As some know I am off to Japan next year (for the whole year) with the intent of bringing back an NSX and also a new Z (96+), Although I had planned on keeping my Z until the end of the year I am faced with unfortunate circumstances.After a trip to APC to diagnose some smoke blowing at high revs, it has been diagnosed to be low compression (130) in 1 (or more I think) cylinders, the rest are (150), my options were:A: To rebuild the Z (Quoted by APC @ $5000+) in which case I would never re-coupe those losses, or.B: To sell up now and have something else to last out the end of the yearAfter talking to IVS and being offered a fantastic buy-back price ($15K) tired engine and all, I will be selling the Z in the next fortnight, Of couse I will be buying another Zed early next year as my DD in Japan, and I can have it built by JUN or some other famous tuning house, I can rectify mistakes made with this Z.It is highly unfortunate but ultimatly it was going to be sold anyway before I moved, I dont really want to say what I am buying (its the enemy hehe }D ) but in considering what I can buy to hold its value, and last until I go, well.. its... umm..... ok its a 94 Supra TT (ducks for cover :-0 ) Immaculate condition inside and out, and I could eat my dinner off the engine bay im getting it for a very resonable $33K ultimatly I will be selling this at the end of the year too.Thank-you to everyone with the support given with this Z, although its not goodbye to Z's its mearly a 7 month break, when I come back it will be with a FAR FAAAAAR superior Z (and I might be able to help people buy parts in Japan), but I hope the QLD Zedders can find room in their hearts and their cruises :-0 for the Supra 6:9 I wuv you all >D< >D< >D< >D< :-Z 6:9 6:9
Yes there most certainly will be I have been increasingly unhappy about my choices, there are many changes I will make to the next Z, and the best thing of all is I can have the most famous tuning houses in the world working on the job, whats top secrets number again?
how about option C? Why not just keep driving it until the end of the year Zac? 130 in a couple of cylinders is no big deal, still plenty of life left in it before a rebuild is required.
Yes it was an option Yes 130 isn't exactly dead, but at the same time, its not going to magically get better, only worse.In the 7 months time before I leave, It could go completly, not to mention the worse it gets, the harder it becomes to sell, and the less I get for it, I got a good price for it $15K even with the engine problem, but its not just that, I feel that the rest of the car is growing far too old, things are starting to fall apart.At the end of the day its an enthusiast vehicle, I enjoy nothing more than driving it as intended, and its where I derive my plesure, I am not going to enjoy babying it for 7 months, Im afraid its do or die, sell or risk it all blowing up in my face. =) For further interest, after test driving the Supra today, I found it lacking the spirit that the Z has, even though the Z is around the same weight, in the Supra you can really FEEEEl the weight it is lugging around, the steering is precise but its not Z standard either, although I cant say too much, as I have never driven a Z with stock suspension before (mine was fitted with TEIN from the begining) It might be due to the fact that my friend (the car dealer) weights about 120 kgs, and me about 110kgs, with sarah in the back 52kgs im sure it wasn't helping :-0 :-0
I would think to get 9 or 10 seconds out of a 300ZX (or any car) a rebuild would be required anyway.Even if it were a 2000 model, or the psi in the cylinders were perfect, you would have to pull apart the motor at some point anyway I thinkso what colour will the next zed be Blade?
True it absolutly will be A rebuild would be the definate solution, but because I wont be here all of next year, mabey more, It needs to be sold anyway.A 1999 model will probably be the go, I saw one on prestige a little while ago that went for $23,000 AUD (converted from the yen amount) with 9000K's on the clock, (they wanted $50,000 AUD for it landed) THIS ONE $23K for a 99 model is unbelievable, its as new as the Z gets, so why flog a dead horse when I can bring back a fresh steed Colour? good question. Pearl Yellow of course (not initially I know, but after a respray) :YD :YD :-Z :-Z :-Z
blade maybe when your in japan host some group buys on HID headlights and so on 2000 model interior parts would be nice too if your serious about getting parts for us then sign me up as i would like to update my z a little or even get a 1999 + model too
You keep stating that you will stay> in Japan for a year, or longer. How do you propose to achieve that feat, as I have been told that to work in Japan for that length of time, you MUST have a Degree in your chosen field, and that it is not possible to obtain a Visitors Visa of more than 3 months duration, to holiday in that country:?) If this is accurate, then it would have a very significant effect on your ability to purchase a vehicle and obtain some benefit when attempting to export it to Australia.Cheers Lloyd :-Z >D<
it's not hard to distinguish between truth and absolute crap with blade83. It's 99% shit, so you may as well forget about the 1% truth
An 'entertainer' can stay for up to 1 year So, Sarah would be ok, but I do not know the rules on 'spouses'. Still, I don't know what Blade83 actually does for work.
Sayonara to Sarah :`( Enjoyed meeting you both, cruising with you ...... that's what it's all about, no?
Yes I would love to help out where I can Group buys and stuff might be a possibility, Im learning the their lingo as fast as I can 8D
Nope, No need to doubt me This isn't a plan designed to turn my back on the Z or my 9 sec plans, its a plan designed to deliver an even better Z, we all know the japaneese can build some crazy fast cars.So really nothing has changed, Ill be back in action next year, building a Z that will far far surpass the current one.Yes Chili you are right, I can only stay for 3 months at a time, but I can jump into China for a day or so and go back with a fresh 3 months, so all things have been accounted for :YD
LOL zip it! Im yet to see how anything I said has cast doubt on my plans, (perhaps its the bitterness towards the supra owners happening already ) Im going to Japan to buy a better Z, If I come back without one, and state that I have cancelled my Z building plans, then I will be full of shit, but until then... Rome wasn't built in a day 8-}
Your a good man Rob Its been a plesure to be on cruises with you too, But Sayonara is a pretty finite goodbye.Ill be back in the following year (2006) with a shiney 99 model to run with the pack =)
Yes, but how can you stay for a year Blade? I'd really like to know as I would love to go back again but...1. I'm too old for the working holiday visa (and already did that) and2. I can only get a tourist visa for 90 day stays, sure I can get them over and over, but I must LEAVE the country, typically to korea, every 90 days. So what is the secret? Cheers Geoff
