1988 Sentra SE Sports Coupe (AKA Hikari) - All Stock, Original Paint
$8,000 ︎ 188k
03/2019
Sentra SE - For The Love of Going Slow
Do you know about momentum driving? When a car has low power and excellent handling, it invites a unique engagement. Every incline must be managed, and moments of actual acceleration must be linked from one to the other, a daisy chain of forward movement that keeps inertia on your side. It's a lot like riding a single-speed bike.
This kind of driving is a unique pleasure that most car owners will never have. We have taken such extreme efforts to mask the rather incredible feat of internal combustion, to turn engines into a black go-box that "just works"; the average driver doesn't feel the machine. The enthusiast, of course, pursues this feeling, usually by seeking more power ("mo'powa") via turbos, bigger engines, or simulating it with exhaust systems, essentially adding things on in the hopes of connecting with some fundamental qualities of driving. What if the exact opposite behavior was a more efficient means of achieving that desired connection?
Enter the 76HP Nissan Sentra SE Sports Coupe (Hikari in Mexico, Sunny Coupe/ Rz-1 in Japan). This car never lets you forget how hard it's working to keep you moving. But it's not strenuous; it's charming, a loyal yet scrawny steed that demands a relationship from its owner. Think "Rocinante." And yes, maybe owning a car such as this can seem quixotic. But becoming one with such a unique driving experience is ultimately rewarding. You are The Fonz hitting the jukebox just right, and the satisfaction is real.
My goal with this car (and all my cars) was to recreate the experience of having it new. I invested over six grand in fourteen months. Without previous documentation, I had to take care of all the likely points of neglect—belts, hoses, water pump, brakes, etc. But my primary interest was the handling: all new shocks, link bushings, anything suspension-related that still exists for the car. And the good news is that it worked. The car handles beautifully. This feeling of a nimble machine, with an incredibly light and user-friendly clutch, created the ultimate urban driver. You can't go that fast in a city, but to parry and dodge through traffic in this thing is a genuine pleasure.
I'm selling this car because I think I've made it its best self and want to share the experience. I have too many cars, and to keep them all this nice is becoming a chore. It's time for someone else to become its engaged caretaker. This car needs to be driven, not sit around in my garage.
Performance at moderate speeds is adulthood defined.
BIO:
I’m Aaron, I operate as @radreport on Instagram. And The Rad Report on Facebook. If you’d like to check bonafides please see these two articles about my previous listings:
Do you know about momentum driving? When a car has low power and excellent handling, it invites a unique engagement. Every incline must be managed, and moments of actual acceleration must be linked from one to the other, a daisy chain of forward movement that keeps inertia on your side. It's a lot like riding a single-speed bike.
This kind of driving is a unique pleasure that most car owners will never have. We have taken such extreme efforts to mask the rather incredible feat of internal combustion, to turn engines into a black go-box that "just works"; the average driver doesn't feel the machine. The enthusiast, of course, pursues this feeling, usually by seeking more power ("mo'powa") via turbos, bigger engines, or simulating it with exhaust systems, essentially adding things on in the hopes of connecting with some fundamental qualities of driving. What if the exact opposite behavior was a more efficient means of achieving that desired connection?
Enter the 76HP Nissan Sentra SE Sports Coupe (Hikari in Mexico, Sunny Coupe/ Rz-1 in Japan). This car never lets you forget how hard it's working to keep you moving. But it's not strenuous; it's charming, a loyal yet scrawny steed that demands a relationship from its owner. Think "Rocinante." And yes, maybe owning a car such as this can seem quixotic. But becoming one with such a unique driving experience is ultimately rewarding. You are The Fonz hitting the jukebox just right, and the satisfaction is real.
My goal with this car (and all my cars) was to recreate the experience of having it new. I invested over six grand in fourteen months. Without previous documentation, I had to take care of all the likely points of neglect—belts, hoses, water pump, brakes, etc. But my primary interest was the handling: all new shocks, link bushings, anything suspension-related that still exists for the car. And the good news is that it worked. The car handles beautifully. This feeling of a nimble machine, with an incredibly light and user-friendly clutch, created the ultimate urban driver. You can't go that fast in a city, but to parry and dodge through traffic in this thing is a genuine pleasure.
I'm selling this car because I think I've made it its best self and want to share the experience. I have too many cars, and to keep them all this nice is becoming a chore. It's time for someone else to become its engaged caretaker. This car needs to be driven, not sit around in my garage.
Performance at moderate speeds is adulthood defined.
BIO:
I’m Aaron, I operate as @radreport on Instagram. And The Rad Report on Facebook. If you’d like to check bonafides please see these two articles about my previous listings: