Grassroots Motorsports

Register Log in to GRM
- Community

Birthdays
Recently on the Classic Motorsports forums

Subscribe get a full year for only $23.95 Sample Free Test Drive—no strings attached

Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » B13 Sentra se-r

Jan. 19, 2009 4:40 p.m. ccrelan None

Hello eveyone- I recently got a great deal on a 91 se-r. The car was a one owner car and was garaged. It has no rust, decent paint, and 81K original miles. I brought the car to my mechanic and had all fluids changed- oil, tranny fluid, and anti freeze. Mechanically, the car is 100% and has been maintained. It really is in amazingly original shape. The only other thing I have done is have a new radio installed as the old pull out tape deck was from 1991.

I have some 15" BBS RA wheels that I was thinking of using on the car as the tires are crap on the stock 14" wheels.

I am curious what the market is like for these cars. It is very hard to find them even on ebay - where it is easier to find old alfas. I have a 89 BMW 325 is that is my daily driver. I am trying to figure out what to do with the sentra. It really was too good of deal to pass up. My college roomate had nearly the identical car in college - a black sentra se so I have a soft spot for them. Both cars have plenty of fans here I suspect.

Thanks- Cory
Jan. 19, 2009 4:46 p.m. mrdontplay New Reader

I had a b13 sentra in high school and it was bullet proof. It had the GA16DE motor though. I have always wanted an SE-R. these have huge potential. Project car magazine built one for time attack you might get those issues. Jump on an sr20 forum for tons of info.

find performance parts here www.jimwolftechnology.com www.jgy.cc

I am jealous.
Jan. 19, 2009 4:48 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

Here's some food for thought: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/project-cars/1991-nissan-sentra-se-r/
Jan. 19, 2009 4:53 p.m. ccrelan New Reader

Thanks. I have checked out the project car. I have your other project car with my 89 325is, too.

If you had your drothers, which would you keep?

I am trying to get a relative value of my sentra as well. It is hard for me to gauge as 99.9% of these cars are modified in some fashion or other. I don't know if being stock is a plus or a minus here.

Thanks again
Jan. 19, 2009 5:00 p.m. belteshazzar Dork

Definitely a plus. They're all used up and rusty around here. Such a car brings $2000-ish. I wouldn't even know what to make of a nice one. You've got a hard decision. What's the e30 like?
Jan. 19, 2009 6:22 p.m. wherethefmi2000 Reader

Keep em both the ser is an awesome car. Or if you realm need to I'll take it off of your hands
Jan. 19, 2009 7:13 p.m. mrdontplay New Reader

I love RWD but sentras were my first love so I would keep the sentra.
Jan. 19, 2009 8:59 p.m. Feedyurhed Reader

The Sentra SE-R is one of the all time greats, especially the 1991. Sorry I ever sold mine.
Jan. 19, 2009 9:07 p.m. David S. Wallens Editorial Director

I had a '92 back when it was new. It was an awesome car. I wonder where it is today.
Jan. 19, 2009 11:01 p.m. gamby SuperDork

They were definitely a hot "tuner" car in the 90's. Jim Wolf made a bunch of great stuff for them.

That SR20DE with bolt-ons and an ECU would gain 20 or so hp at the flywheel, IIRC.

The only tricky spot is that they were notorious for having the tranny pop out of 5th gear on the freeway.
Jan. 20, 2009 4:24 a.m. friedgreencorrado New Reader

ccrelan wrote:

Thanks. I have checked out the project car. I have your other project car with my 89 325is, too.

If you had your drothers, which would you keep?

I am trying to get a relative value of my sentra as well. It is hard for me to gauge as 99.9% of these cars are modified in some fashion or other. I don't know if being stock is a plus or a minus here.

Thanks again

If only your E30 were an eta. It would make the choice much easier.

My SCCA buddies that are Nissan guys say keep it. They claim the SE-R will one day rival the old 510 as a collector car. They also reccommend mild mods (intake/wheels/springs/struts), but no body kits, and keeping an almost stock interior.
Jan. 20, 2009 7:02 a.m. ccrelan New Reader

Thanks for the input. Here is a little background. I originally had a pretty worked over 76 2002 that had a excellent suspension set up. It was just a very bad highway car.

I ended up getting the e30 locally. It was basically a one family car and had all records since new. It was in very nice original shape. Since then, I have gone through the car mechanically. It is now in very good shape. The only thing left to do is the suspension. I just got some lowering springs and got some used bilstein hd's for it as well. I sold the 2002 becuase the e30 was everything it was and more- no drone on the highway, power windows, and AC.

I kind of fell into the same situation here with the sentra. I know I can get good money for the e30 because they are also difficult to find in clean, original shape- especailly the plastic bumper IS. I hate having two cars though (live in a condo). I would like to get rid of one in the spring. If I sold the e30 then I would have a few dollars to refresh a couple things on the sentra. My first thoughts are tsuru headlights and a exhaust.

The two cars drive very differently. The e30 feels heavy by comparison. The clutch action, shifting, and general feel of the sentra is much lighter. The biggest thing with the sentra engine is the lack of torque from the six.

Thanks
Jan. 20, 2009 7:41 a.m. pete240z HalfDork

these guys have all the good stuff and a ton of parts for sale

http://www.sr20forum.com/forum-index.php
Jan. 20, 2009 9:43 a.m. Clay Reader

If it's in that good of shape, you could probably sell the SE-R to an enthusiast for a nice profit. My buddy was looking for a pristine B13 SE-R to build a nice daily driver for his wife and they are all but impossible to find. He ended up fighting with another guy for the chance to buy one 2000 miles from him for $5000 or so (I think that was the price) that was in perfect shape, garaged, and unmodified. Owner ended up flipping a coin to decide the buyer and he lost.
Jan. 20, 2009 10:46 a.m. ccrelan New Reader

I am surprised there aren't more E30 fans chiming in. I think the people who have started to get priced out of good 2002s have moved towards the E30s. The prices of good examples have been on the rise.

I am trying to not kick myself years from now getting rid of one or the other.

Here's a link to some pics of my E30:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/30728763@N05/
Jan. 20, 2009 10:53 a.m. captainzib Reader

Also after sr20forum got bought out and commercialized, a lot of the diehard members migrated to www.sr20-forum.com

It may be worth your while to be a part of both communities.
Jan. 20, 2009 11:06 a.m. belteshazzar Dork

I've owned both but not at the same time. I can only image the struggle you have right now, but unless I was seriously hard up for cash it would be in my nature to find a way to keep them.

I have a '79 RX-7 with 86k miles right now. I don't need it for anything, but it in the grand scheme of things it's both relatively worthless and more or less irreplaceable.
Jan. 20, 2009 11:51 a.m. dj06482 New Reader

B13 SE-Rs are great cars. I co-piloted SCC's Project SE-R cross country a few years back and that was the best-sorted car I've ever driven. And that was with two adults, 100 lbs of tools/gear, and 4 unmounted NT01s in the car. The stock seats were especially good in the last 29 hour non-stop thrash from somewhere in OK to CT. After that trip, I'm always on the lookout for a solid B13 SE-R example...

DJ

You'll need to log in to post.