nixy

Is there a way of getting the radio to work without needing to turn the ignition part way? I've had radios in other cars where I didn't need to put the key in to switch it on. Just an idea?

Is it different on JDM models yet again? You could always turn your music up really loud?

yep it was Christian that dealt with it. Got to phone him back today to finalise everything but I'm all sorted. Jurgen provides Cat 1 alarm as part of his package so he will give me the certificate - although I'm sure he told me it already had one so not sure what would happen in that case but he will sort it out. It's getting SVA on June 1st. Jurgen's spoken to them and they said it's very nice - he hasn't seen it yet either. I'm starting to get excited again now.

I've emailed Jurgen to ask him. If it has a certificate it will be in japanese - oh here we go again.................. To top it off I am 'borrowing' but you could call it have seized - my 19 year old son's Chavved up Astra - R reg, lowered, de-badged grille, badly painted calipers and drums, plastic 8 ball stuck on the aerial, stickers all over it that say cool things like Piper Cross etc. Oh and huge loud exhaust. The shame of it - I'm so embarassed.

I'm sure it's fine - just most prefer leather I suppose. If you're happy with cloth that's even easier!

Cheers - what a nice young man you are!

I know you probably all wish i'd sod off with this by now but one final point. The insurance will need proof of a Cat 1 alarm. The car has one (as confirmed by Jurgen right at the start) but how do I prove it to the insurance?

yep done all that stuff already. It's the complicated bits I'm trying to sort out now.

You can say that again! Just done another quote from a place recommended on a local jap car forum. Keith Michaels plc - a guy called Christian. He flew through the quote like an express train. Said he could do it for 620 with a 300 excess and £60 screen excess. That's £90 more than RAC but they would have charged me £100 to do it in installments whereas he will let me do it in 4 installments for no charge. And he'll do me a cover note to say it's on my private plate and the vin number. Shall I just go for it?

and they'll just stick a 2003 plate on it no probs when i sell it anyway. I just want it doing in one go so i don't have to bother. Besides if I don't insure it the importer will go down as an owner.

350znismo (martin) has done exactly what I'm talking about with his import so it is possible but I guess it might be because they insist on issuing the tax disc at the same time. Who's to say I don't want my plate on it and then park it on my drive and not tax it anyway? It's all very confusing..........

and how likely are they to know what I'm talking about and insure a JDM on the VIN?

yep, well in excess of £700.

Mind you, he did say it was a work in progress so watch this space I guess.

Love the colour - hate the stripes - have to agree with Louis much as I hate to have to do that!

What do you mean grow on you - they are gorgeous!

Tried both them. Like I said, RAC was a great quote. Just over 500 quid fully comp with hire car, legal, protected no claims etc even though I made a claim last year. Just won't insure on the vin number.

tried them - rubbish quote. And I do work in an office! Does anyone know why the DVLA have to have the insurance docs to register my private plate as first UK number? I can see the only way round this might be to have it on standard plates after all then do the transfer later.

He obviously liked the cloth cap and whippet accent! Seriously though I need to get this sorted asap so Jurgen can sort out the paperwork!

God I am exhausted! Just been through it all with one guy at a company that will remain nameless - he basically chatted me up, called me Nick and asked if he could phone me back on my mobile despite been already given my work number - which I am now waiting for a call back on. RAC did a great quote took me bloody ages and then right at the end of it - they can't insure it (even temporarily) on the chassis number! AAGGH I need to insure it on the chassis number so I can have my private plate put straight on as the first uk reg. The DVLA office insists on seeing the insurance for some reason to do this - god knows why. I am going outside now to scream!

Well say no more - user error as usual! Plus I was rushing.

I might have been using it badly but tried it for the first time at the weekend on the civic and I just didn't rate it. Plus a nightmare to get off.

You big girls blouse you!

I tired scratch x at the weekend for the first time and hated it! I've done a similar thing before where I've scraped something off with my nail and scratched the car. If you know anyone with a PC it will buff straight off even if no amount of hand polishing fixes it. I had a really bad scratch on my bumper machine buffed for £15 by a local mobile valet guy. There's no way it would have come out by hand but as the PC takes off a thin layer of paint it works very well. The moral of the story though is to have a bottle of quick detailer and a cloth in the car for things like bird poo etc!

Yep it's an S. But you could have the seats done in leather yourself.