1994 Nissan Silvia Q's from Australia and New Zealand - Comments

Nothing of any importance.

Put new clutch in at 107000km, but it started slipping at 115000km. I would recommend getting a heavy duty clutch.

Windows leak water around the pillarless doors.

Had water get into the taillights.

Good car for people wanting a cheap, reliable rear-wheel drive sports coupe with a bit of power and excellent handling. The sr20de is a 2 litre double overhead cam, 16 valve engine with vvt on the intake side. My engine had some 4-2-1 extractors and a pod filter, as well as having the cat convertor removed. It provided a decent amount of go when needed, but revs were required (car is 160hp stock).

The standard open differential is rubbish, as with most open ones on sports car, and I changed it to a s15 helical torsen LSD (need to change subframe too). This gave the car a lot better wet road handling, and also dry road and cornering grip. The standard suspension was OK, but at 110000km I decided to go down the coil-over road, and installed a set of BC adjusties. With these in, the car handled extremely well and provided a lot of good fun through the touges around my area.

Interior is pretty plain-jane, but is very functional. Installed a CD player as well as some better front/rear speakers. Factory s14 seats are dreadfully uncomfortable, so changed them to s15 ones, which give more lateral support and look better (both s15 front and rear seats are a direct bolt-on to s14). Boot space is good for a sports car and I had no complaints. Rear leg room is a joke - you don't wanna be sitting in these seats!

Engines in these cars should last up to 200,000km; even badly treated ones. No need to change cam belt as it uses a chain. Most have been in crashes before, so it can be hard to find a good straight one.

Overall a great car for someone wanting to learn how to drive properly, and with some fun before moving onto better and more powerful cars. However be warned; like most rear-wheeled cars, they can be very easy to crash in the wet, but will provide you with hours of fun!

I am pleased that I bought a s14, and hopefully in the future I will go back and buy another Silvia, or one of its bigger brothers.

Good review. I completely agree with everything. Beware of leaving it in the sun as the dashes are well known to crack, and I am of the opinion that the diff gets movement in it if you mistreat it.

Otherwise a fabulous car that turns heads and demands respect :)