Stutopia

I had two over 65 nervous passengers in there, so you can imagine how easy I was taking it. I dread to think what I'd have got under spirited conditions. Despite their frenchness those RCZs have a certain, Je ne sais quois about them.

Now that is a car with the best of both worlds, makes total sense.

I needed four seats at short notice on Friday so went to my usual rental place. I was pretty pleased to get a Focus, as it was a late call and not many cars left. I'd feared some sort of Chevvy Spark or Hyundai I10 so a Focus was a decent result. I keep thinking of one for a winter/sensible car so thought it'd be a good test run. What I got wasn't the standard 1.6 rental offering but the Ecoboost. A 3 cylinder, 1.0 litre TURBO I've never driven FI, would it have too much power for me? In terms of the usual stuff, decent focus interior and spacious, everything is lightweight and easy to handle etc etc, a fine car interior (some squeaks mind) in comparison to the rest of its class IMHO. However, the engine sucks the sweat from a dead man's balls. Allegedly the turbo Ecowarrior delivers 100bhp, which is probably more than my first car, a 1.2 Clio. However, it was totally insipid to drive. Now I realise Zed owners probably aren't their target market, and it was fine around town, but this is not enough to get me juicy. My old Clio was so much more fun in the city. The weirdest thing is, I did a run over to Sheffield, so a selection of city, motorway and A road action (snake pass rules BTW). The (majority mileage) motorway stretch was appalling, I had to shift down to third to overtake anything, an incline (not a hill) causes asthmatic wheezing and when I got sat behind Fred & Mable on snake pass I had literally nothing to use to get passed their Ford Ka safely. The worst bit is, it averaged 40.3 mpg, for the whole journey! Now where's the bloody Eco in that? The Shark returns 30mpg on the same run, at similar (top) speeds, yet makes me gush just when I start her up and hear that V6. Who is going to buy a car with rubbs performance but with only 40mpg as the reward? I was expecting 55 mpg at least. I don't get how they think people will be enticed into these small engine turbod Eco cars, when there's no juice when you floor it and no spectacular mileage figures to please your wallet - it's the worst of both worlds. Do you think this is the way all cars are eventually going to go? Is the Zed the last Tyrannosaurus Rex waiting to become extinct and replaced by the Donkey

I was in SF last fall, love the place. Love all the old Mustangs you see, and the new ones. My tip is to get to an Avis, there's one near Union Square (think it's on Post) and rent a Camaro or Mustang. Reasonably priced and loads of fun for a yank boat. SF traffic is rubbs but if you get a chance to burn down the pacific coast highway for a few hours, you'll love it. The prehistoric speed limits are less fun, but it's a great place for a drive. Around town drive up to Lombard for the crazy zig zag streets, like Steve McQueen, if your car is cool enough the tourists love to take photos. or drive north to wine country where it's a bit warmer and cool to just tool around the roads. When I was in SF we went to a Niners game, I don't know the fixtures for your duration but it was great fun if you like 'football' - even if you don't it's an experience. Get down early and check all the pre-match in the car park, loads of BBQs, beer and those retarded big trucks they seem to love. Super friendly too. At night, if you're feeling flush ($300+), hit somewhere like The Clift, get some bottle service (buy a full bottle of whiskey and vodka) and they set you up with a reserved table. If you tip your (stunning) waitress and smile, use your best James Bond English accent and explain you're new in town they may also introduce you to some beautiful babies who don't have a seat and may want to sit on your VIP table. It's a bit cheesey at first but it's certainly an American experience, more fun in a gang than lone wolf. Obviously if you get hungry, the world's best burgers can be had at In-n-Out, don't forget the secret menu too! The single greatest thing about the US is the service, don't bother with menus for breakfast just ask for whatever the hell you want! It's amazeballs, none of the crap you get here when you ask if you can have no mushrooms on your full English and the waitress looks at you like you asked to touch her inappropriately. For morning drinking try the bottomless mimosas at The Sycamore, I don't care if it's hipster, $12 for a bottomless glass of booze is worth it. Enjoy the free poured liquor too, sensible measures everywhere So jealous, I keep teasing myself I might go in the new year for some sunshine. Enjoy every second mate, it'll fly by. Sorry for my Americanisms above I get super excited sometimes.

Sort of, but with access rights

Please add your name to the list. 1. DoogyRev x2 2. SuperStu 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Any chance of a link to all the nomiminee snaps in High Res (in say Dropbox or on an USB stick)? Happy to stump up a few quid premium). I think these would make an awesome selection of wallpapers.

I'd rather push my Chevy than drive a Ford !!! I have a soft spot for a Chevy since my affair last year, when I couldn't get a road trip Mustang in Cali. TBF, now I think of it, a Chevy (that Camaro) made me buy a Zed.

It's not a proper one but it's still fit as. I'd have one in a heartbeat.

Gutted for you mate. I believe halfrauds do a pack of three grommets, one of which fits the wiper hole nicely. Prob best to seal with some black silicon though to be certain. Whip that boot weight out whilst your at it too. I'll try and find link to the grommets. Edit: Sealant http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&langId=-1&productId=749365&catalogId=10151 Wiper and washer jet grommets, think the 25mm is the wiper and the pack of three has one which fits the washer. http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=205467&categoryId=255229&langId=-1 http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=190552&categoryId=255229&langId=-1 Maybe a rattle can of paint to camouflage it a bit. Good luck getting this sorted.

Welcome along, good to see another North West Zed!

Pro Evo FTW

I get the fear when my car goes on a ramp! Love reading about the hardcore projects. This is going to be epic.

Starting to look like the batmobile now. Good work, love the updates.

Jesus, I rode the Death Road in Bolivia a couple of times, I was more scared watching this guy! Big nutz.

An exact replacement or better with a few years servicing thrown in would be a sensible starting point, shame Nissan wouldn't weigh in for the customer. I know they're not obliged, but goodwill and all that.

I'm sure I've read on here that the performance singles offer the best gains/reduction in flow restriction. Could be wrong though.

It's the smart power bit that really interests me, with the, er, "characters" round my way.

You ever get this in BBK, I keep looking at them and my wallet is starting to twitch...

With 17s on, it must pull pretty hard I'd have thought, assuming the TCS doesn't go bananas. The spoiler is something else! As if rear visibility isn't a PITA as it is. Hope he gets that price, it means I've not lost too much this year

I've got a Scorpion with Berks and it's just brilliant combo of not being a racket when I'm pootling around town, but "sporty" when you go in deep and hard. It's a budget option, but I don't feel it's budget quality IMO. As per martin loads of options in both price and volume. Tarmac, Redline Styling and Coigarstore have options a plenty and knowledge to share. You'll be spoilt for choice

It's all fun now, but wait until the thousands of amazon drones turn on humanity, after some deviant tries to sexually abuse one. It'll happen...

Are you not happy? My nephews aren't having Christmas presents now

That's so cool, imagine all that cash, I'd rub it all over myself in the stock room. I wonder if this makes it harder for the authorities to keep a lid on money laundering.

Informative thread this one.

I keep hoping Tim does a group training weekend down at his new (ish) warehouse. I'd happily stay in a hotel for a night and spend a weekend detailing my car under Tim's instruction/tea making. This sounds amazeballz, I take it it's up north and easy to reach from Blackpool?