Demon Dave

Now when I was back in the UK in September, it was crazy....so many speed cameras...they were everywhere (kinda like WRX's :D ) Driving in Japan you rarely have to watch your speedo, but over in the UK I found myself watching it like a hawk. and I won't even mention god damned speed bumps...

now this wont do - the Jap residents on a skyline board converting to Evo's en masse

shh..don't tell anyone, but I've been tempted by the dark side myself... :jester:

now you wouldn't be considering converting to the dark side...?

LMAO Why am I suddenly glad I live a long, loooong way from Osaka/Kobe :D

Troy...what you doing with the Evo?

Troy mate, sorry to hear you're going back so soon. With my schedule the way it is, I doubt I'd be able to make it over your way for an xmas get-together (I gotta work on xmas day :( ) To me you're situation highlights one of the biggest problems with living and working in Japan. If you're prepared to teach, working hours are generally light, and in many cases you can set your own schedule. But the work isn't exactly challenging (mentally) nor is it something most people would consider doing long term... ...but if you are able to get out and work for a Japanese company, all too often you stuck working to their standards...ridiculously long hours, compulsory overtime (in some cases) and sod all vacation time...plus the ups and downs that come with working for a Japanese company in Japan... For me, been here teaching for 6 years. Some days I hate it. Others I'm as happy as a pig in sh1t I find the best cure for "Japan blues" is a return trip home...always about a week after setting foot in the UK I'm ready to get back to Japan!

hehe...I've been living here 6 years and still aint got a clue what the fcuks going on! No way anyone could learn much about what Japan is really like based on the experiences of a 1 week vacation...

Think you'll need more than a taxi mate...a plane and maybe a boat would would be better suited! :( Seriously though, it would cost mucho yen to get a taxi to drive you around to all those places. A rental car, a cheap scooter/helmet or blagging rides from the tokyo based members might be your best bet

Ditto....I was in the UK... Now I'm living in Japan

OK guys...am I going blind? I can't see any VQ25DET powered Stagea's on the nissan homepage :confused: Are they still making them???

someone please confirm that such a thing does not exist, not as a factory original or even an official option? Came across one while browsing the net...

Environmental science.... I'm fully licensed to be a man in white coat

Looks great! Hey, another Japan member - have you visited the Japan section? Nice to see someone else with a non-GTR R34 in bayside blue - not many of us about! Q: How'd you manage to get a private plate? I mean, I someone doubt it was a coincidence you got "34" :) Dave (In Yamanashi)

Shaken due in Feb....I'll pass on a V35 but thinking seriously about a GTR...or an Evo...or A Wrx Sti (the last two because I've got two kids and 4 doors is a real bonus ) anyways, couple of hundred K's a month is not something to be happy about...it's like having a toy, but not being able to play! back on topic - KM's are case by case IMHO, and depend a lot on who the owner was and how they commute. I know of several people who only use their cars on the weekend and rack up a few thousand in a year...

And I've managed a total of 8,000 KM in 2 years...

red park is closed as IG said. The other Skyline Museum, the Prince and Skyline musuem in Nagano, is still open. How you get there depends on which direction you're coming from. From the Tokyo area, take the Chuo expressway north, through Yamanashi as far as the Okaya Junction. Branch off, heading north towards Nigata and get off the expressway at the Okaya Interchange. The museum is a short (5 mins) drive from the exit. (on leaving the toll booths, take the first left. Next set of lights, turn right, drive up the hill, and it's on the left IIRC) Their website is here

Forgot to add - there are a couple of places in Kofu that sell shoes in "normal" sizes...and there's also a couple of stores in the outlets (forget which ones) that have big sizes. Size 12 Aussie...what's that in CM?

Peter - when did you got to Gotemba Premium Outlets? I was there yesterday (Sunday) along with my wife, kids and a friend. Saw quite a few foreigners there! Anyways, glad you're enjoying it so far! We'll have to organize something soon.

I've been here nearly 6 years and my Japanese is still crap In all honesty it will probably still be crap in another 6 years! I have a good friend here who makes a living doing various things - teaching part time (privates), work on the local TV show (his own "corner") lots of MC work at events, plus on the weekends he works as a"wedding conductor" (he basically pretends to be a priest and conducts weddings in both Jap/English)...altogether it was enough to get him a visa...he still needed a "sponsor" though. So there is other things, though they largely depend on how much Japanese you know. And who you know. A few years ago I did a couple of TV commercials for my wifes company. The commercial was to feature Sherlock Holmes and they (her company) were too cheap to pay an agency to send a foreign actor and got me to do it instead

:rant: Oooo...play nice guys! Come on, what it is with the Japan forum lately?!?!?! It seems as everyone's taking things a bit too seriously! May I suggest sitting back, relaxing with a mug of hot Sake and chilling out :alcoholic Peace

if it wasn't so serious, the above lines would make a great comedy sketch...you can see it now, an injured rider, lying on the road following an accident, moaning out loud while a group of bystanders for a committee and take a vote on who's going to ask him: "Are you alright?" I regularly go through "I hate Japan" phases...though, they're usually short lived. In most cases spending a little time on the GTROC (and reading about all the cars stolen etc) is enough to lift my mood and remind me that Japan aint all bad... and their race queens are rather nice too

shocking...but at the same time, not surprising either. I've seen more than enough accidents here and agree with you completely. Then to top it all off, when the injured are finally loaded on the ambulance, most times they "cruise" to the hospital, never exceeding the posted speed limits! I've seen regular cars overtaking ambulances with sirens blazing and lights flashing as they cruise down the road... it's nothing like the UK, where the Ambo drivers certainly put their foot down and haul ass!

Superb pics people... This one would make a good caption comp: Kid: "this is too much, if I see another skyline I'm going to puke!"

Justin, excellent pics - really wish I could have made it. And I gotta say: Damn! Those old Skool Skylines RULE!