was8v

!!!!!!!!!!!!! The motoring incidents talked about are ACCIDENTS!!! Not malicious intent as you suggest. We are only human, these things happen.

I agree with chesterfield. Perhaps motoring policies should have another level above fully comp - "like for like". As standard you should get a standard hire car (e.g. Golf) to get you about. If you feel your street cred is that important (or perhaps you require 7 seats), then yourself pay extra for "like for like" insurance which would cover the difference between the hire charge for the golf (paid by the at fault party) and the hire charge for a like for like car. Why should the average motorist pay a ridiculous amount for your vanity? I don't pay my insurance so you can swan around looking cool. You should pay for that. If I damage your property accidentally, fair enough I pay for it to be fixed (with reasonable measures to reduce inconvenience)- possible time without it is an inherent risk when you turn onto the public road. Its either that or regulate the hire car industry so they can't charge 40k for 2 months rental of an 80k car. However, regulation like this wouldn't be viable at all in our economy.....

if you buy cover through quidco RAC's basic level of cover effectively costs you £8 for the year. RAC cost is £28, and quidco give you £20 cashback on that so long as you click through from quidco.

beauford with mini doors

350Z is not UK/EU type approved for towing, so if you did buy a hitch from the states and hook up a trailer it would not be legal. I looked at getting one for a bike rack, but the tested nose weight was not high enough.

Only roof rack marketed for the 350/370Z is the boofsquire pictured above $200+ shipping- http://boofsquire.com/ 4 small nylon straps hold it on, I decided I couldn't trust it with my bikes. Would be fine for snowboards etc! Also its a re-package of a $30 universal roofrack. Boofsquire: Highland $32 USD

Personally I would give the guy a break and show him the £350 written quote and ask for the cash with a week. He could have just done a runner. I would then get it fixed wherever I felt comfortable, probably leave the bumper, someone is only going to bump it next week in tescos....

You could also use one of these services: http://www.myus.com/ They give you a US address and rebox items and send them on to you. I know people that have used them and as the box is unmarked with anything they have slipped through without any charges. Seems a bit dodgy to me though.

You will need to pay import duty and VAT on the "landed cost" i.e. the total inc postage. The carrier (DHL / fedex etc) will also make an "admin" charge to pay this to HMRC on your behalf, and wont give you your item till you pay it. Import duty depends on the item but AFAIK 3% for musical instrument. So if the guitar is £1000 shipped, then you will pay: import duty £30 then VAT on £1030 = £180.25 then admin charge from courier ~£20 Total £1230.25 If there is anything wrong with it when it arrives you will have a nightmare getting everything back. Best way to import one is to have a mate bring you one back. Musical instruments often carried for free by airlines. If its worth less than £390 they can walk throught he blue customs lane with nothing to fear

Buy another key on ebay (get one that looks the same - x-trail?) You can get a key blade blank from the dealer / ebay cheap cheap. Get the guy on the market to cut it. Here is the procedure to add the key into your immobiliser. Should save you a few quid over Nissan's prices. viewtopic.php?f=9&t=16004 viewtopic.php?f=9&t=34171

Car Evo not what it was (out of touch?) and Top Gear is like a comic.

As an engineer I'd say the the direction the water is pushed in will make not one jot of difference to the direction of the car! The water will move, not the car! The channels just provide a space for the water to go, meaning the rubber can contact the tarmac. The grooves are just to prevent aquaplaning - bald tyres mean a thin skim of water exists between tyre and tarmac = no grip. With grooves the weight of the car pushes the water into the grooves and rubber can contact tarmac. Fancy tread patterns really have very little effect on grip! In fact the particular tread pattern may be more related to reducing tyre noise and fashion than increasing grip. Under acceleration / braking longitudinal grooves will put more rubber in contact with the road. When turning then latitudinal grooves will provide more grip. Diagonal I suppose will be a compromise.

Drive it with the windows open. Listen for clicks from the rear axles on/off the power at low speed. Check the clutch operation, try and get it to slip, check biting point is not too high. Check tyre wear is even all round. Check VIN stickers are everywhere they should be (they are on lots of panels). Seems a good price - get a P3 equivalent service at a good independent. Normal servicing is a piece of **** on these so a Z specialist isn't essential for minor servicing, so long as they use the correct diff & gearbox oils. However don't underestimate the value of building a relationship with a specialist mechanic!!! NB: I really like the cruise control (and the Z's is especially good), makes motorway driving less stressful. I wouldn't have a car without it now. Leather/electric seats/Bose/rays I could live without.

Mine... earlier....

Looks like the only do 2 trackdays a year at Aintree - I never knew this but will keep an eye out now! Do you know of any others coming up?

A "major service" on a Z is a refill of diff and gearbox fluids, air filter, cabin filter, oil and filter, coolant change and perhaps brake fluid flush. They do require an oil service every 9k IIRC. So they are really cheap to service! No cambelts etc. Dead easy to do yourself.

Bloody hell I'm 29 (6yr ncd) and with my girlfriend (24) as a named driver its only £600ish with Elephant. I'd never ever pay more than a grand for insurance! you must be nuts. Try a company called A-Plan, they did me cheap quotes on an S2000 that is a very high risk car.

Now sold

cheers it's fully working and everything - I paid a lot more for it (too much it seems)! I just never use it on my 8 mile commute, plus I'd rather just call people back when I stop...

£65 posted

Alex did you ever get a bike rack from the "local company" you mention here viewtopic.php?f=9&t=27602&start=0 any more info? cheers.

Big wheel == no power steering. My GF had one the same but 5 doors, surprisingly refreshingly good fun to drive around town. Much much lighter than the Z and fun to chuck around!

I've been round borrowdale a million times in the last 20 years (was a family holiday favourite as a kid). When I was a teenager I saw someone ride all the way up the rocky hill after this bit (the hill immediately after the ford at watendenlath)! I've never manged it myself of any any of my bikes! This is mine at Gisburn a couple of months back:

I think they mean there were only 60 Yellow special editions in the UK. http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/02/ukdm ... europes-g/

Cheers, I'll have another go at it. I tried that but wasn't getting enough grip to turn the rod with my long nose pliers - I didn't want to end up damaging the thread plus I wasn't sure what the other end was attached to!