Rainman

Well I got this unit installed at the weekend. Very happy with the result and as for functionality there is very little this thing can't do. The iPhone integration is particularly good, which was pretty high on my list of requirements. It's installed through the existing Bose amp and speakers as a short-term measure and whilst the sound is ok it's definately missing something. I'm going to be looking at amp/speaker options in the next couple of weeks and probably going to be sticking with the Alpine brand ... unless anyone else has some other recommendations? Phil

I saw a consumer program recently about exactly this (can't remember which one) - and in an age when insurance being sold HAS to be be particularly fit for purpose and do exactly what it says on the tin, this is under scrutiny atm. The issue here is insurers selling 'protected no claims discount', but then hiking your premium beyond the 'zero no claims price' because of the claim but then applying your discount to that - the result being a higher premium even with full NCD. Right now every insurer tries their luck, thats just what they do, and some even incentivise their staff to try and successfully hike a premium for any reason. None of them like giving money away without getting something back. If you stick to your guns and don't let them ride you then you will get the due premium, they have to. And the threat of involving the insurance ombudsman and accusations of "mis-sold" insurance policies tend pull them back into line pretty quickly. I've been a loss adjuster in a previous life, I know how they work and there is a world of difference between what they will try and do, what they are legally obliged to do - The fact is that if you accept an offer of settlement, no matter what clauses you have in your policy, then you've accepted it ... you're always entitled to refuse an offer of settlement of any particular claim if you don't feel it's right. The unfortunate truth is that many people are too afraid to stand up to the insurance company and accept the first offer. You should never accept the first offer. In fact, when I think about it, throughout my life I've had bike claims, car claims, household claims, and I've always had to fight my corner at some point, it has never been simple - although more recently I've had a PPI claim which ended up being stupidly simple (those companies that advertise are all crooks and you don't need them). Even premiums are negotiable at the time of renewal. I've had Direct Line drop their pants by 300 quid below the quoted price before now. Apologies for straying off topic. Phil BTW to the OP - I would still reconsider getting your car fixed via the dealer network first, and if you want to do upgrades then do them later if it warrants it. I know it sounds like a better deal to do it now but if you have any issues with the work or the parts then you have no come-back on your insurer if it turns out that there are bigger issues yet undetected.

If they're quoting you for a repair then it will be in accordance with the requirements of the insurance company. When items are merely bent they won't straighten them they will replace them, the reason being is that bending things back can cause fatigue and potentially lead to problems later on. If a rad fin is bent it might not present a leak immediately and a fault may take some time to manifest itself. Also, a repeat incident with already weakened/compromised fittings can have pretty major ramifications a second time around - Animals run out in front of cars all the time, you'd have to be pretty unlucky but it's not beyond the realms of possibility. Hence, they play it safe so that once your repair is done they don't see you again - nothing costs a garage/insurer more than dead time spent on re-fixing something a second time around. Personally, if they're quoting £2500 for all oem parts and labour and they are not writing off your car then I'd get them to do it. Last thing you want is a repeat incident potentially causing a larger dent in the whole situation. You also might want to consider how close you were to having the car written off with current trade prices on an '04 car. If it were me and you wanted to ensure that your car retained it's max possible value, I would get it repaired via the insurer and at a Nissan garage. You're not paying for it (assuming you have protected no claims) so why care as to how much it's gonna cost? Just my two pennies. Phil

OK, thanks for the heads up. Originally I was going do it myself but I've since decided in taking it into a well established ICE specialist for fitment as it seemed to me that there are a few pitfalls around incorporating it into the Bose system and if I'm paying them to do the job then it all becomes their problem and not mine. I've given them a clear set of expectations and they've quoted on that, so it's upto them to deliver. I really can't be doing with headaches in this department, I just need it to work. When it comes to engines, transmissions, suspension, etc, then that is more inside my comfort zone, but when it comes to mucking about with removing trims and running new wires and electrics ... it leaves me cold. It's not that I can't do it, it's just that I don't enjoy pulling my interiors apart. Phil

Hi Guys, Anyone using an Alipine INA-W910R as a replacement for the Bose system? My GT doesn't have satnav so I thought I'd replace the double-din unit for one of these. Phil

If you were a dealer offering a warranty with the car then it's a good price, but it's marginally high for a standard car in a private sale - check all the price guides and they will tell you the same. Phil

If you were a dealer offering a warranty with the car then it's a good price, but it's marginally high for a standard car in a private sale - check all the price guides and they will tell you the same. Phil

I had a quote from Abbey just yesterday and it was crica 140 quid for a custom alignment - they add a little extra read tow-in compared to the Nissan spec and they say it makes all the difference. Since they're on your doorstep it's a no brainer imo. I live in Hertfordshire and will be getting them to do mine within the next week or so. I was going to go this weekend but my son decided to have something called a '16th birthday' so it will have to wait another week. If you get it done before then I'd be interested to know how it works out for you. Phil

I had a quote from Abbey just yesterday and it was crica 140 quid for a custom alignment - they add a little extra read tow-in compared to the Nissan spec and they say it makes all the difference. Since they're on your doorstep it's a no brainer imo. I live in Hertfordshire and will be getting them to do mine within the next week or so. I was going to go this weekend but my son decided to have something called a '16th birthday' so it will have to wait another week. If you get it done before then I'd be interested to know how it works out for you. Phil

Just checked the pressure and the rears were at 42 psi ! Had a chat with the guys at Abbey this afternoon and I'm going to get the bushes and allignment done. Phil

Just checked the pressure and the rears were at 42 psi ! Had a chat with the guys at Abbey this afternoon and I'm going to get the bushes and allignment done. Phil

Hi Steve, Welcome. I've just been through all this myself and bought my Z at the weekend. For a UK, non-GT The price looks about right from an independant dealer. Double check the receipts and the history and see if you can verify the mileage by looking at the service intervals, mileage on the MOT and the number of pads/tyres it's had (if there evidence is there to be seen of course). If anything it might also give you an insight into how it's been driven. Otherwise it looks like a fair deal. For what it's worth, I just paid about 1700 quid more for an 05 UK GT spec car with slightly less miles. Phil

Hi Steve, Welcome. I've just been through all this myself and bought my Z at the weekend. For a UK, non-GT The price looks about right from an independant dealer. Double check the receipts and the history and see if you can verify the mileage by looking at the service intervals, mileage on the MOT and the number of pads/tyres it's had (if there evidence is there to be seen of course). If anything it might also give you an insight into how it's been driven. Otherwise it looks like a fair deal. For what it's worth, I just paid about 1700 quid more for an 05 UK GT spec car with slightly less miles. Phil

OK, I'll recheck the tyre pressures - my first big mistake is assuming that they're correct after it's service 500 miles ago. If they're over-inflated it would contribute to the back-end coming away a little too readily. Very probable - I'll check and get back to you all. @Ken, I wouldn't say that what I'm experiencing is a problem persay. I would imagine that many owners would be very happy with the stock-handling. I am being overly critical. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a nice drive and I don't think it's horrible at all - but I do believe it could be 100% better, certainly to my own preference. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but if I do want to push-on in day-to-day driving then I will be wanting to sharpen up the turn in, stop it tram-lining (which is one of my more recent discoveries) and generally make it feel a bit more predictable and planted. At the moment I feel the way to drive it is a bit like an older 911 - steem up to a corner and get all your speed off before you turn in but try and carry as much speed as you dare through the corner, then get on the gas once you're passed the apex and can see the corner opening up. Nothing wrong in that at all tbh, it's still fun. It's odd though, as it doesn't feel like it's carrying the weight up front as I thought it would - which leads me to believe that Nissan tried hard in making it work as a front-engined car and stopping understeer. I don't find it understeers at all, but once I'm able to get on the power earlier I might find that it does - I can't really tell yet as I'm just not being that brutal with it right now. It's just the way I drive I guess - I like to be able to 'drive' through the corner from the moment all my braking is done and I've started to turn in, which means my exit speed is going to be quicker as I'm feeling the throttle earlier. At the moment I wouldn't drive it that way as getting on the throttle mid corner whilst trying to adjust my position on the road with the slightly ponderous steering doesn't provide the most confidence inspiring performance. It might sounds like I'm not enjoying the car, but really I am. Honest. The thought of all this untapped potential is great - it's exactly what I was looking for from a 350Z. It's a very very good car, but with not much effort it can be made a great car, and thats brilliant. Phil

OK, I'll recheck the tyre pressures - my first big mistake is assuming that they're correct after it's service 500 miles ago. If they're over-inflated it would contribute to the back-end coming away a little too readily. Very probable - I'll check and get back to you all. @Ken, I wouldn't say that what I'm experiencing is a problem persay. I would imagine that many owners would be very happy with the stock-handling. I am being overly critical. Don't get me wrong, I think it's a nice drive and I don't think it's horrible at all - but I do believe it could be 100% better, certainly to my own preference. I don't want to sound like I'm complaining, but if I do want to push-on in day-to-day driving then I will be wanting to sharpen up the turn in, stop it tram-lining (which is one of my more recent discoveries) and generally make it feel a bit more predictable and planted. At the moment I feel the way to drive it is a bit like an older 911 - steem up to a corner and get all your speed off before you turn in but try and carry as much speed as you dare through the corner, then get on the gas once you're passed the apex and can see the corner opening up. Nothing wrong in that at all tbh, it's still fun. It's odd though, as it doesn't feel like it's carrying the weight up front as I thought it would - which leads me to believe that Nissan tried hard in making it work as a front-engined car and stopping understeer. I don't find it understeers at all, but once I'm able to get on the power earlier I might find that it does - I can't really tell yet as I'm just not being that brutal with it right now. It's just the way I drive I guess - I like to be able to 'drive' through the corner from the moment all my braking is done and I've started to turn in, which means my exit speed is going to be quicker as I'm feeling the throttle earlier. At the moment I wouldn't drive it that way as getting on the throttle mid corner whilst trying to adjust my position on the road with the slightly ponderous steering doesn't provide the most confidence inspiring performance. It might sounds like I'm not enjoying the car, but really I am. Honest. The thought of all this untapped potential is great - it's exactly what I was looking for from a 350Z. It's a very very good car, but with not much effort it can be made a great car, and thats brilliant. Phil