RE: MG ZS 180 | Spotted
Discussion
Prefer the Mk1 Personally. had some great memories of flinging mine around, great handling car for what it was and the v6 was nice and meaty, espeially with an induction kit.
Stupidly bought from new cheltenham car sales when 19 and had a poor paint repair (which was flaking - it looked like it had literally had a full overspray at some point), blew a gearbox after a CV joint went and caused me eternal headaches, but was great while it lasted!
Stupidly bought from new cheltenham car sales when 19 and had a poor paint repair (which was flaking - it looked like it had literally had a full overspray at some point), blew a gearbox after a CV joint went and caused me eternal headaches, but was great while it lasted!
Jon_S_Rally said:
So vile that the entire motoring press praised it for being a great handling car. You can't complain about rose-tinted spectacles while ignoring the fact it was actually a well-regarded car in many respects.
The entire motoring press?,(not that really counts a lot of times) is rather over-egging the pudding,no? As Rab C Nesbitt so eloquently put it “I will walk alone boy!”,in this case,even rolling a turd in glitter didn’t/doesn’t stop it being a turd.Inline5 said:
The entire motoring press?,(not that really counts a lot of times) is rather over-egging the pudding,no? As Rab C Nesbitt so eloquently put it “I will walk alone boy!”,in this case,even rolling a turd in glitter didn’t/doesn’t stop it being a turd.
But the point is it wasn't a turd. It certainly wasn't perfect, especially in cost-cutting facelift guise, but the fundamentals of the car were actually pretty good. It was based on Honda underpinnings so had double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear. The K-series engine was pretty light and revvy, while the V6 offered reasonable performance and a good soundtrack for the time.
Contemporary reviews praised its handling, and the words from former owners on this very thread demonstrate that it was a car that many people enjoyed.
You don't have to like the car, but that doesn't mean it was rubbish.
I had the chance of one of these for free a couple of years ago. It had been standing outside for 7 years untouched after being taken off the road for a leaking radiator (which were unobtainium even then). The seller had found a good used radiator after a few months, but by then had another car and had lost interest.
Went over and had a look. Put a gallon of fresh fuel in it, put a jump pack on it and it started after about 20 seconds of cranking and idled like a sewing machine.
But it needed everything. Cambelt, all fluids doing, brakes all round, tyres all round, mice had been at some of the wiring, and the interior was mouldy as hell.
Would have cost more than it was worth just in parts, and that was without the time and effort factored in.
I have driven a couple though, and they are very decent to drive. If ever a car was more than the sum of its parts...
Went over and had a look. Put a gallon of fresh fuel in it, put a jump pack on it and it started after about 20 seconds of cranking and idled like a sewing machine.
But it needed everything. Cambelt, all fluids doing, brakes all round, tyres all round, mice had been at some of the wiring, and the interior was mouldy as hell.
Would have cost more than it was worth just in parts, and that was without the time and effort factored in.
I have driven a couple though, and they are very decent to drive. If ever a car was more than the sum of its parts...
Jon_S_Rally said:
Inline5 said:
Vile then,vile now…..the rose-tinted spectacles of nostalgia some people wear are staggering to me. Pass the sick bag ??
So vile that the entire motoring press praised it for being a great handling car. You can't complain about rose-tinted spectacles while ignoring the fact it was actually a well-regarded car in many respects.After spending some time with it on track, Tiff Needell was full of praise, reckoning "for a front wheel drive it's about the best handling I've experienced."
I don't think many of us on here have the ability to find any kinks or weaknesses that Tiff missed, somehow.
Edited by Limpet on Wednesday 22 May 10:39
I have one of these! While it's probably the worst built car I've owned (there's always something falling off it) it's also pretty faultless in the handling department for a FWD car of its vintage. Having said that mine has been roped into commuting duties and it has yet to let me down...
My example is an early trophy blue mk1 with 34k on the clocks which I bought a year or so back for £3k, so have to agree that £6k is reaching somewhat
My example is an early trophy blue mk1 with 34k on the clocks which I bought a year or so back for £3k, so have to agree that £6k is reaching somewhat
rupertthebare said:
Not bad for a so called modern classic. Shame about the backend though, looks pig ugly
Better looking rear-end than the hatchback at least Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff