AMT

Traveling up from the fallside lights heading up towards where McD's is and seen it a few cars ahead. Coupe. Was Fri/sat, can't remember now about 6pm.

So took the Z in for a pre mot health check... all is well thankfully. Just thought I'd share some pics and opinion ...just cos'. While I waited I had time to look at the Q60 (only the 2.0's in though).. very nice in the red, feels good inside, spacious but you do feel its high at the front compared to the Z. Also wandered over to Audi across the road, sat in new stuff like the A5 coupe etc and besides the quality being good I wasn't so impressed with the 'feel' of the cabin...felt cold and dull and boring. Might be better quality but IMO you get a more homely and nicer feeling in the Q60. Then took a wander over to Porsche.. usual caymans and 911s etc. I found this lovely thing upstairs with the used cars. I must admit I'm not a fan of 911s or caymans but the old 911s with the wide bodys do look the business...however there tiny inside! I felt clostrophobic in it and the interior... I'd be dissapointed with the interior pictured below having spent so much money on it new. Seats are thin too, I felt them pinching at my side (no im not fat haha) which would get annoying. I also discovered that I hate alcantara steering wheels, might be great for racing grip but they sure do feel crap. There was this lovely 944 which I pondered over more so than all the new stuff tbh... lol

I quite like the RC, bit stumpy and why the bonnet needs to be so high from the wheel arch I don't know. Sat inside it and thought nice but...hella dull with the cheaper looking grey everywhere....and if your into figures, there slow.... lol unless you buy the full whack F, A Zed would fly past them...

I'd be embarrassed to drive about in that... you'd look a right knob... soon will come the pics from Monaco of some...knob driving one lol

I'm giving up some of the fun in the name of convenience lol well... in the future anyway, most cars will turn to auto/paddles with the exception of the few to retain a bit of fun but I can see manuals going out as we get more modern in years to come.

I did note there is a 2.0 Gulia that has not too dis-similar performance to the Z... after the base models...

I never see the point in that little option in the 'pod'. It's set for 7500... I've never hit the limiter changing gear when getting a move on lol

You had a 350... how could you say a thing.... god damn you lol My friends mum has the new S5, looks the part although I can't help thinking it might age quickly like the original ones and its shiney grill can be had on normal diesels etc. Out the bunch I'd pick the Q60, but I'm thinking in terms of budget performance. Yes I am basing on numbers also but any of them are more relaxing experience than the Z lol My friend thinks I've shot myself in the foot, like what are you gonna buy after this cos he sure as hell knows I don't want less performance...which is true haha. It's hard to argue with more power, better fuel, less tax.... Anyway just a bit of pondering

2.0 with just over 200hp (7.3 secs to 60...must be the weight cos' to me...anything with 200 should be doing 6-6.5) and 3.0 Twin Turbo V6 with 400hp, numbers differ some say 60 in 5.0 secs some say 4.9 (in the real world it won't matter). I've also seen some videos of stock 3.0's being dyno'd in US and coming with more than claimed so who knows. Again just down to depreciation (so I can jump on it) and then it would be a bit of a powerhouse luxury bargain. I've had loads of their courtesy cars and you get plenty kit with Infiniti's

Bit of reading as I'm gonna type loads but food for thought stay with it lol. For a kickoff I don't have £40K to spend on a car, so I can only hope in a couple of year or so they depreciate like a stone... like a lot of the brands models lol. I sometimes wonder (as do many on this thing) what do you replace the Z with? There barely anything out there (for the not so well off) that is reasonably price used, similar sort of running costs and has the same sort of power/performance and wow factor as a Z (whether it be 50' or 70'). The 350Z when cleaned up still has that mini supercar GT thing going on and not many cars have that. I've sat behind another 350 few months ago and I'm not sure if it's because I was sitting low but the thing looked awesome from behind...low, wide and squat (even thought they aren't really wide at all). Most stuff now is either a hot hatch or a 2 door coupe of a 4 door...which I would normally not entertain, but I'm struggling. Audi A/S5's bore me, 4 series just....a dunno I can't get into them, C Class coupes the rears a bit odd from some angles and I hate the stupid 'stick on' screens despite their interiors being excellent. I even consider the Lexus RC things, but one problem... unless its an M or an AMG or something most are all 7 second to 60 wonders. Not the most important thing but you know what I mean, usually theres a gap filler..... so you get the 150-200bhp cars then something around 300 odds before you get to the really expensive stuff. New C class, that RC thing... 7secs is what you get, then you reeeeaaally need a good savings account to go up in power lol I'll also admit at this point for all the love I have for my 350, its awkward clutch and kangarooing in traffic have annoyed me so much over the past 5 years I most certainly want an auto with paddles for the replacement as most of my time is going to and fro from work. It's get tiring after a while if your not paying attention and it decides you should look like a learner driver for that pull away . I also would like something a bit...more comfortable, not wallowy but just a bit softer but still drives ok. Bascially I'm old (at 31) and don't mind giving up some items as I'm no kimi raikkonen. I still maintain (having driven a lot of stuff and test drove future potentials) the Z still has one of the best steering, nicely weighted and you feel everything on the move, it's still a good lesson in handling for its kind of car I IMO (yes I know you get caymans etc but the Z's just got a bit more character). Had a proper hard time trying to not replace it with an XKR or 5.0 XK (almost did on 2 occasions) but there getting old and I've managed to prize myself away from the thought. Anyway back to my own personal stance, I have the Zed for 5 year, probably keep it for another couple (but who knows I take notions...Z was one of them) and its been going to Infiniti Glasgow and they've been good...great tbh and I trust them and that really is hard to get a good service out of dealers these days, I know them well and some of the staff very well in terms of my length of time being there. So all these things come in to play, I want a sports car/coupe/GT thingy,more power, easier to use, def need a garage or place I trust/know (cos I'm paranoid that way) and I can't see much. I saw Infiniti's Q60 when they launched the 2.0 (7 sec wonder I think again..really it should be 6.5 at least) and was a bit unsure, its rear angle could be odd at times and it wasn't as low in terms of the height but also the amount of panel from say the wheel arch to the bonnet, the more there is the more chunky a thing looks. I keep seeing the 3.0 Twin Turbo V6's ones now and the car in various colours and I'm warming to it. I need to remember it is a 2 door verson of the Q50 after all. When I stack it up.... still a big powerful engine, packing 400 ponies as near as makes no difference, all wheel drive, auto with paddles, looks good (mostly) and despite the short cummings of some of the media items I do like the interior all swoopy cascading. It's also less to tax, more fuel efficient and faster than a Z.... which is nice. I'd end up putting an exhaust on it, tint the rears just as I've done with the Z but as its a Turbo, I'm guessing there possibilities of an easy and reasonably cheap power bump?? I can forgive its steering not being as good (you can get it without the electric crap but when weighted as on the Q50 its...ok, not Z good but ok), the fact it does't have a BMW Audi or Merc badge...kind of appeals to me as I like lits front and design in general better and its different.... just like the Z..which is key! What do you think out of the below which would you choose if you were going for a sports/GT/Coupe? (bearing in mind what you get for Q60 3.0 money, think the 4 series might be the only one to offer decent performance but again its a bit...dull) Audi A5 Infiniti Q60 BMW 4 Series Mercedes C-Class I seen this one below on Autotrader and think.. yeah... I could live with that. Z's going in for a health check next monday so I'll ponder over the Q60's when I'm there, as I'm a big child http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201709079060201?make=INFINITI&sort=price-desc&radius=1500&onesearchad=Used&onesearchad=Nearly New&onesearchad=New&advertising-location=at_cars&postcode=g12bp&model=Q60&page=1 .... just wish it came with the 20inch wheels it had on the show cars!! and not the 19 spindly things its sold with just now. There similar in nature but the 20's do look more substantial and suit the car more.

Don't get an A45...horrid looking things... (thats all ive got ...sorry lol)

yeah seen a few vids on it now. The rest of it is actually not bad its the headlights they just don't work, bet if it was simply a different design or sleaker lights it'd be fine. The seem to make or break the car...and in this case...break lol

Good god Dan... you really are up for TVR coming back eh haha. As much as it pains me I expected a bit better also. I like the rear.. it has to be modern..it was going to be. The front though, maybe I didnt look at the shadow pics enough but in those pics its a bit stumpy and too sharp edged with shapes. Humm... I'll wait to see better pics. Hopefully it still goes and sounds ridiculous as all TVRs were. Theyve not always been the best at styling theres always been something a bit off with some design bits but thats just how they were.. this is just a modern representation ..I guess lol

I tell a lie...the rest is correct but the cold start wasnt a proper cold start....started it this morning and took a pic starts off at near 120 then settle further down to 90 and then so on.

.... just to make his new purchase...fell 'that' bit more special haha.

Just found this http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2017/9/7/TVR-To-Launch-Budget-McLaren-570S-Fighter-With-A-Mustang-Sourced-V8-7740978/

Oh Boo you rotter you lol I didn't realise it was gonna be that much though! How much power is this thing meant to have?

Did you test drive one prior to buying or did you risk it for a biscuit? lol And did you consider or try any other cars? Z's a dinosaur now compared to the hot/hyper hatches, all with more power, quicker, better fuel and cheaper to run. Seems to be more of a hatch thing happening just now than sports cars, doesn't seem to be as many now. To the point I'm considering in the next couple of year changing to some sort of fast GT/2 door (even though I hate 2 door versions of 4 door things). Possibly look into used Q60 3.0's in the future, not the best for handling but a bargain powerhouse perhaps if the depreciation follows the norm. Someone I know has just bought a new Focus RS, I've still to ask to be taken a run to see what its like lol

The California was one stumpy looking bugger, this seems to smooth that out, looks good to me, follows on Ferrari's tradition of evil smiley faces too I see haha.

Very nice! I'm still a bit challenged on the styling lol How does it compare then? Does the pace feel ...the same, more? (less...although I doubt that) I ask this out of curiosity as despite the hot hatch revolution and the 0-60 times being mental, I have 'met' a new Focus RS and right to the top end, in-gear, there ...not so 'hyper'. Although this was outright pace, I'm sure I'd be left flailing on a track lol. Does the civic feel agile round corners or have you been able to get a good idea of it yet? Certainly looks like it can deliver the business!

Looking forward to seeing it! I don't think it will be stupidly wild, from the pics and profiles I keep seeing it looks like a smooth looking bugger but it should still be a good one!

Just went out to try mine... I take it were good at these readings? (worrying look on face) 60psi cold start then settles at warm idle of 30psi? (After leaving it for a bit it goes behind the 30 but I take it from the comments im good up until its at 15 half way?) A bit confused what it should be for each scenario.. should it be right at the top for a cold start and be over 30 at hot idle?

Good to hear these account and the details of the PSI, kangarooing though surely thats not to do with the gasket, most HR's do it and so has mine for years and theres an explanation on it somewhere as its something to do with the cam timing or something. I'll be keeping an eye on my PSI, I'm at around 97K miles. its good if yours is just getting to that stage at 150,000 miles as I plan to keep mine for a few year yet lol

So it's coming round to the time where all four discs/pads are likely gonna be changed, usually I can find Brembo stuff off ebay fairly cheaply but having trouble this time with discs as there all horridly expensive lol. Not really after grooved/drilled so just out of curiosity or anyone's experience what make of discs they've used as a substitute? For example, would these do? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NISSAN-350Z-3-5-V6-2003-2009-FRONT-AND-REAR-BRAKE-DISCS-AND-MINTEX-PADS-SET-NEW-/321926888671?fits=Model%3A350+Z&epid=1688948158&hash=item4af4567cdf:g:aEQAAOSwcBhWWG8m Are Mintex pads ok? Or alternatively if I just went and found the 4 discs separate is there any brake pad that is decent, lasts as long and performs well and crucially (as I love a clean wheel) doesn't do anymore dust than a normal Brembo? I keep hearing stuff about EBC one's but no idea what colour or what the diff is really. Any help or suggestions...or links .. appreciated. Cheers!

I damn well new it'd be dear...grrr stupid little thing haha. It can sit like it is for now, not a necessity just annoying when small things break (mind you its the first thing that has...)