- There are some overrated cars in the world
when you're just looking at the price, okay?
When you look at it,
cars that are like,, they're pretty sick,
but they aren't $120,000 sick.
But we're no longer talking about a bro tax.
We're talking about like a capital gains tax.
We're talking like lunch money bully
that makes fun of your cardigan
while you're already on the ground sort of tax.
But sometimes the bro tax is well warranted, question mark.
Cars that likely need a little pick me up.
Otherwise they're going to end up like,
you know, Mater from "Cars."
I'm Alex, Alex.FI on Instagram.
And today, we're gonna be talking about one of those cars
that is as controversial as it gets
when it comes to the infamous bro tax
that's hitting a bunch of cars right now,
if they're worth it.
And of course,
what will happen once it makes it across the waterways
and into the USA?
Okay?
A car that truly pushed the drifting community
to the next level.
A car that had a banging platform
that further concreted the Nissan name
as a proper sports car company.
Ladies and gentlemen, today we're gonna be talking about
you wanting to own a Nissan S15 Silvia, 240SX,
and any other nickname you wanna give it.
(heavy hip-hop music)
Hello.
We started the storyline 3 1/2 years ago
with less facial hair, more awkwardness,
and because figuring out what wheels and tires
that fit your car was an absolute mess.
So we made a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,
still remember that word,
gallery where you can enter in your year, make, model,
and find what fits based on what other vehicles,
and what other people have done,
including rubber and camber deets, and tire sizes.
And it's pretty slick.
So if you're looking to see what fits your vehicle,
be sure to check it out, check us out.
Words.
Be sure to check us out over at fitmentindustries.com.
And of course, don't forget to subscribe.
And if you're looking for wheels, tires, suspension,
don't forget to check us out at fitmentindustries.com.
The Nissan S15 was a new version of the Silvia
that was introduced in 1999,
and lived for only a few short years.
Redesigned with a new ball-bearing turbocharger
and engine management system, the new SR20DET...
All right, you guys, we got the SR20DET.
We understand where that comes from.
Would come with three less horsepower than 250,
because why wouldn't you?
Had a lot to do with taxes.
And 203 foot pounds of torque.
The newly redesigned S15 was noticeably different
from its predecessors,
specifically in the aesthetic perspective.
It did look noticeably different
than the previous generations.
It had a sleeker front nose,
sloped rear ass,
and brings sizing back to the compact segment
for its sales in Japan,
which actually helped it out quite a bit.
The S15 sported a style
that remains iconic to this day, all right?
And coming with a massive list of trim options
to either really a spec-S or a spec-R.
The S15 was a simplified vehicle
for the automotive enthusiasts
that have been following the lineup since its conception
just a few short decades ago.
The car would remain pretty much elusive
to the United States,
and pretty much only being sold in Japan,
Australia, and New Zealand.
Now, you used to did have some 240SX versions
come to the United States, but they weren't the fun ones.
And even though the car itself
would be made over 40,000 times during its short lifespan,
the car itself is still relatively limited, hard to find.
And those that are getting their hands on this car
are charging up the wazoo if you wanna buy it.
And Nissan built the car
with the automotive enthusiast in mind.
It was lightweight enough to where you take the seats out,
a few bits and pieces here and there,
and you were at a sub-2,500 pound,
rear wheel drive, manual, tail-happy drift car
with an engine platform
that could handle a consistent beating.
Not only that,
but these cars also got a limited slip differential,
a six speed manual transmission, chassis bracing,
anti-roll bars, and reinforced suspension components,
which made it really good around corners.
Now, pair that with the fact
that you also got great weight distribution,
and a long nose to boot,
and by golly, you have yourself a recipe
for a fantastic driving platform
that just so happens to be able
to go sideways relatively easy.
So why did Nissan only do it for a few years,
to avoid the good ol' US of A with it?
And that's a great question,
random stranger that didn't actually ask.
Nissan was really starting to get diversified
into their car lineup,
how were they were offering those cars around the world,
and the price points that these cars had to be sold at
to retain a realistic margin
without cannibalizing another car in that lineup.
They had the introduction
of the new Infiniti-slash-G series.
They had the Skyline investments
that were coming in full force,
and the declining interest
in the sports car segment overseas as a whole,
in replacement for garbage SUVs.
Just like your own potential gifted childhood,
who believe because their mom told them
that they were special,
it just ended, and now you're thinking what to do next
when you're at Olive Garden with the unlimited breadsticks,
because you thought you were special,
but now you're just 24 years old,
and you're trying to figure out your life.
That's a little too real.
We're done talking about the history
of the Nissan S15 Silvia.
Okay, you want more of that,
you need to jump back into one
of those other videos,
where we actually talk about you wanting to own
one of these bad boys,
the 240SX specifically.
But so you want a Nissan S15?
Well set down on your Silvia tea,
and grab your favorite warped aluminum block,
because we're here to talk about what it's like
to actually own one of these things
if you do end up managing
to put your filthy little hands on one.
The latest, greatest, and deadest Nissan
is the one that people like you, and people like me,
truly remember the car
likely from the tees days of the early video games.
And more recently, like the "Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift."
People saw "Mona Lisa."
Wait, how is it said?
"It's like the Mona..."
I always thought it was Vin Diesel that said it.
It's not Vin Diesel that said that.
It was Bow Wow.
"It's like the Mona Lisa of the drift scene."
I don't know what that means.
Like, what does that...
Is he talking about the S15 as a platform
as the Mona Lisa of the drift scene,
or is he talking about the car that Han built
was the Mona Lisa of the drift scene, in the movie,
for the environment?
Either way, the cars were great.
The characters, not so much.
♪ How you live in Tokyo ♪
♪ If you see it, then you mean it, ♪
♪ Then you know you have to go ♪
"Fast and Furious."
Eric, stop makin' so much noise back there, okay?
Jesus.
You know, we're trying to make Hollywood films up here.
Okay? You see the lights?
But if you managed to win the lottery,
and you're dead set on buying a Nissan S15,
there's a couple, two, tree things that you'll want to know
before picking up the platform,
because you are going to be spending a good chunk of change
to grab one of these cars.
One, there's a non-turbo version out there,
mostly from Australia,
and came with some ugly, fugly bumpers.
Okay, additionally, there's two major trim options
that we spoke about before that you can pick from,
predominantly the spec-S or the spec-R.
The spec-S is the non-turbo.
The spec-R is the fun version.
The spec-R also is the more expensive version,
with the additional four-pot breaks from the 300ZX,
bigger brake booster,
and enough love around the car
to make it a winner for a drift vehicle.
So if you do have an option,
and you do have the money, get the R.
The car has turned into an enthusiast's halo car.
I mean, this is essentially,
when you look at people that love JDM cars,
people love this car.
And there's a chance
that you're going to be running into people
that think this thing is the best thing in the world,
and it can make 2,000 horsepower, or something like that.
You could, but it's not really meant for that.
You can do with the S15 platform, but its purpose, okay,
lies in the ability to perform
and adapt to what you put through it.
And especially at those
that love going sideways through turns.
It's a great platform for purpose-built driving.
And a lot of times that includes drifting.
These cars are absolutely stunning.
Two, ADM.S15 is running MCA coilovers
on 18-by-9 1/2 +25 SSRs,
with Michelins for some pretty perfect fitment.
Jake_S13 went wide with 18-by-9 1/2 +6 Work Rezax,
and it has beautiful show fitment.
They just look good.
They sound okay,
but their power plant is substantially just great.
And it's something that you can jump into,
and without having to do
any foundational changes to the car, have it absolute fast.
You can beef up the power just a little bit,
and not really have to worry about anything going to snuff,
unless you really throw a ton of power through it,
in which case, the aluminum heads have a tendency to warp.
They're just going to be really damn expensive.
And that's the tough thing.
Owning one of these cars is hard enough,
mostly because here in the States, you just can't yet.
But across the salty seas,
these cars have already been rising in prices,
knowing that the big boys in the red, white, and blue
will likely demand a premium to get one
when 2024 comes around.
The question is, is how much is it worth?
How much can you actually,
or should you actually buy these cars for?
Cars like this will always carry a little bit
of a legacy tax, a price increase because of the name.
I do believe that when these cars do become available,
that that tax is normal, and is accepted.
And here's why.
It's an SR20DET with a manual, okay?
It's gonna come with some broken high casts.
It's gonna come with Nissan paint,
and they're gonna probably come in
at $25,000 to $30,000, and that's gonna be okay.
But if the spec-S's come in at 25 to 30,
that'll make the spec-R's 45 to 50.
And that's where things just get weird.
It's a 25-year-old JDM car
with a turbocharged four cylinder.
How is that worth the same amount
as a mid-engine, turbocharged, all wheel drive Porsche,
or a second generation Dodge Viper, or a Corvette?
What about a first gen Audi R8?
Now, I'm not too sure.
And I believe this platform specifically does
and should carry a higher premium than most.
What do you think?
Let us know below,
and of course, if you're looking for aftermarket wheels,
tires, or suspension,
be sure to hit us up over at fitmentindustries.com.
I'm Alex from Fitment industries, and we will see you later.
Peace.
And if you're 14 years old, and you're on TikTok like I am,
and you say the S15 is the best car in the world,
and you get mad at me
for comparing it to a gen one R8, I'm sorry.
I didn't mean to hurt anybody's feelings.
(heavy hip-hop music)