GoldZilla

It's most likely the computer with the g-sensors, as Darrin has mentioned. Don't forget, also, that GT-Rs (and probably GTS4s) had the g-sensors under the centre glovebox, behind the handbrake, and this was used as part of the triggering functions of the ATESSA computers. Seeing as most of us have RS-Fours, then they should all have them there, whether stock or converted to manual like mine and Ska's. I haven't bothered (or had the need) to take that part of the centre console off, so I can only assume they'd be in the same spot. Who knows, maybe the same g-sensors were used for the airbags and the ATESSA!?!?

Spotted a red Stagea in Church St, Parramatta this arvo, right outside JB Hi-Fi. Plates were STA63A. I was in my Stagea, and was looking for a parking spot, and by the time I'd found a spot, gotten out and walked to where he was (I was going to JB anyway), he'd gone, and left a spot right outside the door. I could have been a Stagea taking the parking spot of a Stagea - not something you see every day (or month, or year, even).

I saw a red Stagea this afternoon after work, it was parked right outside the JB Hi-Fi in Church Street in Parramatta. Number plates were STA-63-A. I was gonna yell out the window, but the guy looked kinda busy with the driver's side rear door open, as if he was putting a seatbelt on a kid or something. By the time I'd turned around and found a spot, jumped out and walked down to where he was, he'd gone. I would have asked him if he knew about SAU, and/or if he was on here... I could have taken his spot, too - wouldn't that have been the strangest co-incidence, a Stagea taking the parking spot of another Stagea.

I usually don't wind mine out much, and most of my shifts are around 3-3,500rpm, especially when I am running low on fuel or driving for economy. I'm still getting used to listening to the engine to know when to change, and still either changing gears too early or hitting the rev limiter when giving it good run. I have noticed, though, that my car has a second wind at 5,500rpm. I'm not sure if it's the usual Skyline flatspot being passed, but when my cousin drove it he said that his R33 doesn't give that extra push at those revs.

Spotted a silver R32 GTR at the airport this morning (around 6.30am), in the carpark for the International terminal. I parked almost directly across from it in my Stagea. I didn't have time to catch the plates though. I'm guessing he/she wouldn't have been able to put three large suitcases and some onboard carry-on luggage in the boot of the GTR - as much as I would have loved an R32 GTR (or GTSt, for that matter), I'm loving the versatility of the Stagea more every time I use it...

Nice work Rezz, on both cars! I love the way the Rega's look on the Silvia, they're just as good looking on that as they were on the '32. And the offset is perfect on the S-13 as well, which just adds to it! If you were here in Sydney I would have suggested you keep the Rega rims on the R32 and get another set for the S13, but having had a keen interest in your old Japan threads, and also trusting your taste in things automotive (which I've found is quite similar to mine), then I'm guessing the Silvia will look the goods with the Starcorps as well. BTW, is the Porsche "turbo" badge going back on the R32 when it's been painted? Hmmm, maybe it's time I head across to Perth for another holiday sometime soon... Cheers, Nick T.

Chris, the GCG hi-flow is $1950 and as SK mentioned, they bold straight back up exactly how the old one came off - no need to worry about new manifolds, dump pipes, or oil and water feed lines. From what I've read on their website (link HERE), they replace the ceramic turbine with a steel wheel, they put in a better flowing compressor wheel, and replace the ball bearing unit so there's little or no worries of that ever being an issue. This is the route I'll eventually be taking when I scrape some money together. I'm lucky that my cousin had a spare turbo off his old motor (he replaced the motor in his R-33 about a year ago) to give to me in the mean time. When I give him back his turbo he'll probably be getting the GCG upgrade as well. Removing and replacing the turbo was pretty easy - as long as you can remember where everything goes (use a camera if necessary), then the only problems you should have is accessing some of the nuts, bolts, etc, as the space is a little bit tight between the turbo and the passenger-side strut tower. Best of luck with it.

Is this why we apparently can't use Power FC's in auto Stagea's? Mine has been converted to a manual, so would this still be an issue, or is the ATESSA also a problem?

Dude, I'm not too sure your air intakes are big enough... Lookout, roadkill!!! IIRC, the S4 has twin intercoolers, right? One on each side so each turbo's charge is cooled seperately? The car looks awesome with the air intakes opened up like that! What did you do with the spotties, though? My old man has a 1.8T in the slightly darker silver (Agate Grey, I think it's called) - as much as I tried he wouldn't sign for the Quattro/6spd, but it's a nice car none-the-less, if a little stiffly-sprung. Good luck with the future mods and quicker times - a fresh clutch should work wonders.

Agreed, on both counts! Go the RS Four V+S!!!

I agree, you should call them Zed and Zilla - decide which is going to be Kel's dog and which is going to be Duncan's dog (yes, I realise you have taken on joint ownership here, but work with me...), and name each one based on this. Nick T.

Everyone I've shown that to agrees that it is an awesome feature! There are so many little features in our cars that are so ahead of their time/intended market that it's a spin-out. It's all the little things that we've only just started seeing appearing on new cars, or only if you were prepared to pay prestige-car (and usually European car) money. Oh yeah, I've let a few trusted souls drive my car since I bought it in October, and I find not only that I enjoy being a passenger, but also seeing the reaction on the faces of those who I've let drive it.

Nice, congrats dude. Another Stagea in metro Sydney. We'll have to organise a meet soon, now that the Christmas and NY's rush is almost over.

Useful tip guys and girls: Always use a circuit tester as opposed to a test light, and always be very careful when doing so! Test lights, when used incorrectly, have been known to trigger air-bags, leading to a hell of a lot of wasted cash and a big clean-up, not to mention any personal injury that may occur when a bag goes off while you're in such close proximity to the dash and/or the steering wheel. The force and speed at which an air-bag inflates is not something you'd really want to experience first hand. Cheers, Nick T.

Hey, that's me again!!! PranK's Stagea is silver with R34 GT-R rims on it, last I saw it. Finally getting spotted in teh Stagea!

Danny, I was in my Stagea - I always tend to flash my high-beams instead of wave, maybe I should change my habit!?!?!? I've seriously gotta scrape some money together to lower the thing. And change the stereo, and get some gauges, and an FMIC, and a GCG hiflow turbo, and some wheels, and the list goes on...

Thanks SK, possibly mid-Jan I'll get it done. Do I recall you saying you need a press to get them installed?

SK, do you have any caster kits left? After the drive down to Canberra and back, I'd really like a set as the wandering started to get on my nerves after a while...

Don't forget that if you're a member of the SAU club, you may be entitled to discounts when you purchase directly off Nissan if you go to or deal with the right dealership. In Sydney, you can deal with either Hornsby Nissan or North Shore Nissan. More info for NSW/ACT members here: http://www.skylinesaustralia.com/forums/in...showtopic=29185 Members in other states may well have the same or similar priviledges available to them as well. Cheers, Nick T.

Thanks Brendan. I had a look and am still a bit confused. My cousin's R33 is a series 1, and it had steel compressor wheels, so hopefully that side of it won't be an issue. I'll still keep the boost at standard for now - even though I miss that extra little bit of power it seemed to have - it'll save me blowing the turbine again too. Rang JustJap the other day and they don't have the DIN-holder in stock at the moment, and probably won't have any until roughly mid-late January... I might do what some others have done and get a bit of aluminium cut and painted for the gauges when I get them. Reeeeeeeeally need to replace the stereo soon, firstly because I've blown the standard speakers, secondly because the CD player skips over even some minor bumps, and thirdly because it's a double-DIN unit, so I need a new single-DIN unit to have somewhere to put the gauges.

I spotted a white R32 with a black or carbon bonnet this afternoon @ around 3pm (wasn't paying attention to the time) on Seven Hills Road heading away from Baulko, it was near the school and where that field/skate park is. Didn't catch the plates, but I did give a quick flash of the high-beams. I was in the Stagea and heading towards Baulko to get some last-minute pressies (came away emty-handed, oh well...)

Got that SMS today too, but it said: "BP Ultimate, your favourite fuel, will start returning to NSW today. Look out for it! Thanks for your patience." I guess that that means it will gradually return, and it won't be everywhere as yet. Oh well, at least it'll be back...

I'm with funky, if you (or anyone) can find a 1:18 scale die-cast, I'll be in for sure! Speaking of which, AutoArt has released 1:18-scaled R32 GT-Rs in white and gunmetal - I want both! I've already got the Calsonic one, the Winfield Racing one (the Richards/Skaife car from their last race in '92), an R34 and a KPGC10.

I'm in Western Sydney too (not too far from Parra), I'm an SAU club member, and I'm a Stagea owner. I was at the SAU Show and Shine back in July this year, joined the club on that day, and saw two Stagea's at the show - one owned by the club president and forum owner "PranK," and the other was for sale - and just had a feeling that I would be the next owner of the one for sale, even though I was still saving. Lucky for me the (previous) owner still had the car when I'd managed to scrape enough coins together!

Yeah, I'll be doing the 3-gauge cluster thing soon too (as you may have read in my other thread about the blown turbo). JustJap have a DIN-sized bracket/holder for three 52mm gauges, so I'll be buying that and throwing an oil temp, oil pressure and boost gauge in there. And it's only $29.95 for the bracket!