The Silvia series is one of Nissan's low-priced, rear wheel drive (RWD), front mounted engine sports coupes on the Nissan S platform. The Silvia is the original Japanese market version of the Nissan 240SX variant which was sold in North America from 1989 to 1998. The Silvia is generally regarded as the “little sister” of the Nissan Skyline.
The last generation Nissan Silvia (the S15) appeared in January of 1999. It was produced and sold until August of 2002. The sleek looks and stylish, wedge-shaped design of this car have a sort of finesse the Skyline never attained. The S15 also features upgrades to the chassis and suspension, including increased use of light alloy suspension components. For the first time, the car is available with a six-speed manual transmission.
The car is powered by a mighty 2.0L turbocharged powerplant. It generates 247 hp @ 6,600 rpm and 246 lb-ft torque @ 4,800 rpm. In contrast, the previous generation Silvia only made roughly 217 horsepower using a similar turbocharger and less free-flowing injectors. Instead of a viscous limited slip differential, the S15 offered a more effective helical limited slip unit. This makes the Silvia well-prepared for more demanding use, such as motor sport racing.
On the inside, the new S15 looks like a $40,000 car, not a $20,000 one. It's not just the classier, cooler-looking dash; the new Silvia uses higher-quality materials and better designing overall. Ride comfort is superb, and front legroom is adequate. The same, however, cannot be said for the size of the trunk
