New Nissan SER Spec-v

Okay guys I'm trying to decide if I should pick up a Nissan SER spec-v or not.  I need a car that will be fun to drive, moderately quick, and that can be modded later.  How do these cars stack up?

My wife works for Nissan so I can get at one for not too much damage to the pocket book.   But, I'm looking for future modding potential.  I figure get a new one now and in a year or two we are ready to start turning wrenches on her.

What are the thoughts out there?  I currently have a v6 mustang as my daily driver and will either be modding the stang or picking up the sentra.  They are actually close in hp, but I figure the nissan is lighter and will be a bit faster for that reason.  Granted I bet the v6 generates more torque, but my thought is that the sentra would run it down after the intial dig.  

the sentra is a good platform. there are alot of aftermarkets for the 2.5. although, if your really lookin for a 4dr nissan beast, you should take a look at the nissan altima se-r, it has the vq35, thats the same motor in the 350z. the altima se-r has 270bhp compared to the 200bhp of the sentra.  
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the godfather has spoken

Yeah, I know about that motor and I thought about that.  But, what kept me from jumping on that idea was that the Altima is much heavier than the Sentra also there was the concern of parts being out there to mod the Altima motor.  I'm obviously new to the world of tuning imported cars so hopefully this isn't a foot in mouth situation but........is there a market for Altima performance parts?  I see them driving around town with body kits, custom grills, and big wheels all the time here in Nashville.  But, if I can't make it go faster then that kind of not what I'm looking for.  

sentra 07 to 09 models out now = 3051 lbs.  200hp

Altima = 3241 lbs. 270 hp

I stand corrected.  Weight gain is near nothing and power gain is great.

What about the market for aftermarket parts for these cars?  Does one exist?  

the aftermarket for the vq35 is huge.  
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the godfather has spoken

So, will parts that are listed as 350Z bolt ons fit this motor?  I know that they are the same motor, but they are different engine compartments.  So, that is a big deal.

Also, I've noticed from talking to folks when I was talking about modding my mustang that people always told me I would want to insert posi traction and change my gears.  No one on these forums seems to be saying that about a lot of the imports.  Are they already putting power to both wheels and equipped with higher gear ratios?  I just thought I'd ask because it seems like drivetrain modding is one of the quickest time reductions at the dragstrip than anything else.  So, I just thought it was a good question.  

a lot of aftermarket boltons will, but some wont. there is the whole thing that the 350z is rwd and the altima ser is fwd. exhaust headers and intake pipes are the two main things that CANT be swapped over.

some factory modified imports come with them, and some dont. it is a lot harder to do that stuff to a fwd then to a rwd.  
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the godfather has spoken

So, if I'm looking for a car with more stock power the Altima is the answer.  But, if I'm looking for smaller and less expensive car then the Sentra is the way to go.  I think that the Sentra will have more modibility later on because it will be more popular than the Altima and will have more aftermarket pars available for it.

So, I think my answer is clear.  I need to score one of the newer generation SER spec-v.  I'd grab one of the 06 models, but why not get one that is one year newer and get the 25 extra hp?

Has anyone ever done business with Carmax?  

Carmax is a pretty decent dealership, its where I bought my car from. =) The only problem is the price you see on the car, is the price you have to pay. NO haggling, but their prices are pretty decent.  
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