New guy from Japan

[Craig]

Hello everyone,
My name is Craig.

I have lurked here for a while as a guest. This seems like a pretty friendly place to meet other like minded Z fans.
I have been a Z3 owner for about one year and I'm still very happy with the car. It hasn't always been a smooth road as I will explain in another thread but I love the car and I love driving it. I have just completed my first longish road trip in Japan and it was fantastic.

My car is a 2001 3.0i sold new in Japan with all the extras. When I got the car she had done just 38000 km, pretty usual for a car of that age here. The condition was very good and 100 % stock standard all round. The only added accessories were a navi system and a hardtop which had never been removed by the previous owner! Go figure?

I'm looking forward to meeting others here and checking out your cars.

 

[badman gee]

Welcome Craig

Good low mileage example you have there!

Good to see it standard.

Most are modded in some way!

 

[Craig]

I can't imagine what I would do to her to make her better. Maybe an alternative set of wheels for winter tyres. The hardtop is red which took some getting used to but now I kind of like the uniqueness and it certainly changes the look from Summer to Winter mode. I even prefer the standard headlights to the "angel eyes". Just a bit of a traditionalist I suppose.

 

[Craig]

At Tokyo Bay Autobacs late last Winter.

 

[badman gee]

Excellent picture craig

 

[Mint]

from me too Craig. Great looking car you have there.

 

[GazHyde]

Welcome from me too Craig !

That's a lovely looking Z3 you have there. Love the red hard top, makes a nice contrast against the black paint and works well with the red seats too

Cheers, Gary

 

[hard top]

Mine will always stay OEM. By the way, what the hell are you doing in Japan....?.....

 

[Craig]

I have been here for nearly 13 years HT. I work as a corporate English language business trainer. It keeps me in gas and pays the bills, most of the time. ;-) Thanks for the positive comments and welcome. I can see we all suffer from the same obsession. My Z3 puts a smile on my face every time I hit the road. Still turns heads too. In a country full of luxury import cars that's no mean feat!

 

[zedonist]

Welcome Craig nice looking car, mine is OEM too, don't understand those modding guys I bet you get to live Ridge Racer every day cool

 

[Craig]

Welcome Craig nice looking car, mine is OEM too, don't understand those modding guys I bet you get to live Ridge Racer every day cool

Haha! Ridge Racer yes check out Wangan on YouTube. There are many roads even around little old Tokyo that bring out the speed demon in everyone. I just did a thousand Km round trip to Kyoto. The expressways here are awesome, especially at night. Very video gamish. Of course I always stick strictly to the speed limit while the trucks pass me at 120 plus km!

 

[z3cade]

Big drift scene in japan isn't there?

Welcome, great looking 3.0

 

[TaffZee]

Welcome ようこそ from me as well Craig great looking motor, hope you have fun with her.

 

[Aceman]

Welcome Craig, great to see these cars being used and enjoyed all over the world and must be a real head turner over there amongst the mass of other jap cars on the road.

 

[bessieblue]

Hi Craig & welcome from me to. Nice colour combo.

 

[hard top]

I have only been down your way as far as China, think I ate dog a few times.....had no idea what was on my plate.
And I will not even talk about the fish heads.....
Left just in time before a big earth quake, a work mate of mine, sat in the office on the 8th floor, watched it all and had to buy some new under garments........
Another work mate of mine got a week in jail for tacking pictures of our drilling equipment being loaded out, apparently, there were a few war ships in the background...oh, happy days.......

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Love the shades, Craig, match the car, ideal for top down days

Welcome to the forum, really sleek looking Zed you've got there, looks in great condition.

Mike & Sandy

 

[DivideBYZero]

Nice car, and the hard top combo is actually pretty cool!

 

[FRANKIE]

Welcome to the group, Craig. There is something strangely appealing about the red top. Just tell everyone that it used to be black but the friction of the wind while driving at high speeds turns it red, like the heat shield on spacecraft. Glad to have you with us. I'm the halfway point between you and the rest of the guys in the UK. Frankie

 

[Shelly]

Welcome to the forum , hope you have as much fun on here as I do