Dan

P.S. The difference in grip and handling would be marginal except in heavy rain. If it was dangerous you would have noticed long ago. I wouldn't get too worked up about it.

School Boy error. I bet they have been removed and refitted to the opposite wheels by mistake. However, I don't think you will get anything more than an apology from the supplying dealer here, it's possible they never even had the wheels off and it may have come into them like that, and even if it was their mechanic who made the mistake you will struggle to prove it and get any sort of compensation from them. I would give them a call and let them know, but then I would chalk it up to experience and forget about it.

I'll have to hold my hand up here, I've been a total dimwit I didn't realise there was any difference between these guys and the Police...DOH !

I'll definitely be keeping an eye open for one of those VXR500s

I seem to remember getting 26mpg ( on Super ) out of my last Z, so maybe I drive like a granny compared to you guys The Monaro is down to 21.5 after my drive home, so I'll just have to take it out into the countryside again tonight to keep the average up

Wise words indeed. I suspect a lot of the mud flinging is coming from people who haven't driven either. The scooby is still one of the quickest ways from A to B on typical British roads - and in typical British weather - and for the money they are a real bargain. I've not driven a newish Evo but I'm sure one will come my way soon enough. Still, I would much prefer a nice looking rear drive sports car, for me a car has to look the part and not just drive well.

PZeros are a decent Tyre mate, if you had gone for the Avons you would be in a field by now

137NM, whats that in English ? I'm a pounds foot man myself

Yeah, I filled it up (95 RON, Premium, not Super ) and reset the trip before we set off. I did a route of maybe 100 miles or so, some motorway, some fast A road and at least 30 minutes of very twisty B road. When I got home it was showing 22.2 mpg. I wasn't hanging about ( the Wife got pins and needles in her hand from hanging on and several most un-ladylike expletives were uttered ) but the beauty of it is the gearing, its very high geared so the engine spends most of its time turning over quite slowly even though the road speed is quite high. You could easily drive all day without ever exceeding 3000rpm and still travel quickly - in top that would give you over 120mph. The engine isn't working very hard most of the time so therefore doesnt drink much. At a steady 85mph and about 1900rpm the mpg was gradually creeping up the whole time. It wouldn't surprise me if it could do 25mpg on long motorway run. Modern cars are very good on fuel. Over Easter weekend I took a 4.2V8 S-Type to Glasgow and back. Coming home the road was deserted so I set the cruise at the ton, sat back and relaxed. It averaged 28 point something, doing the ton all the way. Thats another high geared motor, again doing about 2000rpm for about 90mph. The V8 S-Type is a totally different beast from the V6 models, but thats another story. Its mainly stop/start and hard acceleration that burn your fuel, but still 20+mpg without trying, out of a 6 litre V8 - weighing 1800kilos - is pretty good

I had a nice run out with the wife and kids last night - sadly another couple of hundred kilos to drag about. I was hoping to go alone, but they insisted on coming along pmsl Great car, loads of torque, no need to rev it very much at all because it just pulls like a train from 1500rpm in any gear - except 6th which is a very high ratio so takes the edge off the performance, but its great for effortless high speed cruising - 90 for 2000rpm ! The seats are amazing, possibly the best seats I've ever had and I've had lots of cars. Even the back seats are good, like individual bucket seats and enough room for two adults. There is loads of room inside. As for the handling, well it's a big heavy car with quite heavy controls, especially the gearshift, so its not something you can jump in straight away and get the best out of. It takes a little acclimatisation but after a few miles I was quite comfortable with it and the speeds were picking up. The handling is very good and very predictable, I half expected it to be a bit of a handful - and it easily loses the tail in the wet - but in the dry there is loads of grip and it tells you exactly whats going on. It wouldn't be out of place on a track, despite the weight. There is a little body roll initially but in a way this works well because you can feel the outside tyres load up and as you feed the power in you can feel exactly what the back tyre is up to and you know exactly when its going to let go. Its all very safe and predicatble - the size and weight prevent it from being "twitcy". The engine is amazing. Bags of power everywhere, no need to rev it, no turbo lag, just a big shove in the back from 1500rpm. Once on the move it really doesnt need gears ! And it spins right round to the red line totally effortlessly. Its a superb engine. A bit too quiet though, I need more rumble with my 6.0 litre V8 I love this car, I just hope I have it for a while before a punter comes along and ruins my day Full set of pictures now uploaded to my website : www.TheGlenNissan.co.uk

My new toy.

Both pretty quick cars, as others have mentioned the deciding factor will be driver skill except in the wet, in which case forget it, he will win.

I haven't gone as far as a test ride yet, but this weekend I sat on a Tuono R and it felt very big. I then sat on a Monster and it felt tiny, which I like... Plus I'm swayed by the fact that my favourite bike ever was a Ducati. Then again I can get the Tuono over £2000 less, which I told myself shouldnt really affect my decision, but it is doing ! I've really got to watch the riding position. I'm well into powerlifting and at just over 20 stone I dont have much flexibility in my shoulders and neck etc so I need to sit quite upright, and I get cramps in certain positions so high pegs are out too - which is the reason I can't cope with a sportsbike anymore. I think I better ponder for a couple of days before I make a choice. Thanks for the input and opinions guys.

I'll maybe try one of those next With my track record it won't see the weekend ! I seem to be having a run of "bad luck" where every time I buy something for a bit of fun some plum comes along and buys it. My last Zed lasted 3 weeks before someone bought it. I was gutted

I bought it about an hour ago. 56 plate 6.0 litre VXR, 4k on the clock, in Black, Black Leather. Had a very frustrating drive home in it, constantly stuck behind dawdlers and I was dying to let her rip ! Finally came to the motorway slip road and hoofed it, and very nearly ended up facing the way I came !!! Then I remembered 400 bhp, silly torque, wet tarmac and decided to feed the throttle in a little more progressively Picks up well, sounds aweswome. Anyway, its fuelled up, tyre pressures checked, sunglasses packed, CD's loaded. I'm waiting for the traffic to calm down and I'm off. More from me tommorow - or maybe Thursday depending on where I end up. I could just do the highlands for the hell of it

MPG is not a big issue, if I get fed up of putting fuel in I can always take something else

I didn't have anything special planned, but now I'm going to visit some garages pretending to be a punter and blag a test drive in a Monaro VXR

Kinell zzzz, I'm trying to slow down mate I've seen a cracking deal on a Tuono R, 05 model but brand new, £5,799 ! I can't find a deal anything like that on an S4R, so even though I said forget price differences it now makes a lot more sense ! And anyway, there's always next year

Any dealer with half a brain cell runs HPI checks on their cars, it costs £3.45.

Have a very close look at the paintwork. Many dealers buy low grade or damaged cars in Japan very cheaply and tart them up over here. I've been in the trade over 20 years and can honestly tell you that the vast majority of imports have been repaired and quite often to a very mediocre standard. It constantly amazes me that the general public can't see panel repairs and paintwork. I have had customers trying to part exchange cars they have owned for years, totally unaware they have been driving round in a repaired car, and yet as soon as it is pointed out to them they can see it. The paint in itself is not important, the question is why was it painted and how extensive was the damage. It could be simply vandal damage, scratches or light panel damage but it could also be quite a heavy shunt and you really need to know before you part with your money. If you are not clued up take an expert, preferably someone who works in the trade or works in a bodyshop. Be advised the AA and RAC inspections will NOT spot panel repairs, they are only trained to spot mechanical problems. You need to be getting up close to the car and looking for little blobs of dirt trapped under the paintwork, pinholes in the paint where they left silicates on the panel and the paint has "sunk", orange peel paint finish from applying too much paint, masking lines around the edges of panels etc. On bad jobs you may well see differences in the shade of colour from one panel to the next and even spot runs in the paint. Of course all this applies to UK cars too, but you at least have a good chance of any serious repairs showing up on a HPI check. The HPI check is not totally infallible mind you, but thats another story... Lets be careful out there.

I went to look at a Monaro last night. A guy I used to deal with has one on his pitch, 06/56 6.0 VXR with 4k on the clock, in Black with Black Leather. I wondered if he might trade it to me for sensible money so I went to look at it while he was closed so I could make sure it was mint - he has a habit of not describing things accurately ! It looked the boxxocks, especially in Black. I don't usually go for Black cars but it really looked quite menacing ;-) It's big too, bigger than I imagined. It looks about the size of a big Merc CL500, in other words its a fair bit bigger than a Supra or 350Z. I know the press rave about them and I quite fancy one, especially now I've seen one in the flesh. 400bhp, rear drive, 6.0 litre V8, 6 speed manual, gobs of torque, 60 in 5, over 180 all out and apparently a massive top gear which gives 100mph for less than 2000rpm ! I read a few road tests on line and apparently they have trouble maxing them out because top is too high. 5th reaches to just over 150, then you drop into 6th and it picks up very slowly from then onwards. It's geared for 250 but would never get there, but a couple of mags have seen over 180 with plenty more revs to go !!! It's all academic mind, but I love the effortless cruising a high top gear gives. There is also a Vauxhall approved Supercharger conversion which gives 500 bhp.... So, anyone driven one ?

Aprillia Tuono R vs Ducati Monster S4R...which would you buy and why ? Forget price differences. P.S. I've had lots of bikes including 3 new R1s in a row over the last 3 years, before that I had a Blade, 999 etc you get the picture. I'm sick of Jap bikes - too bland - and I don't want anything faired because I'm 40 this year and I really need to slow down Thanks for your opinions. P.P.S No, I don't want a bloody Harley !

Be careful with that one, if it's a dealer it's too cheap. The car would do about that in Auction so it smells fishy to me - unless its an import of course. I'm always very wary when good retail cars are advertised too cheap, there is usually a reason. Make sure you do an HPI check and take an expert with you if your not sure yourself. On the other hand you may have found a bargain, I'm just saying be careful thats all

In a couple of years you will be an old man, so you should get an XJR, or XKR

Otherwise known as Keighley Trade Centre. I would tread very carefully with this company. None of their cars are retail standard - I presume this is why they call themselves a "trade centre". I was there 2 weeks ago and every car I looked at had appaling low quality paintwork, there wasn't a single car on site that I would buy. It would appear they are using Stevie Wonder for their body repairs and the fact that everything on site has been poorly painted would suggest they are buying low grade or damaged cars and tarting them up, albeit not very well ! As for White cars, I don't buy them. They are the worst colour to sell on and this might be important to you when it comes time for a change.