PS13Silvia Posted March 15, 2012 Share Posted March 15, 2012 Hey people, Not the usual intro thread, basically, my Mother has a Mini Cooper and she’s got some cash saved, she’s always liked the 350’s and with age etc doesn’t have to worry about insurance n such. Basically, 5 years ago she had an operation on her left leg and doesn’t have the strength anymore, just using her stock Cooper in stop – start traffic is too much. We live in Shropshire, it’s so rural where we live and go to I’ve not even sat a set of lights for a month, and roll onto roundabouts 99% of the time. It’s only stop-start when some **** crashes into a tractor or something daft. But she will travel down south to see relatives every other month, she covers less than 8k a year. I’ve never driven one, only know of Z’s from the drifting scene (I own a PS13 Silvia myself) how heavy are stock clutches? Any aftermarket clutches which are lighter at all? We’re finding it difficult to find a good second hand car, in dark blue (main part of any car to her is colour…) & automatic. And there’s hardly any local-ish to us which she could test drive! Also, if anyone else wants to add something else or any helpful pointers I’m open to suggestions & opinions, I will be insured on it after all hehehe! And as it’s a intro thread, these are never complete without pics! My daily driver, Evo III GSR And my Weekend car / Drifter, Nissan PS13: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Ooh welcome to the site, about the clutch I wouldnt have said it was overly heavy, not any more than another car. Thought about an auto zed? Your PS13...I almost bought that from the previous owner, but I couldnt sell my VX220 before I went off to the states last summer. Hows she treating you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MITZ@CougarStore Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Welcome to the forum... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PS13Silvia Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Yeah she'd love a auto, but finding a dark blue one second hand is difficult, only a couple about from what I can see. The Silvia's awesome, hard millions of bad luck with it though! a week after I brought it my mate pranged it into a lampost (I stupidly let him drive it so I could hear it, he owns a S15 anyway, didn't think anything of it at the ime) So had to purchase a @*!# load of new parts to get it back up and running :-( I have a S13 1JZ project also, that's being broken for parts, PS13 going the same way. I had so much fun in it and love i hugely! My Evo's booked in for complete re-build, and I've purchased a set of Tein Flex's and 2 new Bride seats from Japan, currently sourcing a AEM stand alone EMS for the build so I should really be focusing on one car at a time as my Evo will be a money pit far greater than the Silvia I reckon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gudzy Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I found the Zeds clutch to be much heavier than my impreza's, after test driving a zed I nearly rammed the clutch pedal through the floor of my Subaru when I got back in it! I'd say an auto would surely be the way to go, if you can find one that is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzee Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Welcome to the forum. Perhaps a tiptronic would be a good idea for her. So she can chose if she wants to drive in auto or manual (without having to deal with the clutch as it sounds like that's an issue). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoogyRev Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Welcome Along Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narcotix Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Welcome to the forum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeilMH Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 and good luck with the search. I agree that the auto would probably be the best option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zugara Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buster Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 liking the silvia good luck with your search for the right zed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveparkin Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Welcome along. Clutches are lighter on later 350Zs in my experience - mine is significantly lighter than my previous Clio 182. 350Z Autos will all be imports, and there aren't many late imports in the country yet. Azure Blue was available from launch until 2007. The very dark blue (Night Blue) was only an option from 2007. This probably explains why you aren't seeing many dark blue autos about! Good luck with the search! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corrine Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 I have an after market clutch on my 350 and its is quite heavy to be honest, the automatic should be a treat though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zDan Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Auto sounds like the way to go. Otherwise I'd say clutch in the 350z is a fair bit more work than in an "usual" car, and the manual gearbox takes some muscling through. It does get more tiring to do stop-start traffic; I haven't driven a Cooper but I wouldn't think the 350z clutch would be lighter. Definitely get your mum to do a long test drive to make sure she's happy before parting with the cash. From the sound of it I suspect you wouldn't mind if she gets one though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoker11 Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Hi and welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PS13Silvia Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Huge thanks for all the replies people! I didn't know about the import auto's, that explains why they're hard to find, and as she's only set on the dark blue narrows it down even more! She's looking at spending up to 9k IIRC. I've managed to find one about 35 mins away and going to get to test drive it Saturday I hope it goes well! She also likes the Evo 6's but seeing how much I'm putting into my E3 on top of mods, just maintenance & running it has put her off. But mine is one of best condition cars left in the UK I have to keep it 100%. I won't accept anything less! Then finding a 'respectable' example plus the clutch issue, just a no no. Hell yeah I want her to get one! I like them a lot and wouldn't mind taking it for a spin every now & then :-) My first car was a Colt CZ-T, and I did go a little bit mad with it considering it was my first project -had custom made Coilovers for it, first to upgrade the fueling and ECU on them, ended up looking like this when I finished: I sold it locally to a lad who brought it straight away, since then he's pretty much killed it, it's knocking, tapping, blue smoke on idle, overrun, doesn't boost right, paintwork, bumpers been 'modified' and he's crashed it! Gonna go spend rest of my lunch hour finding some auto's at a dealer that she could test drive as close to home as possible Many thanks again everyone - my knowledge of these cars is pretty much 0, nobody I know has ever had one, nor the 370, never drove one, nor been in one so it's all new to me! David. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Do I know you from DW? Either way, good choice, youll love the Zed. Only problem you might find if you can skid a bit is that you'll go through back tyres like no-ones business, its sooooooo easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony420z Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dragon Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshThePonce Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 i remember seeing that evo up on pistonheads, i really wanted it but couldn't due to lack of funds at the time more than happy with my zed now though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FUG Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Hi & to the forum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
choptop Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PS13Silvia Posted March 18, 2012 Author Share Posted March 18, 2012 Cheers for all the welcomes guys! I didn't know Ben but the Evo on PH, it went up on Evo123.net and I as down there looking at that weekend! I don't know if you do, I'm not really on there, got less than 10 posts, just been to many DWYB days really. But, as for the Zed, looking bad news I'm afraid, he's been to a Mazda dealer this afternoon and test drove a MX-5 ... I wasn't keen, they start at £22k+ and will loose at least 10-11k in 3 years depreciation, and he was trying to tell us that was good for a new car! Utter bell-end he was too. I've talked her out of a new one but she's defo swaying towards the 5 over the Zed. Not good, but hey, it's her car and her money. She's after a 2.0 hard top convertible for 9ish k, the latest model, mk4 is it now? Utter waste imo, win some - loose some eh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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