s15 on the track, how is it ?

[Clarken]

Selling both of my cars ive got right now after this winter and dont really know what to buy after.
But been thinking of an S15 Silvia, i'll be going to quite many track days.

Id like to have your opinion on the S15.
And please also inform me what week points the s15 has also when it comes to the engine, gearbox, etc.

Thanks so long,

 

[A'PEXi]

Yes, the gearbox is a weak link as you mentioned, especially if the car is driven hard...

The s15 isn't a bad platform for track use, be sure to do the appropriate upgrades and you should see some decent times, suspension/tyres/pads/fluids would be an ideal way to start off.

 

[Nicely]

As stated, the S15 can be a decent track car, though there are much better cars for that purpose. The difference is that it makes a fun and involving road car too.

On the gearbox point, it depends how much power you are wanting to run. There is a known weakness in the S15 6MT gearbox (fixable) which makes some people run and change to the S14 5MT box. From what I've picked up, 5MT boxes are equally likely to fail running big power. You could spend a fortune and get a high performance gearbox, but if you aren't going to run vast power, it'd be cheaper to fix the weakness. The 6MT would then be stronger than the 5MT, and the car would be much more drivable with the 6MT

 

[Yakozan]

So you are till considering a S15 :thumbs:

I can take you out on Mantorp Park this summer on Jap-meet
But for track I would recommend

New dampers and springs
high performance brake pads
fresh brake oil
oil cooler
Good tires

after those upgrades the S15 handles pretty good.
Don't have much to compare with though

The Golf would probobly be outturned by the seventh fleet

 

[kieran]

as said above with the right mods the s15 can be a cool track car, when i first fitted my coilovers i did a track day at brands hatch on a RS open day and gave the cossies boys a running for their money including a fully prepped track escort cosworth, and tbh im no great driver, i was running about 3.5 degrees of neg camber that day lol was hard to lose control lol, ive seen a vid somewhere too of an evo 6 and a s15 having a go on a track and the evo 6 only just got him on the last few bends! :thumbs:

Ive had and evo 6 prior to the s15 and as much as i enjoyed it, the s15 imho is a far better car alround for those who want an everyday car and a track toy occasionally!

as nicley said the s15 is far more invlolved and enjoyable car to drive than most :thumbs:

 

[Clarken]

So you are till considering a S15 :thumbs:

I can take you out on Mantorp Park this summer on Jap-meet
But for track I would recommend

New dampers and springs
high performance brake pads
fresh brake oil
oil cooler
Good tires

after those upgrades the S15 handles pretty good.
Don't have much to compare with though

The Golf would probobly be outturned by the seventh fleet

Hehe yeah iam Paul

Well there's a problem since i'm probably going to order my S15 around April this year actually.
Been thinking of the basic performance upgrades and ad some part's to that such as,
coilovers,
oilcooler,
braided brakehoses,
performance pads and ofc fresh oil.

Thanks very much for all the answers and seen some of you complaining a we bit on the gearbox.
What is the wickness with the gearbox?

 

[Nicely]

The 3rd/4th counter gear circlip. Its sometimes not the best fit. Ideally, you should strip it out, get a new tighter groove machined and a very tight circlip.

 

[Clarken]

The 3rd/4th counter gear circlip. Its sometimes not the best fit. Ideally, you should strip it out, get a new tighter groove machined and a very tight circlip.

Okay thank's for the quick answer.

Anybody else who's got anything to say about the S15 on the track/street?

 

[S15R]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK-09z8QNkY