Ekona

They're probably there on the stock bumper to channel airflow through the rad and prevent lift at the wheels. I very much doubt that there's any issue you'd notice whilst driving without them though.

Whilst I feel sorry for Rio on a personal level as it's every bloke's dream to lead England out at a World Cup, if we can't manage without him then that doesn't say a lot for our squad. Carra will be a more than suitable replacement, even if he's not had the best of years either. Anyone know who the vice captain is now? Lampard? Rooney?

If it works then that's good enough for the MOT which is all you need to comply with. It's up to the manufacturers to get the correct brightness from the lights they install, not the end user. All the MOT requires is that every brake light fitted works, which yours still does. That said (and without trying to lecture), given how important the HLBL is and the relative lack of visibility in the Zed anyway I don't think tinting any of the glass is a particularly good idea. If all your brake lights (including the main ones) had seriously reduced brightness then there's an argument that the police could prosecute you for not having a vehicle fit for use on the road, which is why I try and talk anyone out of putting that horrid film on their rear lights for the sake of trying to be cool. Well, that and it looks bloody vile as well!

If only it didn't have the GT-R logo on there, I'd have that.

I'd actually argue the Bugatti is better value for what you get.

That Veyron is absolutely incredible. No drama, no hassle, just smooth power all the way. Beautiful.

Direction on grooves is unimportant, it's the vanes inside the disc that control which way round the disc goes on.

HOLY COCKWEASELS BATMAN! Dude, I've been waiting forever to find someone else who doesn't like TVR interiors, I thought I was the only one! I know they're minimalist and stylish and beautiful, and yet I really can't stand them in the slightest. Chim, Grif, Tuscan, Sag... They're all fugly to me.

Very nice car Rich, good choice to get back in a ragtop too FWIW I'd concentrate on the brakes more than anything, as my experience with them shows that to be a bit of a weak spot as stock. Even a set of Yellowstuff pads should be enough for now, but it would be a shame to not make the most of the (relative to the Zed) lack of weight and have other cars out-brake you into corners. Personally I don't buy into the whole 'twitchy in the corners' thing, as after having driven one with mismatched tyres on a soaking wet track I found it eminently catchable and it does give you warning, especially on good tyres which you've already got on there. Having seen you drive your old car hard, I think you're going to really love Stook ownership.

Sag had the Speed Six engine in though If only they'd made a convertible Sag, I'd have that in a heartbeat.

Esprit

I don't think most 296 engines have any problems with oil consumption, mine certainly doesn't. I believe there were a few reported cases, but I certainly wouldn't say most have problems. Agreed, and the same with mine. Certainly I see it as a minority rather than a majority, although it's definitely something I keep an eye more than I would normally just in case...

RE040 or RE050? Both have Potenza written on them...

You can say whatever you like as long as it's your opinion

Have a search and make your own mind up, this has been covered many times.

Who cares? If Amy doesn't say anything herself then it's irrelevant what the rest of us say, we're all going on pure conjecture and hearsay and if MP would like to take us to court to prove otherwise then they're more than welcome. FWIW about two years ago MP did a complete re-design and became far more about the performance side of things than anything else, and it was a damn fine read so I started buying it. Obviously their readership level then dropped and they brought the tits and fanny back along with the chav wagons, and that's when I stopped buying it. The only decent Jap mag there has ever been was J-Tuner, everything else panders to those who think that a bodykit and huge heavy set of wheels + big turbo equals anything approaching a quality car.

Is the price acceptable to you? If yes, then buy it, you really don't need our advice. If not then walk away and go elsewhere. Also a 3 month wait for a car is pretty standard, and actually quite good for a performance one.

Look much beta? As opposed to looking much alpha or much gamma? Apparently 20" wheels also make you speel liek a totall reatard two.

Well obviously don't do it near your neighbours! Take it to a local industrial park, no-one will give a damn then. Looking at those figures though you'll be a mile under, so no worries there.

What bit? The echo makes a huge difference, I've tried it myself to prove it. Also what settings are you using on the meter? Needs to be A and Fast if my memory serves correctly.

Oooh, so close... Look at where you're measuring, right by a wall: That's going to reflect the sound and give a false reading. Also the tape is going to rattle around as well if it's touching the exhaust, possibly making excess noises as well (quieter than the exhaust certainly, but of a different frequency that it could make a difference). Go and park in the road or in an open industrial estate of something, hold the sound meter and tape measure in your hand and try again. Unless you're silly tall or silly short, then that will be close enough to 45deg and is how every single trackday company I've ever been with does it too.

Whilst I do agree with you on that, really you should be glancing at your instruments every few seconds or so anyway to check for things like temps and warning lights. I'm not saying everyone does, but they should. I try to look every 4-5 secs and chastise myself when I realise it's been longer than that.

Cars are much better, but 99% of the people behind the wheel are useless. I can name just one person out of my family and friends who I consider to have the necessary skill set to be able to drive on the roads at a faster speed, going on how well I know them and having witnessed their driving style up close. Go to the IoM and see just what it's like driving on UK-style roads with no limits, it's absolutely beautiful when every one around is used to it. Locals will actually pull over to let you pass, and the roads have far less signage so you're made to think about what's going on around you.

If you're daft enough to be goaded into street racing you get everything you deserve IMHO. I have precious little time for people who use their car as a penis extension (or addition!) and try to prove anything at all to anyone else on the roads, at best it's ill-judged and at worse downright dangerous.

Bigger wheels = more unsprung mass = significantly slower car in a straight line