Steve85

Well in that case, my advice to you; Do it. Get a GTR while you are in the position to do so. Get the right one though, take your time (not too long though) and get a good one or at least a mediocre one. The difference between good/mediocre and rubbish is considerable and you will spend the difference on a crappy one trying to repair it. You might manage to save 15k in the buying process, but I 100% gaurantee that you'll spend that on improvements or worst a new engine or gearbox (or maybe both). Chants: One of Us! One of Us! One of Us!!!

Hey all, I'm still lurking around the forums, still living the dream that is 2020. What a year it has been... so far. ? Mental health wise, my depression is still existing... boo! Most days are fine, but every so often it is a struggle. Being cooped up inside has not been at all helpful and my normal walking areas are full of people who weren't there previously, so I've been trying to avoid that. Working from home has always been fine, however, I now have a workmate (my wife) who is also at home. It's been a little trying, having to share the house all day, everyday. It has meant that I have struggled with having my own space and getting the housework done (i taken to scheduling vacuuming in her Calendar). I'm currently in the process of changing over medications as sleep and snoring appeared to be weird side effects of the first set of medication. Hoping for better results from the new ones. Otherwise, not too bad. I have good days and bad days, for me it's about getting the bad days back under control. (It used to be 99% bad days). I've actually taken to avoiding the news regarding the pandemic, I feel like i burned myself out attempting to work out all our best options. We also have had to cancel our trip over to Germany (again boo!) In any case, i'm still kicking along. If you ever need me, you know where to find me.

If this were me. I'd be looking for the cheapest regoed sh*tbox i can find, something you are a little familiar with in terms of mechanical ability (for me that's 90s Nissans). For example in your situation i'd be searching for a 90s Pulsar or even a Tiida if price allows. THEN go out hang with some Evo or GTR people and see if you can scrape some rides in them, maybe even a drive. If you're planning on dailying this new car, i feel like you're gonna have a bad time. As mentioned above, both are highly sought after by car thieves, both will pull the attention of police if you drive them with intent they were made for. A daily means you can save your fun car for fun times and it won't wear you down as it cracks the shits with it's cooling/oil problems/geabox issues or in the case of the Evo cooking it's own engine bay electronics. But for me there's only one test. Imagine your driveway. Which makes you feel better seeing it sitting there? That's the car to buy. Also... just an FYI, listening to strangers on the internet doesn't always help. ? Just go and do it, get yourself into financial/mechanical trouble then come back so we can help you out!

Six and a half years. Not a bad dig up. If you are converting your car to E85 for the fuel savings you're doing it wrong...

You can't tell an American that... (sits back with popcorn).

PM'd

Why should you be different to the rest of us? ? But seriously this is a great write up, you are doing some real solid work and really seem to know what you're doing (more than me anyways). Hoping you find a few good surprises somewhere along the track (even if it's just a panel that doesn't need bog). ?

TOOOOO LATE!!!! chants: One of Us!, One of Us!, One of Us!

Also keen to understand this one.

Also... just FYI. If you came here hoping that we would be the type to guide you into good life decisions... ummm... well here is some that I can offer; invest in Apple in the 90s and Google in the 00s oh and GTRs in the 2010. (Steve's life advice right here...) ? This entire forum is a whole bunch of enablers.... So we like to see when people fit in straight away!!! You are going to fit in GREAT!

This thing is so clean. I love it. And well done on getting that plate. I think there will be some jealous people around your area.

I am loving this write up. Hoping to hear more from you and your enginuity. ? Also everyone here is broke, so no judgement...

I like this attitude. But sometimes I need something to block my driveway... Believe me when I say, this is a million miles from being an RS. An Arse, maybe, RS? Noooooo.

I kid, i kid. I think i'm going to have to get the Audi out there to something so I can get all my frustrations of life out.

Could have cut this at "is plenty". Sounds like a cool project. Can't wait to see where this one goes.

Jesus... i'm feeling very attacked right now!!! ??? But my main reason for going slowly is lack of seat time and the expense of binning my GTR. My crummy Audi on the other hand. Zero attachment, minimal cash input... Crashes GTR: cries for months, Crashes Audi: huh... now what? Wonder if I can drive it in two wheel mode and drag it around like a dog missing two legs.

Yeah, this is actually on my "to do" list. Has been for a while truth be told. And I agree, this one didn't feel like a "joyrider" special. Feels like dumb luck that I found out via a dropped key in the BMW. Nothing was technically out of place, other than cars being unlocked. I feel like they left to research how to move the BMW and were going to return. That's why I did a bit of a panic and went full crazy on the Audi driveway blocker.

If you wouldn't mind, would you PM me which ones you might think are inappropriate? I didn't think I had ever shown the front of my house or the road i live on. I could be wrong on this. I have some secure storage quotes lined up. I just thought I could get away with it being at home, i suppose. I will start looking to cut my budget to afford the additional costs. Totally. It's getting to be fort knox over here... ?

If I thought i could do, I would have... Hahahahaha

Honestly, I think this was my biggest issue. I left most of the physical defenses unlocked or down. I've learned my lesson at home. Things have changed now. Thank god BMWs are the worst when they have no power... ? I'm going to go give it a decent wash and a good clean inside.

Internet friends. It's that time of Steve's life where he was getting complacent. As such the universe as served to deliver a warning. I will admit, i got lazy with my physical security of the cars. The fact that they were being blocked in by my crummy Audi Racecar and the E61 Wagon is the only reason this was a warning... My wife took our BMW out the other day and lo and behold, what does she find but a Nissan Key. Not one of ours. A Nissan key that DOES fit the barrel of my car with some persuasion. I hypothesise that someone has followed me home/worked out where i live and had a real try at stealing the LM from my garage. The BMW when it has no key in it, cannot be put into Neutral. This is the ONLY reason I believe I still have a blue GTR in my possession. It appears that someone managed to unlock the LM (the door) and has then turned their attention to the BMW to get it out of the way. I did a bit of a panic and locked out house down as tightly as it could be at the time. This included wedging the Audi into the driveway and driving (with a sledgehammer) two rocks under the car so I could not get them out easily. I then proceeded to order bollards for our driveway. The next day the bollards were installed and I felt much happier. You literally need to do an hour or so of grinding to get to the car OR bring a massive crane and hoist it over the fence from a Neighbours house. It took me an hour or so to remove the rocks from under the Audi. I ended up jacking up the car in an inappropriate way ever so slightly (less than 10mm i'd say) tires were still contacting the ground. Then using a block of wood, crow bar and the same sledge hammer proceeded to remove the rocks from the other side of the car, as there was no hope of removing them with a pulling force (or one that I can manage). Here are some images of the ensuing chaos and solution. I'd also be keen to take tips here. Is this upkeep giving you too much info on my location? Am I oversharing on my details? Happy to take constructive criticism at this point. Please don't just bag me out... I am not feeling wonderful about this already.

Hey I take offence at that! Oh no wait... totally me... (only cause i can normally win!) ?

That's my job... OP Welcome to SAU. Pics would be amazing.

I don't have any experience in this, but I would suggest you make sure that you know what you need before you take that plate off. I would also suggest documenting it thoroughly (the removal and replacement) as potentially someone might spot it's changed or doesn't quite look right if you ever try to sell it. Interference with the VIN plate is a 100% walk away moment for me at the moment. My two cents... good luck!

FRIENDS; I went to a friends (Lance Warren's) BBQ at his workshop the other weekend. There was few familiar faces and a whole bunch of internet people who I know very well. but have never met. I met Jason, Steve, other Steve, Ads and Manda... I know them all. Except in person. ? It was great day, a little bbq, a lot of talk about RBs and VRs and even some discussion about a VR HSV GTS that was there (surprisingly high tech for the time). Lance fired up SIN35. We all went deaf. It sound like an animal just waiting to shred humans to pieces. I don't know how he has the guts to drive that thing. I also let Ads drive my car on a little cruise we went on and Lance took me out in MAD35. It has ruined my mind. It is an impossible car that shouldn't be able to be that fast while being more comfortable than my car. I also felt like my car was too slow on the way home... Here are the obligatory images and the only reason you people hang around... ? ***The videos of SIN35 don't do it justice. You know that feeling of a sub-woofer interfering with your heartbeat/rib cage. It's like that... 20200530_130618.mp4 20200530_132722.mp4