GC350z

Unfortunately mine is so bad it's almost undriveable. The mechanic suspects the bearing is on its way out and there’s a piece moving in it. From the passenger seat he could hear it clearly whereas from the drivers side I couldn’t. I can hear it when driving out of my underground garage where the area leading to the gate is like an enclosed tunnel. So with the windows open it echoes. Changing gear when cold makes a loud audible clunk. Same when the engine is hot after about 30mins driving. It actually sounds like the gear box is being damaged when stationary with the clutch out. Short grinding and clunking sounds. It’s so bad I keep my foot on the clutch when stationary. Will know more after they investigate on Friday.

Wish this had been posted on Thursday. I attempted to deal with an unsightly scratch on my bonnet. Was doing fine until I stupidly put the lacquer on. Now it stands out just as bad as before. Will try again and maybe polish done the very thin layer of lacquer.

Get my thrust bearing sorted and I'll be there "to be sure to be sure."

...and lived to tell the tale I'll be taking her back to Dunsfold during the summer hopefully, to post a proper lap time Bring it on Sarnie is still the site Stig 1:39.2 wasn't it??? I think after not taking a holiday in two years it's about time I did something. Quick trip on the ferry, do a few laps, wipe that smirk off your face is in order before I trade in for an 07 model. July sounds good to me.

Thought I'd share this with all. While at the Nissan garage today to book the Z in for a service next week I asked how much it'd be. Service manager pointed to a figure on a notice and said it'd be about that but could be more as the spark plugs may need replacing and are about €120 each. I smiled and said I don't think so. Booked car in for next week and went about my business. According to service manual platinum tipped plugs should be replaced every 105,000 miles. My car has a grand total of 14,500 miles on it. Should be an interesting conversion next Friday.

Just back from Nissan. Noise has gotten so bad when hot or in traffic or stationary I had to take her in. Mechanic says thrust bearing is most likely stuffed. Sounds like bits are loose in there. Have to take her back in again next Friday for service and a closer examination.

And then some... 33.3% tax on "high spec" vehicles after VAT. I should start my own country.

I want a lambo but at €345,000 (£234,190.05) for a Gallardo Spyder in Ireland I'll have to pass.

you all make me feel so welcome. **** off. Very good.

Why not search for a second hand set of UK gauges?? There was a set on ebay a while back. I could be wrong but I think it'd work. I know the total distance traveled is stored in the main clocks rather than the ECU. This means the ECU doesn't necessarily have to be in km or miles. You can swap the main dials from UK to JDM and it knows to calculate the distance in miles or km. I did that with my Celica rather then going with the little black box conversion thingy. So I would guess that the ECU monitors the speed based on whatever wheel sensors and the clocks convert that figure to miles or km based on the UK or the rest of Europe clocks installed.

I use a broker for my car insurance. They get a discount. Granted every renewal they quote the same figure as the system is automated but when I call they go to work and sort it out. One year I was quoted €1500. Broker rang a director in the insurance company and he said quote me €1200. The same insurance company wont even quote me through their web site.

The one thing I find they really stop is tar spots. Hate the little bastards. The guards on my azure are unpainted. I like them.

I'm with Sarnie on the Porsche's. See them every day in Dubin. Nobody notices them. I firmly believe the Boxster should of been replaced with the Cayman although I understand they were increasing the lineup. The only one that interests me is the GT. On Sunday, returning to Dublin, got stuck behind an 18 wheeler near my place on a road that barely has room for two cars. Behind me appears a 03 white import Z. I had an immediate desire to sell my Z and get something more exclusive. Imagine how I'd feel in a Porsche. Not the GT of course.

GTR

lol And people wonder why there's 3 owners. I faintly remember someone mentioning running costs when you first brought up the Lambo. If I had one I wouldn't care.

Yep. A one off concept before Nissan gave approval for the final 20 R34's. Roll on the new GTR and whatever Nismo version follows it.

Last Ferrari service I heard about was two 360's that needed service before sale. One needed minor service at €3000 the other needed major service at €10000. Just wait for Sarnie to tell us how much a Lambo service is.

Depending on the level of wear on the top I'll be taking it. Mine is f'd from previous owner who had a ring. Chipped it just enough that it has now worn badly.

Very rare. Not sure of numbers but heard 750. M-spec nur was released at the same time. There was one last run of the 34 after this where Nismo got permission from Nissan to buy back a small number of 34's (about 20) and rebuild them by hand using a Z2 engine, 2.8l, running up to 9000rpm and 600hp. Now that's a 34 I'd like to own and deffinitly the most expensive Skyline if one ever came up for sale.

I got a Samsung x820 last year. World's Slimmest mobile. Never seen anyone with one here probably because it's not available in Ireland. All I wanted was a phone. Other features don't interest at the moment. Bluetooth works perfectly in the Z. Shame the Nissan phone kit sucks ass. http://www.samsung.com/uk/products/mobilephones/mobilephones/sgh_x820tsaxeu.asp I find Nokia's have been getting fatter and ugly. fugly.

So long as the logs store which mobile towers were accessed to make the call you can still triangulate an approximate position. GPS is the preferred method. I read somewhere that all new mobiles in the US have to have a GPS chip in them now for emergency’s. I also read that road side assistance company’s in the US are using the GPS method to locate people when the call.

A lot of mobiles have a gps chip in them. Some of the mobile operators in the US of locator services. Not very expensive. There's one US co that does it for free. Download their software to pda and get their mates to do the same. Can then locate each other using google map type of system.

Am still in work since 10am yesterday. One of our mail servers decided to have a hissy fit. Not the end of the world but our new mail server wasn't ready. We'd been planning a migration for this weekend. So last night we rebuilt the server and restored the db which in its own IT way told us to f**k off. Just tucking into my first meal in 24hrs. Must win lottery.

Better??? lol. At the moment the computer says 20.1mpg. That's since the start of April. I have a habit of reseting it for fun. I've had it down to 9 when driving in the city and up to 27 when I measured one journey from Dublin to Waterford and back. It's just too much fun bliping the throttle and watching the heads turn way up the road. Buuuuuut to be fair when I had the 190 it was about 19mpg or lower in the city as well. I think it was supposed to return about 27 in the city or was that the 140. Either way petrol stations are my friends. I spend about €40 a week if I stay in the city on the weekend and about an additional €50 if I travel to visit my mother in Waterford. That's between €10 and €20 more than when I had the 190 but with the price increase infuel that's not much of a difference.