is the sport model where the Elantra doesn't even offer one, but it is probably the roughest ride of any vehicle I have driven and even worse than my 01 Dakota Running trimmed R/T springs in the front and lowering blocks in the rear. Pros and Cons: Pros: Fun to drive, manual transmission, nice interior, roomy, torquey motor, good handling Cons: beat with the ugly stick, some interior niggles, horse and buggy ride, fuel economy could use an upgrade Overall: A fun to drive car with room and features to spare, a good price, an plenty of power, the ride is probably the biggest handicap, along with looks that make the car seem bloated..

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05-09-2011, 09:16 AM	#2
Scrappy Doo Drives: Callaway Rogue Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: W8n 4 Snow, Minnesota Posts: 4,731	We shopped the Sentra before the Cruze too. Same opinion. Get the Cruze Stew........ How many vehicles you got left in this epic tale?

05-10-2011, 01:15 PM	#4
Scrappy Doo Drives: Callaway Rogue Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: W8n 4 Snow, Minnesota Posts: 4,731	A cruze ss would be neat. Got over 40 mpg's the otehr day on a highway run. LOL