Hi all, I am new to here and want to learn more about the car... I try a search on "like spec" and "dislike spec" and try to find out more about the car from owner's point of view but can't find any.

Can you all pround owner of Spec V, give me an honest opinion about what you like about the car and what can be improved with the car?

I like to hear about....
* driving comfort (front and rear) (I am 5 foot 10/160lb)
* engine noise
* wind noise
* gas mileage
* blind spot checking
* gear ratio
* braking
* handling
* any major/minor problem
* dash at night/daytime
* controls location
* fit/finish of the car
* paint
* how good is the heat system (I am from Toronto)
* how about air conditioning (or nobody try it yet?? anyone from California??)
* does air conditioning draw a lot of power from the car??

everything... just tell me about it!

Regards,

Ernest

Well here's my point of view for my white SpecV.
Engine noise... quite as a cat.
Driving comfort, I love the way it feels, take's corners like a champ.
Gas mileage, I have to say is OKAY. Everything else you mentioned is tight. I honestly think that for the price of what you pay for this car I think that it's one of the best deals for the money. I'm pretty sure that I speak for everyone who has one. I mean you get power, sounds, good suspension, tight ass interior, etc....Peace.:alien:

Yes, I agree, for the price it is hard to beat!! (only C$25k for a fully loaded specV)... come on, what about the other owner.... 20+ view.. only 1 reply??

Or you can point me to the right thread and I can read myself.

Have a good weekend!

Ernest

I love my Spec V. No complaints here! I just have to tone down on the accelerator cuz I'm getting crappy mileage. I drove a 92 Sentra XE before so this is my first car with actual power.

http://files.automotiveforums.com/uploads/252058sentrafi.jpg

I love red man, I got a white one. I deffinately agree with you bro, I have no complaints with the car what so ever. I too have to watch the mileage on my car because I have only had the car for about 2 1/2 weeks and the miles are slowly creeping up. Hey man how did you post your picture on this site because I got pictures of mine. Peace out bro:alien:

Click "Profile" link at the top of the page.

Then go to "Edit Profile", in the "Additional Information" section, go to "Profile Photo".

You can then use "Click here to upload your photo for FREE."

I added the picture as my signature too. use the [IMG] command:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/misc.php?action=bbcode

Good Luck!

test drove the car day before.. here is what I think as a owner of Legacy 2.5 and my brother's MK4 GTI VR6


The shifter is ultra tight! I did miss the 5th gear couple times!
Brake feel is good!
I hate the antenna!
side support of the seat is good! but I like to have more lumbar support!
the upgraded CD headunit looks cheap! no LED display! didn't bring CD with me and can't test the sub-woofer :(
partial fold-down seat is not good... can I remove the sub-woofer if I need to?
power is good! faster than my 2.5GT (165hp and 300lb more), comparable to VR6!
It is not noisy consider that it is a 4cyclinder!
rear leg room is tight! I know this is not full size sedan.
difficult to control the sunroof.. don't know if I close or not.

My brother like it because of the price/performance and extra doors for his baby!
I still like my 4yrs old Legacy AWD.. my car trade-in won't be good and for the extra money to put in SpecV... it doesn't worth it!

Overrall, good car! good first sport car... but may not be for us (kind of downgrade from VR6 or from a little larger Legacy AWD(it snows in Toronto!)).


Just my 2 cents!

Ernest

just bought a silver spec v.
i'm 6'0 and 200 lbs. no problem; i am quite comfortable.
no one can sit behind me, though.
engine is pretty quiet. it is a great twisty road car(torque for fast turn exits) and it is really quick, but not truly fast.
i don't have the upgraded stereo and will put a good one in, at some point.
i wish the seats had more lumbar support.
the shifter is fine but you can miss 5th before you get used to it.

that's all.

Just got my spec in v.blue. Love it so far, pulls hard out of corners. As they have said before me it is great fun on twisty roads. Takes time to get used to 5th and even 6th, easy to miss shift till you get the hang of it. Good all aroud performer. I think it will be hard to beat the performance per $ value.

lockemiester, which part of Canada you are from? how much did you paid for the car?

Ernest
Toronto

Fort McMurray, Alberta. I bought it in Calgary though. I paid $26,800 that is fully loaded and before my downpayment.

lockemiester, can you get any discount? how long is the wait?

thx

I'm really not trying to be rude or anything so don't take offense to this. But are the prices of the SpecV's more expensive up there in Canada? The only reason I am asking is because $26,800 sounds VERY expensive even if it is fully loaded. My SpecV was only $21,100 and that was after tax, title, and liscense. With my down payment I only paid like $19,100 for mine and it's fully loaded as well as yours. Rockford Phosgate stereo and sunroof. I was just wondering if the prices are more up there. I'm surprised you didn't get into something like an 2000 S2000 or something for that much. Like I said man I wasn't trying to be a dick or anything I'm just trying to make sure you didn't get ripped off. Later:alien:

Originally posted by babyskyline
I'm really not trying to be rude or anything so don't take offense to this. But are the prices of the SpecV's more expensive up there in Canada? The only reason I am asking is because $26,800 sounds VERY expensive even if it is fully loaded. My SpecV was only $21,100 and that was after tax, title, and liscense. With my down payment I only paid like $19,100 for mine and it's fully loaded as well as yours. Rockford Phosgate stereo and sunroof. I was just wondering if the prices are more up there. I'm surprised you didn't get into something like an 2000 S2000 or something for that much. Like I said man I wasn't trying to be a dick or anything I'm just trying to make sure you didn't get ripped off. Later:alien:

:) :) babyskyline u didn't know that 26,800k in canada money is bout the same as your 21k over here in the states...

out buck is worth abit more, so it sounds like we pay less, but nope in the end its the same amount of money. ;) ;)

:D :D :sun: :flash:

Like I say all the time, I learn something new everyday. I never knew that, I'm a military brat but I must say that I have never been to Canada. Well that's good to hear then:D I was about to say, man that's alot of money. talk to you guys later.:alien:

etam: No i didn't get any discount. I had waited about 5 weeks for delivery.

Yeah with the exchange rate as it is your dollar in the States is about a buck sixty CDN. At that rate a $19,000 car there would sell for $30K+!!!! But car prices are usually even. Other wise all Canadians would travel there to get vehicles.

Originally posted by SE-R WolfPac


:) :) babyskyline u didn't know that 26,800k in canada money is bout the same as your 21k over here in the states...

out buck is worth abit more, so it sounds like we pay less, but nope in the end its the same amount of money. ;) ;)

:D :D :sun: :flash:

Actually, taking into account our low dollar we actually pay less for our cars up here. Your $21k would actually be over $33k Canadian (with our buck only worth 63 cents US). Based on the exchange rate, $26,800 (CAN) is about a 20% DISCOUNT to your price. It works out to $16,884 US.

Cheers,
Tony

I love mine so far! I too am getty shiz gas milage. I can't stop flooring it! I have never had this much fun driving! I have had my accelorator stick to the floor. I had to pry it back w/my foot. Gonna have to have the dealer check it out.

By the way, If you don't mind my asking, what is your demographic? Just curious to see how different or similar we all are.

I am 30, white male, and a defense contractor.

My car has horrible gas mileage and I don't floor it all the time..... YET, It seems like everytime I make road trips to Dallas or Houston, it feels like I have to fill up all the time. Meanwhile my friends with the Hondas and Acuras don't have to until we get there. Has anyone else had these problems.:alien:

I am curious as to the size of your friends tanks. Ours are suposed to be 13.2 gallons correct? Maybe they have a larger tank? Or, maybe the 28mpg is a bunch of shiz!!!

I have been keeping track of my milage per tank, but have not calculated mpg yet.

I'll ask them today and get back with ya.:alien:

Well my 'teg has 12 gallon tank and i get around 300 miles every fill up... so if the Se-R is getting less its still because u guys have't broken it in yet. Some of u guys are realy driveing ur car hard i would highly not recomend that since its new and limmited production. Dont kill all the '02 SE-R's!!!!!!:rolleyes: ;) :p :silly2: :silly2: :p


:D :D :sun: :flash:

I have had my spec v for a month and have 1900+ miles on it. When i drove one for the first time i was at a local dealership. They had only one. I loved driving it and wanted it right then, but i was treated like an absolute piece of crap by the sales manager. The same day i drove 216 miles south to another dealer, they had only one on the lot. With a little talking they found one was on the way and would be there the next day that fit exactly what i was looking for. We did the paperwork that evening and I watched the car come off the delivery truck the next day. The drive home was SWEET. I didn't drive like a maniac or anything, but i did go fast, so fast that my ribs were sore from the corners and my not having sat in bucket seats that much.
I am 6' 3" tall and weight in at about 260 lbs. this car is just right. But as someone else mentioned, nobody will be sitting behind me. The car is quiet, nimble, comfortable and SOOO MUCH FUN!
I have noticed that people complain about 5th gear, which i also had trouble with about 5 times, but that is over with now. Other people have said that passengers feel a vibration in the floor, i think i know what it is. I felt it the first time i rode in the car and qucikly realized that it is the brakes. After you use the brakes and begin to take off again you can feel them release if you are paying attention. Alomost as though they drag a little, i think when the car gets a few miles on it it will go away, i only feel mine now right after i wash the car.
You asked about AC, which i have used already. I wouldn't say it takes away from the power but you can hear it engage and disengage, which coincides with a slight and momentary dimming of the lights.
I have also had the trouble with the sunroof, after closing it i pressed the button forward a second time and this causes the rear of the sunroof to raise. This is a cool funtion i think but i accidentally left it open without knowing it.
I am pretty impressed with the stock sound system, that is the sound fanatic package (still a stock system if you ask me) The stereo and speakers are well worth the money, i am only slightly disappointed with the amp and sub. I think that is because i am used to the system in my pickup, which is completly aftermarket and litterally rattles the windows. The mids and highs that the se-r puts out are perfect.
Power and takeoff, very nice, but i wish that first gear were a little higher. when you really want to go in this car you will burn rubber ALL THE WAY through second gear. I decided to really get it moving the other night on the way home and managed to reach 126 mph. I would say forth and fifth were perfectly adaquate for getting up to 120 (4th goes to 100), but 6th was a little disappointing. I am certain it was meant to be more of crusing gear, but it is low enough that you won't have to shut off cruise control on any highway i know of. I can set cruise at 70 and climb up some steep hills without losing ANY speed.
Blackout was my color of choice, although it is hard to keep clean it also promotes my taking care of the car. Black forces you to do washes and waxes more often. The interior cleans up nice wih the armor all wipes, but until you do that a couple of times you will really notice the spots you missed. The floor mats i can already see looking a little worn, however, i really like the embroidered SE R emblem. I only wish i would have gotten the clear coat on the paint, it will reduce or eliminate "orange peal" which is the ripples you can see in the paint.
Please tell me i didn't ramble on too much and completely bore the crap out of everyone who read this.

I forgot to mention (as if i didn't write enough already)
I have been averaging around 23 miles per gallon, i guess i drive a little fast. On the highway trip home from the dealership i got 27.2 miles per gallon. I keep a complete list of miles and gallons so i could say exactly what i got each tank of gas.