Tere

In the US, since the plate is matched to the car, a stolen number would have to be put on the exact same year, make and model in order to get away with it. If it were on the wrong car, the police would know instantly that it's a stolen plate. So basically, I don't worry about folks knowing my plates -- they're kind of the "trademark" for my Zs anyway. Signed by none other than Mr. K! And...

Hey, I even put a link to 350Z-UK into the Z Chickz "Z World" section of the forum! It's the link I use to jump over here -- first check the Z Chickz forum, and then click the 350Z-UK link.

The Euro spec rear license plate light assembly arrived today from MJP. Exactly what I needed, and the US spec innards fit perfectly into it with no modifications needed. Thanks to Mike at MJP for hooking me up, and to 350Z-UK for providing the connection with MJP!

Around here the young kids put these horribly annoying "coffee can" mufflers on their Civics and such. It doesn't do anything for performance, but they seem to think the nasty sound is cool. My 350 sounds nothing like them although it is quite a bit louder than stock, but has a deeper tone. Anyway, the kids with the "coffee can" exhausts are commonly called "ricers" and their cars are likewise "rice burners" -- even if it's a US auto maker compact/subcompact product. They also have the temerity to rev their engines when stopped at traffic lights -- the sign of a challenge to nearby cars for a street race. It doesn't matter if they're revving at a car that has 200 or more horsepower than their cars. They also have a propensity for abbreviated life spans due to incredible crashes.

My guess in the States is around $65K to put it well under the Vette Z-06 and Viper -- the main US competition. Then after (if) it gets a hold in the market, they'll up the ante with a second higher spec model around $90-$100K (two years or so).

Had a US cop pull me over when I was in the 350 (he didn't clock me on radar), and started talking about my "rice burner" exhaust. I told him that this Z was no rice burner, but a real deal race car, and asked him if he wanted to see under the hood. He said OK, and was suitably dazzled. So, after 15-20 minutes of talking cars, he said gotta go, see ya. It might have been a pretty brazen move, but it worked!

The GT-R isn't scheduled to hit the Japan market until this fall. Typically, it's 6-8 months before any other market gets the car. In the US, the GT-R is currently scheduled for release sometime in the spring of '08, and if Nissan holds true to form, you can tack a few months on that, so maybe summer of '08 for the US market. To my knowledge, dealers here haven't even started taking orders. My guess is they'll start taking orders in Jan '08 with an Aug '08 delivery. I thought odd that Nissan-UK still lists the GT-R as a concept, but Nissan-USA lists it as a done deal. I wonder if your dealer is planning on importing the Japan spec before the UK release?

Here in the States, my no-cat Z (and Borla dual exhaust) is a heck of a lot quieter than the average Muskrat V-8 with FlowMasters. California has very strict emissions standards, and I haven't heard of a no-cat Z failing the test. The VQ-35 is a pretty efficient and clean burning engine. Probably the only reason they even put cats on the Z is that the laws require cats. I've never had a problem getting my 350 through its annual state inspection--the last inspector had a tough time with the clutch though; guess he'd never driven a car with a quick grabbing, no slip racing clutch.

Yeppers, I popped in originally to find a supplier for a part and ended up having some fun and hanging around. I did get the part, so the primary mission was accomplished!

Hiya Bronzee! Good to see ya pop in here!

The US highway folks are sign fanatics -- they put up signs on the roads (even the back roads) everywhere for everything you can imagine.

That works for me! If the curve warning sign says 30mph then 60mph is just peachy.

Remove 10mm bolts on bottom edge. Pop the front edge of the wheel well lining out from behind the fascia lip up to the fender seam -- you'll do the following on both sides. Use a 10mm socket on an 18" extension, run it up vertically between the front fascia and wheel lining. You'll see two machine screws -- remove both. On the lower part of the fascia bracket you'll see (or feel) a bolt. It's just inboard and below the two screws (the fascia bracket is bent down) -- remove the bolt. Pop the six plastic fasteners on the top -- pop center part up about half way and the fastener will come out very easily. You're done! Pull the fascia off! This takes me about 10 minutes to do. To reinstall, just do the steps in reverse.

If y'all get the same Potenzas stock that we get in the States (RE-040), I'd get a better high performance tire. I love my Goodrich g-Force KDWs, and run them on my Zs. It's an outstanding tire wet or dry. It's rated to a sustained 185 mph (295 kph). And is capable of exceeding one lateral G -- definitely holds for high speed cornering. You can spend a whole lot more for a tire and get a whole lot less. It's a lot more difficult to break the back end loose with the KDWs than the Potenzas. Here's what the new tread design tire looks like. The rear is 285/40 on 18 x 9.5" wheels.

My first was a true "land yacht" -- '62 Chrysler 300 convertible. It had a push button gear shift. I bought it for $600 and soon sold it for $500. What a monstrous car! It didn't like to run whenever it rained. I don't really like to count this as my first. The first that I kept for a while was my baby (it was the first car I modified) -- '65 Pontiac GTO.

A smidge over 55 when I bought my first Z, but I've been driving high powered muscle and sports cars since I was 20. And next year is the big 6-0 for me. I'm also a grandma x 4. Well, at least I don't drive like a grandma.

Correct. It dumps or blows off excess pressure to atmosphere. It opens and closes at around 11 psi of vaccuum (basically whenever you back off the throttle). The more pressure being blown off, the louder it gets. I use Tial BOVs on my Zs.

Hehehehe... I've done my share of round-abouts and actually went around them the correct way! At least at the tail end of the video I switched to the left side of the road! I found it wasn't too difficult to adapt to a right-hand drive. I miss the pubs -- they'd see you walking across the parking lot and by the time you got in the door your pint was waiting for you on the bar. Nothing like it in the States.

Thanks y'all. She definitely turns heads as folks try to figure out what in the heck is coming down the road. It was a hoot yesterday when I pulled up next to another 350 -- we both had our windows open despite the 98 degree heat. She definitely turned the other driver's head, and I gave him a thumbs up and a grin, and then off with a hearty hi-ho Silver (oh, I forgot, my Z isn't silver and you'd have to remember the Lone Ranger). You can play tunes with the BOV.

Just a little video of my 350 running around the block in my neighborhood. If you lived in my neighborhood, this is what you would hear about every day. Supercharged 350Z at 16psi, headers, testpipes and dual exhaust -- Tial BOV. Of course I never get above 3rd, but it will give you a little hint of what she sounds like at WOT on the open highway. Sorry about the wind noise -- the windows were open for better sound sensation. "I feel the need for speed!" -- in deference to Zedrush who thinks I'm Tom Cruise. So here's my little land jet (I love jet noise!)... 3.15MB video to download... http://tere.net/t-z/tere350zsc-1.mpg

Ever since Nissan went into racing, it's almost always been Nissan v. Porsche, and for about 15 years Nissan pretty much dominated. Porsche was happy to see Nissan depart the scene. Almost as soon as Nissan ribbed Porsche with the "Porsches to pass" zinger, Porsche started paying more attention to performance. When the 350 hit the market it dominated the average Porsche of the day including the Boxster which at the time was S-L-O-W, and suddenly Porsche responded with much improved machines. So it's been a good thing for Porsche owners and Porsches now have some competition in the class. As long as Nissan continues to hang in the market, I think both manufacturers will be fighting a see-saw battle to be king of the mountain, and we, the drivers, all end up winners! Just look at the NISMO 350--it has a ton of race car features, most you can't even see until you crawl under and look at the bottom side. Its pony power and torque isn't too shabby either!

"Places to go, things to do, and Porsches to pass." --Nissan USA huge advert poster in 2002 Cheat! Add a little FI to your 350, and there's not much of a question.

Yeah, everyone tells me I drive too fast, and I just say speed is relative -- when you're used to flying a jet that takes off and lands at high speeds, 100mph in a Z seems slow. Wish we had something like the wide open sections of the autobahn here in the States -- I'd be in heaven. I imagine there are still RAF pilots in just about every USAF unit. The exchange program with the RAF and RCAF is very active. I had both RAF and RCAF pilots who worked for me as my assistant flight commander--both went on to command their own flights.

I hate that "paving" method -- every year lay down fresh tar and stone. They do it on all the country roads around here, and of course those roads are the most fun to drive in the Texas hill country -- constant twisties. So you have to plan the driving outings to avoid all the roads that have had that done in the last few months. We also have the notorious gravel transport trucks on the main roads which seem to spew half their load just going from points A to B.

Awesome Z! That's the funny thing with Zaino, even after driving around for a week, and collecting all that road dust, she still outshines all the cars in the parking lot.