Blade NZ

Lol yeah drifting...nice! That just cracked me up and not because I think you couldn't. I think I'll join ya! Lets find a deserted roundabout one saturday night and practise . Yeah I like the stock rims, I might keep them on. I just think the 215/55 tyres are a little thin looking, especially from the rear. I believe a 235/50 will have the closest rolling radius and might give a better stance so I'll check some options out when it's time. I might just sniff around re. the cargo net next week also, the only thing that would hold me back on what I'd pay is the colour. But like you said, they don't appear very often. And thanks for the carjam link, that is just so good. I think I'll go waste an hour or two there now

Oh and thanks for spotting the cargo net Dave, I just might give them a call and try it on! No harm in asking! Hey Chad, you seen those spring sets for our car on trade me. Jamex superlows @ 45mm lower and for $299. Seems a reasonable price although 45mm would be a big drop, I think I'd be happy with 30mm but I'd like to see it in the flesh first.

Wow Loh that looks great. I do love the shape of the V, it looks so much more serious than a 350Z. I think all our cars still look totally modern, definitely a before their time design as they have not aged at all. And your mags suit it very well, they look factory and very classy. Chad thats a great angle for a stag photo too and I have to agree our standard 17" mags are some of the best around, it would be tough to find better without spending a fortune. That's the same colour my neighbour just got, it looked awesome in the sun today. Photos, although look great, just don't do that colour justice it's wicked in the flesh. Dave, I would have gladly done a deal with you on my wheels but the reality is it would be a long way off. And you got yourself such a great score with the set you found. As above, I really like these stock rims and the more angles/photos I see the more I like them so it may never happen. Also the tires on the car now are almost new, very quiet and seem to stick well so it's almost impossible to justify a change.

I like no mods & all mods, be it mild or wild. As for mine, as money permits and the misses calms down, will probably be DVD (almost sorted with this), reverse camera, exhaust cat. out, tints for the two front windows and maybe one day new wheels. I wouldn't mind an aero front bar as well but only if I got lucky with a local wreaked car. Of course I'm very happy with the stock car but sometimes like to add the odd personal touch. Especially as we start to see more and more around. I really like the wheels and look of bbenny's stag on here. As of tomorrow my neighbour will also have one. He has brought a wine red '03 250RX four after seeing mine.

Oh you snuck this update in before I'd finished typing my previous. Surely it's a simple bulb change...fingers crossed!

Ha ha, lazy salesman, sending the car back to the workshop to change a bulb! I work in a bike shop & I hate it when sales people do stuff like that. . Anyway, seriously it sounds like he's going that extra bit to make amends...nice. Only one more sleepless night then . Look forward to your update soon.

That's a good idea! I'm in, although time is short at the mo. I have maybe 1 sunday a month available but I'm sure we can manage something, sometime! And Loh, enjoy your car....your probably there now waiting at the gate!

Two main reasons I got a wagon over a sedan or coupe. Most importent, room for my two kids I have to cart around and secondly I need to tow a dirt bike and there is a heap of gear required to ride so a wagon is the best way to go. I also like to 'drive' so vans, people movers & SUVs are out!

I totally agree with everything there and I speak from experience! For the last 13 years I have had a '99 VT wagon equipe that i put 160k on and a '06 SV6 sedan that I put 50k on. Neither come close to the stag! . As for the aussies on here...don't worry. I don't think too many would put the holden before a skyline/stag.

Hi Loh, Yes very happy, and I am loving the car. It would have to be the best 'total package' car I've owned. The $225 was exclusive. The total bill was $670 with an alighnment check. I think that is very reasonable for such a job and yes these do fit the V35 as well. Chassis is essentially the same, certainly at the front. I'm actually seeing heaps of these around now, certainly a case of seeing what your driving. Even a white taxi yesterday. My neighbour, after a test drive, is now looking for one. So much car for the money really! Cheers!

Agreed, they do look very good underneath...definitely a sports wagon. Just so much better than the holdens!

Just got new front shocks put in the M35 and they feel great. Shocks are KYB 350z premiums and at NZ$225 ea. they are a bargain. Definitely feel better than stock and way cheaper than OEM replacements from Nissan.

Well, just had the front shocks fitted at Wairau Alignment & Suspension Centre and I must say there is a big difference. They are awesome! They feel heaps better than stock (albeit leaking stock). Gave them about 15min bed-in then drove the route I take daily. Best way to describe is firmer but more compliant, no longer harsh with less dive...very happy! . They ended up using KYB 350Z Premuim replacements that were a direct swap for mine (which I kept), and at only $225 ea. is a bargain for a premium shock. The ones they got in originally, that apparently were for a stagea, were wrong and after compairing all specs & dimensions found the Z ones to be a full match. He's now checking for rear ones just for future reference. The guy's are great and very helpful and I can recommend them for any undercar work. Good pricing too! It was funny, the mechanic came out to talk with me, asking me to leave the car with him. He absolutely loved it and said he's now going to get one for himself. After picking my brains for all the details I left them all in office huddled around the computer looking at Stagea listings on trade me.

I second that...well done! And yes photos are required, although I am finding that a little difficult myself with the current weather patterns. My car is in for front shocks tomorrow so I'll let you know how it all goes. Already been in for a first attempt on Monday but I'll let you have the full story when I get all the facts straight.

Hey that's a nice bit of kit. Site glass as well...very flash! Looks like the answer to me. Damn you Dave, something else I want to get now .

Yep I too hate things not being right in the car so it will be sooner rather than later. The car was a little 'creaky' over driveways and bumbs when at an angle and the front is a little harsh due to the shocks. Coming from motorbikes I felt that high speed compression was absent (and of course unadjustable on a stock car) so needed it checked out. What they did was loosen all linkages front and rear, lubed and retightened with body weight on. Everything was dry and in need of a reset. The creak has gone and it feels much better all round but the harshness persists and can only be remedied with new shocks. Im told the KYB shocks have a much more progressive action with better damping so will be an improvement over stock. It will have to wait a couple of weeks but hopefully that will be it for now....other than a plenum/intake clean out which I have to find the time to do.

Sleepless nights almost coming to an end! Congrats. I don't think I could wait that long. You'll be taking unnecessary drives very soon . As for mine, no I haven't had the work done yet, still recovering from the service and as this was unexpected I'll have to re-prioritise the finances.....and convince the better half that this is needed sooner rather than later, using the 'ride quality and safety angle' to justify the expense.

Hey guy's Some followup info for you all. After City Nissan noted that the two front shocks were leaking I thought I'd get it checked out at Wairau Alignment & Suspension centre (The Shock Shop). I've used these guy's in the past and they are very good. They gave me a free inspection and test which included a loosening of all components whilst in the air, lubing and a reset when on the ground (this has made a difference when driving). The showed me the front shocks and yes they are leaking and explained that a tide mark on the shaft, from sitting on the boat, has now damaged the seals. Nissan quoted me around $1250 for OEM incl. installation but the shock shop quoted KYB premuim (much better than OEM) for $790 installed. No brainer really, great guy's to deal with, better product for less and will only take two hours to install and check alignment. I'm a bit pissed that this needs doing at all but he said it was not that uncommon for fresh imports. But really if someone had just jacked up the car before driving it around and cleaned the shafts this may not have happened. Cheers!

Well done X-Mod! Hopefully this is a job that really only needs doing once, then just a follow up with the Subaru upper engine cleaner every 10k or so will be enough to keep it clean. This is not a job I want to be doing regularly!

Nice, another kiwi. Welcome! Plenty of info here on just about anything you need to know. Have fun and enjoy your very cool car!

Absolutely! Good luck and we'll await your results. Interested to hear what condition it's in so keep us posted. Cheers!

Yeah I've noticed this as well but only in normal drive mode. Switch it to power mode and it behaves better, holding all gears longer, but obviously economy suffers a tad.

Yeah they were good to deal with. Not sure if they are better than say Manukau Nissan or any other one closer to you but I have noticed that every time I'm there they have at least one skyline or Stagea going thru the shop. I believe they are also the only official GTR dealer in the north island. So all in all they are very skyline/stagea friendly which is good considering most of our cars are imports As for my service, a big component was fluids with the full synthetic oil (at my request) being $120 and the trans fluid also at $120. The requested trans flush was outside the normal service and with labour probably accounted for $200 of the bill. That said a 100k service probably required spark plugs and at my request was not looked at. The reason for this was that they only had the $62 each plugs in stock with the half price alternative not available till mid July. I will purchase these then and fit myself. The quote for future work consisted of air con belt & alt belt at $38 each plus labour to fit and front shocks at $472 each plus labour. Belts yes in 10k, shocks no. I think I'll eventually go aftermarket for this as I'd probably get 4 for the price of two, especially with the quoted 3 hours labour to fit on top. I know you can get a cheaper service but I've always believed big services are best done at the dealer. Cheers

Hey Guy's, just thought I'd update you after my service at City Nissan. All in all I was happy with the work done and the service provided. The people there are very good. One sticky point I've outlined in the direct injection thread so check that out. It was a 100k service with an underbody check and a trans flush. They found that the two front shocks had very slight dampness but still performed well, that the lower control arm bush had slight cracking and both air con & alt belt will need doing. All would be fine until next service. Full synthetic oil used and matic fluid J. All up it was NZ$650 which is pretty good and on par with Holden pricing here and better than BMW. They also provided quotes on future parts required. To sum up, I will go back there! Cheers.

Yeah, thanks for that it all makes sense. EGR just the same as it always was so no damage eliminating it. Sounds good to me and I didn't know these used coolant around the throttle body, another unnecessary piece of plumbing that we would be better of without. Sounds like I need to get the misses to take a few days off work and run the kids around and I can get down to business (i'm sure she'll be rapped with that idea).