Lincolnbaggie

I've done two holidays in Europe now in the Zed and absolutely loved it. On both occasions I simply booked ferries across and then drove where I felt like. First trip was down through Germany and Switzerland to Italy, along the South coast of France and down through southern Spain into Portugal and back from Santander, and second time down through France, across the Pyrenees and through central Spain to Portugal and back from Bilbao. Both were brilliant, and the looks and comments you get on the Zed make you as proud as anything. I stopped where I felt like at the end of each day (in everything from cheap b&b's to the Hilton Cannes) and there was always good parking etc (plus the Europeans generally admire your car rather than want to walk over it when p*ssed up). There are plenty of must sees (mainly great roads in Switzerland and Italy, plus the Millau viaduct and the tunnel at Monte Carlo etc). It isn't cheap mind - I think I spent about four grand for four weeks (and 4400 miles) the first time and 2.5 grand over 3 weeks (and 3000 miles) the second time, but you can use cheaper accommodation to keep costs down and don't drink as much red wine as I did! Petrol is fairly expensive in Europe except for Spain (depending on how you drive) and the tolls can mount up if you use the motorway network (though I took my time and used A roads instead). Yes, you could probably have a fortnight in the Maldives for the same money, but this is a much better way to spend your dosh......

Good idea this! Add me to the list if you wish Username: Lincolnbaggie Location: Between Lincoln and S****horpe Software: Scangauge II (apparently won't work on JDM models) Add me into East Midlands/Yorkshire/North East as appropriate. ...and by the way it should be Northern Ireland, not Northern Island

It's norrmally filthy, he only washes it once a year What you got planned then James?

Cheers all; I feel happier already

...Me! back from Portugal for two days and already depressed with this country - come on you lot, cheer me up! Off for a curry and too many beers tonight

Cant say I get the same feeling with mine running Falkens, but then I take it easy for the first 5-10mins while the oil gets up to temp. Maybe get your tracking/allignment checked, my car felt 10x better once I had mine done That's why it's never bothered me too much as I always take it easy as well to get everything up to temp. I'll probably get the tracking checked to be on the safe side.

I have noticed a similar feeling as well (running Falkens on all four corners) - it always takes a 1/2 mile or so for me to feel confident about the grip from cold (and I've checked pressures/tread etc). Also feels like the road is slippery for that first couple of minutes. I've just got used to it and wait for some heat to get into the tyres. I assumed it was normal

I'm sure there is a league already, but don't know the code Martinmac has mentioned it in the past I'm sure. Does anyone know the code if the league exists?

You can use any speakers for watching movies/listening to music. However, it's important to hear things for yourself, as what you like may not be what I like, or anyone else likes. It's like driving a car - you'd never buy one without a test drive, so go to a good AV/Hi-Fi shop, explain what you want to do, let them give you some ideas and then listen to the systems that they recommend. Only then will you know if (a) you like it, and ( it's worth spending the money. If you already have a TV etc take that in with you so you can try amps and speakers with the TV you've already got. Don't just read other people's opinions and then buy blind - you'll only regret it in the end. Everybody hears things differently. And yes, you'll get everything cheaper online, but a good specialist shop will help you out enormously over the years with upgrades/swaps/home trials etc etc if you stick with them.

Sorry I totally disagree with this, except for the speaker wire bit. For digital signals, especially for short runs, the signal will either be good or it wont. Its all sent as 1's and 0's, you cant get a half or anything stupid like that, so the signal is either good or not, no in between. As long as the wires are reasonable and shielded from interferance, you will notice no difference between a £5 cable and a £50 cable - but I agree a 99p cable might be shoddy and never give any signal. The signal is either intact or it is not. Now for longer runs or areas where you can get a lot of RFI that may not be the case but for 9 of 10 setups where you are running only 1-2m of cable you wont notice any difference. You will see a far greater difference having your TV profiled properly so that colours show up as their true colour Speaker cables on the other hand are well worth spending a bit of cash on if you have it. As the signal is analogue, over much longer runs and open to more interferance you will notice the difference with better cables. I agree that the TV profiling is probably more important (and the quality of the HD signal and display even more so), but it is not strictly true to say that the signal either arrives or it doesn't and there is no difference between HDMI cables. Attenutation can occur with cheaper cables over quite short distances and, without causing complete picture/sound drop-out, you will lose definition ("sparklies" will start to appear which is the loss of one or more pixels). It's all to do with how the wires are wrapped together inside the HDMI cable. Having said all that, unless you're spending serious bucks on the HD source and the display you probably won't notice the difference, so spend in proportion to the rest of your equipment. Don't even start me on mains conditioners........

Just to confuse people further... Sound from the Sky HD box cannot be carried via the HDMI cable; you need an optical cable from the Sky HD box to the receiver/amp for the 5.1 sound from this. PS3 - HDMI cable into the receiver/amp for both sound and picture (the new PS3 slim can carry HD sound via bitstream, the old one has to use linear PCM as the bitstream only carries two-channel sound) Sky HD - HDMI cable for pictures to the receiver/amp and optical cable for the sound Blu-Ray - HDMI cable for picture and sound to the receiver/amp Then one HDMI cable from the receiver/amp to the TV for all pictures with the amp doing the switching and upscaling (if your amp is good enough - something like the Yamaha AX863 or Denon 1910) Sound from the receiver/amp to the speakers via decent speaker cable (either to 5.1 or 7.1 depending on the amp and number of speakers you want) All controlled via a Logitech programmable remote for ease of use (PS3 can't be controlled from this, however, as it is bluetooth and not IR controlled). Bet you're now totally confused! And you will hear a hell of a difference with decent (£50 upwards) HDMI cables/ optical cables/speaker cables than the cheap rubbish you get for free. If you're in any doubt, come and listen to mine.

Not sure if this is a repost, but a bit scary.... http://www.gtr.co.uk/forum/127250-accid ... i-did.html Makes you glad you've got the cheaper option really.

Be very, very careful cleaning the throttle body, they are very sensitive! Lumpy idle is also sometimes caused by running with the aircon off - turn it on and see if that improves things (I think they are designed to run with it on all the time) before you start messing with the TB.

Done Looks like a two-horse race at the moment and he's just winning at the moment....

"BESPOKE BODY STYLING REALLY IS A PARAGON OF VIRTUE" What the **** does that mean

Done some more checking online and it looks like you have 28 days after you receive the fixed penalty notice as well before you have to accept it and send off the money and licence, so I should be okay if I send the NIP back just before I go. Nix, any memories on how long the fixed penalty notice took to arrive after you sent back the "I did it" form? (It's probably still at the bottom of your mis-matching handbag )

Not quite enough time. NIP issued on 15 October, so I have to reply by November 12th and I don't get back until Dec 2nd which is three weeks further on. If it's 28 days to reply to the fixed penalty I'm fine, but if it's only 14 days I'll still be in Portugal with my licence on me and the letter at home where I can't fill it in or read it or (more difficult) sign it. Cheers for the help Sarnie; unfortunately I can't get any details from anywhere about who to contact. I've tried Nottingham Central Ticket Office but can't get through to anyone who has any idea. 350 posts -yeah - do I get a medal or something

No, the NIP is simply asking for details of who was driving at the time (it was a manned camera not a stop). I have 28 days to submit this with my driver number, address etc, and then the fixed notice gets issued afterwards (assuming I get one and not a straight summons). It's how long I have to deal with the fixed notice when that arrives that I'm unsure about.

Question for those that know (whether in the job or not ) Have received my NIP (Notice of Intended Prosecution) for my slip up on the speed front coming back from Wales. No queries about validity or anything - fair cop and all that - however, I'm off to Portugal for 3.5 weeks in two weeks time and will need my licence while I am there. I have 28 days to respond the NIP (dated 15 October) - I assume once I send the form back they will process it and issue me with a fixed penalty notice and I'll have to produce my documents and surrender my licence for endorsement. My question is, do I get another 28 days from the issue of the offer of a fixed penalty to respond or is it less. If I send the NIP back the day I fly out and I'm away for 3.5 weeks will that give me enough time when I get back to deal with the issue and avoid a court appearance? If I send the form back now I imagine the request will arrive (a) before I go and then I surrender my licence before I leave meaning I can't hire a car etc when abroad or ( it arrives just after I leave and I end up with a summons and a bigger fine for not responding in time. Anybody got any knowledge on the timing of all this and the process (I could do without guesswork from people and prefer answers from those in the know if there are any on here, if you know what I mean - PM me if you prefer )

Mine! 19" Nismos with Nismo skirts, bumper and spoiler, lowered about 12 mm on KW Variant 3

The rest are quite funny as well. "Let me in" is exactly what mine do (without actually throwing things at the door) - when I finally get up to let them in they both just stand there, outside, look at me and run off again into the garden

thats quick, will be waiting for at least two weeks before i get mine i got friday. how many points do you get? got 4 in total last weekend... fecking annoying! Manned camera, so no idea yet. Just filled the form in and posted it back. I assume three points and £60

So true - that explains the headaches every morning (nothing to do with the red vino then!)

Just added to my costs of the weekend in Wales - speeding ticket arrived in the post this morning for the Monday drive home. Looks like that'll be £60 extra then

Spotted heading into town this lunchtime on my way back from Wales. 52 plate JDM (I let you out of the side junction). Nice exhaust noise as you gave it some beans as well