GTR or Spec R or Type R?
- Thread starter Bananaaa
- Start date
You said you have only driven an auto S15!
haha fair point, the overall feel of the Skyline is completly different and superior regardless in IMO but yeah I haven't driven a manual to give a fair overall comparison.
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My 2p's worth - I've driven all 3 on tracks/roads (mates cars) and owned for 6 years a 280-450hp R34GTT but like all opinions it may not match yours so I've tried to be as neutral as possible.
R32 - Heaviest and oldest of the three and felt both although it does seat 3 adults and a kid (behind the driver) well in the very plastic interior. Loves to oversteer everywhere which sounds strange considering the ATTESSA 4x4 system (better developed in the later GTR's) but true none the less. A well looked after engine is virtually bullet-proof but the stock turbos are the weak spot at over 1.0Bar (personally never go above 1.0Bar) but even that boost will allow you to run upto 450hp with other mods (as per my RB26 engined GTT). Plenty of both body and under-body mods available but good mechanics are expensive (I used Rod Bell/Abbey MS/Rising Sun etc).
S15 - Newer & lighter than the GTR but feels much smaller inside, even though it's not. It feels beautifully balanced when pushed into oversteer (not "snappy" at all) and feels very nimble compared to the GTR. The standard engine is reliable upto about 300-320hp but the brakes were a bit soft. It's very rare on the roads so there's not many styling choices but a huge number of underbody mods (engine/suspension etc).
S2000 - Light but small (no lardys allowed
). Loved the instant response but felt very twitchy when pushed into oversteer however the suspension wasn't stock in my mates car so maybe not a good example. Engine very good and still quite tunable (I had fun after my mate supercharged his) but again brakes felt very soft. Lots of styling parts so you can make it unique, my mates was bright yellow with yellow/black kelvar/carbon fibre boot/bonnet and wing which looked "interesting!"
If you are thinking about the GTR and fancy some 1st hand knowledge hit the GTROC and SkylineOwnersClub.
Hope that helps!
R32 - Heaviest and oldest of the three and felt both although it does seat 3 adults and a kid (behind the driver) well in the very plastic interior. Loves to oversteer everywhere which sounds strange considering the ATTESSA 4x4 system (better developed in the later GTR's) but true none the less. A well looked after engine is virtually bullet-proof but the stock turbos are the weak spot at over 1.0Bar (personally never go above 1.0Bar) but even that boost will allow you to run upto 450hp with other mods (as per my RB26 engined GTT). Plenty of both body and under-body mods available but good mechanics are expensive (I used Rod Bell/Abbey MS/Rising Sun etc).
S15 - Newer & lighter than the GTR but feels much smaller inside, even though it's not. It feels beautifully balanced when pushed into oversteer (not "snappy" at all) and feels very nimble compared to the GTR. The standard engine is reliable upto about 300-320hp but the brakes were a bit soft. It's very rare on the roads so there's not many styling choices but a huge number of underbody mods (engine/suspension etc).
S2000 - Light but small (no lardys allowed
). Loved the instant response but felt very twitchy when pushed into oversteer however the suspension wasn't stock in my mates car so maybe not a good example. Engine very good and still quite tunable (I had fun after my mate supercharged his) but again brakes felt very soft. Lots of styling parts so you can make it unique, my mates was bright yellow with yellow/black kelvar/carbon fibre boot/bonnet and wing which looked "interesting!" If you are thinking about the GTR and fancy some 1st hand knowledge hit the GTROC and SkylineOwnersClub.
Hope that helps!
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I have an S14a I spent two years working on before I ever drove it, treating all the rust. I had a lot of performance parts on my old S14 I transferred over to it.
The S15 chassis is pretty much the S14 chassis but with extra rigidity parts welded into various places, so retains the lightness and balance that makes these cars so popular with the drifters, but transforms the feel of the car into something much more solid according to people who have made the transition.
The S15 has a better turbo, bigger injectors and a 6-speed close ratio box as opposed to the 5-speed in the S14s. Many after-market parts are interchangeable, making them one of the cheapest cars around to tune. Standard injectors and turbo should see 320bhp.
The brakes are a weak point, good pads certainly help, but although the 4 pot fronts are okay, the single pot sliding calipers at the back are best ditched, assuming they are the same as fitted to the S14, the R32 conversion being extremely popular.
Mine is wearing R32GTR front brakes, and R33GTS-T rear brakes, stops quite well with the brakes from the heavier Nissan on the lighter car
I being biased would have course say get the S15, as a daily drive the power of a modified GTR is going to be wasted, and the higher running costs will drag you down. The S15 might be harder to handle particularly in the wet, but driving a car at legal speeds being a challenge is going to be more rewarding than being bored at the same speed. Hence why I believe you are looking at these cars and not the sort of machines fitted with traction control and heated seats?
I think the GTR is of the age where you have to have some passion for the thing too. Rust might be a concern and getting a good one that hasn't been abused by many owners lacking the budget to maintain them properly might be a problem, although the price of the GTRs does somewhat keep them from the fate that a lot of the cheaper Skylines and 200sx s have suffered.
Another car to consider is the 350z or the 370z if that falls in budget. It's a bit more modern, your budget should get you a nice one and with a few modifications they sound very well indeed and make over 300bhp too.
300bhp is absolutely fine in a road car. There are very few opportunities to make use of more these days, the amount of speed cameras and speed traps. With 300bhp you only get mere seconds of the loud pedal before you are doing licence losing speeds. If you've never driven that sort of power before it takes some getting used to not being able to keep your foot down constantly.
Good luck, whatever you choose will be fun. Have you also looked at the BMW and Porsche models that fall into similar power and price brackets? Even some of the diesel BMWs can be very quick with a remap.
Here you go, a wildcard, probably comes in quite a bit under budget too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4262289.htm
The S15 chassis is pretty much the S14 chassis but with extra rigidity parts welded into various places, so retains the lightness and balance that makes these cars so popular with the drifters, but transforms the feel of the car into something much more solid according to people who have made the transition.
The S15 has a better turbo, bigger injectors and a 6-speed close ratio box as opposed to the 5-speed in the S14s. Many after-market parts are interchangeable, making them one of the cheapest cars around to tune. Standard injectors and turbo should see 320bhp.
The brakes are a weak point, good pads certainly help, but although the 4 pot fronts are okay, the single pot sliding calipers at the back are best ditched, assuming they are the same as fitted to the S14, the R32 conversion being extremely popular.
Mine is wearing R32GTR front brakes, and R33GTS-T rear brakes, stops quite well with the brakes from the heavier Nissan on the lighter car
I being biased would have course say get the S15, as a daily drive the power of a modified GTR is going to be wasted, and the higher running costs will drag you down. The S15 might be harder to handle particularly in the wet, but driving a car at legal speeds being a challenge is going to be more rewarding than being bored at the same speed. Hence why I believe you are looking at these cars and not the sort of machines fitted with traction control and heated seats?
I think the GTR is of the age where you have to have some passion for the thing too. Rust might be a concern and getting a good one that hasn't been abused by many owners lacking the budget to maintain them properly might be a problem, although the price of the GTRs does somewhat keep them from the fate that a lot of the cheaper Skylines and 200sx s have suffered.
Another car to consider is the 350z or the 370z if that falls in budget. It's a bit more modern, your budget should get you a nice one and with a few modifications they sound very well indeed and make over 300bhp too.
300bhp is absolutely fine in a road car. There are very few opportunities to make use of more these days, the amount of speed cameras and speed traps. With 300bhp you only get mere seconds of the loud pedal before you are doing licence losing speeds. If you've never driven that sort of power before it takes some getting used to not being able to keep your foot down constantly.
Good luck, whatever you choose will be fun. Have you also looked at the BMW and Porsche models that fall into similar power and price brackets? Even some of the diesel BMWs can be very quick with a remap.
Here you go, a wildcard, probably comes in quite a bit under budget too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4262289.htm
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S15s do seem to command a premium, I'm not sure they're worth that much more than a 14a with mods. I've not driven a 15 though. You can purchase the extra support brackets or the 14/14a and if you're modifying you'll be replacing the turbo anyway, if you want over 300bhp.
I'd probably discard them all and get an M3, it'll be able to hold its own on track whilst being enjoyable for the day-to-day stuff too.
I'd probably discard them all and get an M3, it'll be able to hold its own on track whilst being enjoyable for the day-to-day stuff too.
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I'd rule out the S2000, having owned a standard S14a, a 350bhp S14a and driven a couple of S15, the S15 as standard is a much nicer car to drive. The chassis is much stiffer, better diff as standard and 6 speed box = closer ratio gears = feels like much faster acceleration. I think 200-400bhp+ might be too much of a jump unless you have good self control but plenty of people have managed ok before. Are you ok with insurance costs?!
How about this for a Stealth Bus - Nissan 260RS Autech - Basically a R33GTR with an estate shell!
Only £7500 too!!!
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4237534.htm
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Caporegime
- Joined
- 18 Oct 2002
- Posts
- 31,187
That's an ugly bitch but I LIKE it!!!!!!
****er could be a Hearce! Sure get you to Hell in style
****er could be a Hearce! Sure get you to Hell in style
![[TW]Fox](/data/man-of-honor/2009.png){kind=avatar}
I fancy some rear end action also
Where abouts do you plan to do that? I think most trackdays throw you off if you start drifting
[TW]Fox;22850916 said:Where abouts do you plan to do that? I think most trackdays throw you off if you start drifting
That's why they have drift days.
Insure prices aren't a problem and I've driven many a fast car before hand so the jump won't be a problem
I'm swaying towards the Silvia as it will be a daily car and I fancy some rear end action also
Are you looking at 14s too?
I have an S14a I spent two years working on before I ever drove it, treating all the rust. I had a lot of performance parts on my old S14 I transferred over to it.
The S15 chassis is pretty much the S14 chassis but with extra rigidity parts welded into various places, so retains the lightness and balance that makes these cars so popular with the drifters, but transforms the feel of the car into something much more solid according to people who have made the transition.
The S15 has a better turbo, bigger injectors and a 6-speed close ratio box as opposed to the 5-speed in the S14s. Many after-market parts are interchangeable, making them one of the cheapest cars around to tune. Standard injectors and turbo should see 320bhp.
The brakes are a weak point, good pads certainly help, but although the 4 pot fronts are okay, the single pot sliding calipers at the back are best ditched, assuming they are the same as fitted to the S14, the R32 conversion being extremely popular.
Mine is wearing R32GTR front brakes, and R33GTS-T rear brakes, stops quite well with the brakes from the heavier Nissan on the lighter car
I being biased would have course say get the S15, as a daily drive the power of a modified GTR is going to be wasted, and the higher running costs will drag you down. The S15 might be harder to handle particularly in the wet, but driving a car at legal speeds being a challenge is going to be more rewarding than being bored at the same speed. Hence why I believe you are looking at these cars and not the sort of machines fitted with traction control and heated seats?
I think the GTR is of the age where you have to have some passion for the thing too. Rust might be a concern and getting a good one that hasn't been abused by many owners lacking the budget to maintain them properly might be a problem, although the price of the GTRs does somewhat keep them from the fate that a lot of the cheaper Skylines and 200sx s have suffered.
Another car to consider is the 350z or the 370z if that falls in budget. It's a bit more modern, your budget should get you a nice one and with a few modifications they sound very well indeed and make over 300bhp too.
300bhp is absolutely fine in a road car. There are very few opportunities to make use of more these days, the amount of speed cameras and speed traps. With 300bhp you only get mere seconds of the loud pedal before you are doing licence losing speeds. If you've never driven that sort of power before it takes some getting used to not being able to keep your foot down constantly.
Good luck, whatever you choose will be fun. Have you also looked at the BMW and Porsche models that fall into similar power and price brackets? Even some of the diesel BMWs can be very quick with a remap.
Here you go, a wildcard, probably comes in quite a bit under budget too:
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4262289.htm
Finally managed to have the time to read through posts and this was a lot of help thanks.
I've convinced myself that my next car MUST be Jap! Always had a love for them.
To me, diesel is the fuel of the devil but good suggestion nonetheless.
To get a respectable 400bhp out of a s14a and a s15 what sort of price would I be looking at?
Any must have under bonnet add ons?
What would I have to do to the engine of the 15 to get over 320hp reliably?
Thank you for the advice though, a great help
On the 14/a (I think it'd be the same for the 15) you'd need:
Injectors
Remap
AFM
Turbo
Clutch
Intercooler
A good few thousand pounds worth there, if you go with quality items. Forged internals when you start pushing 400bhp+ I think.
Pop over to www.sxoc.co.uk and check out the forsale threads.
I've sent you an e-mail too.
Injectors
Remap
AFM
Turbo
Clutch
Intercooler
A good few thousand pounds worth there, if you go with quality items. Forged internals when you start pushing 400bhp+ I think.
Pop over to www.sxoc.co.uk and check out the forsale threads.
I've sent you an e-mail too.
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