A nice antidote to MPG this, CO2 that...my MG ZT V8
Discussion
Fartgalen said:
Tickle said:
Good choice and what a great colour. You are well and truly flying the flag for British built cars Iain! Complete polar opposites I bet to the 111s too.
Hmm, yeah, with an American motor ! 
I'd actually like to get hold of one of these. Would be a cool daily driver.However, the Elise is like nothing else for a focused, hard, attack minded drive on a sunny Sunday morning. The ZT is a hammer, the Elise a scalpel. Both are utterly wonderful, yet flawed, in their own ways. It's just one's flaws are the other's strengths.
Edited by itcaptainslow on Wednesday 15th July 22:04
Looks like you got a lovely one there!
This thread makes me sad that I sold mine earlier this year, but I had 8 fabulous years in it as a daily driver and it was time for an estate to lug all the kid related crap around. Also, fuel bills...
You're right on so many points - the pre-facelift is better looking. It's an event every time you drive one.
The diesel that I got to replace mine has more BHP and Torque, but still, isn't remotely in the same universe as the MG in terms of the sense of occasion every time you drive it.
This thread makes me sad that I sold mine earlier this year, but I had 8 fabulous years in it as a daily driver and it was time for an estate to lug all the kid related crap around. Also, fuel bills...
You're right on so many points - the pre-facelift is better looking. It's an event every time you drive one.
The diesel that I got to replace mine has more BHP and Torque, but still, isn't remotely in the same universe as the MG in terms of the sense of occasion every time you drive it.
Couple more bits done on the ZT today. The rear discs have had a skim at a local garage with the equipment to do so (£80 + VAT for both rear discs which I didn't think was too bad, especially compared to the price of new discs and the performance of sourcing them) and some new rear pads will arrive tomorrow.
Already even with the skimmed discs and the old pads (which are a little cut up after the corroded surfaces pre-machining) braking is a hell of a lot smoother still and now silent, as opposed to the previous grinding/clicking I heard from the rear. The braking performance is night and day compared to when I first picked it up on shagged discs, pads that were falling apart and old brake fluid.
I've also cured the non-functioning screen washers-I initially thought I was in for a world of wiring pain when basic wiring checks proved fruitless-I wasn't getting a feed down to the washer pump when the stalk was activated. However-it turns out I was testing at the headlamp washer plug-without the headlamps on! No wonder I wasn't getting any power.
Further checks confirmed the windscreen wash pump had seized-£13 on eBay later for a brand new pump, a reservoir flush through and the washers are restored to full vigour complete with headlamp washing. Result!
It's booked in for a full anti-corrosion treatment in August at Rustmaster in Hatfield-I'm planning to use it sparingly throughout the winter and I'll try and find it a garage to live in (if not, it'll be treated to a proper outdoor cover). However, the rustproofing treatment looks rather smart underneath when applied neatly and should safeguard the car. Rear subframes have a habit of corroding on these, and they're of course bespoke ZT260 items-they're available reconditioned but I'd rather avoid the hassle in the first place and protect the (very good) rear subframe on the car already.
Hopefully I'll get the new pads on the rear tomorrow and get cracking with machine polishing-more pics to follow then, naturally.
I'm making it sound like there was loads to do (there isn't!) to get this car sorted; unfortunately I just have car OCD and things have to be just so. The feeling when they are though is
Already even with the skimmed discs and the old pads (which are a little cut up after the corroded surfaces pre-machining) braking is a hell of a lot smoother still and now silent, as opposed to the previous grinding/clicking I heard from the rear. The braking performance is night and day compared to when I first picked it up on shagged discs, pads that were falling apart and old brake fluid.
I've also cured the non-functioning screen washers-I initially thought I was in for a world of wiring pain when basic wiring checks proved fruitless-I wasn't getting a feed down to the washer pump when the stalk was activated. However-it turns out I was testing at the headlamp washer plug-without the headlamps on! No wonder I wasn't getting any power.
Further checks confirmed the windscreen wash pump had seized-£13 on eBay later for a brand new pump, a reservoir flush through and the washers are restored to full vigour complete with headlamp washing. Result!
It's booked in for a full anti-corrosion treatment in August at Rustmaster in Hatfield-I'm planning to use it sparingly throughout the winter and I'll try and find it a garage to live in (if not, it'll be treated to a proper outdoor cover). However, the rustproofing treatment looks rather smart underneath when applied neatly and should safeguard the car. Rear subframes have a habit of corroding on these, and they're of course bespoke ZT260 items-they're available reconditioned but I'd rather avoid the hassle in the first place and protect the (very good) rear subframe on the car already.
Hopefully I'll get the new pads on the rear tomorrow and get cracking with machine polishing-more pics to follow then, naturally.
I'm making it sound like there was loads to do (there isn't!) to get this car sorted; unfortunately I just have car OCD and things have to be just so. The feeling when they are though is
The ZT presented a bit of a bill today-£251 to have a new rotary coupler fitted to the steering column, to cure the steering wheel audio controls not working. Stuff not working bugs the hell out of me so it was a bit of a cost to swallow, but sod it, the car is worth it
Rikki with the Volvo S60 R also featured in Reader's Cars & I are planning a little "super saloon" photoshoot in London on the south bank of the Thames in a couple of weeks if anyone fancies bringing their means of reaching the golf club rather swiftly along
Rikki with the Volvo S60 R also featured in Reader's Cars & I are planning a little "super saloon" photoshoot in London on the south bank of the Thames in a couple of weeks if anyone fancies bringing their means of reaching the golf club rather swiftly along
Edited by itcaptainslow on Thursday 23 July 00:00
It's "brisk"-today's uber hatches like a Golf R for instance will be quicker, but the sense of occasion and theatrics of the ZT will be absent. Don't get me wrong-the car certainly gets down the road well, and is quicker than it feels thanks to the linear torque curve. I'm hoping to organise a road trip to the 'Ring before the year is out so I can really exercise the V8 
A supercharger however is a possible future addition-just don't tell SWMBO...
A supercharger however is a possible future addition-just don't tell SWMBO...
Went for a "bond with my car" drive tonight, and returned in love. A 3am, making progress, peeling away the layers, figuring out how to work the chassis (in this case-smooth inputs, allowing the weight to settle, using the throttle to balance the car and making use of the rather good damping) can be either the make or break of a relationship with a set of wheels. Fortunately our marriage, after some initial doubts, is going strong.
I also think I was a bit harsh on it-it is rather quicker than first thought! Drive the torque curve and it really does shift rather better than 260bhp and the weight really ought to. Coupled with that rich, baritone howling soundtrack, it's damn good fun and made me grin like a loon. Can't wait to get an Accufab throttle body and hopefully a remap for it. A supercharger would be nice but I bought this in a rare moment of being sensible (hard to believe I appreciate, but man maths has once again proven its worth)-I don't think I could justify five grand on forced induction when that is 1/3 of a house deposit.
A couple of arty farty iPhone pictures.
I also think I was a bit harsh on it-it is rather quicker than first thought! Drive the torque curve and it really does shift rather better than 260bhp and the weight really ought to. Coupled with that rich, baritone howling soundtrack, it's damn good fun and made me grin like a loon. Can't wait to get an Accufab throttle body and hopefully a remap for it. A supercharger would be nice but I bought this in a rare moment of being sensible (hard to believe I appreciate, but man maths has once again proven its worth)-I don't think I could justify five grand on forced induction when that is 1/3 of a house deposit.
A couple of arty farty iPhone pictures.
John_S4x4 said:
Thanks for the update. How did you get on with the rust treatment ?
Very well-I'll dive underneath at the weekend and grab some pictures. It's handy as it comes up like new with a quick jet wash, means I don't fret about being caught out in the rain and as a bonus, the car has gained the mysterious Rover smell I used to love as a kid-Waxoyl/Ditrinol overlaid with leather. Omnomnom...Edited by itcaptainslow on Tuesday 1st September 19:52
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