What's the S15 all about then ?

Jonny Wilkinson · 17-12-2005, 21:39

Newbie question (well new to S15s anyway)...

Where can I find out all about S15s then ? Anyone got tech specs, brochures etc.

My missus has seen a blue S15 in a sig on here and likes the look of it so I said I'd buy her one to replace her Impreza.

Don't suppose I'll be able to sort it for Christmas though

I gather they were made up til 2002ish and variettas are ultra-rare, so...How much am I likely to have to pay for a low mileage 2002 model ? Am I likely to need to import one ? What power do they make ? Best insurers etc.

Basically any clues....

BigD · 17-12-2005, 21:51

verietas are non turbo. but tech specs an stuff might be here.

s15 owners club

JulesS14200 · 17-12-2005, 21:53

Mr SXY just px'd his S15 Varietta for a P1, it has a S14 turbo engine fitted, only turbo varietta in the uk

Nicely · 17-12-2005, 22:28

All the answers to your questions are in past posts in this section.

However, to help you out.

There are essentially two main models: The Spec S and Spec R.

The Spec S is normally aspirated and slow as feck, especially if you're used to a Scooby.

The Spec R is the 250bhp turbocharged version and, IMO, the only one worth spending your money on. Mechanically, it is very similar to the S14; main improvements (apart from visual and interior) being a lightened, tightened body, improved LSD from the R34 and a shorter geared 6 speed box. The Spec R is the only one you are going to get imported due to ESVA and model reports.

Other models are the Varietta: a Spec S with the roof cut off and the Autech: a 200bhp normally aspirated S15 on steroids and with Spec R mechanicals. Although the Autech is a great car, I wouldn't bother with either.

You can pick up a Spec R from £11k to £24k (though usually around £15k max). I seriously wouldn't consider anything under £13k.

There are an estimated 75-100 Spec Rs in the UK. Combined with phenomenal auction prices in Japan, this makes residuals very good. The average Spec R has depreciated £1k in two years, and that has slowed right down in the last year. Residuals on the Spec S are dreadful. As has been recently found, you would struggle to re-sell a Varietta.

Performance-wise, the Jap model will do a 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, but was limited to 112mph

With the limiter removed, it should be capable of 'in excess of 155mph'.

I would forget trying to get a 2002 low mileage example if I were you. Jap auction prices make them ridiculously overpriced. Prime example. To put it into perspective, the price for a brand new Spec R in Australia was £19k...

Tech specs are via links in the Useful Thread sticky in this section.

There will be a profile on the S14 and 15 in Jap Performance mag in the near future. I helped with some of the research and photos.

You may find more info at http://www.s15oc.com. This is the newly formed worldwide S15 Owners Club. The link in the above post points to the club's old forum.

Columbo · 18-12-2005, 19:33

i have a NISSAN magazine which states the standard top speed of 170mph with the spec r s15.

id love one.

Nicely · 18-12-2005, 20:07

Unlikely...

Jonny Wilkinson · 19-12-2005, 21:18

Thanks for all the replies, especially Nicely's.

I've a couple of follow-ups to Nicely's comments...

If £24K is too much for a 8K miler, what in your opinion is realistic top dollar for one like that ?

Also, when you say "solid residuals", is that compared to an S14 ? I paid £25K for an S14a in 1999 and got 6.5K in 2002 with 36K miles on it.

I reckon my s13 has lost about £800 per year since I bought it in '97.

Also, I'm assuming they are ALL right hand drive. Were they officially imported to anywhere other than Japan and Oz ?

Nicely · 19-12-2005, 23:10

Due to it being unlikely that you will find another like that £24k one, they can ask whatever they like really. However, I'd be very surprised if anyone bought it for more the £20k, but you never know. All depends on how much it cost at auction. A 30k mile A1 S15 will be in the region of £14-15k...if you can get one. Again, its down to what they're fetching at auction in Japan. Too much and you won't get an importer buying it, unless its to order.

Yes, compared to the s14/a. As you say depreciation on them is terrible. S15 residuals are much more stable. Because they are imports, their popularity in Japan plays an important part in their prices here. Higher prices in Japan means higher prices here.

There were no LHD cars made, though a few conversions have been done using USDM S14 parts. See here.

They were only officially sold to RHD markets. They were SOLD in these markets (Japan, Oz and New Zealand), not imported.

skyshack · 20-12-2005, 01:20

Only JDM (Silvia) and NZ (200SX) got 250bhp. OZ (200SX) got same power as S14. There are a very few private imports to OZ of full JDM Silvia models. If it says 200SX and it's from OZ it's not 250bhp. If it's from OZ and says Silvia, beware someone may have fitted JDM badges.

Nicely · 20-12-2005, 06:45

That isn't going to be that relevant though. You'd be mad to import from Oz.

Of more concern are the 10 different JDM trim levels

If interested in model differences between markets and so on, its covered quite a bit on the s15oc forum.

Jonny Wilkinson · 21-12-2005, 07:43

You guys are awesome

I'm going to look into it more and I might come back to you about trustworthy importers if we decide to go ahead.

Thanks again.

Nicely · 21-12-2005, 07:57

The S15OC can definitely tell you who not to use.... Good recommendations too.

Mark · 21-12-2005, 15:29

As they was sold in RHD markets only did any get sold in SA ? or was it just Japan, Oz and NZ

Nicely · 21-12-2005, 15:31

They were only sold in Japan, Oz and NZ. Anything else is imported.

Topper · 21-12-2005, 15:31

.

:EDIT: Beat me to it

JackaL · 06-01-2006, 12:29

Buy an S14, and stick an S15 front on it...

Not ideal, but much cheaper than a 'proper' S15

MeLLoN Stu · 06-01-2006, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by JackaL

Buy an S14, and stick an S15 front on it...

Not ideal, but much cheaper than a 'proper' S15

who'd wanna do a thing like that though?

Topper · 06-01-2006, 13:12

How much does the conversion cost??

If you dont mind me being nosey

JackaL · 06-01-2006, 14:11

The kit is approx £2000 I believe. Plus fitting (about £1000 to have it done properly and painted?)

If you buy an S14a with front end damage and repair it with the S15 front end, it would probably work out about the same as buying a standard S14a

Nicely · 06-01-2006, 15:22

How much extra for the helical LSD, 6 speed box, clutch, flywheel, BB turbo, body strengthening and vastly improved interior?

17-12-2005, 21:51	#2
BigD Guest Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: a flat. Posts: 17,237	verietas are non turbo. but tech specs an stuff might be here. s15 owners club __________________ FlickR

17-12-2005, 22:28	#4
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	All the answers to your questions are in past posts in this section. However, to help you out. There are essentially two main models: The Spec S and Spec R. The Spec S is normally aspirated and slow as feck, especially if you're used to a Scooby. The Spec R is the 250bhp turbocharged version and, IMO, the only one worth spending your money on. Mechanically, it is very similar to the S14; main improvements (apart from visual and interior) being a lightened, tightened body, improved LSD from the R34 and a shorter geared 6 speed box. The Spec R is the only one you are going to get imported due to ESVA and model reports. Other models are the Varietta: a Spec S with the roof cut off and the Autech: a 200bhp normally aspirated S15 on steroids and with Spec R mechanicals. Although the Autech is a great car, I wouldn't bother with either. You can pick up a Spec R from £11k to £24k (though usually around £15k max). I seriously wouldn't consider anything under £13k. There are an estimated 75-100 Spec Rs in the UK. Combined with phenomenal auction prices in Japan, this makes residuals very good. The average Spec R has depreciated £1k in two years, and that has slowed right down in the last year. Residuals on the Spec S are dreadful. As has been recently found, you would struggle to re-sell a Varietta. Performance-wise, the Jap model will do a 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, but was limited to 112mph With the limiter removed, it should be capable of 'in excess of 155mph'. I would forget trying to get a 2002 low mileage example if I were you. Jap auction prices make them ridiculously overpriced. Prime example. To put it into perspective, the price for a brand new Spec R in Australia was £19k... Tech specs are via links in the Useful Thread sticky in this section. There will be a profile on the S14 and 15 in Jap Performance mag in the near future. I helped with some of the research and photos. You may find more info at http://www.s15oc.com. This is the newly formed worldwide S15 Owners Club. The link in the above post points to the club's old forum. __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15 Last edited by Nicely; 17-12-2005 at 22:34.

18-12-2005, 19:33	#5
Columbo Guest Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Here Posts: 2,403	i have a NISSAN magazine which states the standard top speed of 170mph with the spec r s15. id love one. __________________ this is no longer mine

18-12-2005, 20:07	#6
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	Unlikely... __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15

19-12-2005, 23:10	#8
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	Due to it being unlikely that you will find another like that £24k one, they can ask whatever they like really. However, I'd be very surprised if anyone bought it for more the £20k, but you never know. All depends on how much it cost at auction. A 30k mile A1 S15 will be in the region of £14-15k...if you can get one. Again, its down to what they're fetching at auction in Japan. Too much and you won't get an importer buying it, unless its to order. Yes, compared to the s14/a. As you say depreciation on them is terrible. S15 residuals are much more stable. Because they are imports, their popularity in Japan plays an important part in their prices here. Higher prices in Japan means higher prices here. There were no LHD cars made, though a few conversions have been done using USDM S14 parts. See here. They were only officially sold to RHD markets. They were SOLD in these markets (Japan, Oz and New Zealand), not imported. __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15

17-12-2005, 21:53	#3
JulesS14200 RIP Jow :( Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Algies a c*nt Posts: 13,816	Mr SXY just px'd his S15 Varietta for a P1, it has a S14 turbo engine fitted, only turbo varietta in the uk

20-12-2005, 01:20	#9
skyshack Guest Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Burton on Trent Posts: 6,174	Only JDM (Silvia) and NZ (200SX) got 250bhp. OZ (200SX) got same power as S14. There are a very few private imports to OZ of full JDM Silvia models. If it says 200SX and it's from OZ it's not 250bhp. If it's from OZ and says Silvia, beware someone may have fitted JDM badges. __________________ Peter Hill The price of reliability is the pursuit of the utmost simplicity. It is a price which the very rich find most hard to pay. By C.A.R. Hoare - Communications of the ACM, 1981. I believe he had a wealth of words.

20-12-2005, 06:45	#10
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	That isn't going to be that relevant though. You'd be mad to import from Oz. Of more concern are the 10 different JDM trim levels If interested in model differences between markets and so on, its covered quite a bit on the s15oc forum. __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15

21-12-2005, 07:57	#12
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	The S15OC can definitely tell you who not to use.... Good recommendations too. __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15

21-12-2005, 15:31	#14
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	They were only sold in Japan, Oz and NZ. Anything else is imported. __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15

21-12-2005, 15:31	#15
Topper Guest Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 2,508	. :EDIT: Beat me to it __________________

06-01-2006, 12:29	#16
JackaL Guest Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 7,957	Buy an S14, and stick an S15 front on it... Not ideal, but much cheaper than a 'proper' S15 __________________ 200-less

06-01-2006, 13:12	#18
Topper Guest Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 2,508	How much does the conversion cost?? If you dont mind me being nosey __________________

06-01-2006, 14:11	#19
JackaL Guest Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 7,957	The kit is approx £2000 I believe. Plus fitting (about £1000 to have it done properly and painted?) If you buy an S14a with front end damage and repair it with the S15 front end, it would probably work out about the same as buying a standard S14a __________________ 200-less

06-01-2006, 15:22	#20
Nicely Trainee Finn Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 17,166	How much extra for the helical LSD, 6 speed box, clutch, flywheel, BB turbo, body strengthening and vastly improved interior? __________________ Surf's up!! S14/S15 Tech Guides Now departed S15 Last edited by Nicely; 06-01-2006 at 17:44.