Ekona

May try and get along to JAE to catch up with some old friends if they're going, and if they're not I'd love to pop along to Zedfest and meet some new friends!

So why does that chart state wheel power as being 246bhp but stated engine (flywheel) power being 276bhp? That sounds about right to me, given the drivetrain losses and certainly doesn't show that early engines only produce about 250bhp at the fly...

Which Elise? I found the S1 to be a much more direct car due to the wheel sizes, as the S2s have such skinny front wheels you really have to provoke them to get anything at all. An S2 111S (K powered) ran out of puff too much at the top end for my taste, but the 2ZZ fits the 111R as a track car so much better. My old VXR ran the same size wheels as an Exige, and felt better than any of the Elises I mentioned above. Why Lotus don't make them in that size for all their 111 derivatives, I don't know.

Exactly. To go back to the original question though, I personally wouldn't say that the V6 in the Zed is uninspiring, but I wouldn't class it as one of the greatest engines ever either. It does what it does very well, but it's not exactly a K20, LS2 or VHPD K-series either. It's a useful, well built lump of an engine, but compare it next to an Alfa V6 and it's dull as ditchwater. A good car is more than just it's engine though, and that's where the 350Z shines: As an all-round quality package.

If other cars like yours are around the same figure, then I've got to say it's either the dyno or the operator. Without wanting to sound like a broken record, post the graphs up so we can all have a look at them.

In all honesty, if you're passing VXs and Elises on track then it's either a) soaking wet or they're being driven badly/you're a god behind the wheel. Given a dry track and stock for stock, an S1 Elise with 118bhp will easily be the match of a Zed. Having owned and tracked both a VXR220 and the Zed in both wet and dry conditions, there's simply no contest at all: Anything other than a downpour and the Zed is nowhere near as quick. That's not to say the VX is the better car, it simply does things differently to the Zed. In an ideal world you'd have both (or at least one track toy and one GT), but I've been lucky enough to have owned both and I respect them for their own merits. I'd love to own a blown Exige next, but for now I'm perfectly happy with what I've got.

Apparently that was a complete pack of lies. Shame, as it was a really good weekend in MI.

Given that a Popcharger + exhaust has got to be in the region of £500-ish, I'd say you've got enough money to spend on tyres. Either go MPS all round for the best grip/feel combination that I've ever used, or stick with another pair of RE040s. Don't mix tyres on the car, it's asking for trouble in this weather.

US-based again, and that amount could leap up in the next few hours. If you can't stump up to £50 for the Amazon one, then there's loads of other cheaper ones available in places like Comet, Currys et al. The Monster one is good because it charges your iPod as well, but you can get ones that just sit in the bottom of the iPod and use the internal battery for about £20. Personally I'd spend the extra and get something decent, but it's all a matter of budget and what you actually want. *EDIT* Sorry, that was in reply to your post on the previous page. I've never used the actual iTrip, but it's very popular so it should do what you want.

Bingo. Due to the differing frequencies used around the country (well, world too!), some frequencies are already taken in some areas. For example, you couldn't use 98.8FM in London as Radio One is a much stronger transmitter and will over power the iPod, but in Birmingham you'd be fine to use that signal* as Radio One doesn't use that frequency there. For France I just used the default settings, but over here the first preset is too close to Radio Two so I simply switch to a different one. Personally I wouldn't buy from that guy on eBay, too few transactions and he's in the US so you'd be screwed if anything went wrong. Better to buy from a UK supplier so you've got comeback, and preferably from a shop/big interweb company so you're doubly protected. How about Amazon, first place on a Google search?

The actual one I've got is this one, and IIRC I paid about £70 for it from Comet which is way over the top, but I did need one then and there so unfortunately I had to go for it. In all honesty it probably is worth close to that for what it does, and having the ability to jump to any of three different (user-programmable) presets is a godsend. It works great both in the UK and in Europe (did Le Mans with it last year) and with the stock aerial I've had no issues with it: On a smaller aerial I don't know if it'll be quite as reliable. I had it plugged into the cigar lighter socket between the seats and kept it inside the box by your elbow and it was always fine there; again I don't know how good it would be if run from the front of the car. Hope that's of some help to you. *EDIT* Quality is fine at max volume although I had to change the default equalizer setting on the iPod itself as it was either too bassy or too trebly, can't remember which now. Was easier to do that than muck about with the stereo bass/treble settings and worked a treat.

Don't bother with a cassette adaptor as the sound quality is absolutely shocking, and it will remind you why people stopped using cassettes in the first place! Best to stick with the iTrip (or similar, I use a Monster one myself) as that gives acceptable audio without too much hassle.

..and if your car gets stolen they will remind you about those wheels and tell you where to go and you will then be way more out of pocket than £120 +millionty Don't be an idiot, either stump up the cash (which is relatively little given the cost of the wheels, car and insurance in the first place) or don't ever put the wheels on. Consider it a lesson in insurance management. *EDIT* Wait a minute, M3 wheels on a 318i?! That's doubled the value of the car, and you wonder why they want extra money to insure you on it?!

Other way round Rich, the PS1s were the v pattern and the PS2s are like the RE040s. The PS2 is considered to be the better tyre and is all you can get now, confusingly though it's called the Pilot Sport just like the original They're what I'm running, and I'm eager to see the outcome of this thread.

The bhp difference could be down to the slightly different way they measure (or used to, anyway) it over there, but not the lb/ft figure. To summarise, I haven't the foggiest!

+1 US 93 is our 98, and their 90 is our 95 IIRC. Most common over there is 87 though, so 91/92 which is still popular in Eastern Europe.

It's also worth noting that body shops don't use the original 'official' Nissan paint, not even if you go via a main dealer. There's two main companies in the paint world who make all the different colours anyone could ever want, but they're all based on their interpretation of the colour. When I had my tow eye cover done (under warranty) it looked a mile out so I spoke to the chap who did it and he showed me the two colour samples from the two companies, and although they should both have been spot-on one was clearly a slightly darker colour and had more flakes in than the one they used. He put the sample over different parts of the car and it was a very good match in the end, and it was simply the angle & differing materials on the car that made the colour look off. I'll have to get my bumper done sooner rather than later, and I'll go back to the same place again. Sollis Panelcraft in Harlow in case anyone's interested.

Name and shame, unless you'd be happy with someone else on here getting spoken to/ripped off like that.

That one's perfect, thanks! Looks like they come out a lot further than I first thought, which makes perfect sense from an exiting the vehicle point of view, but I think they'll make my life more awkward if fitted to mine. Shame really, as I know they're a bit Marmite but I quite like 'em.

Depends where they were made, really. Lotuseseses are much more expensive, but anything Japanese will be about half the cost. IIRC Porkers are a bit cheaper, and obviously anything that has a huge engine, goes like stink but falls over at a corner will be much cheaper for you guys too I haven't looked at super/hyper car prices I must admit, but I'm surprised the difference is that much. Like for like on new, or used examples? Also worth remembering that we earn twice as much over here as you do in the US, it's just that everything costs twice as much as well so it balances itself out. Well, it's not quite twice anymore due to the crappy exchange rate for us, but the difference is still there.

Andy, have you got any shots from the rear of the car looking forward, level with the wheel-arch if possible, with the doors fully open? Just trying to figure out how far out they open, as far from being an appearance mod they could seriously help me when I've got the car parked in the garage and am trying to get out.

Just out of curiosity, would these work with a roadster? Or would the seal not function properly?

If you are selling it, I'd simply go and buy a replacement cheapy drive and chuck that in with it, and keep/smash your old drive. Is it worth the risk of the next owner finding... C:\Documents and Settings\Jim\My Documents\pr0n\favs\furry\hot_goat_sex.mpg?

+1 for hammer. You could use MoD-style 7-pass over writing programs, or stupidly powerful electromagnets, or a small thermonuclear device, but realistically if you physically smash the platters then it's going to cost someone a hell of a lot of money to be able to get anything back.

How long were you with them? I had a decent return on my insurance when I cancelled with 4 months remaining after being with them for three years.