Autech Axis - While We're Waiting...

[autech_axis]

The frustration just keeps on growing. One minute we feel like we're making progress, the next... ugh.

One day I hope finally to drive my car.

In the meantime, some more pics to while away the boredom...

More detail of the sat nav and DVD system.

[Chris Rogers]

ring me on friday

post the rest of the set up as well. most have yet to see what I did.

[autech_axis]

ring me on friday

post the rest of the set up as well. most have yet to see what I did.

Crikey - you're quick off the mark!

Which bits should I post? It's a pity I can't demonstrate the cheesy american voice doing the "valet start - stand clear" whatever that means!!!

I thought that I'd shot those pics at 640X480 res, but obviously not - too big - will process and re-post some more tomorrow.

Speak Friday...

[Chris Rogers]

take a video of it

speak friday

[rb26stagea]

....and the Qld meet is on sat too........

[Chris Rogers]

its not complied so it can't move..

both of us are waiting on that to happen.

[autech_axis]

....and the Qld meet is on sat too........

hahahahahah - that's a good one!

Shall I bring it on the back of a tow truck? :laughing-smiley-014:

[webng]

hahahahahah - that's a good one!

Shall I bring it on the back of a tow truck? :laughing-smiley-014:

Jeez... that must be so freakin frustrating to have paid the $$ for it and not getting to reap the rewards. I think I would go nuts.

[rb26stagea]

A towtruck would be fine

[autech_axis]

Jeez... that must be so freakin frustrating to have paid the $$ for it and not getting to reap the rewards. I think I would go nuts.

Actually I HAVE gone nuts. But I'm taking the pills the doc gave me, and you know what, they really Do work!

I stuck a bit more fuel in it today and ran it around the corner, just to blow out a few cobwebs, all on closed roads of course in strictly controlled conditions .

This is the wickedest car I've ever owned, and I really, really, really can't wait to drive it on the road.

[Chris Rogers]

so it went to work did it

[Angus Smart]

Its definatley the one to go! time to visit the banko i beleive

does anyone know when the later models come onto compliance?

and a questions about cruise control? do any come with it?

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[Muz]

Its definatley the one to go! time to visit the banko i beleive

does anyone know when the later models come onto compliance?

and a questions about cruise control? do any come with it?

There is another thread on this somewhere on here but to bring you up to date thus far. My 2004 AR-X 4 is currently in Melbourne undergoing testing with no sign of it making it as yet so as Matt says "the waiting continues". Yes it is very frustrating considering the import broker (in my case) and the compliance shop in Matt's case both said that YES compliance was available for this model. All very frustrating indeed.

The AR-X has cruise control but haven't seen it in any of the others as yet.

Cheers

Muz

[autech_axis]

Its definatley the one to go! time to visit the banko i beleive

does anyone know when the later models come onto compliance?

and a questions about cruise control? do any come with it?

The car in your attached image appears to have 19 or even 20" wheels, which frankly I think it needs. My 18s get a bit lost in the wheel arches, but I bet the ride is lumpy as hell with bigger mags. You can't have it all I guess. Also the car seems to have a dual sunroof, which is nice, but you might want to think about headroom if you're taller than 6'.

If you check the Nissan specs you'll see that cruise control was not offered as an option (except on the AR-X) which seems an odd omission on a car that is fitted with plenty of gizmos. No matter - it's a relatively easy retro fit for less than a grand.

My guess is that you'll be paying somewhere around 2 million yen + FOB for a really good 2003 Axis or AR-X with leather and all the fruit. My car is in quite unbelievable condition, and looks like it's never been driven, let alone done 47,000km. The interior is flawless, and exterior virtually so. Even the underbody is immcaulate. Depending on whether you buy through a local agent, or DIY through someone like my mate David Zozuk in Kobe, you'll wind up paying a little over $30k on the road. The dollar is at an 18 year high against the yen (106) and has put on 5% since I bought my car. So there's never been a better time to buy. Let me know if you need help or advice, but remember anything with a build date later than 11/03 can not be currently complied.

[Angus Smart]

Yeah i will wait for the compliance i beleive. i really like the look of the 2004 and above versions of the axis. which i watched two today go for around 1.5mil grade 4 with about 50000km on them

[autech_axis]

Yeah i will wait for the compliance i beleive. i really like the look of the 2004 and above versions of the axis. which i watched two today go for around 1.5mil grade 4 with about 50000km on them

Angus, I wouldn't wait for compliance, just a buy an 03 build date car. I don't think there are any changes to the cars specs in 04.

I would also be buying at least Grade 4.5. You want to be careful here as the auction gradings are very much a matter of opinion even within the same auction house. I strongly recommend you use someone like David Zozuk at Kobecars, who bids every week at the HAA auction, the biggest in Japan. He will actually inspect any vehicle you may be interested in and confirm the engineer's report. You can email him at [email protected]. Tell him I sent you!

You also need to look VERY closely at the auction sheet to make sure that the Axis you are looking at has ALL the options you want - most don't have leather for example. There are also a number of engine options, and unless you can read Japanese these won't be obvious. If you want the VQ25DET then you'll have to make sure the car you're bidding on has that option. There is also the Axis S model, which has a slightly different body kit, and goes for a bit less. Some are also 2WD not 4WD.

To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I'm attaching the actual auction sheet for my car, which was sold for 1.84 million on the button. When you add 5% consumption tax, and 100,000 Y FOB fees, the total comes out at 2.032 million yen. So look out for those additional costs. As you can see from the sheet, every option was ticked except sunroof, which I didn't want.

As you can see the car was rated as 4 B/B - but both David and his Japanese associate say really it should have been an easy 5. The car is bloody flawless! I have seen many, many cars come fresh off the boat from Japan, and they always look a terrible mess. This one looked like it had come fresh from the production line. So, again, be very very careful with engineer's reports.

2004_Stagea_AXIS.pdf

Edited July 26, 2007 by autech_axis

[Muz]

Still no closer to gaining emissions approval.

Muz