REDLINE ALLEYNissan Silvia S15 buying guide
1999 to 2002. An S15 suits a buyer after the last and most sought after Silvia who will pay for a straight, standard car.
Big jobs
- Under servicing of the turbo engine. Turbo engines need more servicing, so look for signs that it was skipped.
- Spec S dressed as Spec R. Spec S cars wearing Spec R badges are reported. The Spec R has the turbo SR20DET and 6 speed; the Spec S is the non turbo or lower power version.
- Drift damage. Welded diffs, cut guards, angle kits and bent steering knuckles are common, and the front chassis rails get damaged in low speed impacts. Holes in the body can show where a roll cage or extinguisher was fitted.
- Rust and hidden crash repair. Rust and hidden crash repairs are reported in the wheel arches, engine bay, underside, front shroud and boot.
Workshop jobs
- Turbo gasket leaks. Leaking gaskets at the manifold and turbo joints are reported as a common SR20DET problem.
- Clutch wear. Clutches take a pounding in these cars.
Small jobs
- Noisy 6 speed gearbox. The Spec R 6 speed has been noisy from new, but this does not seem to lead to mechanical trouble.
Questions for the seller
- Is it a Spec R or Spec S, and does the engine code match?
- Has it been drifted or tracked?
- Is the diff standard, and is it the helical LSD?
- Is the turbo and boost standard, and has the ECU been changed?
- Has it had any crash repairs?
Sources
Researched 2026-11-03. General guidance from owner and specialist sources. Check the specific car with an independent inspection.