Nissan 350z or TVR Griffith

Steve,

It was really good to meet you at Uncle Pete's the other day, I hope the 250 is putting a huge smile on your face, please let us know how you get on with it,

Regards


NB

Hi NB,

I don't want to hijack the thread, but the short answer is yes - a huge grin.

Pete had lent me the 250 to have a listen to in my own system (replacing a 140) and he said to give it a few days to warm up before coming to a final decision.

I rang him the same afternoon to warn him that when I returned the 250 it would have shrunk to shoebox size and be accompanied by a strange bit of plastic. The decision was that easy, even from cold. So much more of everything, and much better sense of control, solidity and separation from the speakers.

This is my 2nd purchase from Cymbiosis (got my Neats there too) and I'd certainly join with all the others who have wholeheartedly recommended Pete's dealership. He's a true Gent.

Regards,
Steve.

Hi Steve,

Glad to hear your really enjoying the 250, you have a nicely balanced sistem now.

I spoke to Bob at Neat some time ago and he wholeheartedly recommends vinyl with Neats and with Naim in between you have an excellent sistem.

The one thing I like about cymbiosis and Pete is that you can just walk in anytime and are more than welcome. With the ever increasing band of forum members who use Pete your more than likely to bump into a forum member there.

Given the short time you have had the 250 then there is still more to come, I found my 300 took quite a while to bed in, it ran into months.

Keep enjoying the music,

NB

Cliff,

I beg to differ on second hand values, I have ssen Nissan 350's going for over £31k on the second hand market and as Nissan are going to restrict number's the second hand values should remain high.


Regards


NB

Cliff me too.

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I would suggest you look at the TT Roadster or the Honda S2000

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The TT is a glorified Golf mk. IV - basically everything but the body shell, interior and (in the case of the quattro versions) the rear suspension is shared, although the 3.2L VR6 DSG version is interesting.

As for the S2000, if NB didn't like the RX-8 for the need-to-rev nature of the engine, I doubt he'd like the S2000's redline-at-9000rpm engine either...

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try the M3 convertible

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I second that, not many 4-door/5-seater cars outrun/outhandle the current M3. Only real downsides are reliability and cost of ownership (for example, it can only use a special formulated for M3 Castrol 10W-60 synthetic oil available only at BMW dealers that is three times the price of Mobil 1), but NB doesn't like bimmers anyway?

Cheers,
Tze-Ho

[This message was edited by tze96 on Mon 17 May 2004 at 9:20.]

I would Second TZE's comments on the TT, its a glorified golf and in my opinion over rated.

THe Honda again is over rated, I have had a close look at one, again it was too small and you have to drive the balls off it to get any type of acceleration. I would rather go for a big V6 with plenty of grunt than an undersized engine.

I had a classic Ford Capri with the V6 2.8 engine and that was wonderful, it had so much low end grunt. Still one of the best cars I have ever owned.

As for the BMW M3, yes its a nice car but I have no desire to own a BMW. I want something different, like the Supra I once had.


Regards


NB

"low end grunt" usually implies "engine more suitable for a tow truck than a 'sporting' car".

A properly tuned engine makes the same power at the low end yet just goes on making more and more until the rev limiter. This is much more fun to drive. And if it means that to make really rapid progress you have to use the gearbox well then that's all part of the skill, bear in mind that you're going much faster than just with 'low end grunt'.

That said getting yourself a Caterham or Elise as a fun car makes so much more sense than a bloaty coupe.

Paul

Quote:-

That said getting yourself a Caterham or Elise as a fun car makes so much more sense than a bloaty coupe.
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No thanks, I don't fancy a "kit car", being a big bloke I want something substantial around me.

Regards


NB

See, you want a Camaro. Or even better, an El Camino


600BHP
Rawk!

Mekon,

I can just see myself turning up to clients in that one, where can I get one?

Regards


NB

Alex,

I totally agree with you!

Looks like I need to increase my fees!

Regards

NB

As a matter of fact I have a friend who is selling an El Camino at the moment. It doesn't look quite as hot as the one in Mekon's photo (it has standard running gear) and is an earlier (69) model, but it does have flames down the side

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I can just see myself turning up to clients in that one, where can I get one?

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Always my problem - chosing the right car to be desirable to me, but to be appropriate with meeting my clients. Has to be something smart to show success and give them confidence in me, but not flash and look cocky. Has to be respectably upmarket. It's a very difficult one to call.

Same for me, too. I need a 4 X 4 for towing duties - the BMW X5 is just too much of the "Considerably richer than youw", the Volvo XC90 is just, well, a Volvo, so I went for the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

NB
What area of business are we talking here, that might make a difference, eg financial services, engineering or drug dealing
An M3 with black windows (especially in that sickening gold), Saab, Audi's etc.

Sadly, that El Camino is in Louisiana.

It does sound like you are after a muscle car though. What about a Lexus GS430 Sport or a Holden HSV?

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What area of business are we talking here, that might make a difference, eg financial services, engineering or drug dealing
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I am an accountant for my sins, the drug dealing is just a hoby!


Regards


NB

NB
Saab or Audi?

Martin,

Audi RS6 YES PLEASE!

Regards


NB

Good idea, but isn't the new shape A6 out?

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where can I get one?

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Try any body shop in Tijuana.

Somebody suggested the Holden Monaro, Commodore, or HSV is a Vauxhall. It ain't - before productionising, they effectively take the forthcoming vauxhall and take it downunder, they widen them so there's room for 5 or six adults in comfort; and then drive the arse off it with a large V6 or a V8 on board, figure out where it breaks up (one needs to sort this out, there are no speed limits in the Northern Territory and these cars are designed to be used on unsealed roads for days at a time)... after strengthening ,they then work out how to make them handle. After that, there's the fun of building them into a "sports car", a "ute", a "taxi", a "station wagon", and these days there's even a 4WD wagon - it's the all-purpose australian vehicle. But a vauxhall? Only distantly related through genetics.

You need to drive one to get a handle on how much fun a V8 can be. Don't get me wrong I love sports cars, but there's something to the old adage "there's no substitute for cubic inches".

Meantime I just pootle around in datsun...

Rico - SM/Mullet Audio

www.holden.com.au

Talking of Vauxhall, has anyone any experience of the x220? My hairdresser has one but then again would I want a hairdressers car, me thinks not!

Regards


NB

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Originally posted by NB:
Talking of Vauxhall, has anyone any experience of the x220?

NB

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Yes. Judging by your previous posts regarding body size, don't even try to get in one 'cos you probably won't get out again. My hairdresser has a TVR.

It depends what kind of experience you want. I've owned a 1992 Griffith for 7 years and had a TVR S3 for a year before that. The claims of dreadful unreliability are usually espoused by people who have probably never driven one let alone owned one.

My TVR's have not been as faultlessly reliable as the Toyota MR2 I had (not one thing broke in 20 000 miles!) but they've been pretty good overall. In 8 years I've called the RAC out 3 times - once for a broken throttle cable (grin), once for a stone-chip holed radiator and another time for a broken alternator and hence flat battery.

Servicing isn't Porsche expensive, but a main dealer will charge around £500 for an annual service (although there are plenty of specialists who will do it for about half that. Incidentally my diesel Passat has cost me far more over the past 12 months than the Griff and it's got the same mileage on it and is 6 years newer! I was out on Sunday in the TVR and saw a VW Golf broken down on the A3 and wanted to shout 'if only everything in life was as reliable as a TVR!' Because Rover engined TVR's hold their values so well they can prove an economical buy, indeed early Griffith values have risen slightly of late.

In essence your choice comes down to how keen a driver you are. I'm sure the Nissan (like my MR2) will be a very well engineered, quick, comfortable and attractive however TVR's have soul, awesome power, incredibly rewarding handling and a soundtrack and looks to die for. The TVR will be a car that you'll want to drive 100 miles on a Sunday afternoon just because driving it is such a joy, on the other hand the Audi TT's, BMW's, Toyota's etc are a rather anodyne experience by comparison and as a result you only tend to drive them when you need to get somewhere.

I'd say in a way that TVR's are like Naim, a product that harnesses passion and emotion like few others. Best thing to do is test drive both, but ask yourself which is the most 'special' driving experience.

Jonathan