Japanese car imports

glanma · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:43 pm Post subject:

[/quote]My other half says I have gone back to a mental age of 18 but hey she still wont drive it - laugh. [quote]

Think it's called a mid-life crisis, Ben. :D :D :D And yes, i am familiar with it too!!! Crying or Very sad

[/quote]

romeo42822 · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:47 pm Post subject:

Glad im not the only One going through it Glenn Laughing

Boys will be boys not matter what age ! - well thats what I tell the misses ! Cool

[quote]Think it's called a mid-life crisis, Ben. :D :D :D And yes, i am familiar with it too!!! Crying or Very sad

[/quote]

ver · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:36 am Post subject:

That FD RX7 is awesome!

Your missus has taste!....my wife likes her cars too........ she's driving a brand new civic type-r (her second one)..... I have been tempted to tell her to get an import but i want her to have the 3 year warranty and be safe in knowing any honda dealer can service her car. ( ihate sorting out one jap import let alone 2!)

I look forward to the file, i know you are pretty much busy etc so no real rush as I'll be looking at something after xmas..... unless I can't resist it anymore....

ps you have pm!

msdunn · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject:

three year warranty on a honda?

that won't come into play much :D

ver · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2005 10:26 pm Post subject:

[quote="msdunn"]three year warranty on a honda?

that won't come into play much :D[/quote]

sese of sarcasm there? or genuinely think honda are good Question

(as are many of the japanese marque)

her other typer was good and this one is lsightly better due to the limited edition recaro seats and tinted rear quarters!

msdunn · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:13 am Post subject:

dead genuine - i had a mate who worked for hepworth honda - and was there 18 months before he touched an engine Shocked

look at all the polls from jd power and top gear etc - the japanese cars are always tops :D

2004 -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/2004/top_10.shtml

2005 -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/top_10.shtml

ver · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:11 pm Post subject:

Well I knew they are most reliable in fact even more so than the german counterparts who seem to be falling behind.......

Cheers for the links! I did have an altezza RS200 (Jap )IS200 before my scoob and that just loved the rev's being a 4 cylinder NA tuned by BEAMS...manual and that was spot on

Anyway back on topic......

Ben,

I take it you purchased your FTO owner Breast cancer calender Wink

(featuring female owners Shocked

) being an FTO owner and that.....

hardic · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 24 4592.0 Cash Points

[quote="romeo42822"][b]** MOT UPDATE **[/b]

Hey all !,

Well I managed to cut my trip to Devon short as I returned for the BOOKED mot (Friday Morning).

The FTO unfortunatly Failed its 1st ever UK MOT Sad

. There is Good news too as the failure was minor on both points.

1. Both Steering Rack Gaiters were Split (The only thing I did not check on the car - prior to its MOT).

2. I forgot to put the blade fuse in the fog light wiring - Doh Embarassed

My mechanic gave me a LARGE thumbs up on the condition of the FTO, and he was very suprised at how cheap I originally acquired the vehicle (see earlier posts). He also mentioned that it was nice to see the Fog light alterations done professionally and not just a crappy bolt on!!!.

Anyway 2 gaiters ?15.00 from CamSkill, plus Garage Labour ?25, to be done on Tuesday evening, re-test Wednesday, and will be passed by Lunchtime :D :D :D . The garage are doing me a favour and completing the MOT work out of hours on Tuesday as the nearest available appointment would of been Sept 3rd!! Shocked

.

You would be right in thinking that I am still VERY pleased with the car (?40 MOT failure - too right I'm happy :D, as to be honest I was a bit dubious about the tyres - but I have another 4/5,000 miles on em before a change must occur).

Couple of points worth a mention (in my opinion),

1. My alloys have locking wheel nuts (obviously), but never recieved the KEY Embarassed

2. Always root around under the carpets and behind the plastic trims etc etc, before making any changes. The previous owner had roughly Ten pairs of cables installed all over the car. Not to mention some nice cable additions under both Driver & Pass seats :D .

3. Changing the clock facias its very easy, and takes about an hour to do all of em. Just make sure you have a couple of Tea Spoons to hand to levy the needles off.

thats it for now, and I shall sort out some pics over this weekend when i get 5 Mins.

Cheers

B[/quote]

[b]
i can see that ur car has locking nuts on them but what happens when you want to change the tyre?How will you be able to do that without the keY?[/b]

hardic · Joined: 02 Nov 2005 Posts: 24 4592.0 Cash Points

[quote="msdunn"]dead genuine - i had a mate who worked for hepworth honda - and was there 18 months before he touched an engine Shocked

look at all the polls from jd power and top gear etc - the japanese cars are always tops :D

2004 -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/2004/top_10.shtml

2005 -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/top_10.shtml[/quote]

japanese cars last longer.no wonder one day this country will be full of imports. Laughing

in a good way though Cool

romeo42822 · Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

hardic,

The wheel nuts were not a problem as the garage just drilled them out and replaced them with a new set.

Hope this helps ??

Rgds

Ben (Romeo42822)

MidNite-D · Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject:

Hey Romeo, just wanted to say thanks for your excellent and epic post. When I first looked at the forum I read that post from start to finish in one sitting as I had to find out what happened in the end.
It has prompted me to go ahead and set about importing a car for myself and one for the wife. She liked the look of yours so much that she is looking for the same model, though in a different colour. I have had a look at some info and videos of the performance of them on the google video site and I have been impressed. I would like to ask you for your thoughts now you have had one for 6 months or so.

Thanks again.

MidNite Cool

romeo42822 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:57 am Post subject:

MidNite-D,

Well I dont really know where to start, I am very pleased with the FTO, and more to the point her performance on the road.

I have had no problems with the car at all, apart from everyone I know wanting to buy the car off me. Honestly I believe the car was a steal at the price I paid. Ok I have added a few extras (and then some) but hey boys will be boys even at my age!.

The misses took the FTO to Berkshire last month and it was the First time she drove it!. She was always worried about the under bonnet power (tut tut) but its now her favourite car (like all the others!!!) as I have been down graded to the Pajero and Delica until the RX7 arrives (cant be soon enough - trust me!!)

Anyway the long and short of the FTO is we are both pleased with the car, service from Advan and Jap auctions, and overal experiance from this company. I have recommended them to everyone I know and shall continue to do so.

I have to be honest and say that we have paid out more in mods for the car inc the personal plate than we originally paid for the FTO. Ok I paid out for the mods as I have a mental age of 18 (Glanma calls it Mid Life Thing - YEP I AGREE) but hey you only live once.

Being serious (and acting my age just for a moment) I have to say the FTO was a nice addition to our imported Mitsi car collection. I now have to wait and see if the Mazda turns out ok, but I am a mitsi fan myself.

I hope this helps ? and if anyone reading this has a scooby then ANYTIME !.

Oh dont forget to get the limiter removed from your car/s !, its so much more fun !

Cheers

Ben

MidNite-D · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 2:09 pm Post subject:

Hi Ben,

Thanks for the honest appraisal and information, I only joined the site at the end of January but I dont think I could have done better. Everyone is helpful and it seems there is a real community spirit amongst the members. I just got confirmation this morning they have received my membership money, so we can look for our ideal cars. I will show the wife your post when she gets in I'm sure it will put a big smile on her face, " Must be the under the bonnet power" Wink

.

Thanks again for the info and I will be sure that we get the limiter removed, so we can enjoy the FTO to the full.

p.s. about the Mid Life Thing, I think I'm acouple of years older than you, maybe its a disease we all get about this age Smile

Regards

MidNite Cool

glanma · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 7:12 pm Post subject:

[quote="MidNite-D"]
p.s. about the Mid Life Thing, I think I'm acouple of years older than you, maybe its a disease we all get about this age Smile

quote]

Guys - believe me, it's not an affliction that goes away as you get ever older!!! Very Happy

It's terminal and the only thing that slows its progress is ............ more and more racy cars!!!!!!! Super

gavinjacques · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:33 pm Post subject:

ah but dont forget the arthritis and bad backs which make low slung cars with hard suspension a no no Laughing

romeo42822 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 8:45 pm Post subject:

[quote]ah but dont forget the arthritis and bad backs which make low slung cars with hard suspension a no no[/quote]

Hey I will live with the discomfort, but you forgot to mention the ability or lackthere of getting out the car considering its so low !. Very Happy

MidNite-D · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 9:17 pm Post subject:

Guys, it looks like Glanma has started something with this "Mid Life Thing" Smile

, its looks like we all suffer from the same affliction and we have found the cure.
The only problem is that we will soon need help getting in and out of these cars. The way I see it is we will have to have Advan design a new kind of seat, something like a stairlift, but one that helps you get into and out of the car. The other alternative is we buy sensible cars more befitting our age as "Elder Statesmen", we could also buy Corduroy trousers and wear knitted cardigans and sensible shoes.

Whoops, now I know I'm too old, I think I need to go lie down and take a nap Laughing

.

MidNite Cool

pacman160778 · Joined: 13 Jan 2006 Posts: 23 5820.0 Cash Points

[quote="romeo42822"]I hope this helps ? and if anyone reading this has a scooby then ANYTIME !.
[/quote]
You haven't driven many Subarus then Laughing

romeo42822 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:15 pm Post subject:

MidNite-D

You forgot the slippers, and red wine in front of the open fire to completly contrast the cords !.

You never grow older that's just left to your body, its the mind that stays 18. The mind is all we need to keep us "feeling" young Laughing

- sometimes!.

Electric Stanna car seats would always be welcome Laughing

. Talking about stanna seats I Took my boss out the other day (he is roughly the same age) and dropped him off by a raised pavement, talk about problems getting out the FTO. I could not help but laugh, and laugh and laugh. It even got to the point when I started crying with laughter Laughing

. Needless to say he had a few choice words in his text message to me about going in my FTO again.

Did you enjoy your nap and lie down Midnite ? Laughing

Ben

romeo42822 · Posted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 10:22 pm Post subject:

pacman160778

Never driven but did encounter a nice moded one on the M27 a few weeks back. Needless to say I just saw them in the rear view mirror for most of the time.

I never started the race but had to join in as provoked but to be fair I think the limiter was still in force. It was either the limiter or the bottle ! Laughing

but hey next time maybe.

Very Happy