Nissan NX lovers? (Page 1/1)
hobbywrench FEB 21, 07:30 PM
First time I drove an NX 2000 I said whoa, steroids indeed. Long story short, Tinny body , heart of gold. We have had 3 in the family. One is my weekly driver, lightened to 2200 lbs with plex window and home made f-glass hood. Kinda beat up but I love it. The SR20 engine an awesome beast! They have all but disappeared. My theory is half due to speed accidents, half due to awesome brakes causing rear enders. Anyone else out there?
IMSA GT FEB 21, 09:09 PM
The only Nissan I have had the opportunity to drive was my ex girlfriend's Pulsar NX with T-Tops back in the early 90's. I loved it so I can imagine that the NX would be a cool little car.
hobbywrench FEB 22, 11:44 AM
My '91 NX2000 has a set of Chinese Y headers and just gasket porting. Low end has been destroyed with the headers, but my my you should feel this little rocket at freeway speed, 3500-7000!! I think maybe high 14's.
thesameguy FEB 22, 04:08 PM
I had a friend in high school who was positively obsessed with 2nd gen CRXs, but once told me "If the NX2000 wasn't so ugly, I'd get once instead of a CRX." I know that sounds like an insult, but it's high praise - this guy was convinced the CRX was the best-driving, best-handling FWD car ever made and suggesting the NX2000 was its equal was serious business! I never minded the NX's looks... I guess not 2nd gen CRX Si good, but solid nonetheless. The Sentra SE-R was always known as a Japanese hot rod, and there can't be anything wrong with a 2-door version of it. All the right credentials if you ask me. ... However, I may not be the best person to ask, as I also have a fascination with the Mazda MX3's itty bitty V6.

If I could find an NX2000 in reasonable shape I'd probably buy it - it's one of a very small handful of Nissans I genuinely like. I think they make generally good cars, but they've mostly moved away from inspired cars. I think an Infiniti G20 or 3rd gen Maxima would be a helluva car... after that, they're all a little too sterile for me.
hobbywrench FEB 22, 04:57 PM
Yes I have heard the NX2000 described as a "soap bar," but I' ve always liked it..taste I guess. It's also been one of my top two cars in reliabiity, especially for the performance. The thin sheet metal and cheap interior is always criticized, but I heard Nissan lost their axx on cost. I remember $18K new in the 1990's ? It has been described as the car Porsche would have built if they could (cost). The engine was discontinued because of emissions, but in Japan made 300 hp normally aspirated. I once caught a Brit sedan race where an SR20 powered sedan was one lap ahead. There are still a few running aound the Portland OR area. Later Nissans went to 2.5 and torque engines for emissions and the bloating the Sentras got. I remember looking at the G20s. They were heavy with lots of sound deadening and niceties, but have potential and perhaps less likely to have been abused.

Edit. The earlier Maximas were good. My daughter bought a stick new in 2000 and adored that car-another good Nissan engine before they overbored it. She only just junked it and is still weeping. Up here I see a lot of cherry looking Maximas of the 2000 era and am often tempted to buy and restore one for daughter.

[This message has been edited by hobbywrench (edited 02-22-2016).]

thesameguy FEB 22, 07:27 PM
Yeah, it really is too bad the SR20's derivatives were never able to meet US emissions. An as-Nissan-intended S14 (or S15!) with the SR20DET would be a cool car indeed. The G20 is definitely not fast, but it's solid once moving and has excellent handling characteristics - again, if we'd gotten one of the turbo Primeras instead of the non-turbo ones, Nissan might have had something. Oh well! At least they were *really* reliable.

I've been really hankering over a Maxima lately for some reason. For whatever reason, I really enjoy a high-revving V6. Until recently I had a '95 Alfa 164Q which had one of the nicest V6s ever made - I regret selling it. I think a Maxima with a manual wouldn't be a bad successor. And, it would let me cross Nissan off the list... the only major automotive brand I have never owned. ROFL
hobbywrench FEB 22, 11:53 PM
The NX2000 power steering is dead feeling. During the lightening phase I disconnected the power steering pump for a day after reading others' impressions-good and bad. I was surprised how much effort it took to turn corners at 30 mph. I hooked it back up because I was afraid I might not make a turn some time. It needs Fiero steering feel although it is fairly quick ratio. As an experiment I retrofitted regular Sentra front discs and calipers for about 5-7 lbs reduction on each side and have left them on. Fine for town driving and still good braking.