guinnal

Until a couple of years ago the preferred weapon of choice for taxis out there was merc 300D's. The road tax has been hiked so much that they are all changing over to CDi220. The road tax is linked to engine size and since becoming part of the EU many things have changed. The green lobby in Brussels is hard at work and "New" european countries like Cyprus are only too willing to comply with recommendations as it usually means that they can get a greater financial benefit through subsidies, grants etc

Hi- I shipped a Merc to Limassol last august for permanent export. Cost £650+Vat (Thou car was a 6 door limo) normally £500+ Vat. from Southampton. (That was in a 20" container- they don't offer Ro-Ro) If you want to go from Tilbury it is more expensive - nearly double. In Cyprus Cars are Road Taxed on engine size. The Z will cost £700+ approx for a year. Import duty still applies, even though they have joined the EU. Again it is calculated on engine size but also on retail value or cost price. My in-laws have 6 cars going via Southampton in the next couple of weeks. If I hear any "new" news about the process I'll post here. The shipper they use is a cypriot company with an office in London called Andrews shipping the no is- 0208 882 8763

I know how you feel mate. I've welded many of prized motors and I was about to do the same to my own Z a Jap S2 TT- until I started looking at re-shelling. I found that the shells were either v-cheap or free. As I got into the idea, I realised that z's in general are cheap- though not free yet. i picked up a TT SWB hardtop, running but with no compression on one cyl (and more importantly-no rust!)for £500. That has helped me overcome any emotions I had about not repairing my original car!

If you Key the paintwork of each car- they won't come back! - I wouldn't - obviously don't get spotted or someone will get real mean and mad with you

Don't get emotional about it- give it to me and I''ll scrap the rusty old heap for you! Then you can get a new shell and have a rust free one

I have a leak with water appearing in both front footwells. The water appears to be entering through a seam on the upper part of the bulkhead on both sides.

Ditto- the value of a Z is so low that major welding would render most of them scrap. As has been said- there have been shells on her for next to nothing or free!

Good luck with Trading Stds- I reckon you have no chance of any help from them!

I reckoned that they must be non std. Can anyone else suggest what they might be Thanks

Hi- I have recently picked up another Z. Don't know anything about the spec, the seller had no info on it. Requires some engine work. I have been trying to identify if the turbos are std or upgraded. The exhaust is 3" dia right from turbo elbows back- no cats. The turbos have 5 stud cast elbows. The actuators have 2 metal vac connection pipes although only 1 is connected. The engine is still in the car so access to see the turbos is limited. Ex manifolds look std Can anyone hazard a guess as to what they might be or how I could (easily) identify them Thanks Leo

Was the car about to be used as a getaway vehicle at a robbery? Did your mate have guns and ski masks in the car? If so......................................... he is probably in trouble!

..

... If they subsequently burst when you are emergency stopping you'll know then that they should have been changed for MOT!! (remember it's a 150mph+ car)

Maragoni are not noted for gripping particularly well

You'll be drifting in every gear with those babies!

try this http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

I had this a couple of years back. Total frustration- new seals/ slave cyl etc. I had to bleed at the Slave cyl nipple first then back up at the bleed nipple on the drivers inner wing panel and that sorted it.

£500 - £2000+ just depends who is doing it and how good you want it to look

If you look closely at the bolts and then compare with the TX sockets, they don't look like they will fit, the bolt head /edge between the slots is a different shape to the sockets. Though awkward, I would take a rim with you to try

This is not an unusual experience for new Z owners. What is relatively unusual is that your new car starts every time, runs smoothly, drives faultlessly and is extremely reliable. They might have been when new but lots of these are nearly 20 years old now! I don't think you could find a 20 year old Toyota that's "Toyota reliable" these days Z's are like most beautiful things- highly strung and expensive when they go in a huff!

Most auto paint suppliers will be able to mix some for you. They can usually also put it into an aerosol (Approx £10) if that suits your needs better

a car doesn't need to have an odometer to get an MOT!

'course you can. Nothing illegal in it at all. As long as you don't pass the new mileage off as correct.

As for the not worrying about getting quotes its great, the guys i spoke to at roadrunner said to just update them from time to time with what cars i had. If you have a car in your posession for more than 14 days you are supposed to notify the Motor Insurance Bureau. They list the car so that any agencies (DVLA/ Police etc) can see that it is insured. I was stopped recently by Traffic police, the number plate reader in their car had picked up my plate as they passed me and flagged up an uninsured vehicle. When I said I had trade insurance they wanted to see the certificate there and then (I was about 500yds from my home). They were fine when they saw it but they reminded me to get it listed on the Insurance Database- I had the car for 3 days at that point

Has anyone here got a solution to this- if you suggest Trade policy how easy is it to obtain & is there an issue as I'm not a trader!! I have had trade insurance for 15yrs. I've been with Prudential, AXA, Tradex, Zurich and MMA. One drawback is that when you make a claim, the vehicle is valued at "Trade" value not retail. If you paid "retail" for your car they will only pay out a fraction of what you think it's worth! (I have experience of several T/losses) The insurance companies know that people who are not traders use this to cover several cars/ high risk cars like Z's. They will usually take your money and accept your story and your signed declaration when you take out the policy. However- when you need to claim they will want real proof that you trade. Remember- they don't really want to pay out and if there is any doubt at all- they won't settle your claim and if there is a 3rd party that you've pranged/ wrecked/ maimed/ killed etc- they will tell the 3rd prty's insurers that your policy is invalid and then you're explaining your story in court. Most trade insurers are not really keen to cover non-mainstream cars (IE Imports/ modified/ Left hookers etc) If you want to know if your car will be covered properly, then ask them when you get a quote, tell them how much you paid, what mods etc. Good luck