Stutopia

OMG why didn't someone MAKE me buy one of these inline filters sooner, literally the best thing ever. NO TOWEL BUT NO SPOTS

Hi All I don’t post up gripes all that often but every now and again something is mentioned to the team, by a few Members, that strikes a chord and is worthy of a mention. In the past year or so we’ve had a number of occurrences of Members organising events, drives or static meets where they’ve feedback to us that they’ve been let down by last minute cancellations, or worst still, absolute no shows. I know bigger things than car meets occur in our lives, which require immediate changes of plans. Some of these are not the kind of occurrences where the first thing on your mind is to message organisers to say you can’t make an event. However, in circumstances which are not urgent, but you can’t make it to an event, please do your best to get in touch with the organiser. It’s a pretty thankless task making events happen and there’s not all that many dedicated people who are willing to devote time to it. No shows only serve to disenchant the few who do make the effort to keep us interacting the real world, as well as the virtual one. If anyone’s got suggestions for helping with this issue, feel free to post up, your ideas are always welcome. Personally, I think any event that as limited numbers, or reserved spaces, should include a refundable deposit for your spot, but I know that not everyone will agree.

Whilst I had the trim removal tools out, it seemed rude not to pop in the Valentis which have come all the way from Australia. I've been putting this off for ages because every Toybaru has Valentis and I wanted something different, but the combination of the OEM units condensating (despite this being addressed once already) and me being too tight to stump up for the more insanely priced options, forced me into it. These are red, as you can see, and despite my initial reservations, I'm really pleased with how much better they look over OEM, particular lit up (forgot to get a pic). They have the option for the indicators to be either sequential or flash, can't make my mind up. What do you prefer?

Been a busy bee of late, nice to be back doing mods and not sanding doors or building Ikea furniture. Which brings us right to it. Ever since I replaced the headunit waaaaaay back at the start of this thread, I've had an eye on replacing the speakers. Finally the time, funds and inclination all came together. I set about removing the requisite trim and getting to the paper cones that should only be used for seaside chips and replaced them with something altogether better. Helpfully, Focal do a plug and play kit for Toyotas and we share quite a bit of the same DNA as that lot, so I was enjoying a nice easy install. I also treated myself to a square mile of 2mm heavy sound deadening and some lighter foam stuff too. The doors do a great job of letting in both low and high frequencies, the rear section mainly just tyre roar. I'm hoping both kinds of deadening should be me some broad spectrum noise retardation. Stuck a load of the heavy stuff on the door behind the waterproofing and on the inside of the outer skin too. Hard to believe someone who is paid to design automobiles allowed this abomination in, but that's what the rears look like. I'm working up an MDF template to find a better way of mounting a rear speaker, none too pretty but it's a start. Slapped a load of both heavy and light noise absorption in the rear on the outer skin... ...and on the wheel arches... ... and all over the under seat area. This only went in this afternoon before some other jobs got in the way, so I've not heard (or not heard, if you get me) the difference yet. Rather excited about my long drive tomorrow though.

It’s not my fault! TV did it, Brexit did it, Jeremy Corbyn did it, celebrity culture did it, Twitter did it, late recognition of my non-binary gender identity did it, ADHD did it, Ritalin did it, not being breast fed until I was 14 did it, the break up of the Spice Girls did it, my teachers didn’t teach me, MOMMY DIDN’T LOVE ME! I’m definitely not to blame. In all seriousness, I feel for the guy but a simple google search, or an old skool phone call to the financiers, would have yielded the answer. You live and learn but you gotta take it on the chin when you drop a nut and we’ve all dropped a nut.

I just went with AXA after speaking to the meerkats, covered everything except Europe (which I’d address as it needs) for about £70. It was previously with Barclays as an (expensive, it turns out) add on.

I think there’s a lot of pros who won’t bat an eyelid at dropping company cash on it, but as a consumer it’s bonkers.

I’ve pre-ordered two, what’s the big deal?

Great effort not just abandoning this half way through, I’d definitely have chucked £300 at it!

Gutted I missed this, cars and scenery look amazing. Great effort making it happen Bri. Motor looks mint BTW

Sorry to see this mate, hope you get a nice repair sorted.

Listing Grenfell in her "greatest hits" resignation speech speaks volumes for her absolute disconnect from humanity. Cheerio. Hello handsome.

Are you sure you want to know? It just leads to more expense

EVERYONE, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I READ THIS STUFF THAT I FIND BORING JUST SO I CAN TELL YOU HOW BORING IT IS AND HOW AMAZING THAT MAKES ME. I RULE.

You’ve made me buy one today, hope you’re pleased!

Weird that you get it across both providers (unless they are the same organisation?) have you tried changing your DNS?

Take a little time, have a read here. https://www.350z-uk.com/forum/187-exhaust/ Regarding “chipping”, unless you know what you’re up to, don’t do anything that doesn’t involve going to an actual dyno and using a technician with some experience.

Looks really tidy mate. Nice mods.

It helps to consider the no policies/manifesto approach from a non-political perspective; Nigel is preaching a message of general hope of a return to a non-specific historic state, to disciples who are unconcerned of the detail, but know they want to go there, at any cost. A cursory read of that statement might lead some to suggest it’s condescending, but, however much it may appear that way, it concisely explains approximately 80% of the behaviours I’ve observed in the last few years. The other 20% have a much more specific idea of what the Brave New World looks like, but are as unlikely to be able to get what they want as the remaniacs. Sadly, anyone trying to implement a belief quickly finds that the gossamer thin ideas that have been put forward, to provide the facade of intellectual rigour, are undeliverable. At this point, the only achievable course of action is the “Leave at any cost approach”, which lacks the need to have policy/manifesto detail, as the converted are unconcerned by the practical implications of their belief. You may as well ask someone who is demanding to going to heaven what their flight number is. There are loads of good reasons to leave, none of which are ever put forward by opportunistic outfits like this lot.

Idiots are idiots, armed with a blunt tool or with high tech.

I keep eyeing the alcantara dash panel from the facelift BRZ, I might pull the trigger, but for the time being it's not really bothering me, pretty as the new one is. I'm actually much more jealous of the facelift rear lights, steering wheel controls and the Brembos on the 86 Blue Edition. If I was sensible, I'd sell this and just stump up for the blue edition, but the colour just isn't up my street. Plus I keep browsing ohlins coilies too...

It has been quite some time since I've done anything on the BRZ, turns out modifying kitchens and bathrooms is more expensive, more time consuming and less exciting than taking care of your car. However, Subaru finally got around to doing the valve spring recall that's been looming for a while now, which was an opportunity to change the clutch and plugs (not to mention a free fluids service!) and drive an Aygo for a few days. Most of those things were good. Since she's been to pieces and put back together again, all seems well. As a reward (and an excellent birthday present to myself) I treated her to some new rims, big thanks to @Adrian@TORQEN for sorting them out. These are an inch up in radius and width over stock, not the perfect offset to go flush, but that wasn't an objective, I just really, really hated cleaning the OEM wheels. Booked in for a setup tomorrow to put things right. In other news, I've decided to abandon the #failing no modification policy and also the find a more sensible daily initiative, I've to plan some comfort improvements too. More in future, hopefully.

Robin Hood, POT.

I have a spare copy of The Run that I meant to pass on when I sold the Z. FREE to any 350z owner who would like it. I’d suggest a small donation to the forum might be a reasonable “price”. First one to PM with a shipping address wins. P.S. You’ll need to be pretty old skool to watch it, as it’s on an ancient physical media called DVD