20 Years

[Darren Calbero]

20 years ago I drove off the lot of a Nissan dealer with my brand new Aztec
Red SE-R.  So it didn't have the leather steering wheel or shifter boot,
floor mats, a radio, or even a/c . . . hey I had a sun roof and I drive in
Hawaii so no problem.  I was happy as can be in my new little rocket that
could perform better than just about any car out there under $20k, and I got
it at a reasonable $12.5k.  "Enjoy the ride" I did with my new girlfriend, a
nice college life, and a decent job at a proffesional office.
 
Fast forward to today.  I'm married to that same girl from 20 years ago, we
have a 4 and 6 year-old riding in Recaro car seats and boosters, and I'm
still content with my little Red SE-R.  Granted a lot of bolt-ons helps to
keep the car up to speed with some of the newer vehicles on the road, but it
sure still feels like this 238,000 mile car can take on most challengers
down the 1320.
 
I do all my maintenance on the car with parts sent from Greg Vogel over an
G-Spec.  It's run 99% of it's life either with AMSOil or Mobil1 fully
synthetic.  And one of the most important things, I always put good sticky
and hydroplane resistant tires on, not primarily for spirited driving, but
rather safety.  I currently have Bridgestone Potenza RE-11s and it's all
good.
 
Don't get me wrong, the car has a lot of signs of old age:  hidden rust in
the trunk water channel and front fenders; sunroof that currently can't
slide back; squeaking driver door hinge; cheap but still shiny coat of red
paint; trunk spoiler that is only fully secured at 1 of 3 spots; and a leak
presumably at the gas tank vent hose.  The engine still feels as perky as
ever though the suspension needs some work.  I can't complain.  It's
reliable as can be and has decent gas milage, and in Hawai where fuel has
been more the $4/gallon for a few weeks, that's important.
 
It's funny looking back at when my car was new and I would look at those
older guys in their 70s 510s, and Corollas, and wonder what they saw in that
old car?  Why do they still own something so old with old tech?  Yeah they
were modded and fast, but really?  A 20-year-old import?  I guess it took me
20 years to figure it out.  I may be one of the few original owners left
compared to the grand ol days of SERCA, but I do know that those that still
own their B13s today are just as die-hard as myself.  I know if I sell the
car, I would miss it dearly.  I've seen it happen to too many people.  So
I'll keep driving my Sentra until I'm old and grey . . . oh hell, grey
already kicked in and old is a relative term for me now, and sure I could
stretch the limits of my finances, lose my wife in the process, and get me a
GT-R that has brake changes that cost more than my car is worth a few times
over, but in the end, my SE-R that my son and I enjoy daily is all I need in
my "Dream Garage."
 
DC
1991 Red SE-R
 
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