Cars like this 200SX SE-R, in such a relatively unmolested state, have become a rare sight, especially in a parking lot of a rather run-down apartment building on a busy arterial. The Nissan 200SX name had long been applied to the RWD Silvia coupes, but in 1995, the name appeared on the top-line version of the B14 Sentra, and in SE-R trim, sporting Nissan’s legendary SR20-DE engine, making a hefty 140 hp in a lightweight little FWD coupe.
Wikipedia says that only some 14k of these SE-R versions were made, during its three year production run. In the 2300 lb Sentra, it made for an eager bundle of joy, to those in the know. This is the same engine that the rather highly regarded Infiniti G20 sported, but in a package substantially lighter. Well, it turns out there’s a good reason this one is still so intact and unmolested:
It’s got an automatic. Of course! The same reason that the Civic EX coupe I shot in the very same parking lot was so unmolested. Maybe they don’t take tenants who drive Japanese stick-shift pocket-rockets. Good call.
In Europe this would be an Almera. I didn’t know there was a coupe version until I saw one locally, since it was never imported and it was ignored by the motoring press. To be honest it lacked the style of the Honda and Toyota coupes.
Agreed in Europe the 200 sx was a stunning coupe..I especially like the early 90’s version with the pop up lights
http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/17387/200sx1-L.jpg
The car in Austin’s link was sold in the USA with the KA24 engine as the 240SX.
I had no idea they offered an AT in the SE-R trim, I’m pretty sure they didn’t in the Sentra SE-R, kind of defeats the purpose of the SR20. I understand why they did it in the G20 since it had luxury intentions.
B13 SE-R had an auto, but yes, very rare.
I spotted a French ad of a 1995 200SX aired in Quebec http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Nbf4j1W7GM
Certainly not a bad car but not as charming as the B13 SE-R. The B14 ushered in downgrades like hard plastic pieces in the interior and the beam rear axle. The exterior door handles went from unique and nice to use to totally generic.
Love the cool 90s color, too bad about the A/T!
If only I had known that it was turquoise car day. 🙁
I just found a very similar ’97 on ebay with a stick shift!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1997-Nissan-200SX-SE-R-Coupe-2-Door-2-0L-/200925615570?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item2ec81995d2#ht_500wt_1182
That’s unmolested, the one on top is….slightly disturbed. If you want a really obscure Nissan from this era, try to find the NX2000, which was a t-topped Sentra base little coupe.
i do love that color, saved many from bein downright ugly, ie grey…silver, black, white,…
Aftermarket rims, stereo, coffee can exhaust, trashed interior and Autozone discount bin looking spoiler, complete with tape on ground effects. This car makes 90’s Pontiacs and S model Corollas look classy. I know the spoiler is original, but on a Sentra it looks like an after thought. Did Nissan really believe it made the car faster?
It certainly has that generic “japanese made transport device” look to it. I don’t think the interior is trashed though, just a little bit of clutter. It’s amazing how these interior shots manage to highlight the everyday detritus we carry around with us. I dread to think how my vehicles would come out if you took one of these shots.
Compared to the few of these cars I see around SoCal Paul is right about this one – quite unmolested, looks good.
Speaking of spoilers, why do so many Priuses have them????
Cleans up the air flow, less drag.
For some reason only aero-engineer types can explain, a blunt rear with a spoiler, or at least a small ducktail, reduces drag.
Underside streamlining surely must be done nowadays, but no one talks about it. The VW Beetle might’ve been cleaner underneath than topside.
These coupes (and the associated Sentra 4-doors) were real letdowns from the B13 generation, especially in driving dynamics and interior accommodations. Styling left a lot to be desired, too.
The B15 SE-R (and Spec-V) reclaimed some of the lost swagger, and even the base models were nice cars, though of course by then no 2-door was available. And then Nissan proceeded to completely lose its s**t with the Renault-inspired B16.
+1.
I learned to drive stick on a ’91 SE-R, and that was a truly brilliant car. The 200SX SE-R may have had the same SR20DE engine, but the chassis reverted to a beam-axle rear end, the steering got flabby and slow, and the entire package felt much more generic.
The beam axle stayed for the B15, but the Spec-V brought back a lot of the fun factor, even if it was more of a torquey, sloppy kind of fun than the nimble B13. For a while, Nissan even offered dealer-installed NISMO parts for that Spec-V. I had the privilege to drive one so equipped on the Streets of Willow once, it was a hoot.
As for the B16 onward, don’t even get me started… 🙁
That about sums it perfectly. I remember the B15 being pitched as somewhat of a comeback for the Sentra nameplate, as the B14 was one of the cheapest, dumpiest penalty boxes of the ’90s. Even in plain Jane GXE B15 Sentras were sorta stylish and sporty for the segment at the time, while the SE-R/Spec-V offered some real power at a time when nobody else was offering performance compacts and anything 4 cylinder producing over 150 hp was unheard of.
Then the B16 came around and the Sentra went right back to being Mr. Irrelevant. I think even Mitsubishi sells more compacts.
Four-cylinder 944/968 excepted, of course…
I liked these well enough, but never as much as the B13. I got a B13 SE-R new in 1993 (still have it), and my dad liked it so much that he bought a ’95 200SX SE-R to replace his old 320iS. It was fine, but just didn’t have the same feel as the original. It didn’t feel as tossable, the steering wasn’t as good, etc. At least it was a little more refined, and the foo-foo stuff like power windows and RKE were nice. He loved his, though. The beam axle is perhaps unfairly maligned. Sure, it wasn’t IRS, but B14s were faster on the track (at least in SS) than B13s were.
Want…my…B13 SE-R…back…(wipes drool from keyboard)…
I’d say that the too-big Pep Boys store brand wheels and fart can exhaust tip mean it’s at least “slightly molested”. Just a little groping, no penetration!
I didn’t really like this color when it was new (it was also very common on 1st generation Altimas), but I can at least appreciate it now. There were lots of really garish, odd colors that appeared on economy cars in the 90s in some misguided effort to add “zest” or whatever. Looking back, this was actually one of the more restrained shades offered in that genre. The last time a B14 200SX appeared on CC, there was some discussion of how it was a real “chick car”, and I think that even the SE-R name and SR20DE under the hood fail to shake that stigma. This particular example screams “Maxxinista” to me… one who is also possibly a low-level drug dealer’s girlfriend. I’m positive that the person who owns this car posts lots of chain letter-type content on Facebook, so if you read this and forward a pic of a 200SX to ur 25 closist frends on fb, ur crush will ask u out dis friday****~~~~***@@@@@
Until I saw the shift lever, I thought, hmm, that’s where my wife’s car ended up. She loved it for nine years before replacing it with the Acura RSX-S. The Nissan might have been a better car. Alas, right after getting it, I found out about the Almera GTi, the same car, sold in the UK, but with a hatch! We’d really like to have had one of those.
15.9 seconds in the 1/4-mile with me driving it, 38mpg on the highway, and towed our trailer just fine. What’s not to like?
how much does b14nissan cast
I just got a 97. Ser 5 speed unmolested. Cleanest I’ve seen besides 12 o’clock wear on steering wheel and headliner. Mint. I guess these were the lowest year of production. 2 owners. Sr20de. Looks pretty new all around besides front bumper from the heat.
I just got a 97. Ser 5 speed unmolested.
This is the body. Almost show room ready with some touch ups. 5 speed. 3rd owner. Florida car.