Digsy

Can't believe you even took it out last night, Wayne! Pleased it had a happy ending though.

Just a shame the RATM track is so sh1te really....

Fair play but going on recent personal experience I don't know anyone who's bought a Merc in the last 2-3 years who's had major problems, Jags and Landies on the other hand....

Most early cars came without RAYS as they were a £1000 option Yea, but when I ordered mine (early 2004) I was told that all cars were coming into UK with the Rays option fitted, so it was a no-option option i.e. you had to take the Rays and pay the £1000.00 Salesman's flannel - I had no problem getting a car without Rays.

Its all relative. I don't think it has a snow setting... What would put me off a Rangie is reliability/quality. The reputation is pretty p1ss poor and Chesterfield's recent Jag experience wouldn't make me any more confident. Merc or BMW for me.

If you do it matt black it'll look like those rubber ones from the eighties - very retro!

Don't know about you Stan but I'm missing the rear windscreen wiper when I come out to the car and its covered in condensation. I've never run a car without one in the winter.

I looked at getting one with the same budget in mind but was put off as the ones in my price range were leggy or old or both. Bear in mind that the early ones can rust and pre-2002 the tail can be a a bit viscious. They don't seem as solid reliability-wise as early Zeds. I'd sign up to the S2000 forums and find out what to look for - they're very friendly folk. I did have a test drive in one with an HKS exhaust - very nice!

That HKS is sweet!

If the oil has been religiously checked and the service history stuck to, then it is a bargain. If not, it could be a very expensive mistake. It's all a bit Russian roulette with Rexs.

Keep a look out for an FI'd Mk1 MX5. Great cars and would drift very well..... http://www.mx5nutz.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=41074

And there lies the issue. The V5 is always the bit that lags behind when you do this. I still agree with Sarnie though, the sooner you get it done the sooner the V5 is in your sticky mits.

I love a mature debate!

Except for the fact that we live in the real world where a nearly new 350Z costs far less than a new or nearly new 370Z, making it a completely fair point to make. I don't remember the OP stipulating that peoples responses could only be based on a notional universe where the two cars cost the same.

No jealousy here mate. I've done the 350 thing twice and looked at the 370, TT and Z4 in the summer with a view to leasing. I never got round to driving the 370 and can only go on what I have read in the likes of EVO etc. but I can certainly confirm that the Nissan is still way behind the Germans in terms of style and perceived quality of materials on the inside. Styling will always be subjective. My current car costs twice the price of a 370Z (not bragging but the issue of jealousy has been raised) and I haven't owned a 350Z for 12 months now so I think I am suitably impartial and not looking all green-eyed at those "lucky" 370Z owners.

+1 You can get an 08 zed for around £18k. There's no way that a 370z is worth the extra £12k in my eyes. I actually think the interior looks pretty rubbish, I hate the fish gill air vents either side of the sat nav screen..... The centre console looks like it should be in an SUV or luxo-barge rather than a sports car IMHO.

Interested to see how this one pans out.

350Z over the 370Z anyday. If I had the spare cash I'd have a late MY07 and keep the change over the 370. With the exception of the blipper thingy the 370 just doesn't seem to move the game on. According to the reviews I care about the handling is less playful and the engine a backward step compared to the last 350 lump. Add to that an interior that is better than a 350 but nowhere near good enough to trouble a TT or Z4 and styling which in my eyes is "challenging" to say the least and there's no contest for me.

+1 That's where I always kept mine.

GLWTS mate.

I seem to remember this place went very quiet when you tied the knot, but I see Mrs Sarnie unties you from tiime to time now so you can pop in here and say hello Your memory fails you old man I was posting on here 25 mins after tieing the knot in vegas That's not really something to shout about. Trust me, 25 mins after my wedding this place will be the furthest thing from my mind!

It certainly looks nice. I tend to take soundclips with a pinch of salt as it depends on what you record and then play on.