Nissan Primera P11 144 2 litre vs P11 GT reviews.

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   Damn the short title bar!  Anyway, between me and the wife we have a 1999 GT and a 2001 SE, both SR20 engines.  So I thought I'd add my thoughts on comparisons between the 2 seeing as on paper at least they are both mechanically similar.  And they're both on around 90k miles.  Here goes:
I've never driven 2 cars that share the same name only a year ish apart in build dates that felt like they don't share ANY dna.

Nothing about them feels even close to the other.  Nada.  Zip.

Even the starter motors don't sound the same.  The engines sound and respond differently.  The gearboxes feel different.  The weighting of the accelerator and clutch pedals feel different.

In the GT, you seem to sit higher in the drivers seat.  The suspension feels firmer.  The ride is harsher.  It's certainly a less refined drive.  The throttle pedal light.  The clutch heavy.  The brakes not as assisted or powerful, although they stop you well when needed.  I will be upgrading the pads and fluid asap.  The engine feels much more responsive and less lazy. although there isn't much in it in terms of absolute speed.  I think the K&N Apollo and decat have helped with the responses.  It's tremendous fun though in an old school warm/hot hatch kind of way.  It's the one I pick the keys up for when I'm in the mood for some fun.  It's around 4 mpg better than the 144 too.

Jumping into the 144 SE after the GT feels like a machine from a different manufacturer.  It's like a warm, comfy old slipper.  It's refined, quiet, the controls and pedals are light.  The seats are more comfortable and you sit lower down.  
On the road it feels a completely different machine.  More grown up, but it can shift when you want it to.  It's not wallowy, but it doesn't respond as quickly as the GT and is much mre relaxing to drive as a result.  You would never tell it had effectively the same engine.  

So which one do I prefer?  Depends on my mood.  Day to day, the SE is a great family barge, always starts first turn of the key, goes where I point it and has enough oomph to pull us as a family around the british isles in comfort.  The GT, at least when I fix a few wear and tear issues is like being hard wired into the car.  Great fun.

I'm considering replacing one of them, but can't decide which.  The SE 144 is the better all round bet so the GT might have to go.  But I'll miss it.  The wife wants a Daihatsu Copen.  Great for her, she's tiny, I'm 6'2" and 17 stone ish.  So...maybe I should keep the GT and she can have her Copen.  Or since I need to keep an element of practicality what other options do I have?  An Accord Type R maybe?  I love Honda's having had more than my fair share and love the H22 engine.  But is that car significantly better than the GT or the same thing with a bit more power?  The one thing that bothers me about both primeras is their relative lack of power.  In isolation they aren't bad.  But they both feel a bit flat at the top of the rev range.  Any suggestions appreciated, preferably from folk who've driven other fun, family cars.

Thanks guys and girls, look forward to your comments :-)

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