DaiOni

It's great, but I still working it out (only have Japanese instructions). If you're not sitting on a stockpile of DX lenses, then it would be a good choice over the 300.

glad I don;t do car shows very often, still wading through the shots...

I'll be adding more pics to the gallery as soon as I can find the time... http://www.flickr.com/photos/daioni/

more here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daioni/

Making over $100k p/a now, hehe. Wish I actually had some money to send home (though I did send 400,000 back on Friday @.66 - was pissed when it dropped a few hours later). Nice financial crisis so far.

that's one of my biggest issues with Japan - young kids/toddlers with their noses pressed against the front windscreen. Not sure if that's 'bad driving', but it's definitely horrific parenting.

You're going to have to show me a link to the Tsukuba Mine's time-attack car, because the car I saw definitely didn't have stock brakes or street tyres (which would put it in another class, which, as far as I know, would struggle to get under 1min). Not trying to start a shitfight, just rationalising what I've actually seen at TAS and OAM (which doesn't necessarily = what happens on the track). BTW - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukuba_Circuit

jeeeezus I had a cop perform a big skid to lock me into a carpark (after I overtook him at 'fair' speed - he was on the way to work, I saw the uniform and thought 'I hope that was a fireman'), but after I told him I didn't know where his police station was (and I didn't), he let me go with a warning. anyway... I can say with 100% honesty that my experience on the roads of Japan (3 years rural and 3 years urban) = overall, better than Australia. No shit. Much less stupid driving, almost no road rage, amazingly less young driver silliness. Maybe that's just my experience, but I can not complain about Japanese drivers (as opposed to a plethora of complaints against other drivers in the asian region - thailand, vietnam, china, etc etc). The only thing that has annoyed me (and this has only happened in rural areas) is drivers slamming on the brakes in 'random acts of politeness' (i.e. letting other drivers enter from side streets).

Having seen both cars in the flesh (as well as the arta nsx), neither are close to a 'street' car, AC or not. R-magic time attack FD does it in 55.9: clearly not a street car either

ASM Honda s2000 laps in just under 57.4 - that's not bad, considering it's definitely not as friendly to the rwd cars. There's been some fairly competitive NSXs over the years too. In fact, although it's miles away from a street car, the arta NSX laps in 51.8...

I've often seen them for sale in Japan too (in LHD). Not sure if they were sold direct by mitsu though. All the ones I've seen have been auto.

It's about 6 weeks, iirc, but check with dotars. I'm spending 6 weeks in europe this summer and then will be home for a couple at xmas, so it's going to be an issue for me this time around. for 1 mill you can't really go past an FD, nut you really have to know what you are getting yourself into. You should be able to get a late series 7 for around that price. Try to get one that is well modified. These (s6, s7) aren't available via SEVS, but the s8 prices are getting lower and lower, so don't expect to make bulk profit like the good old days. You shouldn't lose your money on it though (provided you look after it). Other choices: * a nice late model mr2 * plenty of cheap r32 GTRs about now (about the same gamble as an FD though, and less likely to get your money back) * GTO * Chaser * GTT (might be hard to find a good one) * Evo IV-VI (nice example vs high kms) * Nice older STi, maybe even a high kms bugeye * high km forester STi type M (if you need to carry shit)

First OAM I went to was actually a lot further away for me than Tokyo. A few years later I went to TAS, and I remember thinking at the time that OAM was, although slightly smaller, a better show. The problem these days is that there are only a few new worthwhile cars on the market (sti, evo, gtr) - each year I went I would see less of the interesting cars (all the good 89-02 stuff) and more and more crap (lexii, euro trash, hummers, etc). If you haven't been to osaka/kansai, I'd suggest checking out OAM, and enjoying a change of scenery. You won't be missing out on much by switching shows.

I've been to one TAS and three or four OAMs. I preferred the OAM (more FDs, primarily), but I haven't been to any shows (except the annual Kobe rotary show) for years because the last OAM I went to was really disappointing - indicative of a declining scene (and, perhaps, declining interest). In any case - the OAM is definitely worth a look if you're not too jaded, and don't mine a wide selection of crap euros and hummers with 25" chromies

I picked mine up today - drove it back from suzuka (mie), was great. STi parts are listed on the subaru site - http://www.subaru-sti.co.jp/parts/sg_forester/index.html Given the size of the OEM STi system, you won't get any more poke from an aftermarket exhaust (unless you go for one of the super large and super loud systems - even then it won't be much), but you will get the burble - which is, IMO, one of the best parts about owning a subie

did you buy yourself a cat-back? Make sure a front strut brace is one of your first mods too.

It's not the same as the supra set-up. When you remove the sequential system you don't get the low-down spool that the primary provides. Instead, you get boost later (somewhere around 3500 or 4000) - i.e. lag. It's like having a shit single (so you might as well get a good single). You don't really want to be taking low-end response away from a car that doesn't have much capacity (and therefore torque) on the menu.

Common (most often suggested by workshops who can't troubleshoot the sequential - i.e. nearly all of them). No real performance benefits on the street (a smidgen more kph over 400m), and a big negative - loss of power at the bottom end. And that's only when it's done properly, more often than not it's a 'poor man's' hatchet job - which has even worse response. Sequential twins are far and away the best choice for a daily driver/street car.

You're better off with a good low mileage original engine or one that has had a new OEM block. Other than that, look for one that has been rebuilt by someone respected - ask around (see link above). In 100% stock form, they are great. With a series 8, the only thing you really should do is replace the air sep tank (AST) with an alloy version (you can buy one from JustJap for under $100, or spend a few extra on something 'JDM' brand name). But who can leave a car like this stock? Once you start adding things, then you have to consider the car as a whole - not piecemeal modding. Add an exhaust, add a PFC (for series 8 280ps version - not such an issue with lower power versions). Add an aftermarket IC, add an upgraded radiator. They're not that difficult. Unfortunately, the average citizen of the world is a moron, so they are not for everyone. If you are willing to do a little research and do things patiently and properly (i.e. your first mod should not be an ebc), you will be hugely rewarded. Otherwise... buy a toyota.

http://fdowners.com/index.php the best FD specific forum in the world

I'm not after anything, it was just a random realisation I had the other day. I'll wander across the street and check out family mart (I usually only go to the lawsons)

It's gone, and new car purchased.

I have to disagree. The s203 and s204 are the only wrx that are viable at the high end of the market (otherwise you are just competing with the sti market - the only way to sell is to price low - becomes very risky). The s203 and 4 are not cheap cars. The Forester STi is NOT available in Australia - never has been, never will be (subaru won't do it, RAWS/SEVS is a no go). Therefore you have a relatively cheap car which actually does have a big market - there aren't many other performance vehicles in this format. On my last few trips back I've been really surprised at the number of modified foresters getting about. The evo wagon is a great option, but it's another million yen before you start looking at nice, manual examples. The buyer is getting finance to get this car - best to minimise the risk, first time out. Sensible choice.

yeah, I had a look on their website (http://www.jdm-option.com/index2.php) earlier, it's just that they used to be everywhere, now it seems (at least in my area) I have to go to a bookshop to find one