Squee

So last week I had the flu which meant I was housebound and BORED. Armed with only a camera phone, some pet cats and the cardboard tube from a kitchen roll/snot rag dispenser I took these snaps. Turns out cats look like weird moon faced James Bond baddies when photographed in this method and since I've been promising a pic of poor forgotten Nismo....here he is!

I'm lucky enough to have a 350z, a handful of 300zx (in various states of disrepair), a R33 GTR and a rotten old rust bucket MK1 MX5 which my other half rescued from the scrapy and gifted me for Christmas. I went on various drives at the weekend in the 350z, the GTR and the crud-bucket and you know which one gave me the most smiles over the weekend.........the MX5. Don't get me wrong, I love the Zeds to death, goes without saying I love the GTR as it's a weapon, but there's something so insanely fun about that little car. You just can't stop grinning when you're driving it, so much fun and as it's so tatty you can leave it parked up with the roof down and do the whole 1980s action film thing where you enter and exit the car without worrying about opening the doors. And if the thing goes pop it costs bugger all to fix and most jobs can be done with the car on stands on the driveway. I'm not saying that the MX5 is 'better' than something like a GTR as it's not. But there's something so refreshing about a simple little car built for 'drivers' that can be picked up so cheaply. Anyway, I'm off to give my head a wobble and sit in the GTR for a bit to think about what I've said S.

Update time! Went ahead and bough the swish 6 cell battery back in November and I have to say I'm very, very pleased with it and would certainly recommend one if you can stomach the price (£130 ish). I'm ashamed to say I don't use my Zed that often any more since the R33 unexpectedly entered my life back in January. But there's been a few times recently that I haven't used the 350 for a fortnight and go to start it on a cold day and it roars into life with absolutely no hesitation at all. I will be gradually replacing all of my batteries with the 6 cell technology. S.

Love, love, love this thread I only check on this page every month or so and it's always bittersweet to read the updates as inevitably some members will have lost their much loved family members as well as members posting pics of their new additions. So sorry to read about the losses on here. I will get some recent snaps of my lot up soon which of course includes two of Pete's 2015 crop of Bengals! S.

Anyone on here going to the Fast Show at Santa Pod this weekend? I've been 'off' the show scene for the last couple of years and hoping to get to a few this year. A friend has persuaded me to go to the Fast Show although tbh doesn't look like my kinda thing and wishing I was going to JapFest instead (don't think funds and time will allow for both). Really hoping there'll be a few Zedders as I'm a bit worried it'll be a car park full of VXR's :/ S.

Haha, sorry! Glad you all got some bargains S.

RabbitStew should think about investing in 2 items - or better still get Mrs RabbitStew to invest in these items: * A dishwasher machine * A Cat Genie - http://www.catgenie.co.uk/ For those who can't be bothered to click the link and wondering what it's all about: I actually had one for a while with moderate success. Unfortunately I think one of my longhaired cats got snagged in the mechanical workings as I got home one day to find lots of cat fur surrounding it and none of them ever used it again. Also, when the machine malfunctions and the poo hasn't been properly mulched up the house smells of baking cat turds thanks to the hot air dryer. But give it a go Rabbit, might make your life easier. And your lady can deal with the smell of the baking cat crap brownies. I hope the OP has had a sit down and talk with his other half. S.

I'm sure there's a few folks on here partial to buying the odd car part or 2 so thought I'd share this shopping tip... Until 10pm tonight you can get 20% off eBay purchases (up to a max of £50) using code CUK20 I found this out via HotUKDeals - info can be read here: http://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/20-off-everything-ebay-4pm-10pm-wooooo-code-cuk20-2423386#comments Now what to buy!?! Hope this helps someone S.

Ok just let me know who you insured with and all will be forgiven! Sorry Flex - I misunderstood your Q! It's Footman James I'm insured with and so far I've been very impressed - easy and uncomplicated on the phone and great price. I think they also do track day insurance add-ons too. Car is meant to be 20 years old+ to be on the Classic Insurance scheme but if yours is a '97 it's still worth a call as they might not be too strict on this. S

it was approx 20% cheaper than the cheapest currently on eBay (I'll let you do the maths and work that one out ). But mine's only had one previous owner since import in '08 and allegedly the midnight purple holds it's value more than other colours. Also seems pretty stock and unmolested. So it wasn't stupid cheap like £5k but I'm pretty pleased. Sorry to crash your thread btw Flex! S.

Oooh I like it very much I've got a little confession to share with the class...look what Squee found at a local car auction: ..naturally I couldn't leave it there to fall into the wrong hands! still feels very surreal it being sat on the drive! Non V-Spec sadly so Flex's still trumps it lol. S. PS it's a 1995 so went on classic insurance - £281 annual!

I was in Queensferry on Friday and saw a ginger with what looked to be a Nismo style kit. Looked good! S.

Slightly off topic but I happened to catch an episode of PistonHeads TV on Sky earlier (Showcase channel). And dear oh dear, what awful drivel. I'd have thought with a varied and vibrant forum that they have they could have cobbled together a reasonably interesting 30 minute TV show but they failed miserably. It seemed to be a bunch of London-centric foppy toffs making a show for other London-centric foppy toffs. And I'm from Chester so a bit of a toff too! /rant over. S.

Hi all, Bit of a long shot but is anyone on here attending one of the trade days at the Autosport show at the NEC next Thurs or Fri (14/15 Jan)? I'm attending another convention at the NEC that week and would love to tie it in with a quick look around Autosport - would seem a shame to miss out given that I'm there on the same day! My problem is I'm not sure how I can get a trade pass (it's trade only 14/15th and public at the weekend), especially at short notice so hoping that maybe I can buy a redundant pass from a trade visitor leaving early. However a friend of mine going at the weekend says that public passes have got your name and photo printed on. So if anyone on here is going can you tell me if trade passes have names and pics printed on too? Or can any cunning and mischievous sorts think of an ingenious way of getting in. Without resorting to breaching the fire exits and/or nudity?! Thanks! S.

[quote name='syy' timestamp='1452061278' post='1570424'] Squee we have a mutual friend too, then I remembered that he also has a 300zx. I try to limit my Facebook friends to only those I really know in person, and family. There's enough rubbish likes and shares cluttering my news feed as it is. I regularly delete people too if they post up too much junk. Nothing personal lol [/quote] Oooh who is it? who is it? a lot of 300ZX owners are full on weirdos hehe. I'd love to know how the Facebook algorithm works which decides what crap gets put on your newsfeed. I'm quite lucky in that my feed is mainly posts related to my interests rather than pointless chuff from people I last saw 10 years ago. I'm guessing since I only click 'like' on things I actually like that gives weight to certain things. S.

[quote name='Jay Kay' timestamp='1452036377' post='1570405'] Squee, nice 300! do you have a 350 too? [/quote] Thank you I'm a bit of a greedy car hoarder - alongside my 350Z I have two 300zx's (both sadly off road at the mo but that's normal for those cars!) and I was also presented with a MK1 MX-5 on Christmas Day which is to be my track toy (but will keep road legal). S.

For the last few years the GT-R has been my dream car but about 12 months ago I realised I was becoming a bit 'meh' about them. I think a combination of me spending more time with older 300ZX's has made me realise that I prefer (the option at least!) of getting my hands dirty and that's no way an option with the GT-R. Unless I get a job at Litchfield I've also read many disappointing reports from people who have saved up to by an R35 only to be very disappointed with the lack of 'connect' between car and driver. Strangely I've gone off them at a time when owning one isn't such a distant dream (I'm in the VERY fortunate position of hopefully having my mortgage paid off in 4/5 years so was thinking about one then). I am however going to be driving one round Oulton Park later this year so maybe my mind will be swayed back again! To answer the OP, if I had £35K to burn I would probably get an American muscle car but have it live alongside my collection of Japanese rust buckets maybe I'll spend some of the £35k on welding lessons S. PS don't forget folks - £50million jack pot on tonights lottery. If there was more time I'd suggest a 350z syndicate to up the chances of a win so we can ALL have a GT-R!

Sarah Michele Haswell. If you don't like cats and cars then you might not like my content S.

Sorry to dig up an old (yet much loved) thread but check out this googly-eyed example!

LMFAO Pizza and bakeries it is then! I do the same routines with my friends here who are like you. I brought 10kg lidl vintage cheddar over for my mate who lives here as it's not on the menu here. Look on the bright side, the pizza and bakeries and beer and spirits are so cheap! Good for me too, Im just eating sushi, 1/4 UK prices! Resent paying £15 for a bowl of Miso Ramen that costs £4 in Japan. UK is the worst for ripping folk off. I dearly hope when I'm out there I witness a waiter at a restaurant drop a bowl of this on someone's head and exclaim "Mi-soo clumsy!". I hope that's not classed as borderline racism. And if it is then I'm sorry! S.

I'm off there in June too But sadly only for a week. And also like you I'm trying to get into a Hilton group hotel as I have a 2 night voucher to use lol. We might end up in the same hotel. Ohh errr! OP have you been to the Nismo HQ in Yokohama? Here's a couple of links if you haven't, or if any other readers are interested: http://paultan.org/2015/12/05/touring-nissans-amazing-zama-heritage-collection/ http://www.speedhunters.com/2014/10/inside-nismo-a-day-at-omori-factory/ Keep up with reports on this please OP! S.

I completely agree that the OTT sicko violence is most unpleasant but really it wasn't that long ago, just a few hundred years, that inhumane punishments happened here. Think of the fate that suffered Guy Fawkes - poor bastard was hung, drawn and quartered! And that's celebrated every year still! Maybe it's unrealistic to expect all of the countries in the world to progress at the same speed the UK has? And don't forget in South Africa in the 1980's 'necklacing' was all the rage - that sounds just as barbaric as what the ISIS lads are up to. S.

Last night I booked flights to Tokyo for a week June 2016. I'm hoping the flights will be honoured as they're mispriced at £230 return from Dublin! I believe the same flights from the UK are normally £600+ so quite a saving and I'll use some Avios points to get out to Dublin and back. Last year I managed to get mispriced flights to NYC for £180, which were honoured, so hoping this will work too Anyway....whilst out there I would love to go on a Nissan factory tour. I'm sure there'll be a few folks on here who have been out there so if anyone can advise on how 'do-able' this is I'd be grateful. And any other recommendations for a petrol-head couple heading out there would be great too. I have read on google that there's some sort of Nissan facility open to the public in Yokohama just outside Tokyo but there may well be other facilities open to the public at other Nissan plants in the country. I'm more interested in Zed / Nismo stuff than eco-box engines and I suspect the Yokohama plant is all about showing off the companies green credentials. And if you all want to chip in for me to send a container of car parts back to the UK let me know S.

I frequently hear of folks waiting agggggges for wedding pics and DVDs. Creative people are awful procrastinators (I should know, I'm one of those 'creative types') so seems the norm I'm sorry to say. Having said that 6 months is a very long time and I think the chap does need a kick up the arse and I think you should pursue the offer of the £50 refund so he learns it's not acceptable behaviour. S. PS congrats on your nuptials

I've seen this mentioned a few times now, so I just did a quick google to see what's what. It's actually 144 people beheaded in Saudi this year so far, probably more as the article I found was published at the start of November. However, I guess the argument there is that at least they have a justice system, with proper police and courts and stuff. The sentence may be harsh for some things, like drug trafficking, but at least it's all set in stone and you have half a chance at defending yourself. With Daesh you get none of that, and they'll kill innocents just for the sake of it. I don't think the Saudi system is one we should all aspire to, but neither do I think it's in any way comparable in terms of barbarism. Quite right Dan ! I lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for over 2 years and I felt very safe and secure during that period. Yes, punishment is severe for people who commit crime, but the system means that nice people (like me) can go about their business without worrying that someone is going to nick their car, steal their money or knife them. One of the things I remember vividly are the jewellers shops with displays of gold, expensive watches, diamonds etc., all without massive security ... I wouldn't be allowed one if I lived out there! Edit: my dad spent a bit of time out in the Emirates (before Dubai was fashionable haha!) and he got the impression that although the folk out there love the cars and the flash watches, if need be they'd happily give it up in a heartbeat and go back to being desert nomads.