Rezz

Drum roll please... <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'>The A'pex A450</span> The One and Only Complete car by A'pex. A'pex, who first started business back in 1992, originally started off making the 'Super Megaphone' muffler. A'pex in the early '90s were well known for being one of the first companies to offer pipe diameters larger than 60mm, and they also made the 'monster tip' popular by offering the first 115mm muffler tip. By 1997, A'pex had a whole line up of mechanical and electronic goods, and were keen to show off their know-how by putting together a 'complete car' along the lines of the famous HKS ZERO R of 1994. When discussing the A450, the first thing that people usually ask is "why on earth did they choose those tail lights?" Well to answer that, you have to look at the car as a whole... A'pex have redesigned *every* panel on this car bar the doors and the roof. The theme A'pex were going for with the design of the A450 was 'an GT car for Adults'... take that in any which way you want. To somehow defend the A450's rear end design, I for one think the 4 circular tail lights of the regular R32 GT-R would look out of place on this car, which shares VERY little to the R32 GT-R on the outside. If you want the quad tail lights, then don't buy an A450. If you let go of the A450's heritage, it's clear to see that the car isn't too extreme in any one area (the head light treatment might be debatable) and A'pex could've easily done alot worse. The grille is home to the 'A' from A'pex, and is surrounded by no less than 6 headlights which gives the A450 a... unique look. Looking at the car from the front really gives you an idea of the increased width, all 1810mm of it. The 18x9 Volk Racing F-Zero Winning alloy wheels don't really do a good job of filling out the guards, but were chosen more for their cohesive appearance with the redesigned bodywork. The design as a whole shouts '450hp!'... or so A'pex would want you to believe. Based on a 1994 BNR32 GT-R, A'pex threw 'about half' it's catalogue at the A450 engine bay, and before anyone shouts 'only 450hp?', the main goal performance wise was to top 280km/h, which the A450 did suprisingly easily at Yatabe Oval Test Course (it actually recorded 283.4km/h, and did the standing quarter mile in 11.9 seconds). Aerodynamic stability was another strong point, and the A'pex coil over suspension used special spring and damper rates to enhance high speed stability and cornering without affecting comfort beyond what would be expected from such an 'Adult' GT car. The single IHI A'pex RX6 ball bearing turbine runs slightly higher boost than standard, and gives the A450 almost seamless acceleration without a sudden boost rise, giving the standard capacity RB26 smooth acceleration all the way to redline, almost as if Nissan tuned the A450 themselves. Only the clutch has been upgraded in the driveline, as everything else was deemed strong enough to handle the higher output of the A450. The largely standard interior is very tastefully upgraded in high quality leather, keeping with the 'Adult' theme, and extends to the doortrims aswell. The steering wheel was provided by Nardi, and the instrument cluster incorporates a 320km/h speedometer and 1.5 bar boost guage in it's factory positon on the center console. The interior really is classy and gives the feeling of an overall 'complete car' as A'pex intended. So there it is, the A'pex A450 isn't a 1000hp beast capable of 8 second quarters or covering the standing kilometer in 12 seconds, but rather it's a mature redesign and upgrade of Nissan's flagship GT-R of the early '90s made to appeal to Adults after and bit of originalty and *a little* more power. As A'pex announced at it's release, "it's a car that wants to express itself in the world of 300 km/h on the autobahn giving the driver a feeling of high quality enhancement and safety". The A'pex A450 sold for 8,900,000 yen (A$104,527). Name: A'pex A450 Chassis: BNR32 Engine: RB26DET(T) Capacity: 2568cc Power: 335kw (450hp) Torque: unknown Weight: 1495kg Transmission: 5MT Drive: 4WD ATTESA ETS Brakes: Ventilated disks Suspension: Front and rear independent multi-link

Akeenans right except: 1) Apex Power FULL Computer Unit. 2) Rev limit/idle rotational speed is changed

I've had both R32 and S13 Silvia (S13 is NA). Really, I agree with EXAUNV, go the S13 NA as there are quite a few around that are NA and you won't get harrassed as much if you were in a Silvia. Aso, the S13 NA - especially the CA18 - are slow, BUT they're RWD and if you get a manual they're not all bad. I think the R32 might cost you a bit more in upkeep it being a 6 cylinder and all. The R32 will be better at resale, but you can save by getting the S13, then when you're able to get a turbo, flog the Silvia and got for the mighty R32 GTS-t Type M

SAME PRICE AS JAPAN PEOPLE!!! Actually it's about 5c cheaper... yay.

Sorry, I gotta admit, I didn't quite get that response... were you wanting to quote me? You mean English...? Aaaah... somrthings not right here... I'll take a stab at it and guess that you're talking about speaking/reading/writing Japanese???

You just cost and engine importer about $50,000 in lost revenue... ok maybe not revenue but lets call it 'hype money'... tsk tsk

I just signed up too

You might your fair share of teasing if you had this thing on the side!

Yeah, I really am looing forward to coming back... I'm serious. I've been here long enough (see sig) now that Japan is just another country - nothing special AT ALL... even Tokyo Auto Salon and racequeens and pachinko and... I've done it all **shock horror!!** Hahaha seriously I can't wait to get back. None of *my* work collegues were asian, but I knew of a few working for other schools. Are you asking because you're not sure if schools will hire Asian English teachers? Well, Nova, Geos and Berlitz don't care - you just need to be a fluent speaker, but the private schools are going for maximum student numbers, so alot of them want only native speakers of English with no strong accents (unless your're Amer-cuhn of course... they rock) and preferably caucasian... the Japanese women have spoken! I don't really want to speak too much about teaching now, reason being is that I lost my job 6 weeks ago now and since then I've been having the time of my life. The teaching was seriously driving me crazy having to be 'genki' (energetic/fun) all day, every day. Even if I was teaching cute girls all day it didn't make any difference... just get me out of there. Having said that most people can teach for a year or so before they begin to wonder what they're doing.... so you should be ok. Just jump in feet first and go for it.... I did.

Not having a go Nick, but is there a reason why Toyota enthusiasts always refer to the VVTi 3SGE as a 'Beams'? It's actually just a bollocks name: 'Breakthrough Engine with Advanced Mechanism System'... rather like Nissans 'PLASMA' engines. I mean, Skyline guys don't refer to CA18s, RB20s and VG30s as 'Plasma RB20'... just an observation

I'd get an R32 Autech Version

Fate? I don't know, I will never know what happened exactly, and lets face it in this particular situation neither does the driver... But the parents of the victims will counter that with "I don't care what you say, my son/daughter is dead as a direct result of his actions." So what if it does? Thats part of his sentence... but why even consider this when both the backseat passengers won't even have this ^^^ privelidge? Ok now this part I agree with.

The driver says he can't remember the accident?? What about the 2 deceaced and their families? I would hazard a guess that they think 9 years isn't long enough. Look at it this way: he got 4.5 years per victim. Sounds ok to me... if he manages to serve half that well then lucky him. If the driver had died in the accident aswell, would people still be saying "aaaww thats a bit harsh isn't it? Couldn't the airbag have gone off or something?"

Is it gonna take you another 2 years to mount the thing Shan?

Brendan, From what info I've collected: "Not strictly a GT-R but a standard 1993 HNR32 (four door) that was built as a complete car by S&S Engineering - independent of Autech Japan - the project was led by Shinichiro Sakurai and based on a four door GTS-4. The engine and drivetrain are directly transplanted from a BNR32 GT-R, along with front fenders, front bumper, headlights, taillights, interior, and some beautiful 'one-off' rear guards. The whole car is a one off exibit but Skyline fans often confuse the GTB-4 as a car produced by Autech, which it is not." Sorry I don't have any big pics.

My missus is Japanese... not me! @ Totoro: Thanks for the offer. We'll see how it goes but I think the Japanese groceries are the biggest problem.

@ Boostzor: WHAT. You bought the old Auster? Was it you? Trent sold it to you right? OMG that thing is a rarity!!! I thought when I came to Japan I'd see a few Austers running around but no. I've only ever seen one... and that had the CA18ET (you *don't* wanna know, trust me ). If you kept it and fully restored it, 10 years from now you could probabaly sell it back to Nissan! hehehe Anyways man I look forward to meeting you too. @ GTS-T VSPEC: Yeah I arrive on the 22nd, but the cars won't be here until mid-Oct at the earliest (they leave Japan on the 27th Sept). So they'll be on the road by the end of October.

I of course will be hanging out there at TKO volunteering help where I can... I've got some things planned aswell...

Shan... I'm disappointed. "Screw the Skyline" <- that coming from an SAU admin??? Besides, that ain't no VR4, it's a lowly 1.8ST GDi! Hehehe... pwned! @ GTS-T VSPEC: Looking forward to meeting you too. A cruise in my honour? That'd be sweet definately! Cheers

While I look around for some vids, have a look at the still shots from this car CM database: http://car-cm.zdap.jp/nissan/skyline11th.htm

@ Sneeza: No worries bud because I haven't got any money! :lol: @ totoro: I look forward to meeting you (and your car) too... might have to ask you about the Japanese community in Perth too... if there is one? My wife will obviously want to meet some local Japanese for a bit of support. @ tigeryas: I can't cook man... maybe Okonomiyaki and Takoyaki (Osaka stylez) but thats about it! And my spoken Japanese is crap too!

What happens when Japanese logic is thrown out the window, an American stylist is called in, and a German tuning company is asked to 'make things right again'? ... answer... <span style='font-size:14pt;line-height:100%'>Mitsubishi Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG </span> - FF NEW CLASSIC - <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>(Mitsubishi advertising slogan)</span> The Mitsubishi Debonair AMG debuted in 1986 amongst huge Japanese 'bubble economy' hype and equally huge expectations as far as the 'FF NEW CLASSIC' advertising slogan was concerned. The Debonair originally appeared way back in 1964 designed by none other than American H.S. Bretzner - complete with muscle car looks - and was such a success as Mitsubishi's flagship model (yes thats right... forget about the Galant) was produced *basically unchanged* for 22 years!!! The 1964 Debonair was of course RWD, but New for 1986(!) the Debonair went front wheel drive... To add to the Debonair's prowess, AMG (Germany) was called in to give the flagship Mitsubishi 'a touch of Mercedes Benz' and gave the Debonair the once over... well... actually AMG just supplied a rudimentary body kit and alloy wheels... but hey! at least Mr Takada can show off the AMG badge to low-ranking V3000 owners! The 3.0 twincam V6 went untouched... maybe for the better because a 1620kg FWD with 200+ hp might not have been a good idea. <span style='font-size:8pt;line-height:100%'>The Japanese caption to the picture reads: "It is a Debonair AMG doing a gay stunt in a specially prepared vehicle that appears in the TV show 'Gorilla'". </span> In comments by AMG on the design: "The horizontal line of the body was emphasized, and we achieved a form that looked simple and dynamic..." ... well that was unexpected... I think what AMG were doing was more or less letting Mitsubishi capitalize on 'brand mystique' by agreeing to remodel some of their cars, as AMG were (and still are) mainly affiliated with Mercedes Benz. How much money changed hands in this little endevour? Who knows, but it gives us a little more insight into the workings of the 'bubble economy' mind-set that gripped Japan during the 1980's. - The market reaction - Dispite joining with AMG, needless to say the Debonair AMG was a flop. In fact, after 1989 the Mitsubishi/AMG partnership faded... and successive Debonair's never wore the AMG badge again. The curious large sedan/FF/V6 combination was moderately well recieved with class leading rear leg and headroom, and in the lesser models at least, the ever so soft ride and fluffy pillow like handling made sure that the only hard driving the Debonair saw was on crazy 1980's Police dramas. The 4,516,000 yen (A$54,223) asking price was... not... so... tempting, either. The 6G72 3.0L DOHC engine put out 200hp and 27.0kg/m at 6000rpm, which had a bit of trouble propelling the 1620kg body around, but nevertheless, the engine was good enough to make it into the next generation Debonair in 1992... albeit with less power! Being the flagship model for Mitsubishi, the interior boasted all manner of gadgets with 'electric everything' being the order of the day. The leather seats also deserve mention (not exclusive to the AMG version) as they were possibly the most thickly padded 'seats' that have ever made it into a 'car'. The Debonair AMG is yet another Japanese automotive rarity, and the likelyhood of seeing one in th metal is very slim indeed. Oldschool (1964 - 1986) Debonair owners will tell you that the Debonair died with the S12AG (1986 onwards) as all the spirit of the American 'to hell with aerodynamics' styling was carried on, but the FF drivetrain was something that was associated with small hatchbacks... not top-of-the-line flagship models. Oh well, if you see one, buy one! ... maybe not. Name: Mitsubishi Debonair V 3000 Royal AMG Chassis: S12AG Engine: 6G72 Capacity: 2972cc Power: 149kw Torque: 27.0kg/m Weight: 1620kg Transmission: 4AT Drive: Front wheels Brakes: Ventilated disks Suspension: Front MacPherson struts, rear 3 link torsion axel

You betcha! ... are you implying Perth is boring??? Well we'll have to make it more exciting then won't we Yeah come along! Maybe when our cars land it might be better for a cruise? Trent and myself will want to 'christen' our cars in style with a big convoy of Skylines down on the South Perth foreshore... eeerr... for sure...

Hahaha... like this?

Hey? 7am is ok? ... I think my Pa volunteered to come out anyways... but that welcome back banner sounds cool hahaha :lol: