RichardS

A all the way mate. good luck Richard :)

Welcome to the forum...... :) IIRC the very latest ones (ie last couple of years in Japan & USA - 98+, maybe) lost the variable valve timing owing to emissions regs. These cars were 280bhp as opposed to 300bhp. UK cars were all quoted as 280bhp. I'm 5 ft 7 & 11 stone, I don't look lost in my ZX - the seat adjusts to a multitude of shapes/sizes - they are really spot on for finding the perfect driving position. The ZX is the only car I've had that I could drive all day and not feel uncomfortable :cool: Get one - you'll love it...................must be red for the full ZX owing experience though :tongue: Richard :rofl:

My previous car (Mk3 Supra) developed what I guess was a turbo problem - it suddenly had a serious appetite for oil. In the last month of ownership I was putting almost a litre a week in. If I did a long journey at high speed then I would have to add a litre of oil after about 200 miles. There were definately no leaks as my garage floor was always spotless and to add to the mystery it didn't smoke either :confused: Get on to Turbo Technics for their advice on problem, cost etc. Good luck mate Richard

You referring to the other MR2 drivers then.......... :dance: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

All the previous comments...... :bow: Nothing more to add really. I thought about replacing it with an XKR towards the end of last year, but that would have set me back some £25,000 for a car with near identical performance but not as much presence. Around here in South Bucks there are XK8s by the shed load - apart from the bonnet vents no-one knows you have the "R" version. The ZX cost me little over £5000 in 2003 and is far more individual, exclusive and all in all the better driver's car. I can't part with the ZX, I love it so much. When my wife asks how much I love her compared to my ZX I find it hard to answer :x: .......... .......The ZX costs me less to maintain and doesn't give me half as much hassle, it doesn't get annoyed when I look at another ZX either :dance: Richard :D

Sorry to hear this mate :mad: To agree with what everone else says, your money back is the only fair result. You paid one garage to fix the problem - if he uses sub-contractors it is his problem, not yours. Your contract is with the original garage. Keep the pressure on the garage - if he is a trader here then name and shame if necessary. Also keep on at your credit card company - the consumer credit act should offer some security to the consumer, despite what they say - they are trying to weasel out of it IMO. Get them onside to pressure the garage if they won't refund your money. Find out if the garage is a member of any trade organisation (RMI etc) and report to them, refer to trading standards, watchdog and every consumer-protection related body you can think of. Good luck mate Richard :)

I'm no expert Mike, but that doesn't look too good.... Richard :x:

But if you're a group of Gippos who buy a farmers field for peanuts you can build a concrete shanty town overnight and get away with it???? :confused: Even if permission was denied for their permanent mobile eyesores, they still appeal and, if they build it in a nice wealthy Conservative rural area, that nice Mr Prescott rules they can stay :headvswal Fekking gippo's rights ??? Should just torch the b@stards :nono: Richard :mac1:

I'd still worry about using that - probably just washing-up liquid laced with meths :D Richard :rofl:

Nice car Pete, looks like you've got a good one there - can't be many left in that condition :bow: So you've bought another sports car, remind me again why you got rid of your Z? :o Richard :rofl:

So true mate.... Julia & I were en route to the West country in the Z last spring on a very empty A303. We had Guns N Roses playing pretty loudly, as I passed a Jag like it was going backwards she asked if I was in a hurry..... ....Glancing down at the Speedo good old Z was carrying us along at 145mph :x: I just love these cars :bow: Richard :D

Still funny.... ....I believe it was Big Roy who posted this a few months back ;) Richard :rofl:

I do indeed agree with much of this mate especially the blue bulbs bit. Save them for the Max Power brigade ;) I've tried PIAA, Phillips +30% (H3) and Osram +30%. In conclusion the PIAAs are pretty good, but as they cost shedloads compared to the others I don't rate them nearly as high. The Phillips may have won the Auto Express test for +30% but that was for H4 size. In the ZX the Phillips were nowhere near as good as the Osrams, which I conclude are the best stock bulb upgrade for a ZX. I now have upgraded to an HID conversion and it really is the b0ll0x - not necessarily brighter, but clearer and more defined. Night driving is really so much safer now, I'd recommend this to any ZX owner :bow: Richard :hyper:

Aside from the top 3 I posted earlier, I'd like to add: Bring your daughter to the slaughter - Iron Maiden Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams Enter the Sandman - Metalica. Also I find if I'm in a hurry, I put on the best of Guns N Roses. When in the ZX I find I get home at least 15 minutes earlier!! :hyper: Rock music and the ZX - perfect combination :bow: Richard :dance:

Not bad going at all there Mike..... Before you refit the engine why not check why it ran low on oil in the first place. How long had it been before you last checked it? My ZX consumes very little oil, maybe 1/4 litre per 2000 miles if that :confused: Good luck with re-assembly, you make it look so easy! Richard ;)

Hi Mark I did yestarday, I usually drive it to work 2-3 times a week now. I used to drive it everyday but decided to keep the mileage low - 50 miles a day really piles it on. Besides I thought I'd get a 4x4 for the winter ;) Mine's a red UK car with 17 inch Azevs and a 99 spec front bumper. I work on the new industrial estate opposite Cannons Gym - Griffin Lane/Faiford Leys area. I'll keep a look out for you. Richard :cool:

Heh heh, I know that, Paul - I just think Mobil-1 is crap compared to the others I mentioned. I also tried it in my Supra and the engine sounded noisier, but when I switched to Casrtol RS 0w40 the rattle went away...... I don't understand it as they are the same grade but I do know I won't use Mobil-1 again :smash: Richard :cool:

Hi Mark I see you live in Aylesbury.... ....I work there and have seen 2 other Zs around. A black one with dark windows and yesterday, coming from Raban's Lane area towards the A41, a gunmetal grey one. Either of them you mate? Richard :cool:

I have to agree with you Jay :dance: My headlights weren't actually that bad before but when I saw the group buy price, how could I ignore it. IMO this is the best £190 I have spent on my ZX :bow: Mark is indeed a top guy too. Richard :cool:

Hi Mark I'd have said Oilman too :( Anyway, I've never liked Mobil-1 0w40. For some reason it seems too thin for any high performance car. Funny as Castrol RS 0w40 is fine, yet they are meant to be the same grade. My Corsa also rattled when using Mobil-1 and that had only done 30k miles. I switched to Castrol (and last service, Halfords own 5w40 - it's only the wife's car now :x: ) and no more rattle...... I currently use a 5w40 in my ZX, Shell Helix Ultra, Texaco Halvoline, or the Esso one (Ultron IIRC). The car sounds fine - no rattles, perfect oil pressure even after high speed driving in 30 degree heat and no noticable oil consumption. (Z now covered 77k miles). I recently bought the Texaco from a service station for £34 for 5 litres, for my latest service. Seemed good value compared to Shell or Mobil-1. Richard :cool:

Sure is mate..... ....Although seeing the M3 next to your car cheered me up a bit ;) Glad you are OK though - could have been much worse Richard

Just a bunch of revenue gathering :xxx: I think Somerset and Avon have lost the plot over speed & road safety anyway. On a weekend break near Glastonbury last year I have never seen so many pointless 20mph zones and extended 30mph limits running way way past town boudaries. Loads of "squeeze" restrictions too, plus several roads where there had previously been national speed limit reduced to 50 or even 40mph. It was worse than my parent's area on London - especially considering the traffic volume in Somerset compared to East London :confused: What do we pay our road tax for??? Richard :headvswal

Good luck mate :hyper: Sooo many IT bods on this forum - not me though :D Richard

According to an article in Jap Performance, both UK and J-spec cars have the same underseal protection. I would however advise having it done for extra protection on an import or a UK car, which could now be 14 years old. Richard

Apart from the back seats of course :nelson: :wack: Richard :D