RE: Shed of the Week: MG ZS 180
Discussion
anonymous said:
[redacted]
By 2003, Rover had no money and were continually de-contenting the cars to save cost rather than being in a position to improve things. There's a good article about the types of things that went on here : http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/facts-and-figures/...This is a really great shed. When you think that in the EVO Road test, the ZS180 ran the then new EP3 Type R Civic close and you wont find one of those for under £2K, unless its a CAT D or something, then £800 for this seems very reasonable...
Coincidentally, one of my work colleagues has recently bought a ZT260 with only 49,000 miles on the clock and took me and another colleague out for a blast. I was really quite impressed. Lovely sounding V8, really good throttle response and well damped suspension. MG certainly knew how to churn out a good drivers car back in that era...even though they were broke!
Coincidentally, one of my work colleagues has recently bought a ZT260 with only 49,000 miles on the clock and took me and another colleague out for a blast. I was really quite impressed. Lovely sounding V8, really good throttle response and well damped suspension. MG certainly knew how to churn out a good drivers car back in that era...even though they were broke!
Edited by greenarrow on Saturday 14th May 10:55
Numeric said:
Oddly slow but at that price - I'd get it if fuel burning wasn't an issue. But don't expect to set the world on fire performance wise, it's somehow a lazy engine.
It's not really a lazy engine, you do have to rev it to get the best out of it, but it just doesn't feel overly quick.I'm not sure where the hate for the engine comes from, yeah it's not the highest displacement per litre but as others have pointed out many engines didn't do a much better job in that era and the fairly big motor gives the car character, this car wouldn't feel right with a 4 cylinder 2.0/1.8 unit producing 175. The V6 suits the saloon/longer hatch look more in my opinion.
These are great all rounders with a lovely balancing act between ride, handling, comfort and handling. I chose mine (new - don't laugh) over a Leon Cupra, ST220 Mondeo and Civic Type R back in 2005. I have no regrets after 115k miles or so in 5 years, 35k in the first 12 months for the £14,500 paid for it and that's before considering the vehicle allowance from employer that made it a 'free' car.
As an £800 shed - this won't be the only one available at this price point - bangernomics is completely justified even if not completely risk free. I changed the belts myself and about to do it again after the car's been stood for 5 years and not quite 'recommissioned'
and I'm not that clever with spanners, so very doable DIY.
Build quality isn't the best, but that V6, despite its perceived lack of power is light strong and flexible and perfectly happy to be revved to the redline without getting breathless while lugging about this 1250kg car - doesn't a MINI or Fiesta weigh this much nowadays?
I'm looking forward to getting mine back on the road and driving regularly. It really does compares well to my 2012 STI saloon in terms of smiles per mile even though it is completely different and inferior in so many ways.
People buy them as track day cars for good reason. Also, the K4 in VVC form is a great match for this car and in many ways makes more sense. Generally though, 6 cylinders is better than 4
Good shed.
As an £800 shed - this won't be the only one available at this price point - bangernomics is completely justified even if not completely risk free. I changed the belts myself and about to do it again after the car's been stood for 5 years and not quite 'recommissioned'
and I'm not that clever with spanners, so very doable DIY.Build quality isn't the best, but that V6, despite its perceived lack of power is light strong and flexible and perfectly happy to be revved to the redline without getting breathless while lugging about this 1250kg car - doesn't a MINI or Fiesta weigh this much nowadays?
I'm looking forward to getting mine back on the road and driving regularly. It really does compares well to my 2012 STI saloon in terms of smiles per mile even though it is completely different and inferior in so many ways.
People buy them as track day cars for good reason. Also, the K4 in VVC form is a great match for this car and in many ways makes more sense. Generally though, 6 cylinders is better than 4
Good shed.
Bought the ZS in 2007, picture was taken in April 2010, I had the ZS180 for about three years, and my daughter still uses it today as her daily... it was always awesome fun in the twisties.... only regret is I never took it out on a track day... I still have the roadster too, so both MG's are still in the family
There was a mention of the VR6 above.. I have one as my 'daily', and they were supposed to be 172bhp when new (similar output to the ZS).. The acceleration and feel is very similar to how I remember the ZS, but the road holding and handling of the ZS was far superior to the Golf (and yes I know the Mk3 Golf wasn't VW's best handling car)
There was a mention of the VR6 above.. I have one as my 'daily', and they were supposed to be 172bhp when new (similar output to the ZS).. The acceleration and feel is very similar to how I remember the ZS, but the road holding and handling of the ZS was far superior to the Golf (and yes I know the Mk3 Golf wasn't VW's best handling car)
Stoatman said:
Love these, I remember taking mine to silverstone in 98 to watch the f1.
Somehow I ended up on the track !. It's alright though they let me carry on in the race as I was matching the leaders for pace.
You completely made that up you fibber... They didn't come out until 2001 Somehow I ended up on the track !. It's alright though they let me carry on in the race as I was matching the leaders for pace.
My dad helped develop the car a few years before they were released. We had an early prototype .
Dad was upset as they changed a lot of it before it was released, much akin to the new type r. Seemt to recall he said it was close to 300 hp but they didn't have the plums to release such a car .
Dad was upset as they changed a lot of it before it was released, much akin to the new type r. Seemt to recall he said it was close to 300 hp but they didn't have the plums to release such a car .
Everyone keeps banging on about how far cars have come in recent years and indeed they have, but the so called mini GTIs have put on a load of weight. The current Corsa VXR for example was a lardy 1252 KG when weighed by Top Gear in their hot hatch test and the Clio Trophy, 1277KG....so with 175 BHP and about 1230Kgs, the ZS180 isn't really miles off the pace. 0-60 in 7.2, 100 in just under 20 and 139 MPH all out is more than enough to be getting on with in a hatch costing £800....
garythesnail said:
These are great all rounders with a lovely balancing act between ride, handling, comfort and handling. I chose mine (new - don't laugh) over a Leon Cupra, ST220 Mondeo and Civic Type R back in 2005. I have no regrets after 115k miles or so in 5 years, 35k in the first 12 months for the £14,500 paid for it and that's before considering the vehicle allowance from employer that made it a 'free' car.
As an £800 shed - this won't be the only one available at this price point - bangernomics is completely justified even if not completely risk free. I changed the belts myself and about to do it again after the car's been stood for 5 years and not quite 'recommissioned' and I'm not that clever with spanners, so very doable DIY.
Build quality isn't the best, but that V6, despite its perceived lack of power is light strong and flexible and perfectly happy to be revved to the redline without getting breathless while lugging about this 1250kg car - doesn't a MINI or Fiesta weigh this much nowadays?
I'm looking forward to getting mine back on the road and driving regularly. It really does compares well to my 2012 STI saloon in terms of smiles per mile even though it is completely different and inferior in so many ways.
People buy them as track day cars for good reason. Also, the K4 in VVC form is a great match for this car and in many ways makes more sense. Generally though, 6 cylinders is better than 4
Good shed.
Indeed and pretty good value these days, low price, brisk performance and 6 cylinder noise. If your after a super cheap, sporty saloon you can't go to far wrong with one of these.As an £800 shed - this won't be the only one available at this price point - bangernomics is completely justified even if not completely risk free. I changed the belts myself and about to do it again after the car's been stood for 5 years and not quite 'recommissioned'
and I'm not that clever with spanners, so very doable DIY.Build quality isn't the best, but that V6, despite its perceived lack of power is light strong and flexible and perfectly happy to be revved to the redline without getting breathless while lugging about this 1250kg car - doesn't a MINI or Fiesta weigh this much nowadays?
I'm looking forward to getting mine back on the road and driving regularly. It really does compares well to my 2012 STI saloon in terms of smiles per mile even though it is completely different and inferior in so many ways.
People buy them as track day cars for good reason. Also, the K4 in VVC form is a great match for this car and in many ways makes more sense. Generally though, 6 cylinders is better than 4
Good shed.
only1ian said:
Remember really liking the styling of these when new. A car that hasnt aged well! Whats the situation with rover parts availability these days?
I couldn't find a reply to that so.Edited by only1ian on Friday 13th May 20:15
Mechanically everything is find-able, albeit that some bits might be pricey or take a while to track down - whether you'd bother depends on you.
Bodywork, if you scratch it you're keeping that scratch and if you break it, you're scrapping the car - basically - ANY damage will send the insurer to the 'write-off' button faster than Elvis towards a burger - this is not something to cherish and keep forever, drive it until it falls apart...
Edited by 405dogvan on Saturday 14th May 16:06
Parts are an odd one. Remember most car makers to do not build every component. They buy them in. So many parts are plentiful. With exceptions being parts used on more niche models. It might no longer be viable for companies to keep making them. Eg rads for the 180. But there are normally ways around such things. Get a rad recored, 2bd hand spares. And at the end of the day it's no worse than many other cars that are no longer in production. Be it old Nissans, Toyota's or whatever.
300bhp/ton said:
Parts are an odd one. Remember most car makers to do not build every component. They buy them in. So many parts are plentiful. With exceptions being parts used on more niche models. It might no longer be viable for companies to keep making them. Eg rads for the 180. But there are normally ways around such things. Get a rad recored, 2bd hand spares. And at the end of the day it's no worse than many other cars that are no longer in production. Be it old Nissans, Toyota's or whatever.
Quoted for posterity - just in case 300 realises that he posted something sensible and informative in this post and deletes it to keep up appearances Decent shed for the notes. is the ride really that bad on them?
talksthetorque said:
Decent shed for the notes. is the ride really that bad on them?
No - excellent compromise between ride and handling from a traditional 2 stage damper - no selectable modes to give a car for all occasions, just a good 'one size fits all' set up from the factory.Firm? Yes, but not harsh or unforgiving.
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