S15's please give some opinions

[twoquik]

Hey guys,

has anyone off SAU driven a S15 just want a run down of what you guys think.

in all aspects of the car compared to a skyline. eg handling, performance, just the all around feel.

Thanks

[Amaru]

Very quick in a straight line with minimal mods (have seen some cut low 13's with just an exhaust, filter and bit more boost).

I dont like the way they handle though, they always feel "on edge" (which is why I guess theyre used for drifting).

[ABuSD]

I bought a 33 instead of an S15, damn u learn by your mistakes. LOL Nah ive just had a lot of bad luck with my 33 thats why i think back. But yeah my mate has an S15, light mods its got 165rwkw. And it feels VERY NICE. Power/boost comes on early/smoothly and hangs in for awhile which surprised me. The box feels great with a nice short throw. But hey its a 'new' car compared to my 93mdl dirty3. I havent driven alot of nice cars in my time so i know im talking it up quite a bit, but i thought id just add my 2 cents.

My mates actually selling his S15 PM me if your interested!

Pics below.

S15 a

S15 b

S15 c

All the best!

Cheers

[twoquik]

thanks guys anyone else?

[MXT Imports]

yea my mate has got one as well, reasonable modified, very quick! I think its pushing around the vicinity of 200+rwk. Very comfortable inside too, wicked seats and you can't beat that new car feel! Plus as ABuSD said, you can't beat the realiability of a new car over say one that's 5 - 10 years old. Only complaint is that because its such a light car, at high speeds it can feel quite unstable but he's hoping a set of coilovers will fix that. Other than that would definitely recommend one!!

[Adrian Knack]

Can I add a question to this little discussion.

Do you think it would be better to get a GTR (R33 say 1995 model) or something like a 2002 S15? Having not driven either and just looked at specs it is hard to judge which would be better in "real world driving". Obviously the GTR is a faster track car but that said the S15 is newer and probably a little less expensive.

Any thought from personal experiance?

Cheers

Adrian

[Maxx]

i used to own a 33 gts-t and now S15.

handle heaps better

i have tein HA in my R33 and only kings spring in S15, the s15 handles a lot better than R33, specially on the limit, maybe becoz the S15 has a GTR style LSD. The rear feels like it always want to kick out but doesn't. Even it does, it is easy to control, but the skyline, is a bit dangerous for me

performance

the S15 out perform the skyline with less mod, FMIC, turbo back exhaust, SAFC, 1.1 bar of boost, and high 12's is not hard to achieve

maintance

the car is nearly 200kg lighter, so u go figure the wear. Tyre, brake, clutch everything, being lighter S15 can achieve same perfromance with lower hp, lower hp = less wear.

i also get 525km out of a tank for s15

475km from R33

drive style? i gun the S15 more than R33.

all around feel

skyline is better built, feel more solid, goes smoother. The sr20 rattle a lot and sounds crap.

S15 is not a well built daily car, the looks good and goes well, but not durability.

my S15 is nov 2002, done 27xxxkm, rattle noise from the dash, the power window give up 2 times and there are a bit scratch in the interior

none of this happen in my R33 which i own for 2.5 years and driven 30000km+

i can image thing in S15 start fall apart in a few years time, but not in my 10 years old 33.

R33 is a more mature car

weekend warrior/ second car - S15

daily - R33

[Adrian Knack]

Hey Maxx,

Thanks for the information. It is good to find some first hand experiance.

Cheers

Adrian

[Silver'sR33]

Truly though wouldn't it be better to be comparing S15 with R34 GTT if possible? They're more in the same price range. You can sometimes get two R33s for the price of an S15..also the R34 would be around the same age so that wouldn't be an issue either.

I've never driven any silvias, what are S13s like to drive? they look like they'd be lighter and more nimble than skylines

[Maxx]

i test drive a R34 b4 i had my S15

& happened to own a S13 b4 the R33

R34 is very similar to R33 IMO

bit more torque down low and better chassis

but still drive VERY similar

i don't want to pay another $15000 just to update the look but not new driving exp.

hence i haven't buy it

my S13 is ca18, pretty crap in stock form, i didn't mod it much.

As i thinking of selling in the first month i had it, only takes me total 6 months to action

chassis is weak, REALLY need some braces to strengh it up

laggy but goes okay

i am on my P when i had the car, can't drive for shit, not even brave enought to try sideway! (not hit at that moment anyway)

the interior actually look pretty good compare with similar age car

but the seat is 100% joke!

[Adrian Knack]

Yeah the upgraded seats in my club Q's are much better than the original seats.

The front of the S13 benifited from the addition of a strut brace, but the rear is fine without. Because mine is a non-turbo I can't say much about the turbo version which no doubt enjoys its LSD.

Basically the car is nice to drive but you would need some harder suspension, a camber kit and a strut brace for the front to get some real handling.

Interior is very nice, particularly for a car of the age. Much better than most of the cheaper modern cars.

Cheers

Adrian

PS. I was debating between a S15 and a R33 GTR... I know performance is a fair difference and the style but still new verse old and both the same price.

[Silver'sR33]

well, not having ever driven an S15 but...I can't imagine a S15 can compare with a GTR.

New vs old...well yeah to an extent but maybe better to just find a good version of the old. For the same price as I got my R33 (9 years old) I could have got a brand new toyota echo but....heh....

[Adrian Knack]

Yep... after looking about this web site I have pretty much decided on a GTR I think. There are some really nice ones up for sale that I would buy if I were here... I just gotta wait till the end of the year when I am actually back in Australia!!

Thanks Guys!!

[pentae]

The answer is simple: An s15 with an Rb26

[Guerilla]

S15's are tottal sex. I also 2nd what pentae said, thats a dream of mine too.

[siksII]

i have had 2 r33s, one slowish(stock) and my one now which has more power.. i have a friend with an s15 and also a friend with a r33gtr, and have driven both on the street, and have driven my car and the s15 at a skidpan day in wet/dry conditions..

simple answer for me would be get the gtr if you have the money to keep it, because maintenance is a lot more expensive than for an s15/r33

although the gtr feels larger, the handling is neutral with lots of traction, and they are very quick with minimal mods just like an s15..

you need more modification for a gtst to keep up with a gtr or an s15, definetly the slowest out of the three mod for mod or even stock.

in terms of handling between the s15 and r33, they are both a bit taily with some extra power, but the r33 definetly feels front heavy, and it is easier to push into understeer, where the s15 feels more balanced between front and rear..

s15 interior is also the tackiest, (but obviously newer looking!)

[acraick]

simple answer for me would be get the gtr if you have the money to keep it, because maintenance is a lot more expensive than for an s15/r33

in what way ?

[siksII]

labour for most things is a lot more than for an r33, and s15 would be even cheaper than an r33 to work on or very similar.

also more things can go wrong, such as turbos.. basically if you break something and dont fix it youself it will cost you more on a gtr by far when compared to a gtst or an s15, but normal maintenence costs are similar.

[32vspecII]

i owned a s15 for 2 years and now the r33 . i needed 4 doors .

the s15 is a great car , the pinicle of the s series . it has a great turbo , t28 sometimes ball bearing capable of reaching 200rwkw , biger intercooler , big injectors , variable valve timing , mechanical LSD (not the same as any gtr) better suspension . shit gearbox . it handles better , brakes better and is far quicker than an equivilent gtst/gtt . I could slaughter v8s and I only had 14psi , 3inch exhaust , pod filter . $ for $ and mod for mod its a much quicker car . domestic nissan support , cheaper insurance . cops are faily kind on them also .

an gtr is expensive , to buy , own , maintain , fix and insure . if your looking at an early 33 , they are getting a bit old . the rb26 is a highly strung racing engine , parts are expensive and they are are complex to fix . if your looking at a cheap 32 15 year import it could all go well or I know people who have spent 40k now to get a gtr supposed to cost 20k , full engine rebuild , new gearbox , panel work and respray will quickly eat away the cash .

[chrisgtr]

i know im late LOL but heres my 2 cents..

if you want to be just like everybody else - simple, buy a aussie delivered S15. cheap for parts as they were sold here!

but if you want something unique, different and alot more respected - then the GTR is definately the answer.

Edited October 15, 2006 by chrisgtr