MarkW

Its that time again. This year its at Silverstone 7-8 June. Request your Free Tickets here..... http://www.renault.co.uk/worldseries Sorry if this is a repost but I havent seen it.

I feel so inferior Almost 2 years a member and not quite got to the 350 post mark yet....

Woo Hoo we have the 50 Well done Beavis Stuey Black martinmac Black Ebized Black MarkW Black

Is there any plan for meeting up the night before in Chester? I'm not sure what time we will be driving up yet, but if there is a meeting point/time we would try to come along and say Hi to everyone......

We're staying at the Best Western Queens too. See you there

Shouldnt we have 'Qualifying' to determine the starting order (only joking )

That's a good point...what is the policy/etiquette on pace and overtaking on the run? I know we all need to be sensible and responsible when driving, but as Daave says, some people will want to go at different speeds. Do we just stay in one big convoy, or if you are getting held up do you overtake safely? If I feel uncomfortable with the pace can I back off and let people past? I've got my g/f in the car and want her to be comfortable with the drive too.

Be good to make the 50

I didnt think they did a pearlescent white. Candy White is the main white and I thought that it was solid though I'm happy to be corrected I was looking at Golf's a while ago as you do and £14500 seems a bit low for that spec. I'd have a look on Pistonheads.......

I'm going to Wales from the midlands..... The Zed is for Driving

Briefly considered the Trophy, amazing drive by all accounts, but just to small, basic and unpleasant for long journies. Good if you had a second car tho. What I would really like is the Megane 230 engine with the LSD the new clio. A black 230 F1 with stickers on overtook me last night, and must admit I did like the look of it. First one ive seen in black

These are the Recaro seats in the 230 R26 F1, they look quite good but will reserve judgement until ive tried them.... Not sure what the deal is with road tax on a JDM, but UK cars regardless of age will be taxed as follows: 2009 - £440, 2010 - £455

I love DC5's and looked at them before I got the Zed. Insurance was double the Zed for me though, well it was with Privilege anyway. Guess I could shop around. How do the emissions work on an import, and what band is the DC5? I dont want to be paying £440 a year road tax like the zed will be next year, so am looking at something up to 200 g/km which will be £260 according to the govt web site... http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroo ... /DG_073093 Marzman, keeping the Z for longer is what I decided to do in January , but really need to do something about it this year. I havent sat in a Megane R26, but with the Recaro's I was hoping they might be quite good. Was it the 230 R26 you sat in or the std 225? My ex wife used to have a diesel Megane and I hated driving it the steering was so vague and light, and the seats pretty cr4p. I like the interior and exterior of the Civic Type-R, I just think I will get frustrated with the lack of torque and having to rev it to get decent performance. I had an RX8 before, and whilst I loved it, it really wasnt that fast unless you revved the nuts off it which is fine when youre in the mood, but sometimes you just want to put your foot down and get an instant response. Am in no rush, but will have to try to get a test drive in the Magane at some point, to at least rule it in or out.....

Sarnie, If you can get me a deal at 4.25% with no fees my business is yours I like the JDM Type-R, but its not exactly a money saving venture! Agree about some of the negative french comments, but as a cheap fast newish car, I cant think of anything else better at the moment. On the subject of depreciation, if its at £13k after one year, and will be say 40% after 3 years that is £8k. Therefore it will loose another £5k in two years or £2.5k per year, or £200 per month which aint that bad.....

I was originally going to sell in January but then decided to keep the 350Z a while longer (until after the Wales meet in May at least ) However my mortgage is shooting up in June as my fixed rate comes to an end ( ), and what with the rising fuel prices and ridiculous car tax that the so called govt are imposing, I'm still looking to sell soon and get something cheaper to run. I still want something with good performance, useable every day, reasonable running costs, good spec, and as new as possible which is leading me down the hot hatch route. I have set myself a budget of up to £13k once Ive sold the Zed and after much reading, analysing and digesting the best performance bargain (at least on paper seems to be the.... RENAULT MEGANE 2.0 T 16V Renaultsport 230 F1 Team R26 It seems to be the hatch of choice for most of the enthusiast mags (Evo etc), plus the fastest and the best handling with revised cup chassis and LSD. In black, without the decals, I even think they look quite good PROS - They are well kitted out with Recaros, 18" Anthracite Alloys, Climate, Cruise, Xenons (optional), CD/MP3, Folding Elec Mirrors, Auto lights & wipers, keyless entry, sports exhaust etc - The emissions are only 200g/km which puts it in a reasonable band of the new tax bands - Fuel economy in the high 20s/low 30s should be acheivable - Performance is fastest of all hatches (bar S3) and 0-60 in 6.2 isnt too shabby - I can get a 1 year old car with 10k miles for 13k (new list £20k) Like this one: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/391320.htm CONS - Its french (so allegedly bits fall off and more depreciation!) - Renault dealers dont have a great reputation - The interior isnt much to shout about - The exterior looks divide opinion - There is a new megane out next year My thoughts on other hot hatches are: Focus ST - Drove it, Nice engine noise, Didnt feel that fast but tuneable, seat position to MPV like, Fuel economy as bad as the 350Z, high emissions, Dull unless Orange, Dont like Orange Astra VXR - Halfords special, Chavlike, fast in a straight line, poor interior Golf GTi - Nice but Dull, Basic spec as std, Would only be looking at a late 2004/2005 in budget, best residuals Civic Type-R, love the looks, the kit, no torque, performance not as useable, cant get one for much under 15k Seat Leon - Its an MPV, horrid interior, Cupra looks ok with bodykit, reviews not that good, would wish i'd bought a Golf Clio 197 - Smaller than Megane, better looking, no torque, need to rev the nuts off it, generally poor reviews, a better one will be along soon So, am I mad for considering the Megane? Anyone driven one? Disclaimer: I reserve the right to completely change my opinion with no justification, and probably will do over the next two months!

A bit of an update on my situation...... After producing evidence I had kept in documents and email, my company have now conceded that I can keep my car allowance for another year, that is until the end of 2009. Its not really a victory, more a stay of execution, as I have had a car/allowance from them for the last 17 years, but at least it buys me another 12 months without being out of pocket and gives me more time to try and get my redundancy cheque out of them and to find another job. Two other colleagues in the same position havent been so lucky as yet, but hopefully as they have done it for me they will have to do the same for them. If anyone knows of any well paid IT Management jobs in the West Midlands area then give me a shout......

From time to time I think about owning a TVR........ ......I love the idea, but hate the reality.

Best model and best colour Need I say more.

I've booked in at the Best Western Queen Hotel as got a reasonable rate, and its close to the town centre. Close to the railway station too so I hope the trains arent too noisy.....

I was No 42 last week, now I'm No 25. I'm hoping to get into the top 10 in next weeks charts....

Yes I'm a +1 and Carvery. Is the Carvery on the Sunday lunchtime? My '+1' is a Veggie+Fish, so would have the carvery if there is a fish option. So I guess I need to look at accommodation now......

Bit late here but is there still room for another one? I know what yorkshire puddings are if that helps? I didnt put my name down cos I didnt think I'd still have the Zed in May, but it looks like I will now. Is there a thread with all the details, cos I'm too lazy to read all 26 pages of this one?

Yes, I go down this every day. All it does it cause one empty lane, and one lane with stationary cars queuing and pumping out more CO2. The people who come up with this are To$$ers. Didnt they learn from the Bus Lane they put on the A38 at great expense that was subsequently removed....

Gutted for you mate, but like everyone say's, you are OK. Did you have the TC turned off when you lost it?

No prizes for guessing how i voted