200SX SE-R Road Test Review
by Lee
When I first looked at this car on the lot, I said to myself, "It's no Prelude, pop." My father and I stopped by to try it out, and of course I'm comparing the car to my 1988, ahead-of-it's-time Honda Prelude Si.
The exterior of the car is very subdued and conservative looking; something my dad might drive... So I slid behind the wheel, a leather-wrapped one (bonus), and check out the interior. The large windows do allow a good amount of visibility, albeit good sized rear pillars which obstructed my view more than my beloved prelude. Seating is an absolute pleasure. The seats practically wrapped around my body and the height of the seat allowed a natural seating position. The back seat actually had enough room for people to survive on a short trip; that's a feature my Prelude lacked, unless I was road tripping with my pre-school nephews...
Being that I am a Honda enthusiast to the core, I constantly found my self comparing the SE-R to my Prelude Si and Integra's that I have driven. On smooth roads, the SE-R absorbs the bumps right into the shocks, allow a sedan-like ride. On a bumpy surface, the cabin is jarred a bit, but well within acceptable limits for a sports coupe. I will say that is is a smoother ride than Acura's Integra GS-R. Cornering is a delicate business. A turn slightly above moderate will generate the wheel-squeal from the stock Goodyear's (although I feel a different tire might be in order, say Dunlop or Bridgestone); however, pushing the SE-R through a very-more-than-moderate turn in second gear with throttle all the way down, can be a rewarding experience. This is where the Viscous limited-slip differential comes in nicely.... Reducing wheel spin to the tire with the least grip, the limited-slip diff. keeps the SE-R stable no matter how sharp the turn. Like any sports coupe, once you've learned the car's mannerisms and peculiarities, the SE-R can provide very satisfying results.
Overall the SE-R is an enjoyable runabout. It can be driven around town or with the executives during the week, and imitate a racecar all weekend if you want. It's a good buy.