Stutopia

Can't believe no one has mentioned the Citroen BX on the transporter. Classic.

What are the spats in the first pic?

long, let's have a glimpse of the beast

Weird,I'm not seeing this across safari on phone, pad or mac. Worth trialling another browser if your on IE?

Cool man, sounds good

Welcome, white looks cool.

Tablet/phone access seems ok to me.

Not certain TBH, as a general rule I tend to replace bits that are shot or on the way out, ideally with something newer, better shinier and after market, but sometime just go OEM. I can only assume it's a rigidity thing from its construction, but not certain.

It's there to rattle on the exhaust mid section!

The podcasts are worth a listen too, but they can stray into geek territory, and are understandably USA centric. He must get lots of questions about going into detailing for yourself, so there's businessy stuff in there too. The little rants about keyboard warriors commenting on the youtube videos are funny.

Got mine off Zmanalex as it was rusted to s***, worse than the pic above. FYI, it goes into two end brackets (again these were rusted on mine) at each end, which are hidden by a plastic cover, you can just see one in the pic. Take those plastic covers off and have a look before you order anything, make sure you get everything ordered, before w brace arrives and you find you need extra bits to do the job. Alex told me to underseal it before it went on and it should out live the car. :lol. http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/310419032723?_lwgsi=y&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=64 Good luck repairing it though, you might get away with a clean up job and save a few.

We hit Dijon on the way down to Barca for the new year road trip, cool place. Didn't see many honeymoon hotels, the mercure looked ok from across the road, but not exactly romantic. However, there's a bar in the gringo central bit called Mac Callaghan, it's on Rue Bannelier I think, they give you free oysters when you have a few drinks (perfect for honeymoon) we also got a free pint for drinking more than the locals, we didn't even know there was a contest on Have fun on the trip, sounds ace.

Can't believe they squeezed it on! Can you please make a noise video?

Sounds like fun, cool pics too.

If you do, check out http://www.thesmokingtire.com first, there's usually an ad on there on the homepage with a discount code. I found it about 20 minutes after I made my order!

Not sure TBH Cragus, the exposure AMMO is getting seems to be largely from Larry's own AMMO detailing videos, Drive Clean on youtube. However, he doesn't really plug them in the show, which is weird for a commercial venture to say the least but, it actually got me more interested. No sign of them coming over here I know of, but I haven't been searching for them much. I wanted to try the products before reading anyone else's reviews and see what I thought of them as they're not common.

I keep thinking about the ARBs, sound good. Nice work

Yeah, been a fan for a while, had to scratch the itch and try them. Thanks for the feedback.

Since the forum got me interested in detailing, I've tried a few bits and pieces, mainly through waxybox trial bottles. I do have a stock kit of goodies I've settled on but I am always looking out for new stuff to try. It turns out I actually really like relaxing with some tunes on and washing the car. Apparently not everyone is wired this way, so I get some pretty weird looks from the neighbours each week, but hey, if we all liked the same thing... This was a 6 month wash (category, not duration ), so I would usually snowfoam (valet pro), rinse, clean wheels (MER wheel cleaner), TBW (megs hyper wash), rinse, clay and lube, paint cleanser (Dodo Lime Prime Lite), glaze (Poorboys White Diamond), wax (Poorboys Liquid Natty's Blue), QED (Angel Wax). However, the last few months I've been addicted to the Drive Clean detailing videos and also listening to the AMMO NYC podcasts. As a noob to detailing they've been fantastic, I've learnt loads and they are pitched so that even a learner can understand what he's going on about. As well as that, the guy who does them is clearly an ubergeek for detailing and his passion and interest shines through, which I think makes the episodes so watchable (if you like this sort of thing). He also works directly on the products and tweaks the formula, so it's interesting that it's not just a branding exercise (thought the marketing is vey nice). Anyway, I decided that for Christmas I'd order myself some goodies form the AMMO store as I'd seen some things I liked the look of and wanted to try one or two of the others. I've had so much free education from the AMMO videos I didn't really mind taking the sting on the tax and shipping to the UK, but I'm a believer in paying for quality, educational content. So about a fortnight ago this lot arrived: AMMO Foam Paint Cleanser (shampoo to you and me) AMMO Skin Defense Coat (sealant?) AMMO Hydrate Paint Moisturiser (drying aid) AMMO Spit Shine (I think it's a quick detailer, with some lubrication in there) AMMO Plum Wheel Cleaner AMMO Woolies (two soft brushes for wheels, one long to go deep and one small with an angled head) The weather has prevented me having fun with these until today. I did have a quick go on the AMMO Hydrate last weekend after my weekly wash and it does leave a nice shiny layer behind during the drying phase, which was pleasing and boosted my bead. It also aided the drying towel movement, with reduced "drag". Seems a decent way to minimise marring in the drying phase. However, as I was claying today (straight after the wash and rinse) I didn't have a drying phase, I just microfibred each panel dry after I clayed it, so no Hydrate. Goodies, freshly unboxed, the best bit. The little angle headed brush is the perfect size for Rays, it gets in everywhere, around behind the spokes and along the lip, super pleased with this. It rained this morning so the car was wet when I started, this meant my usual foam stage didn't cling as long as I would've liked, but she wasn't exactly filthy in the first place. We've seen lots on these snowfoam products, so I won't go into detail. They're decent and inexpensive, I like them as a foam stage, others are available. Then I got into the fun bit, and tried the AMMO Plum Wheel Cleaner. This did a really nice job off loosening up the grime and brake dust (I seem to have more of it with the Ferodo pads) and it goes a cool purple colour when you let it sit and it smells of plums, amazeballz. Pleasant smelling (did I mention plum scented? ) and easy to work with, takes about 90 seconds before I get bored of waiting and get stuck in. I must say I Rim Waxed these about 4 months ago when they were off, and it's a massive help when it comes to cleaning (probably due again soon). Working away. All done and rinsed. I found it better than my usual MER to work with, you can see it working, it smells nicer and it took less effort to get them clean. I then moved onto the AMMO Foam Paint Cleanser. It's a shampoo, what can I say, it cleans muck off. It looks disturbingly like extra thick fairy liquid, but I don't think it is. It definitely shifts dirt, and what I did notice is it really is quite slippery too, the mitt kept giving up foam when I was squeezing and it fairly glided over the paintwork. Rinsed away very nicely under sheet water and left the paint nice and clean with nothing left behind I wouldn't want, no streaks. I was just about to crack on with the clay and lube and this massive fella rocked up, turned out he was the gentle giant type, not the rip your face off type. He said he used to be a valeter and gave me some free stuff. Let's be clear, most of the people round here look at me sideways when I am out detailing for a few hours, some even say hilarious things like, 'you're always washing that' or 'you'll wash that paint away', 'drive it instead' - it's funnier the fourth of fifth time they say it. Anyway, I've never met this Polish guy before and he handed me these, then walked away, said he lives a few doors down and has seen me out before, thought I could try them! Naturally I'll find out what they are before slopping them on the car, but I thought it was a nice touch from a random. I'm writing to the Daily Mail tomorrow about these Poles coming over here, given us free detailing products... No idea about them yet, will have a google after this. Back on topic. I was also trying a new clay and clay lube today, Bilt Hamber Auto-Clay with Dodo Juice Born Slippy. This is only my third claying and I'd used the Megs kit in the past, which was totally fine. I like the size of the BH clay, you can chop a chunk off and use it without fear of drops, because there's loads left. I was bricking it I'd drop the megs one half way round and not be able to finish. The Dodo Juice Born Slippy is exactly that, nice and slippy. This is what the clay looked like at the end, so it was far from filthy, but I thought it was due having been 6 months. I'll stick with this combo for the near future, can't think of a reason to change and both good to work with, again, I like something that goes on easy and smells nice too. Here's where we are post clay, nice and naked. Next up was the AMMO Skin Defense [sic] Coat, which as far as I can tell is a sealant, though happy to be told I am wrong. It goes on so easily it is untrue, I don't know if the ambient temperature today was just right and the absence of direct sunlight was also a factor, but this went on like a charm with a dense foam applicator pad. I applied, left it 2-4 mins whilst applying to the next panel, before going back to the first with a microfibre to lift the residue off, flip over for a buff. It came off as easily as it went on. It looked great underneath straight away, really pleased. I don't think I've gotten round the car so quickly before at this stage. I'm really curious as to its endurance, as it seemed just a bit too easy, but here's hoping it lasts. This could be a new favourite, The whole thing with the AMMO stuff is that you keep building it up in layers, I may do another stage of Skin next weekend if the weather allows and see if that brings any further benefit, and also check how it's been doing keeping the daily grime at bay. I finished up with the AMMO Spit Shine, which I used exactly as I would a quick detailer. It suggests this is a sort of emergency car wash in a bottle, which you can keep in the car for whenever you want to show off the car, but need to drive there first to show it off. Not sure I'd use it to clean the whole car, even if it was only very slightly grimy, but that's how it positions itself - when used with a @*!# load of clean microfibres, it's a waterless, minor soilage, wash. As a QED, it went on fine, just like all the others I've used, no major difference. I'll be interested to see what the bead is like in the morning if there are some showers overnight. It'll do well to displace the Angel Wax QED I normally use, but I am tempted to try the Dodo offerings too as everyone seems to like them. Finished job below (well apart from rainx the glass and quick hoover inside, but you don't need me to tell you about that), very pleased. All in all, about 4 hours work and worth every second. I love trying new stuff and especially having a shiny new car to go out for a drive and get dirty. Usually I would have done a wax and QED as well, but I skipped those as I want to see how these work as a system and particularly, their endurance. A little decal, because I'm a sticker whore and it looks cool IMHO. Naturally the first thing I did was go out for a spin, round the Trough of Bowland. Regular readers will know I also just got my first DSLR, with which I am very much in the learner phase, but I couldn't resist some glama shots. Sorry if its a bit gratuitous, just be glad it was getting dark when I got there. You can probably tell, I like a reflection or two... The Final Word. Despite costing a few quid to get it over here from the States I'm not in the least bit disappointed with the products so far. The Plum Wheel Cleaner would be my new first choice. The Foam is excellent, but I couldn't justify the shipping just for a shampoo. In terms of ease of application and immediate impression the Skin Defense, Hydrate and Spit Shine all look solid. If the Skin Defense holds up well in our climate, I will go in for more of that, as it's just so easy to get on with. If there's anyone out there who wants to try these out, if I go back in for another order I'll post up on here and happily let you jump in with my order. This will cut down shipping, as it's a flat fee, and probably shave something off the tax too. Just so we're clear, I am not affiliated with AMMO, or any other detailing manufacturer for that matter, though I will happily take free products from people walking past with a friendly disposition. Hope I've not gone on too long for you. I love the videos, watch them if you haven't. http://www.ammonyc.com/videos/

along mate, good luck with the search and I hope the 3-4 month wait isn't too agonising. If you're after info, there's loads on here, starting right here: http://www.350z-uk.com/topic/56870-guide-for-new-memberspotential-buyers/

There's more Zeds there than I've ever seen driving around! Great scenes. Where about, generally, is this place? I feel like as a Zed owner I should make a pilgrimage to worship there. Like going to Maranello if you're a Ferrari owner.

If there's a spare going, please put me down for one.

Fags contain nicotine, as do aubergines and potatoes. None of these are medicinal products.

along but it didn't happen if there's no pics!

Challenger is a great shout for rarity, but Mustang or a Camaro would also be pretty epic. Not driven on the wrong side of the car in the UK, but done a bit of wrong side of the car in Europe. Aside from ticket machines and toll booths without a passenger being a chore, I found my view approaching roundabouts a bit of a pain, especially if you have a large headed passenger or one stuffing food/drink in their face. It's not a show stopper though, just takes a second or two longer, which isn't a bad thing necessarily. As for wrong side shift, you get used to it after a day or two. DO IT DO IT DO IT DO IT, SERIOUSLY, DO IT.