You’ve bought that car, now what?

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/02/2003 (8450 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Our former The Audio File column returns after a long hiatus in a new form. The Market After, by freelance writer Shaun Keenan, will take a regular look at anything from the aftermarket, from killer sound systems to some ripping performance mods.

AS I write my first column for the Winnipeg Free Press, I am contemplating new beginnings. Not because it’s the new year, but because I have just bought a new car. Out with the old, in with the new, right? I wish that were true, however, the decision to buy was not my own. Nonetheless, the year must get off on the right foot.

Three days after Christmas, while returning home from a great day of skiing and snowboarding, I was run off the road by a driver who wasn’t paying attention to her surroundings. My car, a mildly modified 1994 Acura Integra RS, did not survive the painful ordeal. The good news is that my lovely girlfriend Lisa, her younger sister Jenny and I escaped with only scratches and some minor whiplash.

In a quick recap, I was already in the act of legally passing a couple of slower cars on a two-lane rural highway. Conditions were good; my car was nose-to-nose with the first car when it all of a sudden pulled into passing lane without signaling or looking and with me right next door. I honked, veered left as far as possible, but when my wheels hit the shoulder, the longest five seconds of my life began. I had been in her rear-view mirrors for kilometres, so this never should have happened.

Instantly, the car fishtailed and spun 540, took down a signpost while going backwards into the ditch where it came about and rolled completely over before coming to a halt. It was an insurance write-off.

I am baffled at how we weren’t killed, and even more so by the fact the other driver wasn’t charged with careless driving. For the record, she did get improper passing procedure and docked three points and fined a couple hundred bucks. That’s hardly retribution in my view.

The insurance settlement didn’t exactly have me jumping for joy either, but it did bring me top dollar for my 235,000-kilometre car, including taxes. Earnestly I set out to find a suitable replacement for the Integra. But being a young automotive journalist for the U.S. and Canadian compact performance and mobile electronics industries, I had so much to consider and it weighed heavy on my mind throughout the process.

For starters, the car had to fit into a budget. Excellent performance was a critical factor as it had a lot to prove in lieu of the Integra. Next, it should be hospitable to at least some degree of modification from performance, visual and electronics standpoints. More importantly, no modification will sacrifice the car’s deriveability or safety to me or anyone else. Nor will any modification become a ‘driving distraction’ to myself or any other driver. This certainly means no strobe lights!

After three weeks of checking out new cars and considering numerous lease and finance options, I find myself in a new used 2002 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec V. Having been an Acura guy for the last 10 years, even I’m quite surprised! I had always envisioned myself in the new Acura RSX Type-S, but the Spec V’s high performance-to-value factor won me over.

A new and worthy combatant for the revered Integra Type-R, Nissan North America hopes the Spec V will convert a large share of the Honda-dominated, young import tuning crowd. Whether that is possible remains a mystery, but the propaganda is already in full effect as on-line communities of Nissan enthusiasts are abuzz with chatter about the Spec V. And why wouldn’t they be? The Spec V moniker is actually derived from Nissan Japan’s legendary Skyline GT-R V-Spec, a highly coveted tuner car not traditionally available in North America, but is spotted on rare occasion throughout America thanks to its cult following.

Getting back to my point, the Spec V is getting the attention it deserves thanks to its 2.5L engine (the largest in its class), six-speed manual transmission, helical limited-slip differential, MacPherson front suspension, Multi-Link Beam rear suspension, 17-inch wheels, Z-rated tires and more. It also has good upgrade potential.

Personally, the tuned DOHC inline-four with 24-valves and Variable Valve Timing is what got me addicted. With 175 hp and 180 lbs. / ft. of torque being kept in check by the LSD, the whole Honda-to-Acura transition will be a piece of cake! Still, I do foresee some gradual upgrades over the course of my financing term. Right now, I am licking my chops at the possibilities.

One thing is for certain: any upgrade will come at a cost, whether it is financial, functional or cosmetic, or any combination thereof. At this point the concerns are what to upgrade, in what order, and for what purpose? But I’m in no immediate rush to void any of the remaining factory warranties, so for now things will be kept relatively simple.

For instance, while the Spec V’s stock Rockford Fosgate stereo system does sound pretty good, I have noticed some rattling coming from the rear speakers. A quick check beneath the rear deck (where the speakers are located) revealed an unfinished and exposed underside where objects in the trunk could become snagged on or worse. If it turns out not to be just a blown speaker, a protective panel will be custom made and installed to prevent any damage to cargo and offer a nice finished look.

After that’s addressed, I will once again face the question ‘where do I go from here?’ But that’s what it’s all about for car enthusiasts! It’s also a big reason why SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association), the automotive aftermarket official stats keeper, valued the compact performance market at $1.5 billion for retail-level product sales in 2001.

From now on, consider me your eyes and ears to the aftermarket. With this column I hope to provide useful information for new, used and prospective car owners. We’ll explore everything from I.C.E. (In-Car Electronics) to performance enhancers such as nitrous oxide and exhausts, all in an attempt to find ways for you to enjoy your own vehicle more than you already do. If you’re new to the aftermarket, there’s a whole new world out there. Stay tuned!

At 25, Shaun Keenan is a full-time automotive journalist for Modified Magazine and Modified.Com writing for a growing target audience of sport compact car drag racing fanatics in the U.S. and Canada. Prior to Modified, Shaun was Senior Editor of Performance Auto & Sound magazine. He intimately understands the compact performance and mobile electronics industries and has bared witness to many new trends that succeeded and failed.

meipress@rogers.com