[SamusFarron]

Most for sale are going to pop up on autotrader. If you want a 2015+ example there are usually only about 6-12 examples for sale at any given time ranging from about 18k-25k.

You'll likely have to travel to get one unless you get lucky. I would try to buy one that hasn't been heavily modified if possible. Intake and exhaust and all that are fine but as with any car like this buying one that's had tons of work done and a super aggressive tune can be an major gamble and possible mess to have to clean up. You don't know how quality what they did was, or what kind of tune it was, etc. If you want to do all that stuff it needs to be YOU who does it. My friend bought a used RS and it was a mess that needed and still needs work because the previous owner was a moron.

Good luck hunting. Also don't get in an accident, some of the RS specific suspension components are now apparently nearly impossible to get. You want full coverage insurance with a good company who isn't going to hassle you about the cars quirks if work needs to be done. If you get the AWD version change the CVT fluid immediately upon getting it.

They are great, wildly underrated cars. I'm still amazed how hard I can take corners sometimes, and the styling turns heads. Also these might literally be the rarest affordable cars ever lol. Total unicorns that rolled off lots for 29k. Kinda cool and totally unheard of.

 

[JukeAholic]

You might want to consider a 2014 and earlier Nismo 6-speed. They have the same engine (only difference is around 2psi more boost in the tune) and a transmission that is readily available (RS 6 speeds are a nightmare to get). Looks wise, the difference is some cool RS badges, more expensive but way less comfortable seats, and some random carbon fiber trim.

 

[Ccook42]

Thank you for both of your comments. I am indeed only interested in the manual transmission - I am unsure how I managed to forget to add this in the original post.

I have been perusing the forum off and on for several years now and I am intimately familiar with the most prominent issues that the Juke has - e.g., the somewhat fragile nature of Nissan's CVTs.

JukeAholoic, the Nismo RS also has other differences with the Nismo, for instance a limited slip rear differential. That being said, maybe the right Nismo would probably also suffice.

 

[Macgyver]

I would not hesitate to get a Nismo over an RS if it was in way better shape. The LSD on the RS is mediocre and 1st and 2nd gears are almost useless compared to a regular Nismo trans.

 

[FastReligion]

Thank you for both of your comments. I am indeed only interested in the manual transmission - I am unsure how I managed to forget to add this in the original post.

I have been perusing the forum off and on for several years now and I am intimately familiar with the most prominent issues that the Juke has - e.g., the somewhat fragile nature of Nissan's CVTs.

JukeAholoic, the Nismo RS also has other differences with the Nismo, for instance a limited slip rear differential. That being said, maybe the right Nismo would probably also suffice.

Get a nismo or a sub nismo model. It will costs less, and for the money you didn't spend on the RS badge, you can make the sub RS models perform better. Unless your making big power, or racing the car, the LSD will not effect how the car drives every day, or if your ripping around a canyon road. If the diff is the big thing for you, you can swap out to a wavetrac for relatively cheap if you can do the removal of the trans yourself. As mentioned above; the gear ratio in the RS really isn't that great.

More things to note with the RS: The axles are NOT AVAILABLE at all right now. Not from nissan, not from aftermarket. You have to go with $2000 upgraded ones if you want new axles. The RS seats ALWAYS rip and get ruined, just the nature of the tall vehicle mixed with the tall bolstering, so if you like the seats, get ready to re-upholster them. The RS tune is barely different than the sub RS models. At $900 custom dyno tune will net you more power stock to stock than the RS. The stuff about the RS having better internals is just nissan advertising junk. I have personally taken RS and sub RS engines apart side by side. Everything is the same. Rods, bearings, pistons. All the same. Part numbers have recently been updated by nissan to prove this to be true. Engine bearings are the same part numbers for ALL Jukes. As for the "upgraded oil pump", the only oil pump I have ever seen fail on a Juke, was in a 70k mile RS. So, take that as you will.

Another thing on the topic of the seats: They are not comfortable. That's not objective; they literally aren't comfortable. I have seen two RS Jukes where the owner didn't add some sort of extra support or padding themselves. They are racing seats. Hard, unforgiving, tight fitting racing seats. The Nismo seats are comfortable, offer loads of lateral support, and don't wear out like the RS seats. I have several customers who do auto-x and track days with nismo's and they work fine.

At the end of the day its up to you on what you want to buy. So. If you can find an RS manual, go for it! If you cant (they only made a little over 8000 of them if I recall correctly), then grab a sub RS six speed and have at it.

 

[Ccook42]

Get a nismo or a sub nismo model. It will costs less, and for the money you didn't spend on the RS badge, you can make the sub RS models perform better. Unless your making big power, or racing the car, the LSD will not effect how the car drives every day, or if your ripping around a canyon road. If the diff is the big thing for you, you can swap out to a wavetrac for relatively cheap if you can do the removal of the trans yourself. As mentioned above; the gear ratio in the RS really isn't that great.

More things to note with the RS: The axles are NOT AVAILABLE at all right now. Not from nissan, not from aftermarket. You have to go with $2000 upgraded ones if you want new axles. The RS seats ALWAYS rip and get ruined, just the nature of the tall vehicle mixed with the tall bolstering, so if you like the seats, get ready to re-upholster them. The RS tune is barely different than the sub RS models. At $900 custom dyno tune will net you more power stock to stock than the RS. The stuff about the RS having better internals is just nissan advertising junk. I have personally taken RS and sub RS engines apart side by side. Everything is the same. Rods, bearings, pistons. All the same. Part numbers have recently been updated by nissan to prove this to be true. Engine bearings are the same part numbers for ALL Jukes. As for the "upgraded oil pump", the only oil pump I have ever seen fail on a Juke, was in a 70k mile RS. So, take that as you will.

Another thing on the topic of the seats: They are not comfortable. That's not objective; they literally aren't comfortable. I have seen two RS Jukes where the owner didn't add some sort of extra support or padding themselves. They are racing seats. Hard, unforgiving, tight fitting racing seats. The Nismo seats are comfortable, offer loads of lateral support, and don't wear out like the RS seats. I have several customers who do auto-x and track days with nismo's and they work fine.

At the end of the day its up to you on what you want to buy. So. If you can find an RS manual, go for it! If you cant (they only made a little over 8000 of them if I recall correctly), then grab a sub RS six speed and have at it.

Thank you for the suggestions - I am very much appreciative. I think I've always liked the look of seeing a car with bright red sport seats inside... maybe flashy seats are something for a distant future purchase, then...

 

[SamusFarron]

I still think it's worth getting a Nismo RS. I've had no issue with my RS seats, they still look like new after over 7 years. And the RS also adds chassis bracing and of course mainly a stiffer suspension. I've never had the desire to modify the suspension on mine because it's so great out of the box, and it's a big step up over regular Jukes - that is pretty apparent when pushing the car.

The RS has a lot of changes over the Nismo and almost all of them are IMO worth it if you just want something that rips out of the box.

 

[FastReligion]

The "chassis bracing" its just a few bits of metal added onto existing mounts on the car, and having driven both rs and none-rs variants pretty hard, I can promise you its all mental. The suspension is sportier for sure, but not $5-7,000 more than a nismo sportier. As for the seats, that means you take care getting in and out of them. 99% of people don't, so they get ruined pretty quick. Most of the RS's that come through the shop here have wear of some kind on the bolstering.

 

[Ccook42]

I'm feeling as though I am being persuaded toward a Nismo... Heated seats would also be nice up here in Michigan...

 

[Macgyver]

Nismo.......

I have a RS.

 

[JukeAholic]

I'm feeling as though I am being persuaded toward a Nismo... Heated seats would also be nice up here in Michigan...

If you do end up looking at Nismo, just keep in mind that the newer models, i believe 2015 and up, have the V2 engine...which is a pain to do anything to.