Demon Dave

Justin I don't think the 1 has any significance, more they ran out of possible plates and just tag the additional digit to it.... I think the basic numbers, 1, 3, 5 etc are used and then each prefecture can add numbers after that dependening on needs... so a 55 code is the same as a 500 code since they both start with a 5. Over here in Yamanashi I've seen 55 / 500 / 501 / 33 / 300 / etc One question - what the deal with a Kei car that has a black plate with yellow writing...not a yellow plate with black writing. Seen a couple about but could never figure it out.

Yeah, I thought there was more to it than just engine size....my old GTS, 2.0L and a 33 number...

I thought the numbers, which denote tax code (right?) are also determined by the weight of the vehicle?

Sounds a bit excessive. You can get them new, for cheaper and I've seen used examples on Yahoo for even less money, but not by much and not often. Very desireable wheel (I know, I want them! ) so prices remain high... edit: Have a look here, under 18's, page 5: http://www.yatoh.jp/servlet/YCARequest?cat..._id=10&id=u_cat 238,000 for a set with cheap tyres, 329,000 yen for the same wheel with a set of RE050's

No, I was a complete and utter fool. All excited about the prospect of owning a bayside blue R34, I let the car go...with those wheels and a set of new tyres (bought about a month beforehand) for the grand total of 30,000 yen. I don't know what I was thinking. I really like the CV Europes and there were multi-hole so I'm sure they would have gone on the R34... Ahh...we live and learn.

Yep...RB20E, 2 litres, 6 cylinders and a single came producing....wait for it 130PS of raw power Seriously though, being under powered was the only thing I didn't like about my old car. It looked good, handled good, it was reliable, economic and most importantly it was a Skyline and with that comes "the Skyline Smile" Really wish I'd kept it, if only to use it at weekends at my local track.

I remember seeing a pic on the net of a car with Work Emotions and centre caps, but I don't know where to get hold of them... here's my previous car...R33 GTS...despite being woefully underpowered I really miss it....I was a fool to let it go for 30,000 yen (trade in)

Justin it isn't that far to Nagano, Yamanashi or Hankone for that matter But I don't mind meeting at some point between Osaka/Kobe and here...Nagoya sounds OK, but is there anything to see/do there? Besides, all you need on the expressway is a length of rope tied between Troy's Evo and your R32 - you'll have no problems keeping up with him then, and if something mechanical goes wrong he can pull you along :D

OK people...me personally, not sure about the weekend Oct 9th, 10th and 11th...but in November at the Nissan Prince Skyline Museum in Nagano there is a Skyline Festival. Details (in Japanese) are here: http://www.lcv.ne.jp/~yamabiko/skyline/frame2.html event is on the 10th November (sunday) The museum itself is well worth the visit, and I'm sure there will likely be a big turn out of Skylines to be seen. I've also just discovered (scribbled on my calendar) "Skyline Fest Nagano" on Sunday 10th October. Can't for the life of me think what that is all about. I'll do a search through my links later, but if anyone is aware of something going off on that day, in Nagano, let us know!

Troy - I was thinking the same thing, unfortunately I got to be at my son's undoukai on the Sunday (10th)

Speaking of centre caps - my work wheels didn't come with them either, any ideas on where I can source a set? Re: Meet - yeah, that'd be good, great even, if we could organize one big meet with everyone in attendance. The Foreign Residents In Japan Automotive Enthusiasts Club....or something like that The big problem (as always) is everyone has different work/family committments, but I'm sure if we set a date far enough ahead we can all sort something out. Would be one hell of a convoy - can you just imagine the look on the locals faces when a massive line of sports cars, all driven by gaijins, cruises past

Streeter don't worry mate, any and all forms of transport are welcome (as Justin said as long as it has a Jap plate ) Lukas thanks for the kind comments Polski - thanks. I'm by no means good at photography, but I'm getting better. For great action shots of cars in motion, then DCD is tough to beat

DCD's car is absolutely awesome, even more so with the new 19's...a great car and tastefully modded...subtle, but at the same time outstanding. I managed to get the Works for around 57,000 yen from Up Garage, including 4 decent tyres. Can't complain...would have like something a little wider on the back (17x8.0) all round, but the handling is great and price was too good to say no!

Great camera - I used to have the F707 before replacing it with the F828. I've just realized I'm missing all the action at Undoukai's - the three I have to attend every year (all yochien's) are tame by comparison!

hehehe...one of the few plus points to having an N/A car I don't keep track but I get somewhere in the region of 400KM per tank...Given that I rarely use the Skyline, I can go 2 months between fill ups! In fact, I don't recall the last time I filled up the Skyline - was some time around Obon I think

DaiOni, I got to say you've got a talent for taking photos. What camera do you use BTW?

that last picture, of the mountain road is disheartening...almost sickening. Yamanashi has it's fair share of pointless projects, like a new tunnel, cutting right through a mountain connecting point A (in the middle of nowhere, a place frequented only by farmers) to point B (also in the middle of nowhere and again, frequented only by farmers). After graduating Uni with a Environmental Science degree, the kind of wanton destruction of the countryside, seen frequently here in Japan, really pi55es me off :cuss:

running a single car isn't that expensive. The biggest outlay is probably Shaken, every two years. Insurance isn't too bad, fuel is cheap but car taxes (payable in May) can be quite steep, depending on the size, weight and capacity of the car. Running three white plate cars on the other hand... let's just say, I'm not looking forward to next May

Thanks...the wheels were an absolute bargain from Upgarage, though ideally I would have liked white/silver LM-GT4's or maybe TE-37's... The Accord is running on 17inch Rays Versus and a complete Tein suspension kit - and despite being very low the ride is surprisingly smooth.

Argh...that'l be my son with his wax crayons

here are mine With the addition of another son to my family, I was tempted to sell the Skyline and get a Stagea. After much deliberation, I opted to keep the car and get a modded Accord Wagon as a family car... and then, the wife gets around in a Nissan Cube

it's illegal to have dark tints on the front windscreen or the front windows. AFAIK there are no restrictions on the rear windows, so most cars come with dark tints from the factory.

I've not met any directly, though funnily enough my mother-in-law too my two sons (the youngest being 5 months) to an Undoukai at a local school in an area populated by many, many Yakuza. Apparently at one point several of the "boss men" (as she put it) and their families were crowded around her commenting on how cute my son was!

will try and get some pics up later - unfortunately photobucket (my hosting) appears to be having a nervous breakdown at the mo....

if you do, lend it to me cause I've just gotta have this car: Endless 1000PS GTR for sale on Yahoo auctions :drooling: