Should I change: V6 Ford/V8 MG? I opinions please!

[Capri86]

Hi I’m a newbie here but have been watching from a far for some time.

I have a dilemma which I am hoping the experienced PHeaders can assist me with. Perhaps being at little more rational than the wife calling me a p**t that needs to grow up!

I currently have a very good nick Mondeo ST200, chipped, induction kit and Remus exhaust which sounds great. I love car and it still make me grin even though it’s not the fastest thing around these day.

Having had (and still do but mothballed atm) a Capri I miss a rear driver but I’m not fond of BMWs.

I have however spontaneously arrange to go and see and MG ZT260 V8. Looking at the details and reading up on them they have their pros and cons but I think I’ve possibly source a good one with all the common faults sorted in my desired spec.

Now the Mondeo is not what I call good on fuel and I obviously expect the ZT to be worse but perhaps not by that much.

Want I want to know is will this surpass the Mondeo, or whilst quicker and noisier am I setting myself up for a world of possible pain where I’ll be wishing I had my ST back.

Opinions please?

[300bhp/ton]

Capri86 said:

Hi I’m a newbie here but have been watching from a far for some time.

I have a dilemma which I am hoping the experienced PHeaders can assist me with. Perhaps being at little more rational than the wife calling me a p**t that needs to grow up!

I currently have a very good nick Mondeo ST200, chipped, induction kit and Remus exhaust which sounds great. I love car and it still make me grin even though it’s not the fastest thing around these day.

Having had (and still do but mothballed atm) a Capri I miss a rear driver but I’m not fond of BMWs.

I have however spontaneously arrange to go and see and MG ZT260 V8. Looking at the details and reading up on them they have their pros and cons but I think I’ve possibly source a good one with all the common faults sorted in my desired spec.

Now the Mondeo is not what I call good on fuel and I obviously expect the ZT to be worse but perhaps not by that much.

Want I want to know is will this surpass the Mondeo, or whilst quicker and noisier am I setting myself up for a world of possible pain where I’ll be wishing I had my ST back.

Opinions please?

I drove a ZT260 not long after they came out. Very nice it was too, very well setup from the factory and did feel like a big go-kart. Although you could certainly tell the weight.

The Ford 4.6 is an ok motor, but that's about it. In stock trim the 2c SOHC was rather wheezy and didn't like to rev and wasn't all that powerful either.

This means the ZT260 isn't actually hugely fast, it's not slow and it'll feel grunty due to quite a high torque output at low revs, but I think you might be disappointed with it's outright pace. Personally I think this engine works much better in the far lighter Mustang GT (sn95 models).

That said, there are things you can do to liven the V8 up. Forced induction is common, but it is pricey. It will respond to n/a mods, but getting it to and over 300hp will be a challenge and costly too.

The ZT260 is a vehicle I truly love just for it existing at all. And it does drive well, but it's such a crying shame MGRover didn't opt for the 5.4 SOHC or the DOHC 4.6 as it'd have offer so much more grunt.

MPG is probably pretty appalling. I'd budget for circa 18mpg +- depending on how/where you drive with 15-25mpg being the upper and lower limits.

[Capri86]

Thanks for the advice 300.

Not only do I like the looks but the sound of the V8 with the x-power exhaust is I’m afraid all it could take fall for these cars.

Head and heart in conflict and all that!

Was planning on opting for a Monaro in a few years time but the value for money on the ZT seems unbeatable atm. Also someone else has taken the massive hit on depreciation already. I figured I could run it for a couple of years and (as long as there are no major mechanical failures) have a couple of years of virtually depreciation free motoring, or at worst lose no more than a grand or so.

I’ll only be doing at most 5K at year in it.

Could be costly if I get the tuning temptation though! The Supercharger kits keep popping up in my mind!

[davepoth]

It's a V8. Go for it.

[V88Dicky]

How about a Capri with a tuned Mustang growler?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=2...

[300bhp/ton]

The Crack Fox said:

Really ?! You do know what a Go-Kart is, right ?

I love 'em, actually, but they're thirsty wafty things. I suspect you'll be hankering after your Mondeo when you get some real world MPG pain from one.

Good luck.

Maybe it was me. But I thought it was setup very well for British roads. Very chuckable but solid feeling. I was driving a Merc SL500 when I went to see the ZT and an s13 200SX after. We had the MG for half a day or so. Certainly thought it was a descent cut above the Nissan or Merc in the handling stakes.

Edited by 300bhp/ton on Friday 10th August 20:28

[Capri86]

V88Dicky said:

How about a Capri with a tuned Mustang growler?

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=2...

Funny you should point that out. My capri is mothballed for me to get the time and funds to put a V8 in and fully track prep it!

Don't need any more temptation!

Wife will be pleased!

Guess if the ZT falls apart I could pull the V8 out of that ;-)

[welshjohn]

The the mondeo engine into the capri

[Capri86]

welshjohn said:

The the mondeo engine into the capri

Ha yeah!

Should have thought of that!

You lot are not what the misses would call a good influence

[eliot]

300bhp/ton said:

This means the ZT260 isn't actually hugely fast.

Ask Poledriver what happened when he met my Dakar on the City's roundabouts

[300bhp/ton]

eliot said:

300bhp/ton said:

This means the ZT260 isn't actually hugely fast.

Ask Poledriver what happened when he met my Dakar on the City's roundabouts

lol I can imagine...