grahamjc
Well-Known Forum User
I think you've got too much money Graham.
If only that was the case........... I just have a very understanding lady in my life
I think you've got too much money Graham.
Sounds like you having a lot of fun with the GTR! I just read through the whole thread, glad to see the cars getting some proper use rather than just posing away and never getting to stretch its legs. My next door neighbour has an R35 which I've been out before in, and I can honestly say that I've never been out in something as fast as that car on the road ever. The performance is mind boggling to say the least.... Seriously impressive bit of kit.
My only questions to you is, do you not think its too fast for the road? I'm still waiting to receive my Z so can't compare the two, however I've got an MR2 Turbo which is fully setup running about 280hp on stock boost and I couldn't imagine wanting anything faster for the public roads.... Interestingly on twisty B roads I can comfortably hold my own and he wouldn't come past, however as soon as the road opens up the GTR can make it look as though I'm not even moving! I love a bit of track time as well, however unfortunately finance limits me for doing it as much as I'd quite like to.
Cool collection you've got there anyway, glad to see you've got appreciation from cars from completely different eras
Also meant to ask where abouts are you in Surrey? nice to know there's some Z's local to me.
Sounds like your a complete petrolhead as well!
Yeah you can see how it earned the name Godzilla. Thats where its never really made much sense to me, as it doesn't really suit either world particularly well. Don't get me wrong its an incredible bit of engineering and some thing to be marvelled at, and nothing can come close to the price point but I've never really lusted after one.
I can understand wanting more power and not needing it, just having the piece of mind that its there. It can certainly get you out of trouble as quickly as it can get you into it. The track is the only lace you can safely use the car to be honest. However not enough people have the necessary skill/talent to properly exploit its limits at a circuit either (no disrespect intended without knowing your driving capabilities). I've had a few track days where people have monstered me in a GTR on the straights and then haven't been able to corner for toffee and I've been all over them and it starts again.
The MX5 will be a hoot that you don't have to worry about, and won't cost the world to run so makes perfect sense. I never fully appreciated them until I spent a drifting day in one and it was just hilariously fun to drive. I've got a lot of time for them, very different car to my MR2. Far for of a tail out fun car then serious lap time vehicle but that's why its great.
Haha I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who's never content. I read through your 240Z thread and its looking the business. I'm glad to see your restoring it properly for many years of use ahead. Have you decided on the colour yet?
Not too far away from me then, I'm in a little place called Hinchley Wood if you've ever heard of it? Its just down the road form Surbiton and Kingston, also 5 mins from Hampton Court. Are there ever any local meets? Would be great to meet some people and see a few other cars for inspiration.
Last Christmas the wife bought me a Red Letter Driving Experience which was four cars at the track of my choice and a couple of laps in each ...
Last week I did it having luckily got a dryish day in the middle of some wettish ones. When I was choosing on the phone upon booking which cars to have I plumped for the usual ones, Audi R8, Lambo Gallardo etc and a Porsche 997 for good measure but was stuck on the fourth one.
Was I approaching retirement and fancied the Aston, nah, prancing horse maybe, not for me. So I thought I'd go for the GTR. So glad I did as after driving all four of them, the GTR was the pic by a long way with the Lambo last!
I did drive it like Miss Daisy though ... not paying the extra for the all-encompassing insurance and my first time driving anything with this amount of grunt on a track and I turned into my nan.
Embarrassingly so.
It was the last car of the four and by that time I'd at least got used to the layout of the track. Having a co-driver who encouraged me to floor it did help which is probably why I enjoyed these two laps the most. Didn't gave the cajonies to drive it as he wanted though ... maybe next time.
But I don't mind showing you a vid of it! Came straight home and searched the web for one I could afford - sadly there wasn't one. I was wearing my 240z T-shirt on the day which got a few comments - one of the instructors asked me a few questions on the way round ... I obviously wasn't going fast enough to stop the conversation. But they say, it isn't a race, it's a 'Driving Experience'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VaaZWqDwBYY
I think I saw that R33 at the Nissan event at Donnington last year?? I remember standing halfway down the bottom part of the passenger ride track (where the track descends to a U-bend and then back up the hill).
I saw a couple girls getting passenger rides and where we were stood just happened to be where he changed gear. They were so close to hitting the dashboard with their faces.. Haha it looked and sounded absolutely insane!
Always loved cars, but for me they NEED to be driven, not show pieces.
Yeah the GTR is a bit "lost" as such, but the way it handles road, track, fast road use is what makes it so good. Its hard to explain, but as an example, on Friday I drove from London to Hinckley Island, through traffic, motorways, etc and then on Saturday hammered it round Bruntingthorpe doing 5 sessions on 30-40 minutes each of passenger rides for Asda On Your Marks charity day. Then Sunday drove it 200 miles (round trip via Dan and then friends) and it never missed a beat. 5 years old, 40k miles.... however, saying all that, if you havent been out in one GO and get out in one, they are simply awesome!!! You just forget all the faults, the noises, the weight, the cost and for me I just fall in love with driving it every time I take it out.
If you know Bruntingthorpe track, the car was exiting the first sweeping left hander at 110-120mph I had passengers tell me at the end of the lap that they were expecting me to brake (or at least slow down for the first corner), but my foot was welded to the floor had an awesome weekend with the car and friends
I classify myself as ok, Im no driving god, but for me its more about having fun rather that pure laptimes.
As a side note, for ages a friend has been telling me to take his R33 (sprint car, stripped, caged, ohlins suspension, ap brakes, 700+hp) out and it always had minor issues (like misisng 3rd gear, missing 4th gear, then he killed the block, then the head, etc), but I finally got a chance to drive it. what a different animal altogether!! Absolutely loved the mental machine!!! Single turbo, no power below 5k rpm, but when the turbo spools WOW!!!! The big difference for me was the handling..... it was just sublime and really showed off the weight and handling difference between the 2 GTRs. Took a few passengers out in it and we were all just giggling like little girls the whole way round .....
Oh yes, the mx5 is just an absolutely laugh and I love it!!! For track fun you really dont need much more
240z is getting there.... went and collected some light buckets from Dan over the weekend since he was only a few miles from Brunters and then took him out in the GTR Yes and its a surprise
Dont know the area.... most of my cars are dotted all over the place. Mechanic has one, 2 separate bodyshops have 1 each and GTR is at home in the city. MX5 is usually at a friends place down south. Hampton Court isnt too far.... always up for meeting fellow petrol heads