Daaave

I worked out recently that on my current mileage, for every 1 mpg that I can increase my annual average by it saves me about £100. So I've been teaching myself to drive economically on the motorway/dual carriageway to work. They're boring roads and full of speed cameras so doing 65 isn't really that much of a difference. I'm now on a 33 mpg average

Ok fair enough I don't know you, but I'm a very average driver (like most people) and I've been out with some very experienced drivers (like Don Palmer for instance - in my 350z) and I reckon that almost everyone could benefit from driver training - I was certainly enlightened . Don will even tell you that he's not perfect and is constantly learning, albeit it at a much slower rate than someone like me. At first hand from the sort of comments you make I just think that a lack of confidence in any situation shows that a bit of guidance wouldn't do any harm. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to slag you off, not at all. I'm just telling you about my experience and how amazed I was by all the subtle things this type of training teaches you.

You want RWD for the looks and the V6? I take it you mean that you want a nice looking car and engine and that forces you to have a RWD car? My advice would be to spend £1k less on the car (whatever it is) and £1k on driver training. A two day course on limit handling would give you much more confidence in a RWD chassis. Not extra confidence to drive everywhere flat out on the road, but to understand how to best balance the car in the wet so that you don't get caught out with momentum oversteer. The 350z is quite a heavy car so if you're not careful all that weight can easily push you off the road when you've lifted off on a bend for example. A limit handling course would teach you how to brake in a straight line before the corner to get the correct speed before turning the wheel, then using a small amount of throttle to balance the car though the corner and then gently squeezing it on on the way out. Anyway, I'm jabbering now - get a RWD because it's RWD and enjoy it!

When I was changing my discs last time those bolts were a complete bastard. The fronts were ok because I could get my long torque wrench on to them. The rears were a bit more restricted and I had to use a crappy small ratchet which was about half the length. I almost gave up, but after a load of WD40 and a rest - off they came.

I just recently moved to Tamworth, waiting to see what the housing market is going to do before settling in this area. Whereabouts are you?

Works for me.

Try hitting the side of the dash on the passenger seat side (around where the soft padded bit is) with your hand.

Looks ok, need to see them on a car I think. Pity though that Audi daytime running lights like these will be on every Halfords special Saxo soon.

With air con on my best is 31.7mpg.

I took the twisty route up through Wales on the Saturday in the end - about 7 1/2 hrs inc lunch and a couple of stops. Only about 250 miles though Best roads (in no order): Beaufort - Llangynidr Rhayader - Devils Bridge Evo Triangle

Don't you just love seeing pics of your own car? Nice one. All I need now is Choptops video of me in front of him. By the way Jim - we were supposed to go around the Evo triangle on the way home, but fell foul of the "don't just follow the car in front" rule and when we realised we didn't think it would be worth turning back for it as we had done it the day before. Also thought you would have realised as well and might pull over/flash lights if worried. I think you need to have your headlights adjusted too, were a bit bright in my mirror. That's probably why I couldn't see your indicator to see that you were turning off at the services on the M5 Note to Beavis/Mods - You might want to save all of the photos from this thread and host them on the site as the thread will get screwed when everyone eventually deletes their photos from their Photobucket account in 6 months time.

I have a nice 5p sized stone chip on my door now after that ****er in the Vectra overtook me coming out of the quarry . I'm sure he was pleased though.

Jesus christ.................................. I thought £1500 for my old 106 GTi was a bit steep. Try Adrian Flux on 08000 83 88 33.

Just got back - top day out. Pity about the rain But I did have a good laugh at Choptop disappearing from view behind when the rain started to fall... I didn't get any photos (apart from my crappy camera on my phone) as my SLR was playing up I stopped on the way up on Saturday in the Welsh mountains between Rhayader and Devils Bridge and unpacked my camera to find it dead to the world. At least it's insured

I'm supposed to wash it Dave Obligatory mate - some consession may be allowed if it were to rain but as it is not going to do that, nice and shiney please I HATE trying to have my car perfectly clean for a particular occasion. Every time I have it super clean beforehand then I drive through 20 miles of flies and muddy puddles. At least the evenings are a bit longer now, I'll have to get the Zaino out on an evening before I go! I don't like using car washes though when away on a trip (even the manual ones) as the car has more than enough tiny swirls already. But I'm not anal enough to want to bring my wash kit with me... You should have seen my Zed after the trip to Le Mans last year

Now there's an opportunity if there ever was one... Fill the boot with Nismo branded stuff (ok, perhaps not wheels) and tempt everyone for those valve caps or keyring they could never be bothered to order normally.

Alright mate, I think I've seen you a couple of time around Brizzol - there's only one white Zed I've seen around here. Last time I was parked up on the side of a residential street in Brentry and you drove past. I've got a blue Nismo'd Zed. How keen are you on a properly fun drive up or back? Link to Google Maps fun route I'm a bit worried that I'll be too tired on the way back to bother, but on the way up I'll be really up for a trip through some of the best local roads (I think...!)[/url]

I could maybe be convinced to pop over the bridge for a South Wales hoon...

Ok well if the weather is good, maybe we'll travel back together then.

IMO you can't buy a sports car then put the cheapest brakes and tyres on it. Why not just buy a 'normal' car? That said, Nissan are taking the ****. Buy a set of discs and pads from BigPhil and either spend a day fitting them yourself for free (I did my 4 discs and pads a couple of weekends ago in a few hours). Or take them to any garage and get them to do it for you. It's so simple, I'd even trust Kwik Fit...

Very nice. I'm not a fan of Veilside, mainly down to the massive rear wings. So the car looks nice without that. I can see the argument for smoothing it all in, but it would probably bit a right pita. You're gonna have to keep a rainy day budget for re-painting of the front end when the nose bites the ground/speedbumps though!

350z yes v i wonder if the local paper will be interested ............. Never mind them, we should ask Nissan if they're interested in some publicity! Free service for all who attend Did anyone ever check if a petrol station would be interested in doing 50 tanks of fuel at 20p/l discount?

Is there no way to convince you to take the fun route up and boring route home?

What about the Silverstone Z Anniversary meet? (I think it was Silverstone) There were all sorts of Nissan Z cars there, but wasn't there 50-60 350z's?

So have you not managed / wanted to hitch a lift with anyone, or are you going to rock up in an imported GT-R? I don't need a lift, I picked up the ban in 2006 on the October 06 NW run I wouldn't turn up in a GT-R as the mods would cry that its not a 350z How long were you banned for after all? I think if anyone was to turn up in something newer with more BHP and a great press it would probably draw the attention a bit... But at least a GT-R would be in roughly the same vein