CoastGuardZ

Chris, Rightly said and I do concur. FWIW, I appreciate the sarcasm in the first sentence... brought a much needed smile! Cheers, Nate

Here's what Nissan is doing to help... http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/news/current/20050831085043.shtml And here's a little something from the account's payable department... http://www.nissannews.com/corporate/news/current/20050901022713.shtml Nate

A review of the original post... zamog asks if they are worth it. A quick search on the web shows GR2's going for ~$40 a piece = ~$160 for a set. So at $130 including shipping it does seem like a decent deal. Although opinions have varied a bit. I'm having good luck with them so far, maybe it's a fluke. Some say they "suck", and others are saying to go with Tokicos, but at nearly twice the price. I will say that first hand experience is that I've sold (and taken warranty returns on) Gabriels before and they will never find their way onto any vehicle in my driveway. I also see that Monroes are going for about $50 each... and they are also an experienced company with an outstanding reputation for building a quality product... maybe this is the happy median? As far as Nissan and Tokico go... my Frontier has Tokicos, nothing to write home about but nothing bad to say either. Now the Titan can be had with Ranchos and the New Nismo Frontier gets Bilsteins. I don't see anything on the 350 right now, I can only assume it gets the Tokicos though.

If you honestly think that there was NOT an evacuation plan then the air in the big sky country is thinner than previously thought. I spent 22 years of my life living in the middle of hurricane alley, I will tell you this - ALL coastal cities and towns have evacuation routes, plans and guidelines in effect. The general populace hardly ever cares to pay any attention until it's too late. And to think that a city, town or county (parish) would have a plan to get the poverty stricken out and moved to an entirely different area that would offer protection from the rain and wind bands of the very same storm is purely ludacris! Okay so they move the entire welfare supported section of the city to high ground, now it becomes that same city's job, that is now in total chaos and underwater, to provide food water and shelter to these people that they moved - for the entire time it takes to make the city habitable again. Impossible. Impractical. And yes I can see your point, the situation would be sooo much better if the president had flown in a few days sooner... okay I'm lying... this would have no weight on the situation at all. NOLA would still be submerged, and people would still be rescued the exact same way... remember AF1 had to stay well above the helicopter flight lines. The best view of the city is the same ones that everyone got/gets to see on all major news networks... the 1500 ft and lower video footage from the helos. And if the President Vice President and Ms. Rice were all standing in the NOLA area exactly what would that accomplish? With all the press and enterage that follows them around they would be in the way more than anything. They can get more accomplished in a phone call than if they show up to the devastated city anyway. And these people still decide to live there. Now that statement will bring back more criticism of poverty and poor - but then again, God helps those who help themselves. Bickering does nothing and serves no purpose... Here's some food for thought. My new tour has me as the XO of a transmitting station, so I am in no way involved with water transit and safety. Today I got a call from a concerned citizen that thinks he has an idea on how to repair the levee. I have absolutely no idea what he's talking about but all he wanted to do was help. So I forwarded him to someone that knows what he's talking about and just maybe they will be able to use his idea down there. But even if they can't at least he tried. So I close again... "IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!" Oh, boyblunda... You have made a rational and intelligent statement. I believe that you are dead on with... and I also think that this is similar to the San Fran quake of '89 (?) . There is just soooo much devastation that it will literally take months just to put out the main "fires", and really get started with the rebuild. I could go on for pages but it's not solving anything, therefore I am just adding to the problem.

Theses people chose to live in a city below sea level that was nestled between a lake and the Gulf. This is not the problem... The problem is they also chose not to leave when a category 5 hurricane had them in her sights, even though it had been recommended. I am not trying to make light of this situation... it is in deed a horrible tragedy. The same reasons that are currently stopping these people from getting out are the same reasons that are stopping the help from getting in. You're right though, President Bush is doing nothing. If recalling the Coast Guard reserves and placing many USCG cutters and many large U.S. Navy warships off the coast to head up the efforts is to be considered nothing. The very same communications that are down that Ken has volunteered to go repair are many of the same ones that allow emergency crews of different organizations to communicate with each other. Hence the need for the the Navy... floating airports with large communication suites to act as a communication hub for the ground crews. Think about how little Mr. Bush is doing the next time you watch the news and see a Rescue Swimmer risking his life to save people trapped in the attic of house and having them lifted to the safety of a helicopter waiting above. Maybe Mr. Bush would be doing a lot more for the situation he drove a bulldozer down the streets leading a cleanup effort. I wonder if he has a heavy equipment operators license? Yes, and as far as disasters going better in other countries... are you out of your right mind? They aren't called disasters for the heck of it. These NEVER go well. I from Charleston, SC and I can tell you that hurricanes are never to be taken lightly. They destroy everything that you do and use everyday... electricity, water, sewage, cars, houses, work, bridges, stores and on and on the list goes. Right now there are military, national guard, police, firemen, electrical workers, water crews, communication, nurses, doctors and other workers literaly risking their lives to help others. Complaining never helps... "IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION, THEN YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!" :mad:

Just be glad that you live in a country that lets you bad mouth it's president without fear of persecution. I've got many shipmates down there helping out right now, long days and even longer nights. I can only hope that more are found and saved via Search and Rescue than the recovery and clean up. Nate "If you can read this thank a teacher. If you're reading this in English thank a Military Vet!"

Noted, disregarded, but noted. 20,000 miles since installing them on the integra (2600 lb car) and they're just as good as day one.

I'm failing to see the legality of this. Have you found it written anywhere that says that a running car can't be stored a private residence? I know that if a car is left on the street side (even if in front of your house) for X amount of time it can be considered abandoned and then towed. But if this car is on your property it just doesn't make since.

These are the ones I'm looking at for my Z too. FWIW: I put them on my wifes Integra and they work great on it.

Hey that ones pretty spiffy. Yup 290,000. I don't think the PO knew exactly what he had done to the car because he said they "freshened up the top end" 50,000 ago. I can only assume they rebuilt the engine and head. But they are the original parts. Nate

Thank you for the compliment, the camera doesn't show her blemishes... and she has her share but that comes with 33 years of use I guess. As far as price and condition, the old addage fits the bill, "you get what you pay for." Us east coasters got it tough. The ones in good shape bring a premium price tag too. Everyone here will tell you to "start with the best car you can afford" and it is true. If you start with a rust bucket you could lose sight of the end product and never really get to enjoy it before you throw in the towel. From what I have seen $3500 - $8000 will get you a great starter. The biggest thing for me was solid floors and frame rails with a mostly, if not entirely, complete package. Mine ran me $5k-ish plus shipping, and I am very happy with what I got. The PO took good care of it and drove it regularly - to the tune of 290,000 miles. The engine tranny and rearend are the original units, the Z is the exact color I wanted 901 Orange with black interior and the 4spd. I hope your search goes as as well as mine did, although it did take nearly 3 years, but I was picky. If you end up buying one and need to have it shipped I recommend Dependable Auto Shippers... good price and great service... although FedEx ships cars too and their turnaround is quicker but higher price. Nate

I usually search - 1969 to 1972 - datsun - nationwide, but naturally you can chose your prefered years and you may want to put Z in the keywords block. Oh look here is a green 72 http://adcache.collectorcartraderonline.com/10/7/8/80691578.htm Happy Hunting!

Not always easy to find, In the past few years I have lived in NY and SC, and when I finally bought mine after years of searching I found it at www.collectorcartraderonline.com . And I got the car out of southern california. Good luck. Nate When you get a Z will the name change to nissanguy or datsunguy? j/k

Neither. Gunmetal w/polished lip on a blue car woulld look awesome. Ask tweleve people this question and you'll get twenty answers.

Not too shabby. It seems like the good ideas get canned and some crappy ones always make it by, a la Aztek. Can't say I would've bought one, but I would have respected the Razor as a good sports car ... heck, I give the SRT-4 respect and it's Neon no matter how you cut it! Nate

Black Z looks freakin' Awesome! But no need to sugar coat it, the song sucks and has absolutely no buisness in a sports car commercial. I turned the volume down and played Bad Religion's Come Join Us off the Gray Race album ... much more fitting and the tempo matched perfectly.

My take.... There is no doubting where the S130 came from... It has enough visual elements and surely carries over some parts of the S30, including the Datsun name. Then Nissan sheds the badge and replaces it with their Nissan badge instead, and the I6 for a V6 and the whole car changes. Evolution I guess. One thing we can say proudly, the Z never got as screwed up as the mustang did... come on Mustang II !!! That's just horrible. The Z always stayed a force to be reckoned with. I for one am a fan of the Fox body (ie: 5.0L) mustangs. Who knows maybe the 2020 mustang will resemble a '91 5.0L (doubt it!). But the Charger... somebody needs to get fired! Crap, the 80's turbo 4cyl did more justice to the Charger name. Let's not forget this... Nissan originally set out to make an S30-ish car. In fact it was originally going to be powered by a 2.4L (4cyl). As far as new cars looking like old cars, I do not think that someone driving a 1956 Thunderbird who sees someone driving a 2002 Thunderbird feels cheated. That's just my take. BTW, what does everyone think of the new Nissan Sport (concept)? ...the second picture...

roadster at $20,995.00 (doesn't need gimmicks to sell) Curb Weight 2441 lbs 2.0L I-4, 170 HP/ 140 lb/ft torque (14.35lbs per HP vs the Solstice at 16lbs per HP vs the 240Z at 18.8) 5spd. 91.7" wheel base 157.3 Overall length 58.7" front track 58.9" rear track 4 wheel disc brakes rack & pinion steering 4 wheel independent suspension 205 50/16 tires (less rolling resistance) 16" five spoke aluminum wheels 4 year / 50,000 mile warranty AM/FM/CD Stereo, signal seek & digital clock rear window defogger already comes with pwr windows A/C will cost you $1000 and adds 33 lbs. weight dist: 52/48 http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=upcomingMX5Miata I'd love to see these two go at it. They both post some impressive stats. It would take one of them to come in a fastback for me to even consider one, Hey Nissan --- can you hear me??? And a straight 6 too!!! But even then, only as an addition not as a replacement for my Z! Nate

What I see here is a GM turd that weighs 500 lbs more than a 240. It's a roadster, not a GT. It has nearly 40 years of technological advances on it's side, and will never have the class that a 240 has. But, kudos to GM for giving it a shot. My prediction... it will sell a good amount of units for the first two years then dwindle off for a couple more until they discontinue it. In all actuallity it doesn't look that bad, oh and FWIW... my 240, which is running a little rich, averages 25mpg city/hwy, and it's a classic. Nate the pessimist