Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R
 

I'm looking at a Nissan Silvia S15 Spec R. This is a right hand drive model with the SR20DET mated to a 6 speed MT. I don't know too much about these, yet.

Importing, emissions, safety, etc, is no problem.

Thoughts? Anything I should look out for on this platform?

I know I'll probably catch flack for this, but.. IMHO, RHD cars should be avoided in NA. So many kids killed trying to pass on the left while driving on the right side of the car.

Sorry folks.

No need to apologize, you make a very valid point. It's a good reminder to be extra careful with RHD vehicles. For me, this would not be a daily driver, and I'm far from kid status. I'm thinking another project/show car.

Bump :tup:

I know nothing about the S15 but it would be one sexy *** ride if you do get it. How much would you think it would cost just to import one of those over here? I wonder if there is a hike on price for it on the insurance too.

For me, I think my next project will be a ruckus.

JDM vehicles can be imported to Canada even before they turn 25 years old? That's cool.

It's fine as long as you don't plan to ever use drive throughs, drive up atms, prescription drop off boxes, certain mail boxes, parking ticket meters, turning left on green yields, passing cars, going on dates where your woman has to get out into traffic.
The wow factor isn't worth the trouble

Oh yeah, they have TONS of JDM cars

In America, it's a novelty for sure, plenty of JDM fans will admire you for it.

But tbh, it's nothing special, not particularly fast in straight line or race track, especially by today's standard. I still remember it being able to beat a DC5-R around Tsukuba (best motoring video, race was stock to stock), but not by much and it was becasue of the straight line power.

I came from Hong Kong and I've seen these things plenty of times, so the novelty doesn't have any effect on me. These cars don't go for much in Asia, and I am just shocked at how much people pay for these in America.

Just my opinion OP. Not insulting your decision in any way. Enjoy your new journey, whatever you choose.

PS: if I remember correctly...the six speed box can't take as much power as the previous gen 5 speed. Car has VLSD. Not sure if this generation sr20det is better suited for big power or not.

^That was pretty informative!
:tiphat:

I owned on from brand new for about 7 years before I got my 370, fun car to drive with heaps of potential for upping the performance. However, I found my S15 had plenty of power and handled well too, only mods were a turbo back exhaust and a tune.
http://www.the370z.com/members/rudi-...5-mg-0317.html

The car is fairly pricey once imported here. I could do a 240 with S15 conversion for less.

A ruckus would be cool.

The model I'm looking at is a January 1999 build, it just became legal to own in Canada.

Is owning one hard? No, the engine is very solid and can bu fun to tinker with. Also it is a lot cheaper to play with mods and other parts than say a 370z. I have a RHD s14 Kouki, sitting waiting for me to finish up some stuff to drive it. Having driven RHD in the US it is not that hard, you need to get a good rearview mirror, adjust your side mirrors and practice on some back roads to just get the overall feel before major roads.

Overall people saying it is tough or dangerous, it is not. Setting the car up is the same as the Z, you just need proper mirrors and knowledge of understanding how the driving experience is different than a LHD vehicle.
Also, yes the S15 spec R is very expensive to bring over, because they have an initial higher price versus say a s14 or standard s15. More rare maybe, but still just a Silvia in the end, cheaper to maybe do a regular S15 and mod it.

I don't do most of those things with my 370z. :icon17:

The novelty is one of the things that interest me. That and the fact it's rare to see on the show scene here.

I have read about the 6speed being a weak link, some owners replace it with the previous generation 5 speed.

The "premium" price is the major sticking point for me. Thanks for your informative post :tiphat:

Pretend you're a mail man (USPS) :tup: