Japanese cars are some of the most popular cars in the world today. Toyota takes the lead, with Nissan following closely behind. Nissan cars are popular among those who are looking for a cheap, diverse, and versatile option for daily drivers. These aspects have also translated to sports cars as well.
Let's start by taking a look back at the history of Nissan vehicles in the U.S.
Nissan Cars
Nissan, alongside other Japanese cars, made their way into the United States in the early 1960s. It was during this time that they established their position as worthy adversaries. By the late 1960s, America was hit by one of the worst oil crises of all time. This was followed by new EPA regulations that were centered on emissions.
With all this happening, the big-block engines that were used in affordable American cars were done away with. During this unstable period, Japanese cars took hold of the car industry reigns and never looked back. Nissan was one of the few companies that made a large profit in the United States with cars like Datsun Fairlady.
The JDM culture did not just stop with the cars. It also translated to motorsport. Drifting was introduced to the American motorsport world in the late 1990s. Since then, it has gone on to become an intricate part of motorsport and even the entertainment world.
One of the most reputable drifting cars is the Nissan Silvia. To help you get a better understanding of what makes the Nissan Silvia a great drifting car, here is a detailed explanation.
A Spin With The Nissan Silvia
The Nissan Silvia is one of the many cars in the Nissan sports coupe line. This car is based on the Nissan S platform. The first time the world was introduced to this icon was back in 1965. The first-generation Nissan Silvia was in production for three years, from 1965 to 1968 when it was discontinued.
Seven years later in, 1975, Nissan brought back the Nissan Silvia. The second-generation was in production for twenty-seven years before it was discontinued in 2002. During its production years, this car went up against other Japanese icons such as the Mazda MX-6, the Honda Integra, and the Toyota Celica.
Powertrain and Drivetrain Of The Nissan Silvia
There is a lot that one has to think about before picking a drifting car. These include the weight of the car, the balance, and the drivetrain. While front-wheel-drive cars make for decent drifters, rear-wheel-drive cars are the best options.
Like many other drifting legends from Nissan, like the 350Z and the 370Z, this car features a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain. The power pushed to this drivetrain was drawn from different engine options throughout the years.
The Nissan Silvia 200SX S15, which is the most popular Silvia. It was in production from 1999 to 2002, which makes it the last model to be produced before the line was discontinued. This car came with two engine options.
These included a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-four (SR20DE) engine, and this engine was mated with a 5-speed or 6-speed manual transmission. The other engine option was a 2.0-liter DOHC Turbo inline-four (SR20DET) engine. This engine came paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. These variations in the engine meant that the power outputs were different too. The first engine option pushed 190-PSI and the other 250-PSI.
Nissan Silvia Pricing
If you are a drifter or if you know of the sport, then you know how much it costs to get or modify a car to become an ultimate drifter. Nobody, including veterans, will advise you to get a brand new Telsa or Lamborghini and strip them down to get a drifter. Not to say that this is impossible, but it is for sure impractical.
The Nissan Silvia comes with an affordable price tag range of $10,000 to $20,000, depending on its condition and mileage. However, because of Drift tax getting your hands on this beauty might be next to impossible, especially if you are living in the United States.
Aftermarket Parts Of The Nissan Silvia
Every gearhead knows that their car is an extension of themselves. Giving your car a personality adds to its character. As a drifter, you want to be in a position where you do not have to introduce yourself to people every time your car always speaks for you.
With the Nissan Silvia, you have a wide range of aftermarket parts that you can use to deck out your ride. This car has one of the biggest aftermarket parts industries in the world, from rims to decals, exhausts, and any other part you want.
Nissan Silvia Repair and Maintenance
Drifting has been banned in a couple of states in the US because of the danger it poses. When drifting, you are bound to crash at some point. A few dents and scratches are not reason enough for you to discard your ride.
The Nissan Silvia, like many Japanese cars it is a low maintenance car whose spare parts are not a headache to find. If you are in the drifting world, then you are in a community where people are open to sharing parts that you might need in your repair and maintenance. These parts are quite cheap compared to the parts on newer Nissan models.
If you cannot find the parts you need, you can get them online from Japan and have them shipped directly.