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Hello from South Wales!


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Afternoon All

My names Chris Ramsey, I'm from South Wales more specifically Caldicot, South East Wales!

My introduction is... lengthy, some of you may not care others may enjoy!

 

 

I've always admired Z's since I joined my local car Club (Rebel Motorsport Club)

Two members of RMC had 350z's

 

Jables had a beautiful Azure blue 350z which hes now traded for a Ginger 350z (Twin turbo?)

Ian had a Dark Grey (Sorry I dont know the official colour) which was supercharged.

 

Both of which I fell in love with, More so the Azure blue just because of its colour.

 

I'm 26 years old but I've owned a few cars in my time however this is my first Non-VAG

I started driving at 18... And some of you may find this strange but I had absolutely ZERO interest in cars, Until my driving instructor taught me how to drive and he was such a dab hand and great instructor he inspired my love of cars from that point onwards!

 

My parents and grandparents all chipped together to send me to University...

However I never went so instead I bought this 6 month old Ibiza 1.2

 

MQhrDAl.jpg

Album: https://plus.google....122619920505025

I drove her into a set of motorway signs sideways and bent the car around them.

Somehow it wasn't a write off but it was an insurance claim that cost me dearly over the coming years.

I sold her about 2 weeks after getting her back.

She was never the same and wildly veering to the left when you let go of the wheel.

 

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Moved onto an Ibiza 1.9TDI Sportrider. Basically a 100BHP with every single added extra including cruise control.

She would of lasted forever and I'd added a few tasteful mods to increase her sex appeal.

Especially the custom prospeed exhaust!

BcvY3rg.jpg

 

However after a Remap which brought the car to 150bhp and 200 (I think) ftlb of torque, I took her out with the car club and the brakes faded... I looked into upgrades but it meant a swap of hubs so... it had been a year.

 

Album: https://plus.google....171297192035537

I spotted a one of a kind Ibiza Cupra which was owned by the Thompson and Thompson owners son so... She was sold at a huge loss with barely 12,000 on her.

 

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So I moved into the world of Performance hot hatch

Ibiza Cupra with the Seat Aero body kit which apparently 'Doesn't fit Cupra's or FR's'

However it was on this one and I never saw another like it!

9axbYuz.jpg

 

Album: https://plus.google....160896282411297

Youtubes:

 

She also had a fair few modifications,

Carbon Fibre air box with Cold air feed and a huge jetex cone.

Forge 007P diverter valve

Battery relocation,

Front and rear struts

Front and rear sway bars

Spacers all round

Fatter tyres all round

Custom Prospeed turbo-back exhaust system

 

Never had to mess with the brakes because frankly they were massive and she managed 253.6bhp with 250ftlb of torque (I think)

For something that was essentially a VW Polo it was silly fast but the turbo was tiny and power would drop before 5000rpm.

 

I said that I'd only ever sell her for a Leon Cupra R 225BHP something that I've always aspired to, 1 1/2 years later...

 

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A friend told me that down the local garage they had a mint condition low mileage LCR that (Whilst overpriced) was in good nick.

He was the Master Tech for the area so I trusted his claims, I sold the Ibiza back to them and

 

G8nBk5g.jpg

Album: https://plus.google....176519254407041

 

After considerable modifications

Large cone filter

Forge 007P Diverter Valve

Replacement intake and Turbo Intake Hoses

Front and Rear Sway bars

Sticky tyres

Remap to 280bhp

 

I decided that I would take her onto the track and as you can see here:

https://www.youtube....rl10qUm7w#t=550

 

After only a few laps I had a rather spectacular brake failure after being chased but Jables 350z!

He thought I was just cutting the grass but without warning the fluid cooked and the brakes vanished, considering there are only two parts on that track I actually use the brakes thats pretty special.

 

I uprated pads and discs as you'll see in the pictures from 320 to 330mm 2 piece floating discs with a spacer (Wonder if you can do this with the Zed?!) and Ferrodo 2500's

 

The next time I went to track I struggled to get them hot enough to be as effective as they could be!

 

 

Then I lost my job....

But I got another however instead of being 1 mile away it was 40 miles each way.

So I was told to 'Sell the car, Its too uneconomical' and bought a Diesel!

 

 

 

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Here they are side by side, The day I made the worst decision of my life

AxBIYdS.jpg

 

Album: https://plus.google....990233482199025

 

I sold her because I was convinced by others that it was the right thing to do.

It wasn't

Whilst that diesel was incredibly reliable for the year I owned her and after a remap she had 220bhp and 320ftlb of torque she was the most boring drive of my life and really what I should of done was keep the Leon Cupra R and bought a banger with the extra money.

 

As you can see I have about 10 actual photos of the car, as I wasn't interested in it at all.

And two weeks ago I sold her for this...

 

 

 

*******************************************************************************************************************

 

DYjZTsx.jpg

Album: https://plus.google.com/photos/107786105828841277641/albums/5999133311790159201

 

2006, 350Z with 58,000 miles.

I love it to bits, Its not in mint condition and it has some... quirks that I need to iron out but boy does she make me happy.

I'm really very new to the non-turbo, non-german car scene so any help is appreciated.

 

I've not really much money for modifications at this stage but I am looking to give her a full service, Full insurance and a new set of rubbers on the back as they are some 'Sunial' branding

 

In 2012 she was owned by someone in Swansea who took VERY good care of her.

Receipts dry up in 2013 and its missing a service stamp hence the full service shes getting next week!

 

 

Anyway... thats me,

I hope you enjoyed!

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Hey mate. Nice right up! That cupra looked excellent. Had always thought about getting one of those.

 

Didn't know your zed was an azure. Damn. That's three of us within a few miles radius lol.

As for no money for mods. That won't last long, not on here lol.

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Llandow race track looks like fun as well. Is it usually that quiet? would try that place, just worried about the usual issue with someone else smashing into the car so less cars is better :)

 

that brake fade must have got your heart going lol

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Thanks for all the welcomes!

I've always been terrified about taking my car on track, smashing into someone else or having a knock.

If I do track time I want to make sure its as safe as possible.

 

Both times I've been (In the LCR) I went with Rebel Motorsport Club, They have various cars so its a nice mix and they normally have 10-20 people on a day out which is nice because everyone rushes to go out at first. If you sit back and wait by about 10-11 people start to get tired and by midday most are too tired to even drive!

 

You basically have the track to yourself. What you cant see in that video is I had Jables in his azure blue 350 right up my posterior but the LCR was pretty special by the time I'd finished with it, I'd say it was pretty much as fast as the 350 and in the corners you'd sometimes see it on 3 wheels!

 

 

Again thanks for the welcome all! I can't wait to settle into my Z and the community!

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"Cardiff Snow Day"

Don't make me stop you di*ks!

 

:lol: Brilliant CJ Ramze. :D

 

Watched the track day video too and the brake failure looked a bit scary to say the least. Just lucky that there was plenty of room.

 

I've heard of Rebel Motorsport Club before, ..pretty sure someone from the Civic Type R Owners Club I used to know was a member and did a few track days at Llandow. :dry: Looks like fun ~ I prefer Castle Combe circuit for cheap track days but haven't been for awhile now. Really want to take the Zed on one day. ;)

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"Cardiff Snow Day"

Don't make me stop you di*ks!

 

:lol: Brilliant CJ Ramze. :D

 

Watched the track day video too and the brake failure looked a bit scary to say the least. Just lucky that there was plenty of room.

 

I've heard of Rebel Motorsport Club before, ..pretty sure someone from the Civic Type R Owners Club I used to know was a member and did a few track days at Llandow. :dry: Looks like fun ~ I prefer Castle Combe circuit for cheap track days but haven't been for awhile now. Really want to take the Zed on one day. ;)

 

I forget how much I talk to myself when I'm driving.

That LCR had a splitter on it and essentially it turned into a snow plough, aslong as I kept moving everything was OK however the tyres were so fat that if I stopped it was really difficult to get going again!

 

I've always wanted to try castle combe but because of all the crashes I've seen I'm terrified.

Same reason I wont go near 'The Ring'

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You kept that quiet you sly sod ;)

 

No talk of RMC here though ;)

 

Well I caught some heat over on FF for even suggesting a 350z so I thought I'd keep it away from the my main car forums.

 

I'll keep the RMC Talk to a minimum is there a history I dont know of or is it forbidden to talk of other clubs in this club.

 

I don't mind eitherway :) Just curious!

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