SimonKevNorris

It sounds like I should have tuned into Top Gear last weekend. I only saw a few episodes of the last series and managed to watch all of the TGT on the internet (where the joke of the celebs all dieing wore a bit thin after the second time they did it - I would have thought if they moved around the world they could have based more of the show in that country rather than they really could have been anywhere),

@GT Driver - thanks for that. I'm afraid when mechanicals (or gardening for that matter) I definitely have two thumbs if not three. I'm fairly sure that my 350Z is an HR as it was one of the last ones around at the end of 2008 (the dealership went from around £2k off to £7.2K off when I bought her - the next week they were £9.2K off then they stopped the offer). If you could get a recommendation about the indy route I would consider that. The Nissan Dealership I used before was very convenient - I could walk there in 20 minutes or if I was lazy (or the weather was crap) catch a bus. it's more about knowing that someone who knows what they are doing or cares about it more than the price (not that main dealers are guaranteed to meet either of those). I don't use the car that much as my desk in AIB Bankcentre is literally 15 minutes away (or less). Tyres are a lot cheaper now from when I first had my 350Z in 2008 (not that I needed replacement tyres for a year or more) I did get them slashed once when I was parked in Sunbury-on-Thames (off road in a parking area). Those RE050s sound a nightmare. When I bought my second 1.7 Puma (I killed the first one sadly) someone had put the cheapest and nastiest tyres on her. Even with a relative lack of power the first time in the wet was interesting.

Thanks for that.

Don't forget that he played Simon (the car dealer who pretended he was a secret agent) in True Lies. Another talent gone too soon.

I know that Barclays in Poole (Dorset) had a system in place that while you 'owned' (i.e. allocated) a car spot if you knew you were not going to be in the next day then you had to let someone know and that spot would be made available for someone on the list of 'waiters'. It was abused though - a number of people would just let a friend know and they would get the spot. No chance for me to park there as I was a contractor. Mind you I did not mind as Barclays had been asked to make the spaces available to the public on weekends (as the office was very close to central Poole) so they made all the parking bays smaller than the standard size so the public could not use them (I had a 1.7 Puma at the time) - a 350Z would be too large for the spot anyway.

My 350Z is overdue for a service. I'm currently based in Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland. When I had my MOT in the UK (Reading) before Xmas last year I was advised that I would need to change the front brake pads and replace the rear tyres. I know some owners are based in Dublin (thanks for the replies to the question on fuel) and I'd like to hear where you take yours. Previously, since new (2008) my car was serviced at the Nissan Dealership in Walton-on-Thames. Each time I've replaced tyres in the past I've kept the original make (Bridgestone?) I did read (in EVO magazine) that the car should be left on the original make and type of tyre.

Yes, my thoughts as well.

Out of interest - how old is the car and how many miles has it done?

Nice video - there were sections of the passes that I would not be able to do as I suffer from vertigo (so the drop off the side of the road would be hard for me to take). I've stayed in Lecco five or six times as part of my trip to Monza for the F1 race (usually around mid September). The last three occasions i drove my Puma 1.7 from the UK to there. The last time I went to Stelvio it was snowing at the top so I did not fancy going down the northern side (there were too many transit vans doing silly speeds and cutting the apex on the hairpins for my liking.

They posted earlier that they have 0 cash at the moment. If the car is OK without the engine I'd probably think about saving and getting a replacement engine - although I'm not sure how expensive or long such a search would take (the time delay could be used to save up but maybe with no car to drive).

OK, I will look for that then. My car is currently in an underground car park with the front (where the car's front is) fairly low. I don't think I've ever revved the engine very high - it's still low mileage - just over 22K miles and most of that was done in the past 12 months. OK, thanks for that. I think I'll still be happier when I can get some decent fuel for her. Until then I'll look for some additive and not go crazy in her.

I presume an HR was the final version (engine wise) of the 350Z? I'm fairly sure that it's the version with the most HP (standard). Is the only way to find out to look at something under the hood/bonnet? Will it be on a plate or is there some other way to tell? http://i.imgur.com/6uzxZ5b.jpg Thanks again

Thanks for that. There is one Topaz down the road from me (I'm in Ballsbridge) in Merrion Rd which is near St Vincent's Hospital. I've been in there before as on Sunday they do the jet wash for you. I'm fairly sure that I checked before - but I will do so again. There is a larger one at Mt Merrion that I pass coming back into Dublin. Thanks for that. I took my 350z up to Newry in December 2015 in order to get an MOT when I was in Dublin last. I did manage to get an MOT in Reading before I left the UK in mid December 2016 so I don't need to do that trip again until later in the year. I'll try the Topaz garages to see what they do - but I'll try and get an Octane Booster and drive carefully.

Thanks for that - my car was full when I came over here (suitcase in the passenger well and travel bag on the passenger seat) and the 'boot' was choker block (I'm glad I have a coupe). So, the only place for some jerry cans would be the roof in a roof box and I'm not even sure that would be possible to do.

I bought mine new in 2008 and it came in Twilight Grey - it's still that colour just a little dirty at the moment.

Yes, welcome. Leave some money in the bank for a speeding fine. I was lucky that in the first month I had mine I was doing over 100mph on the 6 Toll Road (the acceleration was a lot more than my 1.7 Puma) and got a NIP in the post. I sent that back and then nothing happened - this was back in 2008 as well!

I'm wondering it anyone can help me. I'm currently working in Dublin and I brought my 350Z over with me from the UK just before last Xmas. I bought the car new just before Xmas in 2008 when they were being heavily discounted (I bought a GT pack coupe for £7.5 K off the list price). I'm having trouble sourcing anything other than 95 Octane fuel over here. I know the 350Z needs 98 RON fuel. I was in the UK last year and even there I was driving between Shell and Tesco service stations for 98 or 99 (Tesco) fuel. I still have over half a tank of Shell but I need to fill it up in a month or so (I'm in about 15 minute walk from my apartment to my desk). I know it would be possible to source fuel in NI but I'd probably use 1/2 or a 1/4 tank getting back (plus the toll road around Dublin). I've yet to try the local Tesco here but I'm fairly sure that they won't sell 99 octane fuel, Is an additive the answer? Thanks in advance.

Looks like it was an enjoyable trip. When travelling in France make sure that you don't exceed the motorway speed limit by 30kph as you lose your license - if it's only you then your car is taken to the local police station and that's where it stays. This isn't from personal experience just from what some motoring journalists found a few years ago. I'm glad I read this before my last few trips over to Europe. When I was last over there I used the magnetic GB markers you can get now-a-days. When parked up remember to remove them and put them inside the boot as they have a habit of being collected (or falling off by themsleves). Just remember to stick them back on the outside before moving off - I forgot a few times but was never picked up on it.

I would be interested in a set of these. Please send details.

I think part of the problem of different tyres front and rear is that it's possible that the grip levels could be different - I would then assume that this could result in a change of balance to the car.

You have to be very careful with the temperature of the water - I used to have tepid bath water which I put on my car's windscreen (a number of years ago). In the end there was one morning where the water wasn't cold enough and I got a crack in the windscreen. I get the feeling that water at 'room temperature' would be good enough for the job. However with my past experience I won't be putting water anywhere near my 350Z's windscreen. I will be using de-icer! Does everyone use de-icer on the door windows to allow them to open? I've taken my car out a few times in the evening and I don't really like to hear that 'crack' as I open the door...... I was fortunate last year that I was working away from home during the winter and my car was in an underground carpark overnight so I never had these problems. Not so this year as my car is parked outside off-road.

Also keep an eye on your speed - it's very easy to pick up speed in a 350Z and the police like them!

Isn't it the Clio that has a problem getting the bulbs changed on the front headlights? I think it's very hard to get to them. There appears to be an access panel inside the wheel well.

Yes, there's noting worse than parking your car with a lot of space either side to come back to it and ifnd someone else parked next to you and you just know thatg when they opened the door they hit your car. You can only do something if you catch them in the action and even then they will deny it..... I do my shopping at very odd times at night just to avoid the idiots. I once had a hire car in Perth Australia, when I returned from shopping I found the rear bumper hanging off - it had clearly been hit quite hard...... No note either.

Is the truck very light in the rear? I know in Australia with Utes (Utility Trucks / Pickups) the joke was always to put a bag of cement at the rear of the tray to give some traction..... I knew some people who owned V8 Utes a while ago. I guess anyone who saw Top Gear over the weekend now know what a Ute is. I was just a bit peeved to hear Jeremy call Bathurst: 'Barthurst'. There is only one 'r' in Bathurst......