Bockaaarck

Good pics, don't go having too much now! Really looking forward to the end of May more and more

Welcome on board calibre, sounds like you've got yourself a good car, bar a few niggles. Any issues, problems, needs for spares rest assured you'll find some good advice and great mechanical minds and quality traders here.

Welcome aboard Annie, sounds like you're really looking forward to enjoying the Zed, congratulations Have a good dig around the forum, there's loads of information to be had and the FAQ's are very helpful. The guys and girls on here will really help you with all the "Cleaning materials for a roadster hood" / "Which tyres suit the Zed best" / "Suggestions for some fun roads / good garage for servicing / I've heard this wierd noise from X kind of stuff. You've picked yourself a really good fun car, get out there and enjoy it!

A big +1 on the shed route in the circumstances I think. Looking at getting myself an Astra / Mondeo / Accord in the next few weeks. Mainly because I was previously commuting by train and I'd rather not put miles on the Zed just going to work. Think my budget will be around the £1K mark, should get a reasonable 10 year old runner for that kind of money and if it last's 2 - 3 years that'll do me fine.

Daryl, We tried some of the Martini Asti Spumante to get an idea of the flavour etc, it's quite sweet and light, puts you in the mood for summer. If something sweeter is likely to be something you'll both enjoy then I would go for Perrier Jouet Blason Rose Brut Champagne or the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rosé NV Champagne, although I know you said Veuve Clicquot is something you might not be so keen on. They are both good quality, good value and from very respected houses. If you can get a good deal on a bottle of Krug, Dom P or even Cristal (if you really want to 'blast off') then by all means go for it, if you want to spend the money.Whatever you choose I'm sure it will be fine. I think what really matters is what you're intending to do and say

Good for you and congratulations It can be a nightmare when you're trapped in a work situation or job in the kind of circumstances you've been in, well done for escaping. I bet a whole load of that pressure has been released already and more will follow, which will do you (and your loved ones) wonders. You'll jump in to this new role with such a positive attitude, sleeves rolled up ready to get stuck in and make a success of this new opportunity that you'll be amazed at what you'll achieve. It sounds like this could be one of the best decisions you've ever made. I wish you all the very best with it.

quality. I wondered for a moment if it might Will. I was thinking "Rosie's getting a few good runs out........and what does Will do when he's not driving Rosie ?......."

Good news indeed Stan, glad to hear the situation has improved and that she's back home

Spotted abour half one this afternoon, through the windows of the Stag and Hounds pub, as I was sipping on me diet coke

Spotted parked in the Robert McAlpine offices about half nine this morning as I was pulling in to the Lodge on the Park hotel. Looked gorgeous

No way there are some right old gits on here Now you're in trouble

I need it for next Friday. Yes it will be a special occasion. Okey doke That gives us all a couple of days for sampling and making some recommendations

Okey doke, there are some good suggestions that people have come up with, it now come's down to taste and that's the tricky part. Martini Asti Prosecco as a reference taste, when do you need to get this champagne for, I assume it's for a pretty special occasion?

Daryl, if you want a lovely bottle of 'shampoo' without flossing some mad loot I would recommend Pol Roger. If you don't mind spending £100 -£130 then you can get a nice Krug or Dom Perignon from Waitrose, as well as Krug / Dom 'specials' which are pricier. By way of a personal recommendation.... We seem to have got through quite a bit of it

Daryl, You can get Krug from Waitrose, they normally have two or three different kinds, ranging from about £130 upwards. It depends entirely what flavour and taste you think the people you're buying it for (yourself included) like. Personally I enjoy a drop of Krug but it does have to be for a reasonably special occasion. If we're just having a 'jolly' we buy Pol Roger, a favourite of Winston Churchill. It's got a clean, gentle 'biscuity' after taste and is reasonable at £32-£36 a bottle. Veuve Clicquot is very nice but I sometimes find it can be a little sharp, lovely in the summer. Moet is very overrated in my opinion and Bollinger isn't as good as it used to be.

Belated Birthday best wishes Ian!

1. Manager - Craig Bissett 1. Team - Sex Panter Motorsport 2. Manager - AsianUK (Dips) 2. Team - Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies 3. Manager - Struan Fredersdorff 3. MOY Industries

A big +1 on all this.

Will, she looks fantastic, what a beauty! I'll look forward to seeing her close up in May

Ah yes, you've made yourself a bit clearer, I think I know what you mean. Once you've driven something which is more driver focused and designed, like the Zed, it does change your perspective a bit. When I had to take my car in to have some body repairs done just over a year ago I had a year old Ford Fiesta as a courtesy car. I was glad to have it as I could still work, see clients, potter about etc. However; although I scooted around in it and it was ok. It was..... on reflection.......utterly 5h1t as a car in providing feedback, balance or a sense of being 'in touch' with the road. I think that's what you mean, a Mondeo / Vectra / Laguna etc, etc feels like a nice car until you drive a BMW, Porsche, MX-5, Impreza, Evo, Zed etc and then you realise you've been driving a jelly with a shrimp for a steering wheel, four wine gums as wheels and a panda pop as an engine.

I think your question is a slightly strange one, I'm trying to work it out. I'll try my best to give a response to what I think you've asked without being to 'round and about'. I've had my Zed for just over 2 years and I really enjoy it. It's got an amount of torque which makes driving it fun. It's got a balance which I enjoy, it handles well and is pretty predictable with enough 'arse wiggle' to put a smile on my face. It tears up to 70mph on the motorway without any difficulty or problems and I find it's pretty comfortable getting there. My zed currently runs about 293bhp, which for a 2003 car with new exhaust, plenum, Uprev etc I'm pretty happy with. More importantly I'm happy with that level of power and how the car applies / moves / works with it........for the car it is and how I drive it. For me those last few words are key. I've been very lucky to drive some great cars:- Gallardo, SL 55 AMG, AMV8 etc and they have all been fantastic in their own way. Certainly the Gallardo and SL55 had much more power, more poise, more theatre about them. However I never really got the chance to fully use any of that power. The odd blast here and there but all too often it would be over because they were so quick I'd run out of road, there'd be a bend, a junction, a blind crest, traffic or whatever. So despite all that power, all that extra grunt, I only got to use it sparingly although it was a great thrill when you got the chance. That's because most of the time I was doing 'normal' driving. Pootling along at 30mph in villages or towns, 40 / 50mph on A and B roads or 60 / 70mph on dual carriageways or motorways. Most of the time in the Zed, I am doing 'normal' driving, and travelling at 'normal' speeds. I enjoy driving the Zed at whatever speed to be honest, I certainly don't need all that power scooting around town doing the shopping. I guess this is where my real response is (finally). I drive normally most of the time, I don't use the full potential of the Zed each and every second I'm in it. I don't use that full 293bhp at every moment, squeezing every drop of performance out of it, wringing it's neck for every ounce of satisfaction. I can say that in the Zed I get better opportunities to enjoy more of the available power when I want it over driving the Lambo and the Merc and that for me is what it's about. For me the 'power' of the Zed will never become normal because I don't drive it at 'full tilt' all the time. Much like I didn't / couldn't with those other cars. When I get the chance to 'give it the beans' it's still great fun and that's one of the main reasons I decided to buy a Zed.

Inspirational guy, he's just got married, all the best to them both.

All done

l know what you mean

It shouldn't cause you any problems as long as you're not expecting to be travelling along at 40 mph in fourth and cross boxing straight in to second without having first reduced your revs (speed) appropriately. I'm sure the 370Z box is pretty sturdy so I wouldn't worry yourself too much. I quite enjoy having the opportunity when driving my 350z to rev match and change down / cross box. When you get it right it's very satisfying.