Jae_s15

As I said before though, the problem isn't necessarily the legality of saying something defamatory as under Australia law you can make "fair comments" to the public (being us) about anybody or any company (I also point out that companies are even less protected than people) as long as you give a full summary for the reasons you have for reaching that conclusion and it is a fair comment to make on the facts presented. HOWEVER, the fact remains that the costs involved with defending an action like that are astronomical and would more than likely be enough to severely damage this fine institution. That is why the amazingly charitable individuals that run these forums exercise the discretion not to allow us to run around (legally) defaming people through their publication. So my suggestion is that out of the goodness of our hearts lets do what the wise men say... just my 2.2c as a law grad. Oh, and as 4doorGTR said if you are unsure seek professional advice from a TPA lawyer or the Dept of Fair Trading... you never have to take anything lying down. Cheers, Jae

Well in truth it would actually fall under the "fair comment" rule, making it legal... however, once everyone had gone through the expensive and lengthy process of proving that the only people who would win would be the lawyers. Jae

Ummm... where to start... 1) new headunit with a CD player in it... so sick of radio. (or an iPod and iTrip) 2) re-wire entire car 3) clean up a few dents that are on the car from previous owner/shipping. 4) power FC (to replace the Bee Racing one that came with it that thinks that 250kms to a tank is good fuel efficency) 5) window tint 6) cash but then its all a dream cause I am a bad little boy and santa definitely knows that. J.

I just put this on another forum... Hi All, Let me start my saying that I am 23 and drive a "high powered" car... I have already drafted a letter to my local state MP regarding this issue as I truely feel that the idea of removing the choice of driving whichever sort of car that I choose from someone who is fully licenced to do so is an infringement of my personal liberties and discrimination against a minority segment of society (being us). We are all law abiding citizens who have fully conformed with the regulations in getting our licences and then in many cases our "high-powered" cars. I support some limitations on 'P' Platers who have not yet had the time to develop some of the necessary skills to be able to handle cars like ours, but enforcing such restrictions on people 25 and under is not just unfair, but discriminatory as they for all intensive purposes are targetted at a particular segment of society. I know that my driving record and skill would surpass a decent majority of people on the road today, and that my car is kept to a far higher standard than a great many others that we see day-to-day (particularly for its age ie 1989), also I have a perfect driving record (I have never been booked because I don't believe in getting my kicks on the road, not by luck), only one very minor at fault accident, and I have done 23 advanced driving courses over the last 5 years and more laps of race tracks in more cars than I can remember. I am also, when not in or around my car, considered to be a fine upstanding and responsible citizen with no police record, two degrees including Law, and a good employment record. Yet, the government of our fine state does not believe that I should have the right to choose which car I am allowed to drive, or that I am responsible enough to handle something that for all intensive purposes will not be driven faster on the road than your average granny in a hatchback. If they introduce a law that retrospectively enforces a requirement on me that I cannot drive the car that I have saved for, and spent a considerable amount of my earnings maintaining so that it is keep at a level that far surpasses current regulation, I will be calling for a class action, involving all people in a similar situation, for the government to fully refund every cent I, and others, have spent on said cars, and loss of earnings and depreciation for time spent, selling the car and purchasing a new one (which I need for work). The ultimate aim is the harrass the government enough for them to over turn the legislation should it eventuate. All of that whinging aside, it seems to me that we need to help find workable solutions as we all know that the government is going to implement restrictions like this one way or the other. My thoughts is it may be that some form of graduated process could be developed in that though these restrictions are put in place, if a person chooses to do so they could attend an accredited advanced driving course(s) to get the restrictions down-graded or removed. Similar to the 'Automatic' restriction put in place if the 'P' test is not taken in a manual car, so to, a further test to move up to the next stage prior to the restriction period ending. I urge you all to voice your opinions openly in arenas away from these, either discussing it with others, writing letters to your local representatives/newspapers etc. If we are seen as a group as being open to discussion and assisting in finding better, more workable solutions then there is a high likelihood that we will eventually be heard and listened too. Regards, Jae D.

Yeah, same as everyone has said, everyone cops it as you go through your plates. You see all sorts of stupid pricks on the road, and it is best just to assume that everyone is about to do the dumbest thing they could possibly do and make sure that you have enough room to avoid it. Occasionally you get a bit of poetic justice though that makes it all worthwhile. My favourite, was about a week before I got my Ps, while practicing for said test, I had a guy try to overtake me on the outside of a blind left hand corner over a double line because I was only doing the speed limit (which was back in the days were it was still 60 on suburban streets). The bit that makes it fun was that as he decided to do it it just so happened that the next car to come the other way and have to slam on the brakes was alot closer than he thought, and so he had a minor head on... and that car was a police car! I didn't bother to hang around a watch, but I hope he learned his lesson. Anyone one else got some stories like this to help cheer our new friend up??? Cheers, Jae

Regarding the quantum suspension, quantum is a UK suspension brand that is used by some of the big Japanese tuning houses like Trial so that they are a bit more individual and hence make suspension for a lot of Japanese cars. Apparently their suspension is quite good, good enough for Trial to take a few time attack records using it in their R34 N1 circuit car on street legal tyres. Cheers, Jae

Hey Guys, I appear to have a hydrolic leak in the clutch in my r32 Gtr, and as a result my clutch wants nothing to do with my clutch pedal. I have checked what I figure is the clutch master cylinder bottle (right next to the brake master cylinder) and the bottle appears to be empty. My questions are: 1) How do you get the lid of that bottle (if it is the right one) I had a quick go at it and couldn't get it to budge? 2) I am planing to top it up with something so that I can at least drive the car up to my mechanics on Monday, what do you guys suggest to be the best for a quick top up fluid? I assume that it uses brake fluid, but can I use any grade or does it need high or low temp fluid? Thanks for your help, Jae.

Hi Mate et al, I sort of know the position you are in and can only concur with what the others are saying. I had a bit to spend on my first car back in the day (not as much, and due to family misfortune) and ended up taking advice from a family friend (who owns a prominant advanced driving school in Sydney) and ended up investing in a little 1.8 Audi A3. Then spent the first few years I was driving doing numerous driving courses at the various schools and quickly discovered that even my little 1.8 had limits well beyond those of my own. I took a fair while before I was confident that I could "graduate" up to something abit more powerful. Anyway, by the sound of it you have a good attitude and are sensible. So my suggestion is to get a small (read "light") manual NA car, you'll find that you will be able to have heaps of fun and will have a platform that doesn't have too steep a learning curve. Then take your time and aim to slowly and steadily improve yourself, it's better to take your time becoming a great driver than quickly becoming an ex-driver. Even Michael Shumacher didn't become Michael Shumacher over night. Also, with your budget you should be able to get something pretty pimpin for picking up the ladies. Cheers, Jae PS: if you look to your Dad that you're making a wise decision now, he'll probably soften up to other suggestions down the track.

I would guess that you more than likely need the brakes bled and get new fluid. Sounds like you current brake fluid has absorbed a fair bit of water and is boiling really easily, as the spongy pedal is the main symptom of overheating fluid. Don't know what you currently use, but it might be worth upgrading to something like a DOT 5.1 fluid or something along those lines. If that doesn't fix it, then have a better look at other possible problems. Cheers, Jae.

The 200rwKw gearbox thing is a bit false too... My s15 200sx before I returned it to stock to sell it was making 226.8rwKw at 1.4bar (>20psi) with the standard turbo and standard gearbox and bottom end, and saw quite a few circuit kays with no gearbox dramas at all. I know of a couple of cars that have run more through the standard gearbox with no problems for quite a while. It is a good idea to fit the nismo (or similar) engine and gearbox mounts to take some of the load off them. For the initial question, with an upgraded fuel system, cams, cooler, computer (and a good clutch) the s15 turbo and internals quite happily make over 200rwKw without a problem at 1.2 bar (>18psi) without a worry. I had that as a daily driver/trackhack for 12 months with no problems at all. With only the computer, cooler, a bigger fuel pump and a full exhaust it was making 196.3rwKw at 1.2bar, but I wouldn't have wanted to push any more out of it at that time. Without cams and decent headers the standard turbo stops doing anything useful after 6200rpm, and at 1.4bar of pressure it is definitely at the limit of what it will make other than heat. Just depends on how much you want to spend or how serious you are as too how much you get out of them. Cheers, Jae.

Another point is that tsukuba circuit where it was run is a low speed circuit with long sweeping corners that really favours lighter cars that can carry more corner speed... I would have been truly shocked it the top spec evo and sti didn't beat a couple of older, heavier cars. Taking all the conditions in to account, I fail to see the suprise. Also, don't knock the drivers. All best motoring drivers in those battles are current JGTC and Super Taiku series drivers, none of which are lacking in the talent department (except Gan-san who is treated as the grandfather of motorsport in Japan and is a complete loon to boot, he's the guy who used to race the old hakasuka GT-Rs way back when)... and all of whom would take it as a personal insult if they were seen to not be driving to their best. If a car losses a battle it has much more chance of being due to poor tyre choice or other mechanical issues, or being held up by another car. Just my 2c. Cheers, Jae