Quavey

I remember once in my grey zed joining the M55, a V6 Vectra GSI next to me so as you might imagine feet were buried into carpet. Much to my suprise the vectra didnt disapear backwards but stayed dead level. I had the windows down as it was a nice day, just as my zed was getting into her stride I heard. bp bp bp bp bp bp... rev limiter from the Vectra, appears he was in 3rd as I hadnt changed down from 4th... At that point the vectra disapeared backwards!

Awesome cars mate, I will own one one day... I probably look twice a week at autotrader for them! (along with everything else....!) Glad you have positive reviews, always loved the E39 M5 Ha! Get one brian, you would love it! Alot of people under estimate "M" BMW's, thinking they are little more than a bodykit and some wheels. Of course alot of people get confused between M sport and proper M cars but there we go.

So depending on the age, you probably managed to just do a 1.9l 8v with 110bhp... rock on :D

True, but that was on a car designed to be spoiler-less. From factory the turbo 300zx had a spoiler. (although it could be optionally removed.) Have you checked tyre pressures?

lol very good!

They dont look bad at all! The only thing I would say is that traditionally willwood calipers have been expensive/hard to get pads for... However this seems not to be the case with this group buy! I have some D2's, which i got for less than £600 but I was lucky as they were on an auction on ebay... I went down the brembo route (both skyline and evo routines) Basically I came to the conclusion that it was the same money if not more to buy 10 year old+ calipers than brand new kits from D2/K Sport/Wilwood etc. If you could get some evo brembos for £100 (which I did, skyline brembos often £300+) You have to buy: Pads: £100 Disks: £200 at least Lines: £50 Brackets, need making £50 - £100 Rebuild kit (if you can find them!) is £80 a caliper from memory (£160 in total) = £660.... for something you have to mess with. Where as

Congratulations on your purchase! Im in a similar situation! Just waiting for a completion date, in the next few days hopefully! Trying for next week :D Cant wait! All important garage = Garage 4.7m x 2.46m (15'5" x 8'0") (not brilliant but not to bad!)

(think he means North East... lots of government call centres being shut up there!) Maybe its me getting old, but the cenus is a good idea? It does allow the government and councils to try an predict whats coming with regards to funding requirements... Giving silly answers like you would on a general studies test could potentially have an adverse affect. Thing is, how many would be complaining if services in the future werent up to scratch etc? Not saying they perhaps are all now but responses like the above are hardly going to help things get any better. The Irony is its probably taken longer to think of a witty answer than just fill it in? Took me 5 minutes...!

Yeah I would say the spoiler would have an impact up at those speeds as well. Interesting! I assume you have repaited your tail gate? You dont have a spare do you.... pop a normal tailgate back on with the spoiler and see if the problem is cured... assuming you can of course. Would make an interesting experiment!

Generally very reliable, although some issues but big end bearings and oil pumps when new almost ALL have been fixed on recall. Other than that they of course do get driven hard and MUST be properly warmed up etc, also VERY sensitive to the correct oil grade. :) Obviously not a "cheap" car to run, parts can be dear as its generally all different to a standard E46, "M-tax" strikes with brake components and bushes. Its not semi-auto, its a squential manual gearbox. As to say, it has 6 "proper" ratios and a proper clutch which is controlled by a robot. Although it has an "automatic" mode it aint the same as a slushbox... :) Sensible driving should see 30+mpg on a run without difficulty (my M3 evo would do 35 mpg quite easily but im lead to believe the E46 has shorter overall gearing)

I have often wondered, but I suspect keys etc get lost during importing. I also have a theory that when people sell cars, they often head to a garage to look at a car without really thinking. Often with just the single set of keys in their pocket, the spares being in a draw at home. On seeing the car they have gone to view, they fall in love and "drive away today" hence their old car just has the set of keys from their pocket (and often no history/service books!). Of course telling the garage "yeh yeh i'll post them up when I get home"... Which never happens :)

Hehe. A virtual pint to whoever can tell me where the term is originally from. I'll give you a clue, its railway related!:pint:

Welcome mate! Your lucky with your other half, mine hates the zed.... Well we get the response of "It's ok, but the M3 was more comfortable...." yes but thats not the bloody point woman!

If its a 240z I'm going to be very upset....I really have a hankering for a 240z these days :(

I'd have you all in my astra.... :D Yowsers points about 0-100 time ring very true, that is more a true indication of a cars power. I doubt I could get my zed to 60 in anything like 5 seconds, not a good enoguh driver nor would I want to risk causing any damage. However, rolling at a certain mph and were laughing. To call on an example, i had a bit of a "do" with a friend of mine in his civic type R (later shape (01-06 ish) and dear god he couldnt stay anywhere near him. Infact I did rather wonder if there was something wrong with it at first... Also a chap in an e46 m3 on the asme bit of private runway, it was very close actually although the higher the speeds the more I was gaining. However, its all just pub talk really - the chap in the R8/VX220 turbo etc etc could say "oh I wasnt really trying" we'll never know unless it is someone you are good friends with etc. Also got to remember chaps, alot of these speeds reached are shown on stock zed gauges... and we all know how accurate they are! Now Coolq, your car at "500bhp" and you claim it "no that fast" maybe worth getting it dynoed your self just to make sure? I know you have print outs from purchase, but ive got some printouts from my first 300zx at 581bhp but the dyno was broken... End of the day as a SWB targa it probably weighs around 1450kg which gives a power to rate of 344bhp/tonne which is actually just a touch more than a Ferrari F430. So an F430 isnt that quick? Often riding in bug boxes with 200/250bhp feels rapid because of the size/noise/unrefinment and often frantic acceleration given by short gearing. I remember a friend of mine having an original mini, 1275cc i think it was, possibly even 70bhp. Good god it felt insanly fast, until I looked at the speedo and we were doing 40. Just so low, so hard and so dam noisey!

Yeah sounds good, queensferry isnt so far from me, well about an hour and 45 but not too bad. My GF lives in manchester so only an hour from there. When were you thinking?

Sure why not! As REO for Northwest, I did try and get the ball rolling up here with this. http://www.300zx.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=147337 No response as yet, we can make it a joint Northwest and Northwales with pleasure.... aka you and I at this rate :D

Happy Birthday mate, is it the big 4-0 This time?!

congratulations mate! I hope the damage isnt to serious, got any pictures? I'm sure Murt was offering a free 89 Spec standard front bumper in the forsale section, they do crop up for free or buttons (I think I sold one in good condition for about £20? a while ago)

I have one! Arrived a week or two ago, my only issue is that its pretty hefty for my dainty wrists...! Still, more a thing to go with the model zeds and books rather than to wear, apart from to a zed meet!

Well the manual turbos are slightly bigger, basically the Auto cars are less powerful but generate a flatter torque curve to better suit the 3 speed + over drive... There isnt a huge amount in it. As I said before, my auto converted to a manual did seem to spool up quicker due to its smaller turbos but that might be in my head! Personally having owned both I wouldnt have an Auto through choice again. It was OK just it always seemed to be in the wrong gear, it either changed down at the slightest throttle input (like when climbing hills) or when you need the power it considered the downchange and thought "actually no, we'll stay in the wrong gear"! Joys of late 1980's auto boxes, modern stuff is beyond belief better

^^ And look at the water temperature! Zeds trying to be a rover kettle!

Largely no they are the same, subtle differences with the UK cars as PhilP mentioned, wider rear wheels, thicker roll bars, extra power steering rad I believe. Also, it appears that the UK cars had adjustable rear shocks, actuated by "one click" on the handbrake leaver. Although the chances are, 20 or so years later this no longer works (if it ever? I think we have discussed it on here and the findings were fairly neutral!) US cars did have a "sport setting" for the suspension though, a button on the centre console near the mirror switches. However, at some point most cars end up with aftermarket wheels, the power steering rad I dont think is essential and thicker anti roll bars, well yes an improvement but if anyone was that bothered they could soon fit aftermarket items. There are differences in turbo sizes and cams between manual and auto models (ergo Auto models converted to manual, although My first zed I had converted from an Auto to a Manual and it did spool up quicker than this one which has been a manual all its life!) Essentially they are the same car, other differences in badging, speedo clocks (boost and oil pressure are in different standards) At PhilP, I was unaware that all UK cars had seat belts on the B pillar! I knew they had 3 point rears as apposed to the JDM lap belts but you learn something new everyday! The point being, Insurance is the only serious reason to choose a UK over an import, any differences/advantages the UK cars had when new are almost certainly either matched by the JDM cars, or both have been upgraded/modified. Standard cars are almost impossible to come by, especially TT's!

Yeah largly the same for UK cars tend to be more affected with the tin worm, be aware though at most imports tend to have been clocked (funny how all japanese cars all have 60k when they come to this country ;) ) Are you after an NA or a TT? Obviously if you want a UK car then it has to be a TT... have you tried an import for insurance? Mine is a SWB slicktop (ergo an import), im 24 and pay less than £700 fully comp including breakdown cover etc

1. UK Cars were only available up to 94, to be honest there isnt much between the years although 92+ become series 2 cars which have different trim and seat belts on the B pillar rather than on the door 2. UK cars have advantages over imports, and vica versa. The link below will help! http://www.300zx.org.uk/mod_comp_1.htm 3. UK cars were ONLY TT and LWB (although you could get auto and manual models). You could pay up to 6k or 7k for low milage 1 owner cars although they are rare and hard to come by. Budget 3.5k-4.5k for a good UK car although they do come up for less, often with issues. Always Always Always buy on CONDITION not milage/age etc Hope this helps!