Stutopia

I prefer the humpy bonnet, LED rears, bi-xenons and the facelift interior, but I don't regret buying a 2004 for a second. You can always add the bits you like afterwards anyway. I bought the first one I drove (I know it's a bad approach, but I fell in love), try and get a test in as many as you can and see how you feel inside and when you put your foot down. The extra tax works out about £20 a month, in the grand scheme of Zed, that's not that much. Edit: Sorry! I read the title but missed the budget.

That's a tough one. It's a brave man who dives in with advice, especially if passions are high or the wound is still raw. Perhaps, if she were to mention it again to you, you could ask if she might have done something differently in hindsight? It'll have to be carefully judged tone and moment but defo phrase it like a question rather than a statement. Good luck and tread very carefully, she'll be looking for support from you now, not anything that could be taken as accusatory. Whatever happens, if it turns sour, don't argue.

Did they manufacture any in the UK? I assume from the idiotic salesman response to the OP's very reasonable question, he's suggesting none were built here.

Tonight's update Suzuka - 2:22.502 Took me AGES to figure out sector 1, that and the last chicane hold all the seconds.

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

Welcome along. This feels like it might be the beginning of something... expensive.

It's a really tricky circuit. I hate it right now, well it's that or the Zed! I know there's time in sector 1, I just can't find it. All I have is tyre squeal and 1.5 tonnes of iron sliding all over the place

I believe these little guys do the trick. Mine is sat on my desk though, waiting to go in. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/T20-White-6-LED-Projector-Lens-Driving-Lamp-Turning-Braking-Bulb-30W-for-Auto-/181295328213?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2a360b2bd5

UPDATE Suzuka - 2:23.421 Tsukuba - 1:02.779 Tokyo - 1:58.441 Not sure she's got any more to give me the oil change didn't hurt though

Did change after driving many laps, 326! Bought a new one, did oil change, 326!

Oil change adds bhp? Can we get this from opie for real Zeds?

They look sweet!

Ooooooh I see, it's prison rules then...

Stu, would you be ok with sharing your setup for the Elise? I'm curious to see if your setup is significantly different from mine. What? Give away the secrets? Try emailing Adrian Newey for his plans for the new RBR F1 car! Will post up after work. I had asked Adrian for some pointers on the setup, got a rather rude response back about being quite busy... the cheek! Setup was for Goodwood, but similar to the one I used for other tracks, don't have the exact settings for SS and BH as I'm constantly fiddling. Transmission ratios to suit track. Ride height 75 - 80 Spring rate 5.1 - 9.1 Dampers (comp.) 4 - 6 Dampers (ext.) 5 - 6 ARBs 4 - 4 Camber 0.5 - 0 Toe 0 - 0.15 Brake Balance 5 - 4 Downforce 18 Ballast weight 35kg Ballast position -50% LSD Rear - 10 Acc. sen. - 45 Bra. sen. - 30 Not sure how many of these are defaults or tweaks.

Stu, would you be ok with sharing your setup for the Elise? I'm curious to see if your setup is significantly different from mine. What? Give away the secrets? Try emailing Adrian Newey for his plans for the new RBR F1 car! Will post up after work.

There's some nice times coming up for Challenge 2 already, starting to think I just got very lucky with my suspension setup on the Louts giving me a competitive edge.

I think that Suzuka time on page 1 is mine, but it's going be slow so you can leave it there

The advice on here will set you right, but as a little test for you to feel the difference as well as see it, gently run the back of your hand over your paint before you start and feel the texture and the drag against it. After you've clayed, do the same thing, you should be amazed at the difference (I was), it's like glass afterwards. WARNING claying is stage one on a slippery slope to OCD - obsessive compulsive detailing. Have fun.

Rent a house and spend the deposit on a 370 Only in the UK are we so obsessed with home ownership. Other parts of Europe it's quite normal to rent (although to be fair, rents elsewhere aren't so crazy expensive). It's the thought of how much I've spent on rent over the years, which could now be equity if I'd gotten it sorted sooner. As you say rents are crazy right now, 25-50% more than a mortgage payment. Also with prices being "low", it's just a sensible time and a sensible thing to do now I'm at sensible age (30+). If I've got to do one sensible thing, once in my life, this seems like the right one - so long as it has a large Zed house on the side.

I'm trying to get a house deposit together but when I even entertain the idea of selling her, I just think how rubbs it would be getting into something else each day. A hot hatch or some beast that pulls from the dark pump. At least if it was something dirt cheap I'd hate an inexpensive car, not one I was hoping would match up. Tellingly I spend more time on autotrader looking at 370s and (runs for cover) Porkers than I do on rightmove looking at houses

Running from an angry man with a metal pole is common sense mate, don't sweat it. Your pint always tastes nicer with your teeth in

I wouldn't be too worried about those times Vansman! I'm finding it really tough getting to grips with an unmodifiable car, not loving these tyres. Needs some MPSS

Wow the Zed is heavy in stock trim compared to the Lotus. I've not touched anything, not even brake balance or ballast (not that she needs any, very well balanced). Tokyo R246 Forward - 1:59.808 - There's a second or two in that as well. Suzuka Circuit - 2:23.962 - what a great circuit! Tsukuba - 1:03.637 - just a short run on here, this could be my new Goodwood

The restore rigidity does that, but the increase adds new weld points. ***I believe***

Is the agreed Zed specified for Challenge 2 the one they describe as "Nissan Fairlady Z Version S (Z33) '07"?