Space Cadet

I'm with Liam - its what i've done on my Kuro - looks ace.

Watch no one tells you off for going over 70!!

What about taking the 350z badge off as well, I think it would look great.

Ditto

Ha ha ha - Not sure why I’m bothering to have a 'discussion' with someone that cannot formulate their views without being insulting, people like you spoil this site. You again have missed the key point in that it is of no consequence to you or others the faster I or someone else drives when it does not effect others on the road. I.e. a deserted motorway. It is not for you to quote the law to me or others, again you have made yourself look stupid by missing another clearly stated point in that I accept the speed limits and the penalties for going over them. So you never drive over 70 - don’t be a hypocrite, why have you bought an even faster GT4 model? what a waste of a lovely car. (This bullshitting bollock talking high space cadet has no points on his licence and 5 year’s NCD)

I knew someone would get a bee in their bonnet – as always does on these threads. I clearly wrote “I slowed right down when passing carsâ€

Liam - ha ha wicked!! Appreciate that fuel consumption is important to people who use their Z's for both the daily slog and say fun at the weekend, but why bother thinking about MPG when you have a 3.5 litre sports car, either it matters and you buy a daily diesel or don’t let it bother you and have some fun and put your foot down (obviously have to be PC and say when its safe to do so etc). And to the guys who were shocked at doing 120 - did 160 on the M6 Toll Road - perfectly safe, the car was fine, the conditions were fine, slowed right down when passing cars - what's the harm (PC - to others) in that?. As for the 120, I was a decent way behind a 7 series BMW for most of the way, no congestion to speak of - was effortless cruising. Would rather pay a few quid extra in petrol, as a result get home a bit quicker and most importantly have some fun, that’s what owning a Z is all about.

First clean since having it Permagarded, just a couple of drops of this 'special’ PH friendly shampoo in the bucket and the wash mitt and even the brake dust just came straight off. Just gave it a shammy (correct spelling?) , a couple of small spots (presumably bird mess or a big fly) just needed a little drop of the ‘special’ polish stuff on a cloth and the car looks like new again. Well worth the money and would recommend it to everyone.

I bought the car with 5k on the clock and have put another 2k on. The alignment check was always something I’d planned to do just for piece of mind, partly because of it having done a few miles but also partly because I’ve bought new cars with dodgy alignment. Anyway – everything that could be adjusted needed to be adjusted! It’s a top garage that I’ve been using for 10 years or so, so no problems with them fibbing – they even showed me the before and after read-outs. It felt ok before hand – no problems with high speeds or braking etc – but I must admit I’m sure the car now feels a bit more planted, a bit more sure-footed. Might be worth having your alignment looked at if it hasn’t been done/done for a while.

Had a tracker fitted once, the occasional time I didn’t disarm it I got a call from the tracker HQ asking if I was in it etc. Felt really good to know that the car I had put a lot of work and money into might be recovered if it was stolen. I agree with the alarm comments, although the last Clifford alarm I had beeped at you if you even looked at it, which again felt great – was an extra, called ‘proximity sensor’ or something similar. Do what you think is right and what best would suit you - also think about what might get the best insurance discount. Both are good ideas at the end of the day, you’ve just got to think are you more likely to get opportunistic joy-riders in which case an alarm is best – or more serious thief in which case a tracker would be best.

That was my conclusion, if I’m going to be paying £600+ for tyres that I don’t really need because there’s loads of tread left on the OEMs then I might as well get some lovely 19 inch Nismos and a set of decent tyres. But as you might have seen from my other thread I’m going two wheels, so that £600 will go towards a bike now.

Ha ha, there’s always a bit of banter on these threads. Anyway, thanks for the bikes, but I don’t expect to keep it for too long so am just going for a £2-£2.5k bike, probably 2000-2001 year – oh and in black! The MV’s are works of arts!!

Thanks. I’ll never not have a decent car - the plan is to have both for the time being, but I/we (inc. the girlfriend) have a few ideas, we might go halves on a joint car like an A4 cab or may be even a Golf GTI, in which case we would sell her Ka and I would get a toy like the S1 Elise as well. But this is all pre-bike, so lets see what/how I’m feeling in 6-9-12 months time, may be we’ll get that A4 or Golf , we keep her Ka and I’ll get a rocket bike instead – was just dreaming on Auto Trader and you can pick up a M4 Augusta for £7/8K – insurance £800!!! – bring it on!!!!

I'm going two wheels!!! Am taking my CBT on the 30th, the theory test the following week and then 3 or 4 full days training and the ‘proper’ test shortly after. Can’t believe how cheap bikes and the insurance is – don’t want a hairdryer so am going to start off on a 600cc, either a Ducatti Monster or a Honda Hornet. Can get both for between £2-3k with low mileage and being 30 and keeping the bike locked in a garage the insurance is £300-£400 (3rd party F&T) – even with no NCB and just passing (when/if I do). Will be keeping the Z (for the time being).

I bid for this and lost!!

I've had F1's in the past - was very pleased with them, but can’t get a matching front and rear set for the Z, can only get rears. It seems only really the Toyo T1Rs and Pirelli Rossos are available as a matching set, apart from the OEM Bridgestones and more budget tyres.

Thanks guys Surprisingly it’s not actually that easy to get high performance tyres for the Z because of our sizes. Yokohama don’t make any in our size, spoke to a few tyre specialists and the best that are recommended (including Pirelli etc) are the Toyo T1Rs or Avon ZZ3s. Both are apparently as good as each other and are fairly reasonable value. A couple of tyre specialists have said that the OEM tyres fitted to most cars are not those that we would buy at a later date, i.e. the Bridgestones on the Zs that last 100,000 miles are harder compound than the same tyre we would have to replace them with. Now there is no reason why I would have been told this and would have been nothing in it for them, but interesting never the less.

I cruised from Manchester back down to London Sunday afternoon, did 120mph almost all the way, don’t know what the MPG was like but it used over half a tank, probably best to stay below 120 then.

Thanks, appreciate your help. I’m swaying towards the Yokohamas, they get really great write-ups, I think the Neova AD07’s are more fast road (one guy sweared by them for his 1100 bhp Skyline!) and the AO48’s are definitely more track orientated - so just depends whether they are unsuitable for road/bit of rain driving. They have them on the Exiges and they’re used on the roads, so hopefully would be ok.

AMD - wicked garage, took my Golf GTI turbo there, really professional outfit. Not had too much experience with the Z tuners yet, but WRX get great write-ups from the Subaru/Mitsubishi lot and TDI seem to know their stuff from the threads on this site. I'm pondering with the Supercharger route at the moment and will probably give TDI a try if I do.

I had a very bad experience with ABP a few years ago, I think in hindsight they bit off more than they could chew, they ruined my engine then suggested I spend more money at a local tuner to effectively rebuild and tune the engine. I spent an absolute fortune with them and even more with the tuner, I was left with an un-drivable car and sold it at a major loss. I obviously should have just sued their ass, but at the time was perhaps naive and just saw the extra bhp that the tuner would be able to get. Needless to say, I would never go there ever again and would not advise anyone else to let them tamper with their engine. Obviously I am not suggesting you shouldn’t buy anything from them to fit yourself/elsewhere, but I wouldn’t trust them mechanically. May be harsh, but they cost me a fortune and therefore would just prefer it if they went bankrupt.

I’m sure this will have been discussed many times, but what in everyone’s opinions are the best tyres (money no object) for the Z. I do very little miles (approx. 3k a year) and most is in the dry or light rain, am after a trick set of sticky tyres but must be ok with a bit of rain. The OEM Bridgestone’s look to be like new even after 7k so they must obviously be quite hard wearing ‘touring’ tyres. Have had a look at the Yokohama A048, they look fantastic but are described as track-day tyres therefore I wonder if they’ll just disintegrate after 500 miles or be lethal in the rain. Also the Yokhama Neova AD07 look good, lots of Drifters with mega-powered monsters like these, so not sure if that’s good or bad for fast-road. Also the Bridgestone Potenza RE 01R get good write-ups. Basically, any advice on these or any others would be appreciated; I used to have Goodyear F1s, thought they were ace but not sure if they are much of an improvement on the OEMs. Thanks

Gave them a call, looks like prices have come down a touch, but will definitely have been for fronts only. Am trying to sort out a deal, will let you know.

Thanks, will give them a call. And yes you're probably right.

Am going to upgrade the discs with some drilled ones F & R. Before anyone starts telling me the pros and cons of grooved discs, I have never ever had any problems with drilled discs even massive Porsche jobbies - and I prefer the looks. Anyway, obviously thought it would be good to go Brembo and am trying to find the best price - anyone know? Or would be interested if anyone has had good results on other brands of drilled discs. Thanks