Ross Mac

Welcome to the forum! I spent a good three months looking at all the various options when getting my first Z - Uk cars, private imports, imports already here etc etc. I spend evey night on pistonheads, autotrader etc etc until one came up. I got a 04 UK non GT car in Chilli Red with 38k miles for just over 15k so they are out there. Good luck with your search!

Thanks people - I'd admit my initial choice for the Z was a gunmetal one similar in colour to my old golf. When I saw the red one though I was hooked!! Now just need to save up the moolah for some big fat 19's and a lowering job... Red cars do look mega cool after a good clean especially the Zed - took me ages on Sunday -was knackered afterwards!!

After giving it a good clean this weekend I thought I'd take some pics and post them up (or at least try to) Got a few things in the pipeline for her - silver Z door entry guards, silver vent surrounds, 350Z mats etc. Only had her a week and have loved every second of it so far - turn so many more heads than if I'd bought a boxter or a tt - chuffed to bits is an understatement!!

Think I've decided to go down the standard rout for now. Used to have German style pressed metal plates on my golf and got loads of hassle for them from the traffic cops. Must have been pulled 6 or 7 times at least - probably had something to do with the white front, white rear combo....

What type of bulbs do I need to get? I've looked in the owners book and its not that clear. Where did you get yours from? Do Halfords stock them?

Hi Has anyone done, or know where I can find a 'how to' guide to do the above? The indicators look easy enough to do but the sidelights look like they'll be a bit of a bugger to get to. Any ideas?

The lettering would have to be smaller but I'm fairly confident I'd be ok . I just wonder how I'd fit it to the bumper so that it still looked good? Want to avoid sticking it directly onto the paint

Now Im getting into the swing of Z ownership Im thinking about fitting a small front numberplate? What you guys think? Anyone got nay pics of Z's with small plates fitted? If it looks naff I'll not bother but just a thought....

If Im perfectly honest I cant remember what I did - is that what to do? If you stall - turn the key to off - depress clutch - fully turn key? Its just so I can tell the g/f as she is now saying she wont drive it but I need her for lifts to the pub and stuff!! I'll post some pics up tomorrow after Ive given it a good wash cos its covered in bugs from the run down. PS - Anyone know anywhere who does the tailored floor mats apart from dealers? Need some asap as the ones in it are pants!!

Just got back from Glasgow a few mins ago in my first Z - what an awesome car!! Super fast yet a refined cruiser - its excellent cant wait to take it for a proper drive!! I do have a question though - after pulling up at a roundabout I am embarassed to say I stalled when pulling away I then went to restart the engine and nothing happened - all the while traffic was piling up behind me. I turned the key all the way back, and then went to start it again and got the lights on the dash and in the cluster but nothing else. I did this twice before pulling it out and trying again this time it fired up and I got away. Is there a 'special' technique to follow if this happens again. Ill try not to stall again obviously but now my girlfriend is terrified in case it happens to her when she starts driving it. Any tips?

Thanks everyone - cant wait to get it may even try to get up there this Sunday if possible. In all the exitement I totally forgot to take any pics but as soon as I have it I'll post some up. Im already looking at some mods - I really like the look of the carbon lower bumper insert that I've seen on some other red ones but Im not sure who makes it? Other things high on the shopping list: Tonneau Cover Luggage Net Z Boot mat Probably loads more when finances allow - like some nice fat Racing Hart wheels and an induction kit of some description

Its finally happened - after months of searching I've just bought my first Z!!! Drove up to Glasgow on Saturday to view a Chilli Red one - I'd never seen a red one in the flesh before but it looked awesome and I ended up buying it!! Its an 04 plate Non-GT with 38k and a FNSH got it for £15300 which Im pretty happy with. Its immaculate inside and out with only a few stone chips - wheels are all perfect as well. I collect it next week and I cant wait to get my mitts onto it!!! Just want to say thanks to everyone on here for all the help and advice you have given me over the past few weeks. Cheers

9 hours thats a hell of a drive!! I've seen yours is for sale - and its very nice indeed - however as it stands its unfortunatley out of my budget. I've got 16k as an absolute max to play with.....

Well this question has turned out to be more informative than I had intended!! Its put me in good stead for when I get to see one - the one I had intended on seeing has sold tonight Im gonna have to be quick when I find one but not many coming up nearby me at the moment in my budget that I fancy. Will just have to keep searching....

Thats great guys thaks for all the responses I'm getting my mate to run an HPI check for me as he works at a Renault main dealer and can do it for free. I'll check the same as you suggest plus check to make sure all panels line up, shut lines and panel gaps are all equal, check for overspray, any orange peel paintwork etc. Its apparently got the paint protector film on the bumper and bonnet so should be limited chips Will see when I get there I suppose....

Hi, Ive arranged to view a 2003 GT pack Z on Saturday (private sale) and Im just after a bit of advice. I've seen the buying guides on here but was just after any tips for things to look out for or questions to ask. I've spoken to the vendor who assures me he is an enthusiast and it has had all the recalls done - what would these include? I just want to give him a bit of a test beforehand to make sure he isnt just talking the talk to get it sold. Any advice as I dont want to travel the 165 miles from Newcastle to Derbyshire to get there and be disappointed, or more importantly be stung. Cheers Ross

Good point - I'll try that one and see what happens!! I have a feeling this one will go mega quick anyways so it may all be in vain.... Its all good to know if nothing else

Thats not too bad at all - I was expecting a £500 - £600er. I've just had my golf gti serviced (by my mate at a VW dealership) and that was still £350 on the cheap so I'd be happy with £300 for the Z When do clutches etc need doing or is that all to do with how the car has had its life? I am VERY tempted but my Mrs is worried about the mileage and the resale. We will only have it for a couple of years I think - my argument is that we'll only put 10kmiles max on it and the other early Z's will be catching up by then if they do average miles - so when time comes to say bye bye ours wont be such a high miler on the grand scheme of things...

Hi all, Ive been in touch with Phil (madgrip) about his Z thats for sale however its a high miler (69K) at present. He says its due a service at 73K - how much would people expect this to cost and what bits could I expect to need replacing. Im tempted to have a look at it but dont want to get stung with a big servicing bill straight away if I can help it. Cheers Ross

@ bigstej - I've vistited most of the places you mentioned and youre right the cars werent up to scratch for the money they are asking for them. Vine Place has had a few in but were not worth the 16k asking prices in my opinion. They still have a sunset one which they have dropped by £1500 over the past few weeks so they must have got it well cheap in Japan as its up for 14,995 now..... I also had a chat with Jurgen at JM Imports where I believe nixy is getting her car from?? I was very tempted about going down the personal import route as I really wanted a pearl Version S but the more I thought about it I just dont thing I could bring myself to TT £15k or so to Japan for a car I've never seen or driven (in my opinion photos can hide a multitude of problems) plus the wait would kill me as I'd have to sell my current car first as I cant afford to run two loans as well as a mortgage. This is why Im now looking at the earlier UK cars and I have seen the silver one mentioned - it looks very nice - miles a bit high but for just over 15.5k I cant grumble. If I get an offer for mine soon I may well enquire about it and make the long journey from the toon down to Hemel Hempstead wherever that may be.....

Thanks for all of the responses people - now I know exactly where to go shoud I fancy a motorbike . I work in mortgages myself so that side is covered!! Back on topic though - I've seen the chilli one for sale however the mileage does put me off a bit however the spec is great. Would a car like that suffer much more with depreciation? Chances are I'll only get to keep a Z for a couple of years before the missus starts getting broody and a more practical car is required!! I'll literally use it as a weekend toy so probably will only put 10,000 miles max on it... If it was closer to £15k I'd be very tempted however there are a few other GT's with fewer miles hovering around the 15.5 - 16k mark. It's all very confusing this car buying lark

Just thought i'd bump this one of mine!! I've now decided to look out for a UK spec one - probably a non GT. Budget has crept up to 16K - anyone know of any good ones for sale? Would a mileage of 50k+ really put anyone off? Is there a big expensive service due around then?

Sorry if this is in the wrong section. I've just been to look at a Z at my local Lexus stealer in Newcastle. Its on Autotrader for £18,995. (sorry dont know how to put the link in) Was pretty nice. The outside was spot in bar a few stone chips but it was the interior that let it down - there were quite a few scratches on the centre console and on the door pulls. Im a bit of a fusspot when it comes to interior blemishes so is there any way that these kind of things can be fixed? Cheers Ross

Thanks for the warning guys - Im not intending on buying from there just a recce mission to see it in the flesh

The more pictures I see the more I want one but the gunmetal grey option is still loitering in the back of my mind... Theres a place in North Yorkshire that is advertising a white one on Autotrader - I mite take a drive down to see it - Keighley Trade Sports and Performance have it. Not the spec I want but It will give a me a better idea when I see it in the metal. If I get one I'll be keeping it for a few years so resale isnt a massive issue for me