gingrrr

the worst thing is that it does not have a Nismo kit - the best thing is it's colour...

( also I hate having to have a front number plate - I might get a sticker number plate )

OK so the last time I went surfing I got my mate to bring his soft rack and we did a quicky test ( although I did not drive anywhere )

We put two boards on top of my Zed to test for size really.

I also tried to get the Circle One fish tail short board inside which was successful.

The boards were an NSP 8'1" MiniMal, and the Circle One short board which I think was about 6'9.

Oh and BTW - this is where Jeremy Clarkson drove to in the Mercedes in the first episode of the current series of Top Gear. ( When he ran out of land ) He managed to park on the edge of the cliff ( which is National Trust

). I drove a similar route back from Rhosilli to Manchester across the middle of Wales ( fantastic )

The photo set on Flickr

Mini-mal in roughly the right spot

Mini-mal in roughly the right spot

Mini-mal too far forward

Short Board inside from boot

Short Board inside

If you fold your wing mirrors in when going at speed it helps a bit.

 

Are you serious?

Naah not really, but I did try it once for a few miles on a quiet motorway. You get lots of wind noise when you do it though.

It makes about 1/10 of a mile per gallon difference.

It's probably good that England did not get into the footy though - as those flags people whack onto their cars would have sucked up more petrol and made petrol even more expensive.

I'll come to the next one.

That car park is the first place people head to if it snows in Manchester.

This was my old bug in Costco car park in the snow...

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo/full?photo_id=43978756

Now that I have a Zed though - who needs snow to drift about.

Hi,

I only saw one 350z this weekend when I went to South Wales on a surfing trip to Rhosili and Llangenith.

It was in Swansea and apeared to have a cool bodykit and tinted widows.

If it was you, I waved from my 'Burn' Orange stock Zand you waved back

( that's just my name for it )

I decided to drive North, avoid the motorway and drive through the Brecon Beacons. I think Wales is still ringing to the sound of my exhaust, and despite the epic drive I managed not to kill any sheep ( next time I'm going to take some mint sauce just in case )

I managed to drive for many miles through the hills without getting slowed down by a Volvo. The roads were mostly dry, but became very wet in the Valleys. I helped road safety by driving over them fast enough to evaporate most of the water. A couple of those cattle grids scared me a little.

On the way there, there were two cameras on bridges on the M4 - I hope I don't get in trouble. On the way back I got back on the motorway at Chester - stuck it on Cruise at 70mph and got up to 39mpg ( downhill ), because I have realised that getting banned is not really any good if you need your car to work etc.

tape!!! what's one of those?

Dude - you bought a car with a 'Tape Drive" in - did you forget?

If you fold your wing mirrors in when going at speed it helps a bit. Notice they are quite aerodynamic folded in. Who are you looking at anyway?

( I should replace those air catchers with cameras, and put a screen where the satnav normally goes)

I can't help thinking that the big number plate mount on the front throws out some of the aerodynamics - it would probably be better to have the number plate on a sticker.

Also those Scooby Doos and TTs that suddenly appear next to you and want to try and burn you off don't help much.

( It'd be rude not to oblige them by showing them your exhausts. )

You almost need a sign saying >>

Yes my car is much faster than yours - I am not racing you today... and the next time you pull up at the lights throw them a fiver to show them how much you have saved by not racing them.

Top Gear's new series ( 11 ) first show was funny last night - where they put a gallon of fuel into loads of supercars and raced them until they ran out of petrol. ( 1.7 miles for the Ferrrari I think )

Just noticed that My Fair Lady is on on BBC 1 now

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Fair_Lady

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Z-car

This system could be OK, but it's going to scratch your roof, and it will impede your curtain airbag if you decide to use it.

http://www.handirackuk.com/FAQ.asp

I use an Apple Airport Extreme, although have used Belkin ( lifetime warranty ) and Linksys.

The Linksys was great and looked good, the Apple can take a USB drive or be a Hub for a printer and has great range.

Oh yeah I also owned an Apple Airport Express which you could hang a printer off, and also had an optical and normal Audio output for playing music through your hifi.

I did also own an original Airport, but that got stuffed by a lightning strike on my house.

I always fancied a van.

Here is the 'new' concept though.

Looks like it's not coming out though.

http://www.vwsites.com/news/microbus.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen ... us_Concept

I am quite excited as Top Gear starts tonight [ 8pm Sunday 22nd June ]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/seriespreview.shtml

Also this page shows you which cars are faster and which slower than your stock 350z.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/powerlaps.shtml

PS I am the Stig.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/swf/topgear_videopromo.swf

When I was looking for a Z I considered imports and this Import Dealer was installing LPG int 350Zs - but when I went down I forgot to ask where the tank went.

He said he'd never had any problems, but I actually spent a bit more and bought a UK spec Z.

I asked Nissan and they said they would have to approve the converter/conversion so that it did not void the warranty.

( you might get a different answer off different people though )

http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/ ... 6&pageid=2

Doh! looks like I -

a) should not have sold my Bug ( for cheaps )

have unwittingly given up surfing.

I might have to buy a cheap van as well. Oh woe is me!

Cool! Welcome!

I am a new owner too. 3 days. I am going to get Z badges first of all - I like subtle - although mines the Orange signature colour.

( SOLVED - SEE MUCH LATER IN THIS THREAD page 2 )

http://www.350z-uk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=14718&start=15

I need a Surf Board rack for my 350z.

It needs to be a real roof rack / ladder rack, I do not want a soft rack.

( Soft racks get sand caught in between them and your roof and should only be used on hire cars IMHO ).

Thule seem to offer one, but the images are so bad it's difficult to work out how it attaches. And this website don't answer questions.

http://www.autoanything.com/roof-racks/20A52095A1.aspx

If anyone has any info or good images that would be good.

Any 350z surfers out there?

I also found this info

http://sg.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 004AAyWxwL

Wow there's alot to take in here - thanks.

I am in Altrincham FYI.

I hope to get more than 700 miles out of a set of tyres!

I will post some pics as soon as I get some time - mine is stock, but I am going to get Z badges to replace the Datsun ones.

PS I have used half a tank since delivery on Tuesday and already have a stone chip and a windscreen chip.

I went through a period of oh-my-god – this'll kill me to death.

I get followed by police and everyone wants a race.

Thanks for making me feel warmly welcome.

Hmm! I might go out for a drive

Regards

Steve

I need a surf rack - Thule seem to make one but their images are so bad I can't work it out whether it's juat a soft rack or not. ( which I don't want as they scratch your paint )

Yes sorry I was not specific enough.

I will check they are the same - side to side, I am sure they are the same brand, size and newness.

I always try to buy 2 tyres at the same time if I can - so that they have the same wear so as to not 'wig out' the computer.

At this level of car you need to be sure.

Thanks guys, I have Potenzas and they are newish, I know I can't wang it around a corner, but still it's going to be a learning curve.

I was always a good technical driver, but this car raises the bar towards supercar.

My last car was a New Beetle which was prone to understear, but you could still have fun on corners.

The car before was a 1303s 25 year old bug ( which I could twitch the back end out on occasionally - but not much with it's foot wide tyres ).

I'd like to get some instruction at a race track at some point.

Cheers guys.

Steve

When I am accelerating hard, and sometimes not too hard it feels like I have bumped off the kerb, but I get out and there are no scratches on the wheels or tyres. I think it's when I am going around a long sweeping bend and accellerating hard. ( dry or wet road )

I think this is the traction control - which make it feel like I go sideways for a split second. It's quite a jolt.

Is this what is happening?

I have only owned my orange 350z GT UK version 04 reg for two days, so am slightly confused, a bit scared of crashing it but loving it's looks performance and engine sound.

( BTW it's faster than an Audi TT Quatro Sport )

Can't wait for the new series of Top Gear.