jjdugen

The lip on the wheel arches is a perfect mud trap. I run a finger along it every month to clear it, get a good powerwash under there and then spray with a thick lube. Underseal, any paint really, gets blasted with road crap and soon chips off. JDM's seem to suffer more than UK models, looks like we got better underseal.

Hmmmmm..... Try a Clio Sport, the clutch on those is both unbelievably heavy and has a bite point of half a millimeter. The Z's takes a bit of learning, but at least it does give you a 'bit' of leeway.

H2r, supercharged, 1000cc...... and you can buy one at your local Kawasaki dealership!

I'm a bit in awe of anybody who can get these things out of shape. I suppose you can provoke anything to misbehave, Top Gear clowns seem eminently able. I, sort of, know, roughly, where the Nurburgring goes, but am in no way even good. 11 minutes (and some) is not going to worry Sabine. Having said all that, I was pushing on. No tyre squeal, nothing let go and this on not particularly sticky rubber. There are camber and road surface changes by the second, thankfully dry, it just sat there and went when the accelerator was pushed and stopped when the brake pedal was pushed.... even harder! I thought the Clio Sport was a leach to the road, this thing does it better and even absorbs the bumps that had the Clio airborne. My co-pilot brother who was coaxed into it for a lap said I was taking it easy, nothing like the roller coaster ride of the Renault. I showed him the trip timer, a full minute faster than I ever managed before..... He was impressed.

Sigh........ You have little mechanical/electrical knowledge.... Why? As has been mentioned, the web is your friend and invariably better than some under-resourced college course. Read, learn and absorb. At least learn the mechanical descriptions of components and how they interact. Electrical systems are, these days, far more complex. Something as heavy and complicated as a Z is not the ideal platform to learn on, if only because the cost of parts is far higher than a runabout. I would suggest a cheap Fiesta to learn your trade, no-one will cry if you reduce one of those things to scrap. I know this will sound condescending, but it does appear that people are either born with a natural mechanical aptitude.... or they are not! To be honest with you, if you have been happily letting a Z go to wrack and ruin... I would suggest that you don't have the necessary aptitude or devotion. Sorry to sound negative, but my stock in trade is repairing motorcycles, the horror stories I can tell of 'owner maintenance' would fill a very large tome.

Hi Lanky I'm in the gunmetal '06. Nothing fancy at all, haven't quite got into the bling thing, bad enough paying for tyres, servicing, banana arms..... oh, and more tyres when a bloody great bolt decided to take up residence in my new front! Did you see the Saturday touring car event? Some Z's in that, too, sounding truly magnificent. Lots of other interesting stuff out on track, and a few returning a bit mashed up on the back of the recovery truck! '

Very interesting! I like the idea of using the A/C as a charge cooling device. On a hot day its usually on, might as well gain a little benefit back. But, my two pennorth is this. Motorcycles have been developing the ram air effect for some years now. The latest incarnations have a truly massive air scoop right at the nose of the front fairing. (I'm talking sports bikes here.) Getting neigh on 200 BHP from a one litre engine is some indication of the developments that have taken place. I would suggest that the small 'scoop' at the front of the Z is hardly going to generate much in the way of increased pressure. But my thoughts are that a scoop the width of the front would really generate an increased pressure front. I'm still unsure as to the trade off between drag and increased intake volume/pressure though.

Hi all. Nearly had her for a year... time flies. I have in the back of my mind that you can't test limited slip diff equipped cars on the standard roller brake test rigs found in most testing centers. Is this right and if so, how do you test the brakes?

Hi Terrance. I really don't go often enough to know the correct lines, as well as watching my rear view mirror like a hawk. I know there's so much more in the Z than I am capable of, but I always have getting home in one piece at the back of my mind. BTW, the 'rings getting a bit pricey these days.........

Hi Terrance....... You lucky Bas**rd! Have to say the ring on Sunday was too busy to get a good run.... Not that I'm ever going to worry the regulars! Monday was a little quieter, but two guys in tricked up 370's passed me like I was going backwards... as did most everybody else! Mines a completely standard 06 rev up with mid price Continentals fitted. For the life of me there was no way I could get it to break away, or even squeal the tyres. A 12 minute lap is pretty good for me, got it down into the mid elevens.... then the brakes started cooking. Did all that, cruised back up the autobahn at a steady 100, 30 mpg! Great long weekend, wish I had more disposable income!

Reg P 100 SPA, he waved as we passed. Spotted at least five more in and around Adenaur. Busy day at the 'ring, back again today, hopefully quieter and a chance for a good run. Cheers

Hi all. Off to the 'ring on Thursday, so filled up the tank for the journey. I occurred to me that there is now quite a heavy weight in the tail. My question is, does the extra weight of the fuel assist or degraded handling. On the one hand, the weight must help with traction, on the other, its a lot of weight to swing around in the bends. Any track-dayers with any thoughts? Cheers

In my experience, Iradiums are a good, long lasting plug. BUT. If you leave them in an unused engine for a period of time, say six months or more, they seem to fail more readily than standard plugs. I build and repair motorcycles and usually have to replace them in engines stood for a while, they don't even want to clean up.

The rust on the wheel arches is due to the lip that catches all the crud. I dug out a pile of muddy dirt from mine. Just clean it well, coat in a good undersealer and they should be fine unless the rust has started to bite.

Brand new set of tyres all round, full service, brake and clutch fluids, new pads, new suspension arm, everything ready for my trip to the 'ring. Driving into the filling station in the quiet of late evening, I heard a 'tick' tick' 'tick' from the front end. Timed to the revolution of the wheels. Thought it might be a brake pad bedding in but it didn't alter with brake pressure. Short story cut short, the O/side front tyre had three screws and an enormous bolt with a one inch head (that was making the 'tick' noise) all firmly embedded. None of the other tyres had anything at ll in them. Needless to say, thats another £120 to add to the hefty bill, this trip is getting expensive!

I bought a cat C, had it thoroughly checked, even my specialist couldn't find anything to indicate any damage. The Z is not overly complex, no multi metal construction, repaired by someone reputable they are fine. For sure they drop a thou or two in value, but you get a great car for a real bargain price, best bang for buck I've ever bought.

The search engine will drive me crackers. I need to know a good spray paint match for an 06 rev up (I presume its gunmetal, the other Nissan silvers are nowhere near). Have a scrape on the bottom of the front bumper, no point in bothering a pro finisher, you can only see it if you get down on hands and knees.... but I know its there. Cheers

Thanks for the heads up, I've not heard of this latest Erocrap legislation. Off to the 'ring in May so it looks like another fine, er, contribution to the green cause. Wonder how the Z stacks up in green-ness. Not very high I imagine.

Doing all the fluids on mine on Tuesday, plus pads all round (Nurburgring in a month!!!). Talked to the guys at Lockwood and Greenwood and, while its not something they do as a matter of course, they have had good reports of Molyslip making the gearbox sweeter. Its an agricultural device at best so any improvement has to be a win. Why is it that all the 'sports' cars I've owned either/or have crap gearboxes or stupid heavy clutches? Almost makes me want an auto box.......

From a friend who used to deliver the stuff. Better to buy from a high turnover outlet. 97 plus Ron is a pretty specialist fuel, far less is sold than the low grades. You stand a better chance that the supermarket outlets will have reasonably fresh stuff in their storage tanks.

Is this just a high rev problem or does it occur on earlier engines?

That's steep! If I'm staying at the 'ring I go to Gasthaus Weber. Just down the main road from the GP track, good facilities, garages if you need one. Cost for two people, three days.... 350 E. Don't try doing Trivago or the others, the Germans don't seem to be too keen on internet bookings, give him a phone. You might be lucky and come across a character known as Mad Dog, he seems to live there. Despite his name, and the fact that hes a southerner, he's a great guy and will take you round if you ask nicely, he is a better 'ring tutor than anyone else I know. Trouble with the 'ring area is the lack of nightlife and eating places. Adenau is about the only place, and it don't have much! Nowadays, I stay somewhere in the Mosel valley, 30 miles to the ring, lots of interesting places to visit, lots of hotel choices, lots of eateries.... and its drop dead beautiful. Cheers

Can't knock the 172 / 182's (Not much difference between the two.... honest!) My advice (for what its worth) is don't muck about with the suspension, lowering etc. The car is light, bumps can have it way off line, you need something good and supple between you and the road. Engines are pretty reliable, mine took four years of general use and bi-annual trips to the 'ring. Cam belt at 70,000 and a radiator punctured by a rock were the only major expenses....... until no. 3 plug blew out! Still can't work that one out, properly serviced etc. by a very reputable specialist, had done a 'ring run a few weeks earlier too..... Clutch is stupid heavy with a weird bite point, takes a lot of getting used to. The gearbox can get confused if you try for lightning changes. Air-bag lights come on for fun, its the connectors under the seat. At least with the Cup you are not lugging around the useless air-con unit, (although mine actually worked... sort of). As noted, a little too cheap these days, Jack the lad tears it up, then finds its tax and insurance time so servicing gets missed and cheap tyres fitted. Exhaust breaks in the middle, get a stainless replacement for the same money as OE. Zips along in fine style, lets you know with tyre roar, engine noise and the odd squeak and rattle. A grand tourer its not! Loved mine... but oh, the sheer luxury of the Z in comparison. Not much difference in running costs either!

If its your first time, then you wont need an oil cooler! Fit the best tyres, (not the best you can afford) NEW pads all round, do your fluids, including clutch. Take your time learning the place, its 20 + Euros a pop these days so you can soon eat up your funds. Its a rare thing, these days, to be allowed to have your destiny in your own hands, so act with a bit of responsibility. If your not terrified at least once, you're a super-human!

Going 12 - 17th May....... It's basically all I live for..... Staying in Cochem, anyone else?