Bockaaarck

I hope so Steve, I'm trying to be really good at the moment. I need to get the Zed tidied up over the next few months. Get the wheel arch liners done, get the oil gallery gaskets changed, get the clutch / flywheel sorted and should probably get a partial re-spray done too. The AMG won't get used as a daily, I'd like to keep it as tidy and sorted as possible. I've been very, very tempted by a couple of other cars recently, but I'm desperately trying to resist!

Oh god, don't tempt me!

Lucky to find one in such good condition really. It's a great car, just solid and well made. Makes you feel like you're getting what you pay for. They only made 4600 of this model worldwide. There are only about 130 in the UK, and some of those will be the estate version. I didn't appreciate how rare it is when I bought it. I also like the fact it has paddles on the steering wheel for when I want to drive a bit more manual. Very happy with it so far

I have a V5, V6 and V8, so there's only one logical step Bhav

I realised I hadn't put up any pics of this since I bought it a couple of months ago, for anyone who's interested in having a look. It wasn't really something I was looking to buy to be honest. I was browsing a few car sites, as I guess most of us do, in particular Pistonheads. I came across a carpool article written by a guy who had an estate version of the C55. It sounded like a really decent car, fairly rare and just a little different. So I did a quick search just out of interest to see whether there were any out there, just to be nosey. Crazily, a garage 6 miles from me had one, so I thought I would go and have a nose at it, just for interest really. So I got there and had a look, 2006, full MB history, just over 60,000 miles, Obsidian black, really very tidy indeed. A local car, owned by someone just 15 miles away, who'd very much looked after it. Best of all, the hand built 5.4 litre V8 under the bonnet. I organised a test drive for the following Tuesday and had a think for a couple of days. Test drive day comes along and I get a chance to really get a sample of the car. It is very well engineered ergonomically, the buttons are where they should be. The driving position is great and the seats are very comfortable, great cruising material. So of we go head out for a half hour drive. Its nice, very nice, for a saloon car its easy to position and place. It holds the road well and inspires confidence, a solid reassuring presence when driving 'day to day', very nice. We manage to find a couple of clear roads and make a bit of progress (up to the designated speed limit). As soon as I hit the 'Moo Pedal', she launches forward, no noticeable delay, not even a hunkering down of the the suspension, she just goes.....and goes......and goes........I quite like this Now I didn't go there intending to buy it, it was just to take a look. However as soon as I saw it, saw the condition and the service history, the mileage and the price, I was tempted. Certainly once I'd had the test drive I thought "this is too much car to let slip...I need to buy this". So when i got back to the garage I said to the owner, what can you do on the price?. We agreed a figure, paid a deposit and then a few days later, I transferred the funds to him and paid for the car. He told me once I put the deposit down that some other guy had phoned up the morning of my test drive wanting to drive / put a deposit on the car. He'd told him he had a test drive booked and he wouldn't deal with him until I'd had a drive and let him know what I thought. He told me he'd had 3 or 4 other people look at the car and arrange test drives for later in the week also. So it certainly seems there was some keen interest in the car, and I'm not surprised. Its not a supercharged V8, so only has the 367bhp, but that's plenty for the moment. I may pop a kleeman supercharger and headers on it at some point, but that's expensive. It really is a pleasure to drive, 0-60 is officially the 5 second mark, but I know it will get there in 4.7-ish. That makes it plenty quick enough for me for the moment. So for a car I never intended to buy, I'm very happy with it. I'm impressed with the AMG quality, the engineering is superb, the finish is fantastic. The subtle growl as you pop your foot on the moo pedal is intoxicating. So many Mercs seem to have AMG styling these days its sometimes difficult to know what is and isn't an AMG, rather than AMG styled. I like the fact that it just looks like an ordinary C class. It's a little bit of a Q car in its own way. It's also nice to know that if anyone asks who built my engine, I can tell them. Thanks Torsten Wesel, you've done a grand job.

Really sorry to hear this news James. Your Zed has been one of my favourites since I joined the forum over six years ago. I really hope you have an opportunity to get this sorted without it being too costly. Really good to see you back on the forum, although not in the best of circumstances.

Mine's a Sept 03 JDM and its in the lower tax bracket. My car has already had the conversion from KMH to MPH when I bought it so it should exceed the 112 mph limit.Although I can't imagine any circumstances when it would be necessary to find out whether it did. My JDM Zed seems to have been the 'Touring' configuration. I haven't found and disadvantage to having a JDM import

Congratulations, you've got a great car there. If you keep it well service it'll go on forever. Be mindful in the wet, as the the Zed can be a bit twitchy when 'pushing on' if the road is greasy. I mention that partly because you have the mismatched tyres front n rear.

Congratulations, you'll have a great time in Bath. Hopefully you'll get a chance to go to the Spa (late tonight / early doors tomorrow). You're spoilt for choice in terms of places to eat and drink in town too. Have a great time away

When things like this happen, not that I 'plan' to find myself in the same kind of circumstances (but you never know). It reminds me even more to really savour every moment that I have on this earth. I don't necessarily just mean in a desperately "YOLO" kind of way, like going to Japan earlier this year. I also mean the simple things, like yesterday, when I was in the lounge watching the sun reflect of the rain as it poured down. It was beautiful watching it cascade down. Fingers crossed I (as will you all) will have a long, relatively healthy and comfortable life. While I have the chance, I'm more determined to try and do or see as many things as I'm interested in as I can. If you're wondering whether you should go and see your relatives in Oz. Or whether you should get to the gym and get training. Or even if you think you should change jobs, get a dog or move to a different part of the country or world, I would say this. Life's too bloody short, which I am becoming more conscious of day by day, get on with it and do something that makes you happy

Good work Andy

All the best Andy, take it steady and all the best with it

Welcome aboard George, great looking Zed, particularly the colour.

Welcome aboard Grahame, that's a terrific looking Zed. Looks like you've made a very good purchase there

Speed kills then? Inappropriate speed for the road conditions, fitted tyres, car maintenance / condtion, other road activity and circumstances, as well as car or driver capability seemingly can Dan

A sad and waste of life

I don't like to make assumptions, but in this case I will make a suggestion. They may well have been through locations / passed / overtaken other vehicles travelling along that road / series of roads and people may have felt able to estimate speeds, either in an official or non-official capacity. In any case, it doesn't change anything. Sadly they are both dead, which is very sad

Was going to say that speeds in that region had been indicated, as I'd read it in this article.

Just shows Col, it's all fun and games until someone takes a decision to overstep their ability, the road circumstances, the capability / suitability of the car etc.

This, boys n girls... http://www.theguardi...a-grossglockner Is why when we attend or turn up to a forum meet or gathering. Someone stands up and talks about road safety, appropriate driving, no racing and consideration of road conditions, other road users and the general public. Seemingly not an organised gathering in these circumstances, but this is just a reminder for us all to listen and think about what those people are saying when they say it.

Here's a general question to everyone then. Do we think that the issue with the Zed is that it was perhaps 'oversold' in terms of the media reviews, TV reviews etc? Is the issue that perhaps an expectation of performance and road behaviour was set. Which, determined by peoples personal preference / car driving experience and exposure to other marques. The 350Z couldn't possibly hope to match up to all of those expectations. Do we think that's the reality of it, it was sold as a sports car when in reality (in my view) its more of a mini GT car? Maybe that's what raises these differences and views of it. Is it the fastest, most exciting or accomplished car I've ever driven? Well in reality no it isn't. However; is it 'bang for buck' a great value mini GT that always puts a smile of my face? For me the answer to that question is yes, but then I'm more of a GT type of chap, dontcha know

Great photo's and video's guys, looks like a brilliant time was had!

Well said Andy, I think its the nature of this forum and its members which makes it so welcoming and rewarding owning a Zed. I know since I got my Zed and my membership here that I have got for more out of the car than I ever could have alone. More importantly I have also met so many genuinely lovely people (even those with a rubber fetish SMD ) . That in reality makes the whole experience even more rewarding and enjoyable. Not bad for a little 'Datsun' forum eh?

To be fair to the guy on PH he has had a lot of VX220's (turbo and NA)and a 911. Plus a couple of Renault Clio Williams. It be, on that basis, that he feels the Zed is a touch boring, I expect it would be after a VX220 turbo

Looks lovely Hugh, very tidy example