Jack

they do say that European cars should run European tyres and Jap cars run Jap tyres - after all that's the formula that the suspension etc will have been set up at the design stage. But, Michelin Pilots are good! Cheerz Jack

Craig - you get what you pay for. You know that. Goodmans is Alba, as is Ministry of Sound, Bush, Cable and Wireless (phones) ...and a few other 'cheap' brands. Ask if the panel is A grade, get maximum contrast ratio - Samsungs? just brough out a 10,000 to 1, and get the highest pixel resolution you can afford, looking for a 1080i or p scan facility. Some sizes suit HD better than others, basic rule is the bigger it is, the better. Plasmas had it, LCD is the winner. Just wait a bit, there's some good kit coming out. Retailers are shifting old technology hence the low prices. Good luck Jack

Water pump water seal knackered. Expands when hot and seals, then it contracts when cool (overnight) and leaks. It'll carry on like this for a few months then give way big-time. Carry a large bottle of water in the boot and keep an eye on the temp guage - and then replace the water pump, and do the timing belt at the same time as it's most likly the same age as the pump (supposed to change them every 4 years or approx every 60,000 miles). Good luck Jack

There's a Toad product called Snitcher - it's for bikes - see http://www.datatool.co.uk - I think that's the URL. It sends you a text if someone moves your vehicle (bike). I think it works on a phone card so you can sort of trace the vehicle via it's relation to the phone network masts. I don't think it's expensive, and it might be solution as if you are close to the car anyway, a quick text and a quick sprint might stop the theft taking place altogether... Good luck Jack

I've a Sigma fitted to my motorhome - cost about £450 - fitted by previous owner. So far it's not had any problems. I've a Toad (alarm) fitted to my Z - cost about £400 - again fitted by previous owner. Again it's been ok so far. Both are made by Toad, and I believe they have a good record for reliability. Good luck Jack

Greg - nice comment about the mt90. I agree. Cheerz Jack

Pete - I think that you'll find that that is a particular kind od Chubb Stainless steel fire extinguishers - sorry I've just come back from the pub. And on an equally obtuse note I read that Micky Thompson's killer has just been sentenced... CheerZ Jack

Thanks one and all. On the one hand it drives me potty how the Z is ignored, and yet on the other, I like being exclusive. On the one hand I'd like them to be rated highly so that everyone knows that I have immaculate taste, but on the other hand, I don't want prices in Porsche territory. So all in, maybe we are better off knowing that we are driving the best (and for very little money - I wish I hadn't said that) and that in many years to come, it will be a recognised as the classic it already is. Cheerz Jack

Like most of you guys I'm a car nut and can't get much joy from 'modern' cars so subscribe to the above mag. The writing's good and the depth of info is refreshing. But, and it's a big but - they naturally always favour European cars. I suppose it's their market. Last month the editorial was about the editor looking for a 2+2, so I dropped him an email saying that if he is looking for the world's best 2+2 he need look no further than the 300ZXZ. I appologise for promoting the NA, but then I'm an NA owner - anyway they printed (most of) the email and included a pic of a UK spec Z. It's one small step in favour of the Z - in a mag that's always too afraid of admiting that a Japanes car can be good - never mind the world's best. Cheerz Jack

Resolution and screen refresh rate. Have a look in the Quality section of this website (we've just built it). There's a Q and A and the info is good. http://www.crystalvisionlcdtv.com Good luck Jack

Water seal on water pump - that's my experience of a leak. Used to leak a little then all of a sudden it let-go big time. Good luck Jack

Richard - had the same with my red Z - looks like its common. I just fitted a slightly larger bolt. It cut it's own way in - and stayed there for the remaining 5 years I had the car. Good luck Jack

I got new replacement bushes from MJP in the Traders section not too long ago. They are the same as the originals. Bu**er to fit, but they are a softer option to Poly bushes - and a lot of technology in comparison. Good luck Jack

Well, here's the thing... The Razzo gearnob was (is) an alloy ball. It's not to my liking as I'm not into bling, nor does the word Razzo do it for me. Also, on a cold morning it was painful. So, I wrapped that too in the leather and gathered the excess leather at it's base and clamped it tight around the ball with a cable tie. I then attached the top of the leather gaitor to the base of the ball in a similar fashion (but from the inside of the leather) then fitted the base of the gaitor to the gear change surround. Sounds to me like you'll have to figure something similar. Good luck Jack

Steve I chopped up an old leather jacket and used the gaitor as a template and made a new one to cope with the Razzo gearnob - did the same with the handbrake gaitor too. Looks ok. Cheerz Jack

Keep it simple - try changing a bulb. It's the best starting point. Good luck Jack

My wife's car drains it's battery so I regularly charge it with the battery in the car - I've done the same with a Z in the past with no apparent damage / trouble. I think that your car is sulking cos of the great time you've been having. ''How dare you go on holiday and leave me at home, all alone'' ...it's thinking. Of note, my everyday na stood all over Christmas and was very difficult to start - seemed like it was lack of fuel. I tried and tried, didn't saw the battery flat, but it was getting that way - and in the end it fired with much pumping of the loud pedal. Since then all's been ok. Good luck Jack

Hey Craig - I'd have to disagree with you re ownership costs being about the same (NA and TT). I do about 15k miles a year in my NA and at approx 28mpg, that's about 535 gallons of fuel. If a TT does about 14 mpg then I'd be spending another (at say £4 per gallon - haven't done the ltr to gal maths) £2k+ per year more - and that's before we take into account that with two turbos knocking hell out of all of the components, the maintenance and repair bill must be higher. Good luck Jack

Craig - I'll have to pass the proof reading to you. It's not my real job, that's as the boss of a design operation, but I wholeheartedly agree with Fridays opinion of the website. Good luck Jack

I did wonder - thanks for the pointer. What should it have been?

I wish people could get their there and their's the right way round too... But then I do a bit of proof reading in my day job. They've a nice car their...

Fired my na up yesterday after being unused in the garage for the whole of Christmas and it took a lot to get it going. Seemed that it was lack of fuel - kept pumping at the accelerator untill it caught. Normally it fires up first time but then it is used every day. Left it running then put it away (garaged) and it fired up ok this morning. I didn't think that they lacked fuel after standing for a while but it certainly seemed the case for me. Good luck Jack

On fire? A while ago my brother in law turned up after a 50 mile drive and complained of a strong smell of petrol. We opened the bonnet and there was a large pool of petrol sat in between the cylinders and it was bubbling and evaporating (boiling basically) from the heat of the ebgine. We left the bonnet open and walked away from it till it cooled, Then we relaced the fractured hose. It wasn't a Z. Point being, I was surprised just what you can do with fuel before it burns... Just get under the bonet and tighten what you can. And, Richard, What's that car in your signature? Are you going to surprise us with a monster? Cheers Jack

That's an interesting thought - maybe it works the other way round - assistance is reduced with speed... would make sense - you need it this way around for fail-safe reasons. Dosn't help the original heavy steering problem though. Cheerz Jack

I had a jap na recently and drove it without a converter and then with a converter - and there was no difference in the steering feel. Mind you it was a manual. I had alway thought that a speed converter lightened the steering as the ECU (that controlls the speed sensitive steering) thinks you are travelling slower that you actually are, but my experiences say otherwise. Good luck Jack