Sorted.

Still September 2009.

Had the car towed to

Autosport Engineering.

as i wasn't sure what was wrong with it and didn't want to risk further damage. The two symptoms were unrelated in the end. The issue was promptly diagnosed as shagged coilpacks and a cracked water line to the turbo. The water line to the turbo was replaced with a braided line. The coils were Splitfire coils, which have a great reputation but even so three of these had metal coming out the plastic jackets. They were well and truly stuffed. I had been given 6 spare standard coils and 6 spare Splitfires (all used) with the car so i gave these to the mechanics and he impedance tested all 18 to get the best 6. These were installed and the car started and idled fine. I was a happy camper again but decided to let the car heat up and take it for a run around the block and down the nearby highway so i could hit boost and check it out before i made the 45 minute drive home. The car still spluttered under load and i suspected the 6 best i had from spares still weren't up to scratch. Mechanic took it for a drive and confirmed the same, so i had a new set of Splitfires installed. The car was right around the 100,000km mark when i bought it and the 100k service hadn't been done so i also had the timing belt and water pump replaced with new items at the same time as the coils and water line. To his credit the previous owner felt really bad and we came to an agreement where he paid for part of the repairs. In hindsight, that is a champion move in my opinion and he's a bloody good bloke for doing it. He said to me, "it's a modified car, these things can and will happen." I learnt then and there that you can't just afford to buy a Skyline, you have to be able to afford to own a skyline.

The dyno sheet that came with the car said this car had 194.5rwkw and it felt like it again. I finally got to have that uninterrupted first drive in my new car. It was like i remembered from my mates Skylines back in my home town. I love this car. I love it.

SW