The base car for this family is the Nissan Silvia, and it is sold in Japan and possibly other parts of South-East Asia under this name. Basically, this is a rear wheel drive two-door "personal sports coupe" powered by a 4 cylinder DOHC engine. Differences in the models will be covered in another section.
S10
S11 & S110
According to Alan Marr, the Nissan rotary was a 1000cc twin-rotor design. With a 4 barrel carburettor, it was similar to the 10A Mazda engine
The S110 had an FJ20E when sold in Japan as a Silvia and an L20 when sold in North America as a 200SX
S12
S13
In Japan, trim levels were J's, Q's and K's K's are generally turbocharged although I am told it was possible to order a normally aspirated K's but this would be unusual.
Export market cars have pop-up lights (which makes them RS or RPS13's), while the domestic cars have fixed rectangular lights.
When the S14 was introduced, the S13 was renamed a PS13 "180SX" (with pop-up lights) and continues to be sold in Japan.
Chassis
Numbering on S13's (thanks to Jon for this)
89-91 Silvia: S13 (1.8)
91-93 Silvia PS13 (2.0)
Early 1.8 litre 180SX: RS13
Later 2.0 litre 180SX: RPS13
S14
Introduced 1993. New styling. Pop-up lights disappeared in all markets. SR20DET engine gets Nissan's variable valve timing. HICAS not available on export turbos, but was available on the 240SX SE. Coupe styling only. (no hatch or convertible) Rear badges are highly polished and on the right side.
Japanese trim levels are J's Q's & K's as per the S13. Export models had two or three levels depending on the destination. All except North America get SR20DET only.
In Japan, Turbo cars get a 3-gauge cluster under the radio with Oil Pressure, Boost and Voltage gauges. Export cars do not.
S14a (S141)
Introduced December 1996. Characterised by the "flatnose" front styling and a gunmetal Nissan badge on the rear. On the rear, the "200SX" badge moved to the left side, and the script changed slightly. (I don't know why...) Mechanically, there are a few slight changes. The boost sensor was removed, you can see where it used to take off from the intercooler pipe near the battery. Rear suspension pick-up points were modified. The S14 used basically the same lower arm as the S13, but the S14a uses wider bushes.
In late 1998 the Australian cars lost the Climate A/C.
S15
Two models, Spec-S and Spec-R.
Power output of the updated SR20DET in Japan and NZ is around 186KW (250HP) for the manual and 164KW (220HP) for the Auto. Australian delivered cars remain at 147KW.
A 6-speed manual transmission is available on turbo models. In Australia, manual versions get the Helical LSD (from the R34 GT-R) and Autos retain the Viscous LSD. Other markets Spec-S gets the Viscous while Spec-R gets the Helical.
Australian cars do not get Climate A/C, boost gauge (Damn!) or the rear wiper.
Black added in place of Shiraz in the Australian line-up. Limited quantities of yellow cars are available.
Try the factory web page here for a closer look at the car.
Here's the New Zealand-spec brochure For what it's worth, this is basically a translation of the Japanese brochure.
Australian web page is here
S16
Due in 2003...
The "Sil80"
The "Sileighty" or "Sil80" which was largely an S13, but with the rear end styling from the PS13 180SX. This is what one correspondent had to say:
"...in Japan people kept smashing the front ends of their 180SXs when they were drifting... into mountains or whatever. simply put, the S13 Silvia front end was cheaper than a 180SX front so they put the Silvia fronts on as a temporary fix. this caused a craze in Japan and it was basically the look in Japan for young people. Nissan had been observing that many of their 180's have been going around with Silvia fronts, and (for an unknown reason) they built a hybrid and released it in 1994. this hybrid was known as the "SILEIGHTY", which is exterior-wise just a PS13 with an S13 front end. changes went further though, with changes to camshafts and the ECU, which gave roughly 16~18Kw more (not sure about how much more torque) than both the Silvia and 180SX. also, the suspension was tweaked for drifting purposes. Genuine Sileighty's are snap-tail happy, given too much power thru a corner will result in a drift, maybe a spin if you try too hard... Nissan only made about 400 genuine and documented examples, just about all were snapped up upon their release. now at auctions they apparently go for as much as immaculate R32 skyline GT-Rs"
Extending this idea to the next stage, why not take a 180SX nose, and put it onto an S13 Silvia? Apparently it's not that hard to do (if you have both). The result is sometimes called a "One-via"
And of course the newest oddity is the SIl1580 (180SX with an S15 nose). This is not a factory product, but kits are available from a number of Japanese styling houses.
S15:
There are 2 trim levels
Spec-S: Airbag, ABS, Helical LSD (Manual, Viscous on Auto) are standard.
Spec-R: Add Sunroof, side skirts and rear-spoiler.
S14:
There are 3 trim levels
Limited This is the base car As of June 1997, Driver's Airbag, LSD and A/C are standard
Sport Add ABS, CD-Player, Leather steering wheel & gear knob (manual), rear spoiler
Luxury Add Passenger Airbag, Sunroof, Side skirts, Front spoiler, Front fog lights, Climate Control
A/C (until 1999), 6-speaker audio
UK
S14:
SR20DET engine used in Japan (turbo models) and Australia. There are two trim levels
Base ABS, Drivers airbag, LSD, Alarm
Touring Add Leather interior, Air Conditioning, Passenger A/B, Add Side skirts and front spoiler.
S13:
Either CA18DET or SR20DET engines depending on time of delivery.
Europe
S13:
Japan
A small number of S14a shells were sold on the domestic market after the
introduction of the S15. These were called a "200SX" There
was at least a "Type-X" but I have no hard data on them.
The PS13 180SX is based on the older S13 platform.
USA
In late 1998 the 240SX and 200SX were withdrawn from sale in the USA pending the release of the Skyline-based 250Z
in 2000.
"The WRX they built with their heads, and the Type R with with their
hearts. The 200SX gets the right amount of both"
"The best sports car under $55,000" NRMA, 1996, 1997
"A hugely involving car to drive, making the driver feel one with his machine," enthused Ellis.
"It's very together," added Hawley, while McConville reckoned "it was a very good all-round
package" and Newton said "he could happily own it".
While it's styling is understated, its performance is anything but. It is swiftness by stealth.
The lag-less turbocharged 2.0-litre engine creates 147 very useable kilowatts and works well
with the chassis to provide rapid, relentless and reliable performance. This was evidenced
by second-best grin points, quarter time, and equal-second top speed with the V8 Commodore
SS. It's enough to make die-hard Aussie muscle purists choke on their meat pies.
But while it was a healthy performer in the performance disciplines, in the accounting
equation it bombed, and that's why it couldn't better fifth place.
Its headlights, front guard and rear bumper are the most expensive out of this group of
six, and naturally enough insurance companies penalise owners of turbocharged two-door
sports cars. Add a hefty $1360 to replace a set of 16-inch Yokie A028 rubber and the neat
Nissan, while delivering good thrills, does so at a price in the long term. Finishing
fifth isn't a fail in this class; it merely serves to underline the competitive and
diverse nature of performance available to those with less than $45,000 to spend. There is a group of owners who get together in Sydney from time to time
(usually breakfast and check out each other's cars), Let
me know if you're interested. A Melbourne club is starting up. Contact Chris
for more details
An Australian S13 Owner's list has started. Details can be found at http://www.egroups.com/list/nissans13/
A Swedish owners site is up and running. You can find it at http://www.200sx.nu/
Please let me know if you'd like your club included in this list.
There was a limited edition S13 convertible, a few hundred cars were built by the factory to use up the
last of the S13 coupe shells. All of the original cars were painted "Royal Blue", and had the fixed headlights
of the Silvia, rather than the 180SX/240SX (PS13) pop-ups. There have been
several conversions. The Autech
package being the most common in Japan at least
In the US, there was an S13 240SX convertible. According to information I received, these were based on the coupe
and actually converted at Nissan's North American facility. It is
distinguishable by the pop-up lights, being left-hand drive and having a 240SX
badge.
There was no "factory" S14 convertible (or hatch for that matter).
I am told there have been some private conversions done but the only one I have
ever seen was for the movie "Into the Red"
When the S15 was released, there was only a coupe, but recently Nissan has
introduced the "Silvia Convertible" or "Varietta", which was
developed by Autech. Mechanically, the car uses the SR20DE engine with a
choice of 5-speed manual or 4-speed auto transmission. No word on it's
export status at this stage.
S14:
SR20DET engine used in Japan (turbo models) and Australia. Trim levels vary
depending on the market.
Either CA18DET or SR20DET engines depending on time of delivery.
Called a "Silvia". Current model is S15 Choice of 2.0l normally aspirated (SR20DE) or turbo (SR20DET) engine.
Trim levels have been reduced from 3 in the S14 (J Q and K) to 2 (Spec S & Spec R).
S13 and S14:
The car sold in the USA as a 200SX is derived from the Sentra (Pulsar), and is not the same as the rest of the world. The car I am
referring to is sold in the USA as a 240SX. It features a normally-aspirated 2.4l
KA24DE engine.
There are two trim levels
Base 15" Steel wheels
SE/LE 16" Alloy wheels, Fog lamps, Rear spoiler, chrome exhaust tips, A/C
1.5 What others say about the car
"2001 Performance Car of the Year" , Motor Magazine
Wheels Magazine, December 2000
Modern Motor - "Bang for your buck 1997", July 1997
1.6 What about owner's clubs?
There is an internet-based club in the US. It's web-site is http://www.240sx.org These
folks also maintain a mailing list which is full of useful information.
1.7 What about the convertible?
This is a pretty vexing question, especially if you happen to live there. When the S13 was introduced to the North American Market, Nissan North America chose not to import cars with the turbocharged engines (CA18DET or SR20DET).
Still needing good performance they selected the KA24E 2.4 litre engine used in the Bluebird (Altima) and a couple of commercial vehicles. At 130HP it was not slow, and when updated to the 155HP KA24DE engine performance improved even further.
But the question remains, why? Several reasons have surfaced, and the truth is that it is probably a combination of these and other factors which led to the birth of the 240SX:
The KA24E engine costs less that the CA18DET and produced similar power. This is not quite as compelling when looking at the SR20DET.
A 200SX with similar performance to a normally aspirated 300ZX but at a much lower price would have cannibalised sales of both 300ZX variations. The TT was sold only in Japan and North America, so elsewhere this was not a concern.
At the time of introduction, "Premium" (RON higher than 93) was rare in North America. California and Florida were key markets, and with the high temperatures, detonation would be a real problem, not to mention poor performance.
In the later years, common parts with the Altima (Bluebird) kept spares pricing down for this low-volume car.
If anyone's got anything on it, please let me know