Funkysi

I am going to have to be suuuper careful I think. The Z attracts a LOT of attention in France and I am sure the police will not think twice if they can think of ANY reason. I don't mind being pulled over, but I am worried about being accused of something that may not have happened. I can speak French, but I wouldn't want to argue the toss with an angry 'flic'.

Yup, they are better sign posted than in the UK. I was just careless. They'll signpost a speed camera about half a kilometer from the actual camera location. Having said that, French parliament have passed new legislation allowing authoritative departments to remove the signs. Did you take your Z??

I am pretty much of the same opinion *hides from any incoming* - I like rural England, the sea and non-built up areas.

It wasn't supposed to be exciting! It shows how empty and deserted the roads are. :) Abandoned country in most parts? I've traveled extensively in France, there's no way I'd ever consider it that. It's got a LOT of open spaces. Leon and Paris and some of the other large cities are not fun, but neither is Birmingham or Manchester (and they're both awful too). The worst city I've been in for battered cars though (in Europe) goes to either Barcelona or Lisbon, I generally don't find French cars in that much of a sorry state unless I'm in a big city, but the cars in Barcelona are absolutely shocking. I remember walking down quite a nice avenue off of the Ramblas in Barcelona and noted that EVERY single car was dented and scratched. In fact after walking down there, I looked at every car for the next 10 minutes and they were all wrecks, even newish cars. Dents, scratches and birdshit everywhere. Germany is where you find cars in the best condition.

The wastegate and actuators control that.

Look at this, so pretty, empty and nice. I implore EVERYONE who wants to enjoy their Z to drive it in France. If you then don't like it, that's your problem, but the Z will get the most ridiculous amount of attention you'll ever experience. ci-jxj54Qr8

France has some of the very best roads in Europe, not just in terms of landscape, but because they are wide, very smooth, free from traffic and free from roadworks. When I go for a long jaunt in my Z, it's usually to the awesome roads in Normandy. Sweeping, empty, smooth - pure GT car territory. North East France I'll leave exempt from that apart from some areas of Pay de Calais as it's not the nicest area, but the Normandy roads especially are some of the best quality I've driven on in Europe. Stark contrast to Belgium which has some of the most horrendous road surfaces this side of India. You'd have thought the country which many see as the focal point of the European community would actually have nice smooth roads, but they're terrible, all broken up and pot-holed. Head then over to Holland and cross the border, most noticeable around the Middleburg area of Holland, it's like driving from a war-trench onto a glass coffee table, you can literally see the difference at the border point.

Haha...YES! In 3 weeks time and in the Z! The French police have been targeting British drivers for years. They were pulling all lorries into a control point on the road near St. Malo when I was went over last, think I was in my VW then. All the French registered lorries were allowed to go straight away without being checked, the British and other foreign registered trucks were severely delayed while they went through all the paperwork, tacho, etc. I have no problem with them doing checks, but don't like being discriminated against just because I happen to have a British plates! Having said that, I've been pulled in my Z and given the standard €90 fine for doing 125km/h in a 100 zone. Unfortunately on the main dual carriage way round Caen (N17 I think) I got done by a hidden speed trap and was pulled over by the Gendarmerie....in...an Impreza WRX!!! Was quite gob smacked to be honest, no horrible little navy blue 306 XND which used to be standard-issue transport for them up until about 5 years ago...but something that could at least keep up with me! They waylaid me unfortunately as an on-the-spot-fine was made. I didn't have enough cash, so I was asked to follow them to the ATM...I think they'd taken onboard my frustration about probably missing my ferry a little too much and proceeded to drive like idiots...of course I duly kept up with them, yup, breaking the speed limits by a considerable amount through rural villages and overtaking in rather more than 'enthusiastic' over taking maneuvers. That was quite good fun, but my mere 25kph over the limit on an open-dual-carriageway fine then seemed disproportionate to what I'd just done! Eventually after they'd all leering over the car (doubt they'd ever seen a Z32 before), I handed over my cash and drove off, followed them back to the N17 at considerably more than their limit allowed!! Boarded the ferry with minutes to spare. Bum clenched the entire way back to Ouistreham (Port of Caen). I was the last car on board with 10 minutes to spare before the vessel sail!!

Well if you're not going to do anything with it other than have it sat in the corner, you ought to sell it. Maybe if Russ bought that and a SWB one you found, he could have a whole one cobbled together without too much effort,

Why do you think I have 2 manual cars? haha

Lee, what happened to that one you bought with the slightly damaged tip?

Had them! Quite happy doing the rounds again at the moment. :)

They're all shit. My laptops last, on average about 2-3 years before all the porno viruses destroy the programs and eventually the HDD. I have tried all of them and they ALL have shitness.

Oh I see, you're leaving the screen in, but wanting to remove the seals. Takes a bit of time to work out what you mean. ;) You can press in the lower trim, but it fits very poorly if you do that, even with heat. When I had my car painted first I had that done. When I had it painted again, the only way to have it seated correctly was to pop the screen out. It just won't sit flush all the way round. The seal really does need to go in with the screen for it to seat correctly.

...as for the front screen. I have never heard of anything BMW fitting it and I am not entirely sure what component you're talking about. There are 6 components in the front screen, 3 x nylon runners, 2 x grey trim sections and 1 top seal.

Front top trim is about £175, it can be saved, the two corner tabs are not expensive and about £10 a side. The lower trim is specific only as it's narrow gauge. You can still buy them. There's a chap on here selling one at the moment. These are generally £100. If yours is old and hard, it's likely it'll ruin when the glass is removed.

Cheesy as sin! lol

Correct. The front pipes will be of AN-Other.

Appreciate that, but they would not offer any policies for imported cars.

I just phoned Sureterm and they DO NOT insure Japanese imports anymore, so anyone wanting a quote, if you're not already with them will be refused. In fact, those who have them insured really need to check whether your insurance policy is still valid or indeed, when it comes to renewal time, if you'll be able to renew. They may honor old policies, but I'd check, you don't want to find out the hard way.

Awesome decision by Nissan NOT to offer this or the tan interior outside the United States.

Thanks guys! I think I got there a little late for their 'official photographer' to snap photos of mine and the link I provided shows cars from last month only so far. I am sure the flickr account will get updated in due course.

...there was an older Italian chap there with a classic Alfa Sud and a Ferrari 348 who lives in the same town as me and said "You're from Portishead, I've seen this car out and about - a really beautiful car" in his very pronounced Italian accent. Made me grin from ear-to-eat. The Z32 is still alive and kicking!

Thanks Dave. Sure does, I think the reason it got so much attention was that no one really knows quite what it is. It's not got the instantly recognisable shape that say, a 911 has, or a 355, or an Esprit, but it has massive road presence and is a very rare sight on British roads, so people become drawn to it.

I'd say it's worth the drive....on a nice dry day. Such a lovely atmosphere there. The guy that painted my Z was there too. His Ferrari 355 Spider can just about been seen on the right hand side of the first photo.