Thinking of swapping my GTI for Nissan S15...

**Mr Messy** · 06-08-2009, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by blue_reality

A GTI is MUCH more conspicuous than an S15...
Any thoughts?

First thought is that the GTI is quite inconspicuous, or not easily noticed [/english lesson]

Second thought is that there are two types of people on here: People who love cars, and people who love VWs (and only VWs...)

Yes, the MK4 GTI is a great unit but it's also a compromise. It's a 'sensible' semi-luxury car, with moderate performance, great tunability and four doors with a hatch.

A 200sx is far less practical, plus insurance companies will murder you, prats will want to race you and thieves will stare at it longingly.

But it is a much purer platform from a driver's perspective (RWD, IRS, LSD, 6-speed) and is arguably better suited to trackdays, tarmac rallies, autosalon, drifting or whatever other form of organised mayhem you are into.

Personally I'm not a fan of imported S15s, mainly because of the type of wankers that buy them. They seem to either be kids who can't afford to insure and run them properly, or very image-conscious people who just wanna be seen in an ess-fifteen. This, and huge insurance costs, are why I avoided the WRX. Its a crowd I'm not really keen on, particularly around the Rockdale/Arncliffe/Tempe area where I had been living when I bought the Golf.

If it were me I'd want to keep driving something that flies under the radar. Ideally an S4 or something like that, but you could have a lot of mighty mods fun putting together a 90s Accord with a screaming B18C or K20A VTEC donk, or a turbo, caged, semi-slick MX-5.

Even a Taxi-spec Commodore with an forced induction LS1 package would be fun for both you and your audience. I'd love to roll a blown, debadged, VY SV8 (or FG G6E-T) purely because of the stealth factor.

I'd rather do that than just up-and-buy a car of known capability purely on its reputation. Your call though.

*Oxford Dictionary: Conspicuous = 1. Clearly visible; striking to the eye (a conspicuous hole in his shirt). 2. remarkable; noteworthy (a conspicuous success). 3. (of expenditure etc.) lavish, with a view to enhancing one's prestige

**Mr Messy** · 06-08-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by DIDZ

Although at times I do peer over at the Renault Clios and the Audi S3..

I get that every time I see one of these:

I know, I know.
Admitting Honda affection here is like saying I munch down on penis for breakfast every day, but still, what a magnificent car.

**blue_reality** · 06-08-2009, 08:18 PM

From NissanSilvia.com when asked the same question:

"vw gtis are sik do not sell it. id take one over a s15 anyday."

"I love the mk4 gti's, id keep it myself"

WOW! Even the owners of S15's prefer VW's

**madglf3** · 06-08-2009, 09:20 PM

You'd still have an S3 though wouldn't you? If I were in your shoes I'd get the S15 for the RWD action and something different, but I would only get it because I'd still have some VAG action in the form of the S3 when I get home.

**MY90SH** · 06-08-2009, 11:41 PM

Sorry to say guys but i just recenlty sold my GTI.. my plans now are either S15 or STI WRX...

reason: started piling up costs on parts/repairs.. after 1 chunk out of my wallet for 1 repair could not afford anymore..

jap cars tend to be a hell lot cheaper on parts..

**william** · 06-08-2009, 11:43 PM

hey mate love mighty car mods btw
my mates have 340kw s14 200sx's
and one has a s15

1. gearboxes are terrible my mate is on his 2nd 6spd s15 box
2. a simple abs control unit plug if disconnected stops the odometer thats why they all have low ks
3. buy an aus spec one if possible at least it will have dealer history
4. be weary cars with high ks throw bottom end bearings

they are a great car but if you boost them the orig gearboxs give way always. once you change the gearbox to a skyline box the conversion is about 3k but once you change you wont look back.

**blue_reality** · 07-08-2009, 07:36 AM

More PRO VW from another S15 Owner: Um, hmmm, yeah... I'm sure the R32 owners are going to pipe up now!

"AHAHAHAH... yeah.... buy a R32 golf, and thats it, (not) it costs a bucket to mod from stock, thats why people with R32's sell them for GTi's cause easier to get power out of them, re tune, bam. (the GTI is detuned ALOT from factory, mate gained 40kw from tune alone)

my mate owns a MK5 Golf GTI... as far as he said, the mk5 is a completely different car from the mk4, he said he had about 160kw at the wheels standard. he got a dump pipe, a ODENJER tune? ( i think, the tune cost $2500 AND its factory warranty covered) and he got some special divorce pipe, (apparently they dont run pnematic wastegate its electronic, he needed this pipe because it was bleeding off boost? i dunno)

either way, he got it re dyno'd, he is pushing 206kw at the wheels, and has a diff and exhaust comming from germany.

he ran a 13.4 quater mile down the strip, he wheel spins 1st, 2nd, 3rd gear with ease. smokes my S15, my mates VE SS commo with ease.

it has 1000000x better interior than my S15, and i have a GT spec so the interior is leather, and even with 4 people in the car, its pulls so hard.

on a rare instance, he got pulled over by the police, because they hear his "blow off valve" and tell him to pop the hood, they took one look, (all mods look factory, and the rocker cover covers the whole engine pretty much) and cop goes "huh.... f**kn germans.... off ya go"

99% of the time cops dont look twice at him.

as for mods, what, you pay $1400 for a power FC, and say $600 for a tune right? thats 2k for retune on your S15.

Golf GTI reflash, $2000-$2500, takes power from 160kw factory to 195ishkw, dump pipe and intake takes you over 200kw, and thats about 1k more, thats delivered, sure parts come from germany, so you wait a while, but so what.

costs the same money to get the S15 to 200kw anyway.

i say keep the Golf, id swap my S15 for one anyday.... BUT.... im talking MK5 GTi, as my mate said they are a completely better/ different car to the mk4."

**blue_reality** · 07-08-2009, 07:40 AM

Originally Posted by madglf3

You'd still have an S3 though wouldn't you? If I were in your shoes I'd get the S15 for the RWD action and something different, but I would only get it because I'd still have some VAG action in the form of the S3 when I get home.

I have an 05 Sportline at all times for some refined VAG cruising. The Audi S3 is a Mighty Mods car and must be shared

so I don't drive it a lot because either Marty or Gav has it. It lives in an underground high security car park. But you're right - I can drive it whenever I want.