JetSet

Brushed alloy controls and gear stick surround, hazard warning light moved forward, sliding cubby replaces the ashtray and updated and illuminated door cards are the major differences. The facelift also included an illuminated ignition switch and steering wheel controls but it's impossible to say if these have been fitted. Although its not applicable to this Zed the SatNav was properly integrated into the console as well. Not too sure about the net in the passenger foot well, could be a roadster thing or part of the facelift? my older Zed coupe doesn't have one. Pete

Yes, looks like a full interior upgrade on a 2005 car. Pete

Yes, I sold my RS Turbo for £1,500 in 2001, I'd had it from new in 1989 and paid something like £9,000 for it. It was completely restored. there was a fair bit of rot and sold several years later and last time I looked it was still taxed and on the road. Pete

I think we are actually talking about appreciation . Pete

The 3.0 CSL was £6,400 to buy in 1972 (over 3 times the average salary back then) , that's around £100k in todays money so even at £50k it's gone down in value in real terms, plus the fact that it's probably had 10's of thousands spent on it. Not a great investment, when I paid £5,000 in 1973 for my first house which is now valued at £140k. The only way you can make money is if you figure out what is going to be a classic, get it delivered directly from the factory, stick it in an air conditioned garage and wait 30 or 40 years, better off investing in Bricks and Mortar or Art really Very likely but completely irrelevant to me as I'm already 65 years old . Pete

The 240Z was also mass produced, 148,000 were made and really good ones are worth more than a 6 year old Z4M. In any case how many people will buy a Z4M because they'll be worth a bit in 20 years? Unless you lock it away in an air conditioned unit it'll rot just like any other car. Another thing to look at is this, it's true that some cars will appreciate as they become rarer but just look at the figures, if you had bought a 240Z brand new back in the 70's and kept it in tip top condition it'd be worth say 30k today...Another thing, the 240Z cost £2389 in The U.K, I was earning a good wage for a 23 year old back then the equivalent of £40k in todays money but no way could I afford to buy a 240Z which I reckon would have cost around £60k in todays money so unless you have something exceedingly rare in real terms with inflation you're going to loose money. Pete

It's true that Z4M's have a high resale value but then again they were 42k new compared to 30k for the 350Z. Anyone buying one new will have lost in the order of 25k as 7 year old ones are going for around 17k . They are probably depreciating at a lower rate than 350Z's percentage wise but the overall loss will be similar, 1-1.5k a year at a rough guess. Pete

I can't even record it as it clashes with the Giro d'Italia. Hoping there'll be a highlights show in the evening. Will check the EPG later . Oh, hang on, I forgot that I've got another Sky box in the spare bedroom although it won't be in HD and the TV is quite small but better than nothing. Pete

This will be the first televised Monaco that I'm going to miss since Jean Pierre Beltoise's epic victory in 1972 . I'll have to avoid finding out the result and watch it on Sunday night I guess. Pete

No running problems but 40's on 19" rims won't look as good as 35's. Pete

That's very good . Pete

Doesn't look to bad in the area of the drives though, overcast but dry on Saturday and mainly dry with the odd shower Sunday. Pete

+1, a very straightforward route this year. Pete

You'd be surprised . Pete .

I just checked on U.K Hornets, only found in Southern Britain below a line stretching from The Severn to The Wash so not found this far North. Pete

I don't think the Zed has a fast enough wiper speed to have coped with the intensity of the rain . Very warm and humid here all day and hardly a breath of wind but looks like the very warm air is on its way out. Pete

Maybe you should report it to DEFRA. I know they've been heading up through France so maybe they've arrived. Apparently about 20-30 people a year are killed by the stings in Japan but the main problem is that they can decimate the honey bee population, killing as many as 40 a minute . Thinking about it I don't think I've ever seen a hornet. Pete

Just having an epic thunderstorm here Florida style. Biggest one I've seen in 30 years and very close as well . Pete

According to DEFRA there have been no confirmed sightings of the Asian Giant Hornet in The U.K . I found this report dated today, all previous sightings where the hornets have been examined by experts have turned out to be native hornets...phew. "However, a spokesman from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said: "There have been no confirmed sightings of Asian hornets in the UK - they are smaller than our own native hornets and are no more dangerous. "We are aware of the potential impacts they could have on honey bees and have plans in place to eradicate them if they are identified. "In Great Britain we would not expect Asian hornets to establish outside southern parts of England and Wales due to colder weather." Pete

Just looking at the photo when Caroline walks past and says "That looks nice" and she very rarely comments on other Zeds . Pete

Doesn't it just....hmmm, I have a Blade . Pete

I'll be popping over for a few hours on Friday afternoon as I live fairly close. Somewhere between 2 and 3 I would think. Pete

The only roadworks I can see are around Cannock. I think they are just after the junction for the M54 (which I imagine you'll be taking) so you should be O.K. Pete

+1 Pete

Don't forget it's a Bank Holiday this weekend . One alternative is to go over The Brecon Beacons via Merthyr , then Newtown and Welshpool. That's a really great drive, I've done it quite recently, takes about 30 minutes longer than going through Hereford but traffic is usually fairly light once you get past Merthyr. Pete