MG ZS 180

That looks quite nice, cheers for posting the pics. :). I think I'll end up with a pre-facelift (if I do get one). I'll try to argue the older car card nearer the time if it looks like I'll be selling up, but I don't hold out a lot of hope.

Looked at facelift Xsara VTSs again this morning, trying to see past the looks, but, well can't!
 
iaind said:
I don't know if you saw my epic thread, but needless to say I completely get this. If people don't understand that 1200 quid a year into your savings isn't a decent chunk then I'd probably not listen to them.

However, you're not freeing up that much, which could easily be absorbed if you buy a lemon. I started trying to find something fun and cheap but I realized that I was better going for cheap and reliable to give me more to put back into savings. It was easier for me because I've managed to wangle access to sone weekend fun for almost no money, so a boring car was an easy choice - a 1500 quid accord.

Actually, I might be onto something.... Accord type r?
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Your saving grace is that you've at least gone about it shall I say semi properly - your potential new car is just that - a decent car. Trying to downgrade in terms of value yet retaining performance is just asking for trouble. Performance cars are just best left alone if you are trying to economise.

Whilst it pains me to admit it, this part of IainD's plan is the credible part.

Downsize to a normal car, or keep the Civic.
 
iaind said:
...I started trying to find something fun and cheap but I realized that I was better going for cheap and reliable to give me more to put back into savings...

Actually, I might be onto something.... Accord type r?
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Epic contradiction.

"Go for something cheap and Reliable rather than something cheap and fun. You know, something like an Accord Type R" :p.
 
Accord Type-R will be an absolute nail for £2k, you could get a decent one for £3k plus, a lot of performance car for the money

I'm trying to sell my sensible car to get something quicker and wouldnt mind another H22 Honda such as a Prelude or ATR but they are getting on now and the later ATR's up to 2002 can be a fair bit more expensive

Just thought of one but again its older however they are bomb proof, very reliable

Honda Civic 1.8 VTI 170BHP 96-00

I've had two and they are great car but need to be modded to get the best out of them, you can easily get one of these for under £2k
 
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To even remotely consider anything the OP HAS TO let go of his stupid age requirement. As fox did point out earlier, there are really only 2 cars that can meet this requirement, one he doesn't like the styling of and the other (the MG) is hardly jaw droppingly brilliant. Pointlessly limiting your choice on cheap cars really is dumb. There are "good" cars available for this sort of money, but the only reason this are available for this sort of budget is because the majority of people do not want them, most likely due to age.

He also has to understand to under that he might not save much/if anything in the long run. Running a cheap performance car isn't necessarily going to cost loads, but if you're the type of person who will get overly caught up on repair bills then it is quite frankly not for you. I've probably spent half the value of my Soarer on basic maintenance this month alone, and I've still got plenty of work I want to do, but I still enjoy it.

Owning a cheap performance car really should be as much about the ownership experience as the saving money (because chances are you probably won't save much!)
 
Joshy said:
Owning a cheap performance car really should be as much about the ownership experience as the saving money (because chances are you probably won't save much!)
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I really am not looking to save money on a monthly basis. Monthly outgoings are set, and take into account the cost of running the CTR which is not cheap, but easily affordable.

I can totally appreciate that I could really land myself in a huge pile of fail by changing cars and being landed with a complete lemon, which to me is the one major turn off. The CTR is a known quantity now (i.e. the juice has apparently gone from this lemon, which being fair, it was), and hasn't caused us any trouble for a little while now.

I'm just finding it hard to rationalise at the moment. The MG is not going to be as good as my CTR, I'm certain of that. However, it isn't going to be unbelievably rubbish (well saying that, I should drive one before I really put my money where my mouth is). I can take the performance hit if necessary. I also have delusions of happily owning an E36 328i Sport, but I'm pretty sure that'll be a world of pain in reality.

Assuming that the potential car is some magical non-lemon, I can argue my way by on this point. There is a difference between selling a higher value performance car to free up money for running costs and buying something cheaper but similar in terms of performance/costs, and actually doing this to free up money for something else and being comfortably able to afford the cost of running the cheaper performance car.

The Civic VTI is viable, IF I can barter down the age requirement. I like these, and they aren't bad cars from what I've seen/read.
 
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can't complain at that price ^ very smart.

danza said:
Looked at facelift Xsara VTSs again this morning, trying to see past the looks, but, well can't!
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the phase 2s arnt the prettiest, some revisions with the phase 2.5s improved things. even rarer in this form though. however, in the right colour they look half decent.

CARHOUGHTON.jpg


ignore the wheels. rest is standard of the PH2.5.
 
IamMed said:
Most 800 owners would disagree :p

2.5 KV6 in the 800's are notorious for it and it's the same engine fitted to the 75/MG.
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Whilst I do not know the full technical details, I can assure you a HGF with the KV6 fitted in a ZS is almost unheard of, so they must've done something :)

Regular checks and serviceing must be done to minimalise the risk.
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Well that's just common sense :p

phil675 said:
As a ZS owner (although merely 110 :)) I would recommend them to someone looking for a cheap fun car. I paid £1300 and it makes me smile every time I go round a corner. The interior did seem awful at first but I got used to it and its actually very functional, nice big clicky buttons :p. I would upgrade the sound system though as the stock speakers are a pile of toss.
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Agreed, stock sound system is toss. But if you've got a burbly V6 along with the right exhaust mods...you don't care ;)

Sirrel Squirrel said:
Agree with everything Phate said although when I had mine the only problem was a cracked thermostat, which cost me £50 to replace and half a day of Phate's time :p
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That Koppaberg tasted goooood. Thermostat housing is a problem, forgot about that. But then again, if your willing to get your hands dirty it's just £50 for parts (or some beer tokens for me :p)

danza said:
That looks quite nice, cheers for posting the pics. :). I think I'll end up with a pre-facelift (if I do get one). I'll try to argue the older car card nearer the time if it looks like I'll be selling up, but I don't hold out a lot of hope.
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I wouldn't pay more than £1700 for a decent MK1 tbh :)

Joshy said:
(the MG) is hardly jaw droppingly brilliant.
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Can you clarify if you mean the styling? Or the car overall? And if the latter, what experience you have of the car.

danza said:
I can take the performance hit if necessary.
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Also my zed was quicker than the CTR I had an off the lights with :) - 3 times in a row in fact!

Relentless81 said:
They are great cars, not as quick as a CTR but just as much fun and LSD as standard plus five doors too
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They do not have an LSD as standard. If you want one you can have a quaife fitted and it'll set you back about a grand.

s0ck said:
http://pistonheads.com/sales/1741599.htm

they just look infinitely better than the mk1 even if you've got a spend a few hundred putting one right.
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The mk2's were not as well built, what most people do is buy a MK1 and fit a front end from a mk2. The parts bolt straight on. (Bumper and headlights)

-------

Danze, if you want a decent forum with good reliable intel goto http://themgzs.co.uk - it's the best one :)
 
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IamMed said:
Most 800 owners would disagree :p

2.5 KV6 in the 800's are notorious for it and it's the same engine fitted to the 75/MG.
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No it's not, it was significantly redesigned after the head gasket problems suffered in the Rover 800 and the Australian Kia Carnival.

The later KV6 units very rarely suffer from head gasket problems.
 
Dogbreath said:
No it's not, it was significantly redesigned after the head gasket problems suffered in the Rover 800 and the Australian Kia Carnival.

The later KV6 units very rarely suffer from head gasket problems.
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I know a guy who's had 3 75's that have all died from HGF, these might've been earlier models though.

Hope they were sorted on later models as I wouldn't mind a ZS 180 myself one day, KV6 is a cracking engine (no pun intended:p).
 
Relentless81 said:
I highly doubt its quicker than a CTR, its heavier with less power
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I said mine was WHEN modded. And there is 40kgs between them?

Standard the breathing on the zed is very very restrictive, few choice mods will almost get rid of this (and a couple more will get rid of it completely). Afterwards the engine is far more free revving and certainly goes a lot better!

I'm not saying the OP will be prefer the performance over the Zed but more of that he won't be dissapointed with it.
 
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