My new car - S14A Content

sigma · 24 Dec 2013 at 13:14

sovietspybob said:
I was looking at these a few months ago, i wanted it to be a track & weekend car but almost all the info i could find was about setting it up for drifting which isn't really what i'd be interested in. Sure i enjoy a bit of sideways action on a track day but out and out drifting isn't my bag and it is a shame so so many of them seem to be ruined for the cause of drifting.

Clarkey said:
It's not a shame at all, and it's not 'ruined'. You'd be doing the wrong thing buying one for grip driving anyway as the rear end has inherently poor traction.

There are quite a few (although they're getting rarer now) grip focused cars on SXOC and they do seem to do pretty well.

I hope that as people keep crashing them, and as they rust away, that people will focus more on what is a decent all-round car, rather than sticking stupid wheels and stickers all over them.

Also have no idea why people have so much trouble in the wet, if you drive sensibly and have a decent set up with decent tyres then it's actually quite difficult to get it out of shape unless you push it.

Still in two minds as to whether I should sell mine but I can't think of many cars under £15k that will be as reliable, quick, fun and cheap to run.

Gribs · 24 Dec 2013 at 13:23

sigma said:
Also have no idea why people have so much trouble in the wet, if you drive sensibly and have a decent set up with decent tyres then it's actually quite difficult to get it out of shape unless you push it.

I think a lot of it is to do with having either rubbish tyres or inappropriate suspension. At stage 1 with refreshed stock suspension and F1's I never had any trouble as it was very easy to feel when it started to slip and very easy to get it back in line. I tried one lowered on cheap Apex coilovers and that felt very sudden.

sigma · 24 Dec 2013 at 13:24

S-Tunes ftw!

Matt-Page · 24 Dec 2013 at 14:12

It seems to be around 3-5K for one of thise in decent condition.

What are the common failures on them, and what benefits does the S15 have over the S14? Quite a few I've seen have got a nice cream leather interior.

Philz0r · 24 Dec 2013 at 14:19

Common issues are VVT rattle, there is a vvt sprocket for unknown reasons breaks and causes your car to sound like a tractor,

Sills will eventually go,

Rust

If you dont keep ontop of your oil services, the tiny pin ***** hole will block up and cause bottom end failure,

The engine temp dial is in a range of 50-110 degrees, so if your car is running at 109 degrees it will still just say "yeah its fine"

Bushes will most likely need replaced,

Power steering fluid has a tendancy to boil on track.

Turbo-manifold gaskets go every 30k miles.

Cheap manifolds crack (stick with the cast iron one upto 350bhp)

S15 has 444cc injectors over the 390's of a s14 which will take it to 300bhp, also a t28r turbo which is ball bearing which the s14 t28 doesnt have.

Make sure to upgrade fuel pump and flexy oil feeds on the turbo.

Standard intercoolers crack.

The standard brake calipers are actually pretty good but tend to seize up.

The standard brake discs are tiny.

sigma · 24 Dec 2013 at 14:53

Gaskets should last 60k as a minimum surely? I changed mine at 50k and they weren't even blowing, I just decided to do them at the same time as replacing the oil feeds. Completely depends on the fittment of the exhaust - poorly fitting exhaust and you'll be lucky to get to even 30k.

Philz0r · 24 Dec 2013 at 15:02

Its a general rule of thumb on sxoc, 35k

morfmedia · 24 Dec 2013 at 15:26

They make very good grip cars too, checkout youtube for a guy doing a pretty quick lap of the nurburgring.

/Edit: This is the video I was thinking of:

http://vimeo.com/4182103

Ryan-3 · 24 Dec 2013 at 15:35

Very jealous! Enjoy it. :cool:

MeAnBoY · 24 Dec 2013 at 15:42

Yay welcome to the club! Always fancied one in red. Hate how people like spraying the front lip and rear plate surround to match the bodywork, looks real ugly. Apart from that real nice

MrKnifey · 24 Dec 2013 at 16:57

Yea not a massive fan of the red lip. Also been thinking of a USDM rear bumper.. Too many ideas in my mind... aaarrrrgggh lol

sigma · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:10

Philz0r said:
Its a general rule of thumb on sxoc, 35k

I guess it's unfair to compare mine with the average 200

Glad to see that OP isn't planning to ruin the car either. Not keen on the spoiler nor the small front number plate but other than that it looks pretty tidy.

Begbie · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:16

Wow, that's stunning!!

Clarkey · 24 Dec 2013 at 17:41

Weld the turbo to the mani, no more gasket problems. Mine has been done this way.

MeAnBoY · 24 Dec 2013 at 18:24

Out of interest how much did you pay for yours?

Looking to sell mine in the new year

() and not really kept myself in the loop.

The Running Man · 24 Dec 2013 at 19:12

The problem with buying a car like this is deciding where to spend the money first, then where to stop:/

scouting eBay you'll find 1000s of pounds worth of upgrades and bits you just need.

bledd · 24 Dec 2013 at 19:45

Didn't realise they were so reasonably priced now. Looks awesome

Clarkey · 24 Dec 2013 at 19:55

Now? Maybe a few years back but the value of a clean good spec car continues to rise. Meanwhile, S15s are tanking in value.

ScoobyDoo69 · 25 Dec 2013 at 23:35

Very clean. Like that a lot! As has been said already, just needs a black lip!

MrKnifey · 11 Jan 2014 at 20:05

Been enjoying it since I bought it, driving it a lot and getting used to it in all the weather! Not done a lot to it, but I have done full service inc genuine filters and all the oils. The boost gauge wasn't wired in, so got that going and found that it wasn't boosting to what it should. I left it alone until I fitted the decat and its boosting correctly now, so can only assume it was mapped with a decat. Ive collected some bits, including an aftermarket tubular exhaust manifold and coilovers.