Project 350z *quite long*

[Gary G]

Some of you may remember: http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?t=378369

It's changed some more!

HKS Hipermax III Sports

Had a helping hand from this fellow, totally sneaked up on me lol

Performance Friction 2 piece discs (+ pads- Z rated rears and 01 fronts)

Cusco 7 Point Roll Cage

Few track shots:

...and here's the BOMBSHELL!

I think I need to SELL IT

Looks as though I will be leaving the country sooner than planned and I will be in sunny Spain for approx 14 months! This puts me in a tricky situation car wise. I'm really not keen on storing a car, even done properly I think it's bad for the car. I once bought a VX220 that had just 2k on the clock as it had been stored for a couple of years and although it looked mint, I ended up with a few costly problems (corrosion on the bilstein dampers, ECU failure).

However, my other option is to sell up This wouldn't be such an issue if I hadn't just spent thousands on r888's, performance friction pads, rollcage etc etc :S Now I know modifications don't 'add' value but question is, could I get a bit more for the car considering the new high quality parts? The sale money would definitely come in handy but I know when I get back to the UK I won't be able to buy such a nice car :dapprove:

Here's a couple more pics and the spec-

2004 (04) UK non GT with 27000 miles

Suspension-

*HKS Hipermax 3 Sport coilovers http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=8869&ParentCat=39
Cusco Anti Roll Bars http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=9000&ParentCat=39
Cusco Front Camber arms http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=8995&ParentCat=39
SPC rear camber/toe kit (no idea on cost)

Brakes-

*Performance Friction Discs http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=9339&ParentCat=22
*Standard EBC rear discs http://cougarstore.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=46
*01 race compound fronts (£180)
*Z rated rear pads (£60ish)
Goodridge Lines http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=8805&ParentCat=22

Engine/performance-

Motordyne 5/16 plenum spacer http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=8475&ParentCat=28
HKS Racing Suction Kit http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=9256&ParentCat=17
Scorpion exhaust http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=9297&ParentCat=30
Kaaz 1.5 way LSD (sitting in my garage!)

Interior-

*Recaro Pole Position http://www.recaro-seats.co.uk/sport-seats/pole-position.php Leather and suede. This was professionally fitted by a motorsport outfit.
*Cusco 7 Point Cr-mo Roll Cage £655+ vat http://www.z-store.co.uk/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&product_ID=8872&ParentCat=37
*Momo drift steering wheel http://www.demon-tweeks.com/products/ProductDetail.asp?cls=MSPORT&pcode=M/CVRDRIFT33BLK

Wheels and tyres-

*Toyo R888 265/35/18's all round (£650ish)
Rota GTRs silver with polished lip- 9.5J and et20 all round (can't remember how much)

* denotes brand new (within last month or so)

Damn, wish I hadn't done that :scare: Now I know how much I've actually spent! And that's excluding services, additional oil services, brake fluid changes, geometry, a set of worn R888's, HKS RS coilovers, previous set of recaro tomcats!!! it goes on :headhurt:

What are peoples thoughts?

Sell it or store it?

If I sell it how much do you think I could get? I guess I could negotiate and sell it in a spec they wanted for a certain price. E.g I have every single OEM part plus a set of street HKS coilovers (cheaper than the III Sports!) The Pole Position is brand new and cost me £500...I know that would sell quick but I really don't want the hassle of parting this car out, plus it would be a real shame as I've put so much effort and time in, not to mention cash!

 

[Ali]

FCUKIN awesome gary!!! - No see you post in a while! Keepin Busy?

 

[Tom@JMS]

ship it out to Spain in a Container/drive it down there!

 

[seb]

looks like a fantastic motor! can you give it to your parents/friend to spin out once a week whilst you are away?

 

[Daniel]

Come on MrG, drop it down the garage and i'll look after it. FOC of course!

 

[Šįk]

love that mate,tis a beauty!!! also love your m8s Z3M Coupe

 

[ForceIndia]

I'd do everything not to sell it, looks a great spec. Love the plate too.

 

[Gaz.]

I'd take it to Spain TBH, would be a hoot to drive around spain's quiet hills in

 

[Gary G]

Cheers guys.

Ali, yeah keeping busy mate plus I decided forums are bad for your health lol.

Dan you joker! I'd be more worried about you driving it than my dad! (incidentally he managed to clip the garage in his old 350 lol)

Yeah I was thinking of taking it with me (would be an epic road trip!) but the insurance etc might be tricky. Plus I'd feel a bit of a knob turning up there in the 350 tbh....oh and I could do with the cash!

 

[Pep]

How much would you sell it for?
Be much more cost effective to sell it standard and sell off the bits you have bought, but more trouble.

 

[Gaz.]

Yeah I was thinking of taking it with me (would be an epic road trip!) but the insurance etc might be tricky. Plus I'd feel a bit of a knob turning up there in the 350 tbh....oh and I could do with the cash!

You'd be less of a nob than all the spaniards flying around on their 50cc scooters with no helmet/top on, trying to woo the ladies

 

[Brett]

Awsome car. Stunning.

 

[Gary G]

You'd be less of a nob than all the spaniards flying around on their 50cc scooters with no helmet/top on, trying to woo the ladies

Dammit that's my plan shot to s**t then lol.

Pepsi, I was thinking of trying for £13,999 then negotiating a deal. Unfortunately 350z's have dived in value and there's also a load of JDM models in the market which doesn't help. I think standard I could get £11k And yeah selling the parts off will be one massive ballache as the 350z boys only like carbon fibre splitters, gear knobs and takata harnesses lol. There aren't many serious owners on the UK forums tbh.

 

[Tav]

I'd sell all the fancy bits and try and make money back. Then sell the car nearer standard.

 

[jon_r]

Wow, what a lovely car! Seen it on track somewhere recently as well, but can't for the life of me remember where!!

 

[Gary G]

Bovington dude! I saw you rolling around in the 328 but never had a chance to say hi! Didn't help that I had to leave early either.

Tav, that's what I usually do but you don't know how much of a b**ch it was to fit that cage lol

 

[conneh]

I farking love 350s... and thats why. It's just pure awesome, look at it. Stunning. I want it.

 

[Aluco]

Store it but make sure you do it properly, ie on axle stands all rubbers treated everything oiled (even discs) then clean them when you get back obviously. Also get someone to go treat the rubber etc every couple of months, it will be ok.


By the way I think your car looks amazing.

 

[Waitey]

Is that Mike in front of you?

 

[Justin]

Awesome!

 

[Darren]

sell any of the bits???

just bought a 350 at the weekend, drop me a PM with any bits you may want to sell seperately.

lovely looking car there though.

 

[Gally]

Put it back to standard then sell it get the bits sold seperatley if you can.

 

[Gary G]

Waitey, yeah that's Mike...b*****d lol. His car is so dam quick now tbh it's hard to keep up!I get to drive it as well though so it's all good lol

Darren, I'll keep you posted mate.

Thanks for the comments guys

 

[koi]

nice plate!!

 

[jon_r]

Bovington dude! I saw you rolling around in the 328 but never had a chance to say hi! Didn't help that I had to leave early either.

Ah! Hope you had a good day!

I'd be tempted to store it mate - get it done properly and you'll be fine.

 

[richy22]

Why dont you lend it to me for a year?? Then you can have it back when you come home??

 

[Phill1978]

why have a roll cage when a modern car already has a roll / safety cage ?

is it track rules, fitting in with the track scene or just a belts and braces approach

 

[Spongebob 172]

Tbh i would take it to spain...whats the point in doing all the work only to sell it and lose money aswell as a top motor...epic drive to spain

 

[Fletcher]

I'd store it.

 

[conneh]

I'd give it more negative camber again.

 

[wozzaa]

why have a roll cage when a modern car already has a roll / safety cage ?

is it track rules, fitting in with the track scene or just a belts and braces approach

The average car will only survive fairly moderate rolls at a lower speed. On track going much faster and things become much more violent. Just much safer and will hold the passenger compartment shape much better.

 

[Gary G]

Jon, was an awesome day but decided to leave early considering it started to rain, I was on fairly new R888's and after seeing all those bad accidents I didn't want to push my luck lol. Thanks for organising it though, you guys clearly put in a lot of work!

why have a roll cage when a modern car already has a roll / safety cage ?

is it track rules, fitting in with the track scene or just a belts and braces approach

None of the above. I bought it because blue is my favourite colour and it looks pretty.

 

[Phill1978]

Jon, was an awesome day but decided to leave early considering it started to rain, I was on fairly new R888's and after seeing all those bad accidents I didn't want to push my luck lol. Thanks for organising it though, you guys clearly put in a lot of work!



None of the above. I bought it because blue is my favourite colour and it looks pretty.

probably true

 

[scott1205]

loving the plate and the car

 

[MaLicE]

plus its a cusco dash dodger cage, so in a roll, its more likely to crumple and knock you out than stand up to a roll lol and it meets no motorsport regulations lol!

 

[jamesp24]

Lovely z,Store it ,shouldn't have any problems if you prepare it properly.

 

[Gary G]

plus its a cusco dash dodger cage, so in a roll, its more likely to crumple and knock you out than stand up to a roll lol and it meets no motorsport regulations lol!

Dude Cusco is D1 approved and used in motorsport events in Jap land.

Saved this guys ass anyways (pics on p1 and 5) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1663278&highlight=buttonwillow

TBH, I fitted it because I got a great deal on it, it looks cool and also reduces the chance of serious injury in roll over. I use the car on track quite often, running track HKS coilovers and R888's...however, I don't race professionally so I think this cage fits my needs.

Originally I had Recaro Tomcats installed with a Sparco harness bar that ran from the seat belt mounting points. The seating position was too high for my liking and on fitting the Recaro Pole Position to the floor pan it was clear the Sparco bar was no good (too high and iirc harness are to be mounted level to shoulder height or no more than an angle of 30 deg down) Anywho, the cage allows me to have a new harness bar fabricated and fitted to the cage uprights by the b pillar at the correct height.

 

[MaLicE]

Dude Cusco is D1 approved and used in motorsport events in Jap land.

Saved this guys ass anyways (pics on p1 and 5) http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1663278&highlight=buttonwillow

TBH, I fitted it because I got a great deal on it, it looks cool and also reduces the chance of serious injury in roll over. I use the car on track quite often, running track HKS coilovers and R888's...however, I don't race professionally so I think this cage fits my needs.

Originally I had Recaro Tomcats installed with a Sparco harness bar that ran from the seat belt mounting points. The seating position was too high for my liking and on fitting the Recaro Pole Position to the floor pan it was clear the Sparco bar was no good (too high and iirc harness are to be mounted level to shoulder height or no more than an angle of 30 deg down) Anywho, the cage allows me to have a new harness bar fabricated and fitted to the cage uprights by the b pillar at the correct height.

no dash dodger is allowed in d1! they have to be FIA approved which cusco arent... to compete in any motorsport events you need fia approved parts! cusco isnt... trust me on this there was a huge fuss kicked up as there was a cusco group buy a few years ago and loads of people bought them then most rules were changed and they need to be fia approved, dash dodgers do not fit in to that approval! s**t i know but u couldnt enter in any bdc, d1, edc events...

 

[Gary G]

drifting's for gheys anyway

 

[jonnyboy]

I would sell the bits TBH. Looks nice but for a serious track weapon the 350z would have limited appeal TBH.