The Seasider

There's not many people who can claim to be unique ;-)

Yup, video is spot on. I believe the fault is usually the seat airbag connector - unclip spray with contact cleaner & replace, should ensure it doesn't come back on. Engine light cannot be extinguished without plugging in to a diagnostic afaik.

I may have one - I'll have a look at the weekend.

If no one listens to the radio anymore - why not just hide the standard aerial in the boot lining for occasional broadcasts and get the hole welded up for that smooth look?

They will be there any time soon - just mark my words. I washed my two today and the deposits of appreciation appeared within the hour :-)

I'm in hull and I'm willing to travel for a freebie - send me a pm If I like it I'll buy one for the other one - can't sat fairer than that :-)

I find the birds love cars when they are that shiny - I would imagine they will be leaving their deposits of appreciation any time now! Looking good (thumbs up)

If you really want to take the full sad tour. - try a website called 'detailing world'. Just please promise if you go on there don't mention the 'sponge' word .... Or that I sent you ;-)

If you want listen to AM (talk sport) only the OEM works for me of the three (inc 2 different stubbies) that I tried. If you only listen to cd or aux - go for the most aesthetically pleasing and keep the OEM for when you sell ;-)

Plus one for the lambswool wash mitt - you need two buckets too. (One with soap in for washing - one with clean water for rinsing after you've had contact with the dirt on the car) Oh and the sponge? Burning too good for it.

Oooh, I know. I bit there, didn't I? He got to me before my afternoon hash cake. I'm fine now, honest.

Hey, I never said that I was a pro! I'm just an ordinary guy who likes cars. I've not spent much time on the track and I don't drive on public roads like I think I am on a track. All my opinions are my own - I do not regard Top Gear as the fountain of truth, I just recall that they all agreed on the fact that the gearbox was a bit pants, which was the best example that I could quote at the time not knowing a lot of other 350Z commentators. Right, where's that dummy...I know that I spat it out somewhere around here.

Not unless it has the HKS flux capacitor fitted in series with the Blitz continuum transfunctioner

Tip: if your car is in the garage - don't lock it - that way without the alarm and immobiliser set it should be able to last months if the battery is in good condition. As a lot of jap cars use the same battery I've got a couple of spares that I keep topped up and just swap them over if I ever get caught out.

Hmmmm....indeed :-)

Glad I've managed to provoke some discussion - the more perceptive amongst you will sense that there is a heavy impression of tongue in the proverbial cheek. Some people have brought the 'track' into the discussion - I'm pretty sure that if the potential buyer in the first thread was after a track day car this discussion would have never got going, as I don't suppose that anybody would seriously dispute that a manual would be the best car to take to the track. Got to also hand it to the bloke who's never missed or crunched a gear - that's some achievement - but it will come to an end one day! The people I'm going to have to smile sagely at, I'm afraid, are the people that think the manual box is actually good - I'm sorry but it really isn't based upon my experience of around 50 cars that I have owned and countless more I have been able to borrow, Don't misunderstand me - the 350Z is a great car - I wouldn't have bought two of them if I thought otherwise, but you 'live' with the gear change, it's very hard to love it. I seem to recall that Top Gear weren't too complimentary about it either, but each to their own - if it works well for everyone on here that really, really is all that matters.

I think I know what you mean - mine sounds like the drivers window is slightly open at motorway speeds. But as it isn't I wouldn't know where to search for a solution The roof isn't one of the Roadsters' strong points to be fair. I have got a Mercedes E class convertible and that is just like a normal car with the roof up. The roadster definitely isn't. It's about on par with an MX5 Mark 2.

In the final analysis - you need to bear in mind saleability. If you think that you will be in and out of the Z in 12 months, buy the manual - as there is a much bigger market for them. But, If you are thinking that you will keep it for a few years - it wont really matter. Also, bear in in that the auto does have tiptronic - but not on the steering wheel - if you really want to hear downshifts!

Thanks chaps - weight issue had not occurred to me. I also think the auto box may be contributing to the impression of whizz as it obviously nails every gear change and makes progress virtually seamless. I reckon I'll have to see if I can dig the old box out!

I did a search but couldn't find exactly the scenario that I was looking at. My UK 2005 roadster was fairly well modified when I got it - courtesy of Abbey - JWT pop charger, plenum spacer, uprev map, decats, modified Y pipe if i recall correctly & maybe more. I've had it getting on 3 years and it sounds extremely good but since I've got my JDM - which has the standard air box, exhaust & no modifications, I'm not sure that I'm gaining anything other than noise with the roadster as the coupe goes like a rocket compared to the roadster. Just to reinforce my doubts, I recently changed the standard filter to a K&N panel filter, cleaned the MAF (always good for a few horses) and reset the ecu and the coupe now goes like an Exocet. Just so it didn't feel left out, I also cleaned and reoiled my pop charger, cleaned the MAF an reset the ECU on the roadster and although it did go better - it still doesn't have the urge of its JDM auto cousin. Consequently - getting to the point - I'm thinking of ditching the pop charger and going back to the OEM air box and an aftermarket panel filter like the K&N or maybe an HKS or similar. What do people think? Is there a benefit to going back to the standard airbox? Should I reset the ecu again after I have done it - or will it learn how to cope with it's more restricted airflow?

And I think I spotted you on the circus today - but I was parked underground in the podium, so you won't have seen me :-)

Being controversial - I think people who think that 'they can do better' are deluding themselves. I am a mature and relatively skilled driver, but I still occasionally crunch gears, select the wrong gate (the wife's always complaining about that one) or fail to shift at the optimum time. With an auto - no such problems. Yes, okay a manual could perhaps gain the upper hand on a track or if there was any competitive element to the driving but for 97.5% of my life I'd be pleased to let my tartan slippered right foot do all the work and for my left hand to be available for either nasal decluttering, handling my oversize Starbucks or my pipe. I can understand the convention that a sportscar should be manual but when you look at most of the serious machinery these days: Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini, even the Nissan GTR - they are in the main, autos. QED.

Glad you got it sorted - I have to park my car under a 25m scots pine and tree sap is a problem for me. On paintwork I use Tardis - a good solvent to have in your armoury for a number of tasks esp number plate double sided tape. I just dab the sap, leave it 2 mins, rub off and then wipe over with a cloth and a soapy water mist (from a spray bottle) to remove the solvent. It's a bit more awkward on the roadster hood as it rots the vinyl if you leave it on - as I found out!

As I've said before, I've got both and the auto gets my vote. It is a superb gearbox and the car is a lot easier to drive fast than the manual. It's also got a sport button so it will hold the gear if that's your thing and a winter setting - which is apparently a bit scary, but it haven't had to weather a winter yet! The manual gearbox on the other hand isn't the best I've ever driven to be honest - easy to mess up gear changes on the upper gate (3/5).

Probably just needs cleaning. I just did one on a Clio this week and it was easy - depends how accessible it is.