2001 Nissan Silvia Spec-R (S15) — Blue

Spec-R is the S15 to have, and this 2001 example had the parts that earn the badge: the six-speed manual instead of the five, a helical limited-slip diff on the rear axle, and the SR20DET turbo four rated at 250 PS and 275 Nm. Blue paint, 107,601 km on the odometer when it came through us, two doors, rear-wheel drive.

The mileage lands about where you'd expect for a car of this age that was driven rather than stored, and the gearbox alone makes the Spec-R worth holding out for over a Spec-S if you plan to use the car the way Nissan intended. It works on a track day and on the commute home, and it doesn't need anything doing to it to be fun. Blue is also a rarer sight than the white and silver cars, which didn't hurt its case.

Repair history not recorded for this vehicle.

• Chassis: S15
• Engine: SR20DET 2.0L turbocharged inline-4
• Power: 250 PS
• Torque: 275 Nm
• Transmission: 6-speed manual
• Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive with helical LSD
• Body: 2-door sports coupe
• Exterior Color: Blue
• Mileage: 107,601 km