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Couldn't compare it with one of they new fangled Challenger thingies I'm afraid - I never crewed one of the new beasts. Ken (Yep - old git about sums it up) Drop one dot... Fire!

And me.

Anyone travelling to Germany soon? You might find these common car terms useful then: Indicators - Die Blinkenleiten-ticken-tocken Bonnet - Pullnob und Knucklechopper Exhaust - Spitzenpoppenbangertuben Speedometer - Der Egobooster und Linenshooter Clutch - Die Kuplink mit schippen und schaken Puncture - Die phlattazfahrtz Learner Driver - Die twatten mit Elplatz Estate Car - Der Bagderrcomfurschagginkauto Parking Meter - Der Tennerpinscher und Klockenwerr Windscreen Wiper - Der Flippenflappenmucken Schpredden Sticken Footbrake - Der Stopenquikken Edbangonvindschreen Gear Lever - Biggenstickenfur Kangaroochoppen Breathalyser - Die Puffinten fur Pistenarsen Seat Belt - Der Klunkenklicker Fauleintrapper Headlights - Das Dippendoutdazelubastad Traffic Jam - Die Bluddinfukink Damenblast Tyres - Baldazakoot Juggernaut - Der Fulckengrett Trukken Accident - Der Beedinmess Near Accident - Der fukken-near schitzenself Back Seat Driver - Der Biggnemouth en Puttensokkinit Rear Mirror - Der Speedenkopp Lukkenoutafur Out of Petrol - 1 – mit Vife – uvechensmuggazz Out of Petrol - 2 – mit fraulein – bigolotzabango Reclining Seat - Contrpshen fur leggover mit fraulein Boot - Der platzer fur mutterinlaw Horn - Donnengonnen de Blatzen der eerobout Autobahn - Der karr verboten Wheel Clamp - Die Bluddenklankkon sonavabitch Toilet - Der Scheitzenhauser Traffic Warden - Das Nummer Elns Scheizenhauser

No you didn't Ewen - that's my old company car you spotted...

I've just popped into Poole and bought the last one from Setchfields - same price.

Ouch - bad luck young Kyle. Saw your mini - the "labour of love". Hope you get the scumbags! If you want any c/f mat I've got some spare. Ken

Bad luck Jake, hope it goes soon. I've suffered from them since I was 16 (that's 34 years then ). Tried alsorts of cures but the most effective I've found is to watch for the signs and catch it early. Mine start with an ache in the right side of my neck and over my right temple. Two panadol plus there and then usually does the trick. If I miss the signs I'm stuffed until it goes. The only painkiller I've found did any good when a migraine catches hold is something the hospital gave me once. Trouble is I can't remember the name, and it was a supository!

Thanks for the heads-up. I've been wondering which model to go for. I've still got the replica I did of my old Sierra about 15 years ago.

Our car insurance policy at work is about £1.8 million. Mind you, we have got over 3,000 cars on our fleet.

It's something the Yanks do with a vengeance and take very seriously on their forums. On my last board there was more discussion and whinging about "Karma" points than almost anything else in the USA feedback forum. They hate it if someone gives them negative feedback and can get really upset if they think they're being targetted for no reason (hint). Poeple have been banned over it.

Who was that from? PM me if you'd rather, only I'm looking at getting one soon. Cheers.

Drove all the way from Poole to Folkestone, then all the way to Germany and back, including the 'ring and never saw another one the whole time. Kinda made me feel special. Coming through Westbourne at 3am a mile from home and there was another one coming towards me!

No thanks Bri - they leak. And I hate the noise the little spoiler makes...

I did.

When I was deciding I heard some bad stories about the GT3000's reliability. I didn't look into whether they were real concerns or not - just the rumour put me off. And, although I love the looks of the Rex, I'm a bit too spanner-shy to be worrying about the engine all the time. And the fuel consumption. And the oil consumption... Altogether, I'm dead chuffed I decided on the Supra in the end. And I'm really pleased with the one I eventually got.

Japfanatic - if I'd known you were there I would have for sure. I used to be in the Driburger "PanzerKaserner" and lived in the flats out the back, right by the NAAFI. Crikey, the outskirts of Paders have changed a bit. Glad to see there's no real change in the centre though - you can still get a brattie near the RatHaus. We stayed in the SudHotel (SW of the town just off Le Mans Wall under the railway bridge). Bit of a grotty area, but the hotel was fine. It came recommended by Jay Keyver - is he still selling insurance to squaddies over there? When did the Toc-H go? Spent a while just driving round town getting my bearings again - it was just like coming home again. Hogmaw - yeah, its VVTi. And I know what you mean about the looks you get. In one place we even had a young lad race past us in town just so he could stop further on and get out his mobile and film me driving towards him. So I did him the courtesy of stopping to chat for a bit (on the pretext of asking for directions you understand ). First thing he said was "In many years time I too will get to drive this car." Chief - limiter? What's one of them then?

Sorry Tim - just letting you know that the car's in good hands. Bobbeh, the brakes are UK ones. I only noticed the juddering when slowing down for the pits, not before. And as it went soon after I can only assume I had some hotspots for a while. That and the fact that I had new pads fitted a week or two ago. It's not happened since. Must admit, the smoke thing had me worried at first, but as everything seems fine now and I'm not the only one it doesn't seem to be an issue now - thanks.

Hi all, Just got back from a driving holiday around Germany - boy you gotta love those autobahns. I'd quite forgotten how nice they are to drive. Anyway, we did 1975 miles and averaged 25mpg or so, so the Supra's not as thirsty a beast as I thought. Travelled to Paderborn (where I was posted for 7 years back in the 80's), Hameln, the Harz Mountains, Quedlinburg (in the former East) and then back via a slightly southern route to "accidentally" take me near Nurburg... YES - I got to drive the Nurburgring... (so that's twice this car's done it Tim) We turned up at 5pm Monday to check the place out before a planned drive on Tuesday. But as the track was open to 7pm we decided to go on there and then. Did an 11-something despite the fact that part of the circuit was 30kph due to repairs and another part was yellow flagged due to two bikers coming off (luckily no one was hurt). Lin wasn't too chuffed with the speed I took some of the corners but, what the heck. The poor ole Supe certainly showed the pace at the end though. Coming down the home straight after the gantry the brakes were really juddering - must have warped the disks I suppose with all the hard braking. And when we pulled up to let the engine idle down there was a bit of smoke coming up from the back near the firewall - gearbox oil overheating d'you think? Anyway, after an hour cooling down she was just fine (and stayed that way for the whole trip home). Stayed the night at the Hotel Zur Burg right at the foot of the Nurburg itself and only about 1/4 mile from the circuit. It's the same place that many of the big names stay whenever they're in town apparently. I've got about 250 photos, but you're not interested in pics of quaint old German buildings or me sat with yet another pint in my hand, so here's a few of the more relevant ones: Outside the hotel in Hameln. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.holland/supra/Dsc01277.jpg At a former E German border tower. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.holland/supra/Dsc01360.jpg Outside another hotel. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.holland/supra/Dsc01364.jpg After the stop in Calais. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.holland/supra/Dsc01500.jpg And most importantly, the Nurburg bit: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/ken.holland/Nurburg.htm After all that, it's good to be back. The Supra behaved perfectly the whole trip so I treated her to a good wash'n'wax today. Cheers, Ken

Your diagnosis is correct Doctor - but I have only had the car a few months - if that's any excuse.

Spot on Jake, thanks.

I'm pretty sure I've seen that clip recently. Didn't someone do a Ken Russell life story a while back? Maybe the Biography channel.

Oh go on then.

As Tim said, there were F1's on there before. (No Tim - I haven't gone through 2 sets ) And the alignment is good according to the printout Tim gave me. I've used Toyos for the last 2 years or so with no slip problems, and I find the road noise is quite a bit less than most others. Tried various others like Goodrich, Goodyear, Avon (Uggh!) but keep coming back to good old Proxes. Haven't tried the T1-Rs yet but will do next time. Guess I'm just going to have to stop switching Trac off when I pull away from junctions...

When I bought the Supe in June the rears were as new. Checked today and one of them was down to about 1mm, and the other not much better. So I've just put 2 new Toyo Proxes T1-S on (for £260 all up) as the last thing I want is a blowout or to be pulled by the German fuzz...

Update. I asked the supplier to get both belts in and I'd return the incorrect one. The 1955mm belt was indeed the right one, and "the book" was wrong - twice! So chalk one up to this site. Thanks guys.