With nearly 500 miles on the odometer, I decided to chance it and race the new 3.5SE against the SVT Contour at our June autocross. It was a fairly fast course with a long slalom with 90' gates, and several 180 degree turnarounds. I ran the Altima first, then the Contour, alternating on each run. That got a bit confusing since my short tired Contour has a much lower gear ratio than the Altima resulting in far different shift points. On the first runs I had half a tank in the Altima and a quarter tank in the Contour. Before the second runs I filled both cars which gave the intended oversteer....which with the fast slalom was not the fast ticket. ANYWAY:

CAR............1st run..2nd run..3rd run
Altima 3.5SE...65.820..66.212...66.756
SVT Contour....65.054..65.467...65.194

Note an 8 tenth difference between the first run times and between the second run times. I got way sideways in the Altima on the third slower run. All my times in both cars were still faster than an experienced SCCA member who drove his new 2002 VW GTI 1.8 turbo at the event. Considering that the Altima's OE tires leave a lot to be desired I am somewhat satisfied. Now the search begins for 17 X 7" very light wheels with 45mm offset (stock)or 1/4" of that. Mounted with 235/45 tires, the results could be closer.

To return the second car to my house, I had the Audi guy I always run with follow me in the Altima. In a full throttle left hand turn onto a four-lane highway he stuck to my tail once on the straight. But at a stoplight 5 miles later, we did an informal run to highway speed and I was surprised the Contour (I was driving it)stayed with him like it did. I jumped the start a bit, he shifted too early he said, we were even for a while but as we shifted to third he started to pull on me. We stopped about 65 mph.

The 3.5SE does not really get a lot of power and torque until after 4000 rpm like our cars. Later, off to work to relieve my daughter.

Fastest Contour at SZ 2002 Auto-X. 10th in PAX out of 125. CEO of FOGEY(Fast Old Guys Emasculating Young-uns), Inc. Terry Haines, Chairman, Senior V.P.s: (alphabetical)JavaContour, Jet Mech, MFE, SeicoRacing, SVTSTS, Vern Kilburn. If your not a member, yet, wait a few years. I'm not just the CEO, but I'm a member, too. Working with the rank and file to get the job done right!

Historical:
63 TVR (1K in 74), 75 TR-7 (paid cash new), 79 RX-7 (zoom,zoom), 81 RX-7GSL (autobahn-driven),82 Mustang GT (autobahn-driven), 85 Mustang GT (SE Division F Stock Solo II Champ), 86 MR-2 (3rd SE Division D Stock), 88 Civic DX (had 1st born and still owned MR2) 92 Sentra SE-R (all go and no show), 98 EO SVT Contour (FTD SZ 2002). 02 Altima 3.5SE 5 spd!!!