Rezz

Haha thats one thing I totally forgot about... what day? Saturday for sure for the big meet up, but I will endevour to get in on the Friday too with Nick and Richard if they'll sort out the 'press passes'...

I'm guilty of pulling out of the 2005 TAS meet up, but not this time. Links: e-autosalon.net Makuhari Messe (Convention Center) Where? Location 　　MAKUHARI MESSE (Nippon Convention Center) 　　International Exhibit Halls 1 through 8. 　　2-1, Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba-ken, Japan 　 When? Show schedule 　　January 12 to 14, 2007 (Friday through Sunday) 　　Some restrictions apply on Friday, not open to the public. Email: [email protected] Train Map: Notes: Saturday 13th January 2007 - Morning meet up point: Outside JR Makuhari Station (East exit?) Time: 9:00am - Midday meet up point: Outside 'Central Cafeteria' to the left of the main entrance as you walk in Time: 12:00pm - Evening meet up point: Outside main entrance Time: TBA I'll make a list of all the people who are interested in coming at the bottom of this post, and update it as we go along. I want to try and avoid a possible situation where 20 people are raring to go but waiting on one or two people, so we'll have to make a final cut off time for the meet up. I realize that we can't all walk around in one group (we're all interested in different things at different times) so a morning meet up point, a lunch time meet up point, and an after show meet up point will be in place. I also realize that numbers will dwindle at each successive meet up point, so I'm not expecting big numbers for any after show things we might organise. I'll add to this section too as 'probems' arise... I'll post up my JDM mobile phone number when I reconnect it in November. Feel free to call/email me beforehand or even at TAS if you can't find us etc. I'll post up other members numbers too if they can help out. Member List: Rezz (Justin) - Definate Shiro240 (Steve) - Definate Beer Baron (Richard) - Definate Circusmonkey (Christian) - 90% definate Demon Dave - (Dave) - Definate Asphalt Jet - (Thomas) - Definate RaceBorn - (Amir) - Definate Poida - (Poida) - Definate

Actually the model there is the one to be shown at the Paris Motor Show so you might be right about the Euro version being heavier, not quite sure as to 'why' though... the old model (JDM) was listed as 1190kg so the Euro version will break the 1200kg barrier for sure. That sounds pretty weird for a 3-door hatch, but I guess thats the way things are going. I'm not sure if the JDM version will be that much lighter though... if they can trim 80 - 90kg then it'd be more like the old EK version (which is what people buy this type of car for I suppose?)

Hi Steve You finally joined up here... Not offering parking spaces is what happens all the time, you have to go look for parking spaces yourself (within a 3km radius of your apartment if I recall correctly) and generally these are privately owned parking areas which you rent a space on a monthly basis. Sometimes in newer apartment blocks there will be a space allocated for your apartment, but you still have to pay extra in order to use that space. The only way out of it is if you live in a proper detached house with it's own garage or driveway, or park on the street somewhere. The monthly costs depend on the area, for example a space on the outskirts of the city or in less desirable areas will be cheap (under 10,000 yen/month), right up to fully secure with nightwatchmen, service garage (yes free services) and keycard entry multi storey parking for around 100,000 - 200,000yen/month for all the hiRollaz... on average though between 10,000 - 20,000yen/month is what to expect in the city areas.

I hear that dashboard is pretty much production ready, heck the whole interior looks like a high tech junior S2000... which can only be a good thing. It does look pudgy overall though.

Obviously the grille and other minor details will change for the Skyline version, but still the current 'V' series Skylines are about as far away as you can get from the R34. I was actually suprised to see an oldskool manual transmission in there for the Infiniti, and not the 'High power CVT' or the sequential AT. The front fenders are all wrong though, the way they refuse to flow into the waistline of the car is a mistake. That bonnet is a pretty complicated mix of curves too. The tail lights? Someone should tell them that the hotplates died in 2001.

Say what you will about it, but Skyline/Infiniti G35 is definately in the BMW 3 Series/Lexus IS350 class now:

Aaaah, thats 43,934 units... sorry By the way, in the Skyline GT-R Memorial book (JDM), it lists 41,692 units of BNR32 GT-R were actually registered... leaving 2,242 units made but unregistered possibly for race use, demo cars, static display etc.

Going by what you've posted, it's suprising anything gets sold 'outside America' at all... So you're saying Nissan hasn't got a chance of selling the next GT-R here because of an already saturated luxury car market, yet Ferrari manage to sell a handful of cars each year? I realize prestige, a long established name and brand loyalty come into play with a marque such as Ferrari, but buying trends change, and I don't think Nissan - or any Japanese maker for that matter - are going to stay where they are in the market forever. Take the Australian arm of Infiniti for example. Back in 1990 Nissan had the 'guts' to enter the Australian luxury car market... but failed largely because of the abscence of the things I mentioned Ferrari had, in particular prestige. The maket wasn't ready for it, and voted with their feet and went to other dealerships instead. Fast forward 16 years to where a potential Porsche-killer sports/GT car is involved, in an Australian market thats bigger, stronger and more openminded towards things of Japanese origin than before, and I think the next GT-R will sell... and heres my point: Nissan *will not* sell the GT-R in Australia for profit. In fact thats where I agree with you most, the USA is probably the only place where Nissan will actually make a few dollars on GT-R sales... but only a few. The next GT-R is a brand leading 'hero car', and as such Nissan is using alot of it's capital gained over 7 - 8 years of frugal and intelligent business practices (made possible with the help of Renault) to market a legendary name attached to a soon to be legendary car. The next GT-R may be irrelevent and over the top technically advanced by the time it's released, but the car *will* be made in right-hand drive, so until Nissan say otherwise, I would definately expect at least 100 examples to make their way to Australia.

^^^ I also heard Nissan are designing a special 'sub- $30,000 GT-R' based on the R31 sedan just for you Tekin, complete with neons, 22inch DaVincenzo wheels, Luis Vuitton pattern crushed velvet interior and triple supercharged steam engine with 88mph speed limiter... should be good for 2006 --> 1885 times...

Yeah... and? Nissan market the 350Z to those people. They obviously aren't in the market for the next GT-R. Firstly, I used the 997 Porsche owner as an example (whether he exists or not) to make the point that there are lots of people out there *who have the money for a Porsche*, but might consider the next GT-R as an alternative once it's on sale. It happend before when the R32 GT-R was on sale here, and it'll happen again. Secondly, how can it be wishful thinking? Is it not possible for a Porsche owner to look at the next GT-R as an alternative when it's released??? :confused: You can hypothesise about BMW and Merc buyers all you want too, but that all it is: guessing what people will do. You speak for all Merc and BMW owners? Being sure of what people will do come trade in time is wishful thinking on your part.

So why isn't the company (your sponsor) handling everything? Why do you specifically need to find out info from us?

That really does look good MrVspec, (I see your avatar) did you make it yourself?

Theres a guy (with a 997 Carrera S just waiting to trade it in on the next GT-R the moment it comes out) laughing at you right now. Thats right, a majority that Nissan aren't marketing to. If you can't afford the next GT-R the moment it comes out... then work harder? Play Lotto? Maybe in 20 years time when the 2026 quad turbo V16 BNX72 GT-R comes out you might be able to get one. The plusses far outweigh the minuses if Nissan does bring the next GT-R to AU.