scathing

Clearly you don't know about that exact model if you think they don't grip. For a "streetable" tyre, Falken RT's stick like shit to carpet. They're not the best S-Comp ever made, but for the price and availability they're hard to beat. The problem with Falken's reputation is that every tosser associates the Ziex 326s with them, which are probably the most rubbish tyre ever to have been made. Tempe tends to throw them in with their wheel + tyre packages, so chromied-up ricers drive on them and think they're all that Falken make. The Falken FK452s came second in Motor's 2008 Tyre Test, and are a great touring tyre. I've used a couple of street tyres on my current car (Bridgestone RE040, Bridgestone RE-01, Dunlop DZ-101) and by far my two favourites have been the discontinued Falken RT215s for outright grip, and the Falken FK452s for all-round performance. If I can't afford Bridgestone RE-01Rs when I wear out the FK452s I'm currently using, I will get RT615s. How many k's do you do? Hillclimb semi slicks can last you decades if you never drive on them. I got about 15,000km out of my RT215s, but I'm only making around 180rwkW. That said, I did give them a severe workout on quite a few roads so they saw a fair amount of hard use. I only get 20,000km out of a set of RE040s so its not that much different. Cubes has suggested some R-Comps. You'll be lucky to get 10,000km out of a set of them, and if you daily drive the car the tyre roar will drive you insane. I've daily driven on R-Comps in the past, and I got headaches from the noise.

What difference does the fact that it's imported make?

Some how I don't think he cares. He regularly rips in to cars that other people like, because they lack that "X-Factor" he's looking for. He's the only motoring journo I know that doesn't like the 350Z. Every other journo whose reviews of the 350Z I've read, and there have been lots, have adored the car. On Top Gear he doesn't like the Ferrari 599 GTB because its too technical and not practical. He doesn't like Porsches, and the 997 garners "respect". He adores the Peel P50, which is pretty rubbish.

I'd say there is. Nissan's trying to grow Infiniti into a proper Euro competitor, especially now that they're launching the brand in Europe. They've got the V35/V36 to go against the 3 Series and the new FX to compete against the X5. The Germans practically own the super-sedan class with the M5, RS6 and E63 (and to a lesser extent the M3, RS4, C63 and IS-F, against which the current Skylines can't really compete). Since Infiniti can't have the GT-R, I'd say a super sedan based on the PM platform as a halo model would be a much better fit. Well, the R35 does a 7:29 with its "quite firm" setting. Even with more weight, a longer wheelbase and slightly less power from the engine, you might still be able to keep the difference to under 30s a lap. The suspension in the PM is adaptive. You could set up the "comfy" setting to be a lot softer than the GT-R's equivalent setting in line with its competitors, and firm up the car when the driver flicks the R switch and actually wants to go fast around corners.

Is there a difference? R&D is a cost of producing the car. Even if you make a margin on pure manufacturing costs, the company's bottom line still suffers if you can't make the volumes in car's lifecycle.

That is true. However, your mobile phone company will know that you received a call or message since they charge the caller's carrier back. I believe using the data functionality, assuming you can browse the web on your phone, is also logged with timestamps. If you subpoena those records from your carrier, you can prove that there was no transmission at the time of the alleged infringement. If they define "in use" as operating any functionality on the phone, like typing a SMS you didn't actually send or playing around with the menu functionality (changing songs?), then you've got no way to empirically disprove it and so its your word against the copper's.

NSW cops are slowly getting wired with mics, and they tell you before anything else that they've got a recording device and its activated.

Linky. More information that a PM platform sedan is probably in the making. I can't see what else they could build on the relatively expensive PM platform that would see a good return aside from a M5/E63/RS6/XF-R/CTS-V decimating Infiniti super sedan. I just hope no-one slaps a GT-R badge onto it as a result.

The V-Spec is due in December. More information that a PM platform sedan or SUV is in the making. I hope they do, since a raft of cheaper cars with parts interchangable with the GT-R (which is sure to enjoy a healthy aftermarket) can only be a good thing for Nissan enthusiasts. I just hope no-one slaps a GT-R badge onto their sedan as a result.

Jeremy Clarkson writes his review for the Nissan GT-R. Most of the time in Clarkson's "Driving Times" articles, the first quarter paragraphs have nothing to do with the car he's actually reviewing. Unfortunately, this time its over half. And what's left is so vague you wonder if he's leaving The Times and is just coasting through his notice period. He just goes about saying that there's too much car for him, and so he finds it boring. Clarkson does like cars that are hairy to drive rather than purely fast, so the fact that he doesn't gush over the R35 is to be expected. Still, its a lacklustre read. Have a read anyway

So basically the exact opposite of what I was thinking. Alright, when my rear camber arms come in and I work out what bushings I need, I may PM you.

A cast iron non-turbo engine that can't even make close to 100hp/L with bolt ons, let alone stock, is "one of the finest ever made"? Aside from the engine note, what makes it "fine" exactly?

Quite possible, but I'm not sure unless the photos are very new. I spoke to Powerplay around 3-4 weeks ago, who've dealt with the owner of that beast V35 twin turbo, and when they last saw that car it was still running a stock front bar. However, the wheels are definitely the same and it does look like an APS intercooler visible in the grille of that aftermarket front bar. The TT one also had that reversing camera.

I'm pretty sure the 350Z is fully imported. Nissan Australia doesn't have any manufacturing facilities after they stopped making the Pulsar down here, so I'm not sure where they'd assemble anything. Its probable that Australia's cars are on a custom run from a Japanese factory to ensure they comply with our ADRs so perhaps its only our batch that suffers it. I know the 350Z's intake pipe has a resonator where the US one doesn't, and the ECU tune is probably different for our ADRs.

Nissan UK has. They used to have a Micra with a mid mounted SR20DET, and recently they made one with a VQ35DE.

Unless its Top Secret's AWD V8 V35 "GT-R", that's just retarded. I dig the bodykit and rims, although I don't think the Nismo stripes suit a "grand tourer", but that GT-R badge and the hideous reversing camera ruin the whole car for me.

The 2003 350Zs reputedly had an oil consumption issue. Since the engines are near identical, aside from the plastic cover and AFM-to-throttle-body intake tract, I would assume they'd earn a similar reputation. I haven't heard of anything specifically about V35s, though, and the 350Z oil consumption issue hasn't affected that many owners I know.

Her word vs yours. A parking inspector vs a civilian. No different to any other parking infringement. Plus, being an airport, there's probably security cameras everywhere if they want to get anal about it. Publicly-used but privately owned land can apply to get exemptions to issue infringements. The airport, being as big as it is, could easily obtain one. They could also make it a "term and condition" of entry onto their property that you abide by their rules or suffer a financial penalty. At which point it becomes a battle between your lawyers and theirs about how enforceable it is....

What a f**king retard. But you see GT-R badges on anything and everything these days. I almost thought about hitting a guy who had GT-R badges and the GT-R rear wing on his NA R33. VQ > RB The Sydney "tuning" scene (i.e. ricer scene) is a lot bigger and over the top than Melbourne's. Had some mates come up recently and see George St (our Chapel St) and they were really dismayed at how much money Sydneysiders will sink into shitbox Corollas, Excels, and other econoboxes.

The bonnet and front guards look like a 350Z's, but the glass house and rear mimics the 240Z a lot more. The overbite fangs on the front grille I could do without, too.

I don't want to start a flamewar, but has he considered a Z06? The chassis and driveline is a lot more "proven" in terms of actual racing stress, he could just buy a C5R's crate engine (like the Nation's Cup Monaro did), and being in America it would be relatively cheap and easy to source parts. The R35 is an impressive street car and shits all over the Z06 (or ZR1), but there's a world of difference between a handful of flying laps and a bit of a squirt on the street, and actually racing something.

Exactly. The pit wall is so far away from the exit of a hairpin corner that the only way you could hit it is if your ego far exceeds your skill, and you think you can drive out of a slide you clearly can't. I can't see how any sensible person could hit it unless they're in a massively overpowered car and its raining. The newbies have very little to worry about at Wakefield. The only thing you really need to be aware of, from a layout safety aspect, is to try and make sure the car is travelling straight if you know you are going to come off. Coming off sideways isn't a guarantee of issues, but you'd rather not if you can help it.

I've had some 350Z Tech people express an interest in catching up again soon. If Sydney-based V35 owners are interested in coming too, I'll ask Mike to PM me his planned dates and we'll sort out a meeting here in Sydney.

Still, the 350Z has less weight, a stiffer chassis and better cooling from the factory. As a "pure sports car" it still makes a more obvious choice. Still, I gather its not entirely what Mike is after. I'm pretty sure Mike has a track toy, so the slightly softer setup in the V35 might be right up his alley. Mike, I didn't reply to you on NSCC directly but I've driven an auto V35 as well as owning my 350Z. The V35 is a lot softer to ride in. The sounds are more muted, and the chassis is slightly less willing to respond on turn-in. The Z is already a lot softer than the S15, so initially you might find it a bit soft. However, the body control and stability is far superior in the FM platform compared to the S chassis, so you'll find yourself going far faster than you think you are. However, there's almost nothing in it and if you're never going to track the car the V35 is, in my opinion, a better option. Its nice having rear seats, and the front seats are significantly more comfortable. I'd love to have a full FM-platform garage. Gutted 350Z for track, light tune V35 coupe for daily driving, and an AWD M35 Stagea for carrying stuff.

My ECU re-flash doesn't touch the throttle maps, that I'm aware of (Pro Concept did it). All mine does is bump the redline from 6600RPM to 7200RPM. There was a mob in Melbourne looking at doing a reflash that offered WOT all the way to the cutout (apparently, as you say, it starts closing the throttle up top) that posted on 350Z Tech a while back, but I haven't heard from them in years.