Good on you for doing this review! The only thing that didn't really hold up with time was the 'resale value' (lol) but that caught most of us totally off guard!
FINALLY SOMEONE MADE THIS COMPARISON! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! We just got S15's here in Canada and I felt so alone being like "Hey if you want a car that's actually fast, hold off from getting an FRS/BRZ and wait for 2014 ;) " Great video man.
I personally feel like the brz/frs is the long awaited s16 that nissan never gave to its loyal fan base. Saw them side by side and could see similarities that could have easily just been the modernization of the s15.
I kind of agree personally, the frs has a raw feel for a modern car even with the electronic steering its basic and bare bones like an older sports car witch also makes it light and nimble
This is a great review, but the comments on the S15s steering are unwarranted. The negative scrub radius is a perfect match for the S15. The steering makes the car incredibly stable in all modes, avoids braking interference AND YET, the car remains ridiculously easy to park. Increasing scrub will only lead to many ill effects, including tramlining, which is absolutely horrible. If you want more feedback from the steering, a smaller wheel helps. Nolathane bushes on the front also firm it up and give good feedback. They even make Nolathane bushes for the rack, though you could probably even go for solid ones. The S15 is razor sharp and incredibly flickable. I felt the same way as you when I bought mine, but I've grown to find that it is absolutely superb. The chassis is excellent too, but the rear subframe bushes do wear and make the car feel a little floaty and numb. To this day, I've never encountered a car who's doors didn't foul up when it was jacked up. The S15 is the exception. No doubt, the GT86 might be better, but I doubt that the difference would be substantial.
Let me start off by saying thankyou for posting a well informed critical comment, most of the critical comments I get on my other reviews are just trolls. Regarding the scrub radius, I was not aware that it was negative, although I suppose it makes sense given the feel. I'm guessing it is only a small amount negative? I have since driven this car with new wheels on it that added 10mm scrub radius, and found that there was a negligible difference to steering feel (what difference was there was probably due to the wider tyres now fitted), however it was still fine to park and there was little tramlining (It was in melbourne, so there were actual tram lines to test it on :P) I agree that a smaller wheel would help with the steering feel, although I did not think of this at the time of review (I usually only get about 10 minutes or so in the cars I review). The bushes felt reasonable, I think it would see an improvement from a quicker rack ratio though. Regarding the flickabilty, if you think an S15 is razor sharp, you should definitely try out a GT86! The combo of low cg and quicker and sharper steering makes it far more flickable, you can throw it into corners much easier than the s15. The doors also work fine when it's jacked (had it up the other day to plasti-dip my rims), but I don't think the superior flickability of the gt86 is down to chassis stiffness. Not saying the S15 is bad, just the 86 is substantially better in this aspect. I have no doubt that with coilovers, tweaked roll bars and proper suspension tuning you could match or better this in an S15, but stock for stock there is no contest. Any more questions/comments feel free to post, and thanks for watching!
KYLE.DRIVES I forgot to mention that a smaller wheel will make the steering response a lot quicker too. I have an ADM model which came stock with a truck steering wheel - probably because Nissan Australia wanted to tame it for our market. I fitted a smaller JDM wheel and the steering has VASTLY improved. In fact, you really feel like you could overdo it with the current wheel, which is just what I like. A quick 10 degree sweep will usually invoke oversteer in the dry - even when the car is in 3rd gear. I definitely have to check out a GT86 - I might take one for a test drive in the new year. This is a very logical review. I've noticed many GT86 owners checking out my S15 and likewise, I always check out the GT86. It is a great looking car. Its about time somebody compared the two. Just for this fact alone, you deserve a sub. Thanks for the great content and keep up the great work. I've subbed.
What do you mean by "this day i've never encountered a car who's doors didn't foul up when it was jacked up. The s15 is the exception" ? My english is not perfect can you help me to understand please? Does it meant that s15 chassis is not good and flex when lifted or something like that? (i have jdm s15 specr in Belgium since two years) Thank you!
Mark Skvortsov It means that the chassis is great, because there's no flex. If the chassis has flex, when you jack it up, the doors won't open and will jam on the sill. Great choice of car. I've had my Spec R S15 for 7 years now and I'll never sell it.
scrfce123 Thank you! S15 was my dream during two years and finally i import one from japan... Read a lot on this car and everybody says that chassis was great so that's why i was surprised if it was not true. ( sometimes some words are hard to understand) Really great car and i will never sold it too!!!
Thanks for this, Really informative. If you would be able to do some more videos on the S15 it would be much appreciated, i'm looking at buying one in the next few months.
Nice comparison! I've actually been contemplating on importing a S15 vs purchasing a brand new 86. I was actually looking at those exact colours too haha. I had a feeling they were very close in performance and feel. I do have love for the s-chassis as I do currently own a S14. I feel like the money saved by buying a S15 can be used towards upgrading it to outperform a 86. Plus I could also swap over some suspension parts from my S14 to the S15. They are also very rare here in Canada as they only became legal for import this year, whereas 86 is just as common as a Corolla/Civic but there's a good reason! Thx for the review! Subscribed!
I would invest in a brand new car trust me, once you invest in a brand new car you feel more secure and safe of your money where it goes!! Can't go wrong on investing new Products! Love Toyota 86
I really think the first two series of the GTS 86 will go up in price in around 10 years time like the Silvia did. They are a special car with heritage, rave reviews and continue the legacy of the AE86 story.
Damiane Muller I would, except, well, this S15 from this video is very much non-stock now. It now has: Coilovers (MCA Blue) Much wider and stickier rubber Much bigger turbo Air/water intercooler about to be fitted Haltech ECU So yeah, quite a bit different from the factory...
Cheers Jared, appreciate it, a lot of people give me a lot of hate as they think I'm biased but I try my best to be neutral, glad to see it is getting through! Sorry I never got to do that GC8 only review for you but I could just never line up a time with the owner and they have since sold the car.
KYLE.DRIVES its fine i brought a gc8, 128,000 kms MY99 model stock. i like it goes hard for its price and i have found its faster compared to quite a few sports cars. I'd rather see a bunch of cars that you don't see too much in reviews and an 86 is a good bench mark I love the s15! I like how u presented the running costs rather than outright prices of purchase!
The SR20 engine is a 2.0 Liter 4 Zylinder with 165HP , the Spec R edition on the market has a turbocharged 250HP version of the engine on the market , so the GT86 engine is still better
The s15 also came with the Auctech version NA SR20 making 200hp. These gt86 boxer engine are ticking time bombs and dont like to be abused. SR20 can take the abuse, has more linear power band and way more power potential than the FA20. No comparison.
S15 was only sold in Japan & Australia, no "adm". You can get a blitz supercharger to boost the power up to 280bhp, rumor is that Toyota is working on its own supercharged GT86 & Subaru on a turbo version BRZ. S16 is coming out this year.
Good video but I think this comparison is a bit off at least for people here in the states. The S15 is like a dream for most of us who have never seen one. I think the interior is more interested but I do agree with the fact that the GT86 probably would handle better. Basically to win you would need to put the S15 engine into the GT86
I’m a p plater and thinking to import a 200sx as its legal for p platers as a turbo charged car but I’m not sure how to differentiate a Silvia s15 and a 200sx
great vid :) it's funny how i have an s15, but the 86 is one of my dream cars. i bought the s15 on the basis that i thought it was very similar to the 86 :)
Obey Ruby Thanks! I guess the Autech one would feel very similiar to the 86 being NA and all, a good way to get a similiar car at a much lower entry price! Especially with coilovers added, you basically have an 86 now =P
yeah pretty much & i absolutely love it :) time to test drive the 86 at a dealership to see how it feels compared to the s15 :p. where do you live in aus?
Obey Ruby Oh I'm over Sydney way, on the North side. If you take a test drive of an 86 you better make sure it's near a lot of corners so you can enjoy it! :)
KYLE.DRIVES oh awesome i live in sydney in the north shore, my local toyota is chatswood though & that definitely doesnt have good corners around! haha will have to sus out a different dealership:)
Yeah I see the picture quality thing too, kinda jumpy... Weird, it was running fine on my computer, seems youtubes conversion isn't doing it any favours!
Lol, sounds like the only advantage the S15 has over the 86 is power (big surprise). Fortunately power is an easy fix. An entire chassis is not. The 86 is the better overall drivers car.
Yes yes, the S15 has a 50 HP stronger engine with Turbocharged , but there is also the Spec S Silvia with just 165 HP NON Turbo , but people who know about cars , dont care about the engine , because they put a new engine inside anyways like an RB26 or 2JZ so that means in your opinion the new Celica ''GT86'' is better than the S15 what handling means huh ? But the S15 is really a top over in the Legendary class. Love both Cars and see how the next generation cars grow up and keep up compare with the old classics
well then how wrong they where in the minutes, its 2019 here in Japan you can buy an BRZ/86 for 5K but the Silvia is about 15K for a good one... so wrong and 2014 was not that long ago,
KYLE.DRIVES oh, forgot to mention its the 6mt on s15, its ok i've read more about it, the stock 6MT trans designed to handle about 209lbft. (zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=362303)
Actually, that doesn't turn it fully off, if you're in a tight bumpy hairpin and get the back loose it cuts power and the light flashes on the dash, despite it being "off". To get it more fully off you need to do the pedal dance, which can't even be done until the car is warmed up. Also my main objection was that there needs to be a physical on off switch, as it resets every time the car is turned off so you have to hold the button again every single time you start it, which sucks.
KYLE.DRIVES yap thats all right ! BUT if you press more than 5 sec. the TRC is compelt off.. the flashing light is a kind of ABS/ESP ..which controll the brake off each tire. But does not often kick in....some times on track days...but there you can make the pedal dance.
Initial price as in if you were to buy one right now, this particular car was bought 1 month ago for around 20k driveway in Sydney, I figured I would clear that one up before people criticise me for comparing cars they think are in different price brackets. Thanks for watching!
For compliance in Australia they have to change the tyres on entry, so they usually just through on the cheapest, crappiest tyres they can find. Thanks for watching!
