RichardS

Happy birthday mate! Richard:happybday:

Please don't misunderstand me fella - I fully appreciate and respect other people's views and it's everyone's right to live as they see fit! As I said this is an internet forum, where things can get taken literally; or not in the context of how they were meant. My "extreme" reply was tongue-in cheek..... ......I personally like to eat meat and will not change my ways - it's just that in this country nowadays we are constantly being told what to do by minorities who take offence at anything and everything. So if it's not PC to do or think in a particular way, then there's usually someone (who works for the BBC - LOL) telling us how we should mend our ways. I can see from your last comment that you are not one of those people so if you have taken offence at my post then I apologize. Richard:cool3:

Nice work Baz..... ......if you have another door glass and a spare 20 minutes perhaps you could do mine for me mate!! Richard:sailor:

Hi Jane Seller aside (and I'd have probably been a bot pissed off with him to say the least), a Lexus IS is probably a good bet. Lexus always comes up as the most reliable brand in reliability surveys; plus they are well equipped and nice to drive. The Saabs are a bit quirky (and according to Top Gear, driven by dentists) but still not bad. Although don't forget that many of them are turbod and, given your budget, will have covered a few miles by now so might cost you a bit more to run. If you like the Lexus go for it - although perhaps not the one being sold by the t055er......:crying: Richard:winkiss: PS - Dave, the 95 is the bigger saloon - it's the 93 that comes as the cabrio.....:smartass:

LOL - I got that from your first post Jane...... ......but this being an internet forum I had to add my tuppence worth anyway.....:tt2: Richard:winkiss:

Ha ha - yes we have gone off topic a bit - but the point which most of us do agree on is that either Japan or Germany produce the world's best cars. We may not agree the order in which they do; but it is certain from our comments that we (nearly) all agree on the top 2....... .......and I will most certainly stick to Japanese or German cars. Until I win the lottery and don't have to ever think about maintenance costs again.....:innocent: Richard:thumbup:

I'm going to play the carnivorous devils advocate here; but as a child I learnt the basics - like pork from pigs, beef from cows etc..... ......and since I have been of adult years, my view is that so long as the meat is of good quality and flavoursome, then I don't care. Little lambs and deer et al may be cute running around a field but I'll happily eat them without guilt. Just my opinion maybe - but I don't care to be made to feel guilty just because I might want to eat an animal. Humans are omnivores; we are biologically configured to consume both animal and vegetable matter to live. We're not supposed to exist as herbivores and it's about time the sandal wearing, lentil eating, minority jumped off of their moral high horse and considered eating it!! Richard:flowers:

I'm in agreement with that.... "Best" is not necessarily "reliable" and vice versa; Japanese cars are the most reliable but the German cars have the build quality and solidity that most other manufacturers aspire to. And whilst the Italians have Ferrari, Alfa and Lambo (no wait - Lambos are Audis now LOL); there are still some great cars from Japan and Germany that hold their own against the Italian exotica but don't go wrong!! That gives them the overall edge in the "best car" stakes IMO......:whistling: That's not really a fair comparison; as the condition of a 20 year old car is dependant on how it's been looked after. We all have a modern classic which was produced in limited numbers compared to (say) the Nissan Micra - and as enthusiastic members of a car club, we look after them - hence we believe that Japanese cars have lasted better than their contemporaries...... So to compare a 20 year old 300zx like ours to a run of the mill VW Passat of the same age is daft. As one could just as well compare an original VW Corrado from their owner's club to any old G-reg Nissan Micra.... In fact apart from some rare Japanese collectors cars like the 240/260/280Z; original Toyota Celica etc, there are probably more old British classics on the road than Japanese. That does not mean that a 1970 MG for instance is better built than a similar age 240Z..... Because it isn't! Richard:cool3:

A belated happy birthday mate! Hope you had a great day.... Richard:sorcerer:

I only just heard as well - and like Allan, I used to love the old Colombo series...... ......RIP Peter. Richard:sad:

Cool - nice one Mike! Looks like you got a very nice late model ZX there; congratulations on your new purchase!! I'm pleased that that car has gone to a good home.:winkiss: I guess you'll be putting your "GIO" plate on the new one in due course though...? Richard:chef:

Happy birthday Dave..... Richard:santa:

I certainly aim to keep it that way Alan - so here's hoping mate........!! Yup - it sure is Phil; I give it the odd long blast during the summer weekends and take it on a couple of holidays. Just enough to get my money's worth from my classic insurance policy!! Sadly I'll be missing JAE as I'm on holiday... Richard:sorcerer:

Looks like a nice car you have bought James - good luck with it mate! Richard:sorcerer:

LOL - so true.......:cursing::devil:

On paper there is supposed to be a big difference; but when driving there probably is not much in it at all. The manuals feel faster - and more furious; but the autos are deceptively quick as power is delivered differently. Let's not forget either that 20 years use with a twin turbo V6 pushing hard on it, will no doubt have taken its toll on the auto box's internals. So I'd guess that quite a few auto boxes are not performing to their best anymore..... I drove both before buying my first ZX and, whilst I do prefer the manual, I don't actually mind the auto. Hence I have been happy with the 2 autos I have owned. But when the 'box eventually gives up in my blue one it won't be rebuilt - it will be off to Jeff's for a manual conversion:winkiss: All just in my humble opinion of course.......:whistling: Richard:cool3:

Great news Jane..... .....I hope you find a suitable ZX as I guess you'd never be happy with any lesser car. Certainly not, judging by the number of cars you've been through in the last few months!!! Gio is selling his blue NA at the moment - although I believe his is an auto. But hopefully something will turn up. Good hunting hun! Richard:thumbup1:

So true - 97.5% of people know that.......:whistling:

yay - thanks for the heads up matey!! Richard:rockon:

Happy birthday mate! Richard:santa:

Many happy returns Harry - I hope you had a great day little buddy. And that you got some cracking presents!! Richard:happybday:

Ahhh Redline - didn't the editor of FAstCar jump ship and work there when Redline first came out? Fella with the nickname of "Renton" I think....... Yes you're right mate; Redline was more about the cars and filled a void once Max and FC went down the chav route:lol: Richard:shuriken:

I'm glad you all had a successful trip - and good luck with the new ZX. Sandy's yellow one is certainly a fine car...... Richard:thumbup1:

My thoughts as well mate........:thumbup: I must get some pics up myself - I bought a digital SLR before going on hols a couple of weeks back. And like you, I did take a few pics of my 300zx....... Richard:biggrin:

I occasionally picked a copy in the early days - but I agree with your comments 100% Jap.slapper...:hammer: BAck in the late 1980s I bought FastCar fairly frequently; when they were into tuning Mk2 Escorts and Cortinas etc. I had a pretty cool Mk2 Opel Manta Berlinetta 1.9 and, with there being no interweb, it was the best place for tuning advice and suppliers. PMC being the main Vauxhall/Opel tuners of the day.... MaxPower was never as good and was, in my opinion, the whole reason FastCar went down the shitter as well - since it developed into the same format as Max.....:sad: Richard:sailor: