Stev180
01-01-12, 05:53 PM
Happy New Year all! I picked up my ZS 180 yesterday. After owning a ZR 160 for 3 years covering over 45,000 miles in it I took the plunge and bought the ZS 180. In Aug 11 my job relocated closer to home so im not doing the miles so can afford to run a bigger car. I loved every second in the 160 and hope I get the same feeling from the 180. I am a bit of an MGR nut and have had one since I past my test. Im on most of the MGR forums so you may have seen me post before.
I did a 300 mile round trip to view a 17,000 mile 2003 180 4dr in TB and it was advertisied as a rare opportunity/beautiful example etc and I went with cash and dissapointed was an understement, the passenger side looked like it had been in a war + front passenger door was a different colour. I was really hoping the car was for me but it was not! Had the rare monogram interior pack with the colour coded cappings/steering wheel. The inside was above average condition but not perfect. (should still be on Autotrader)
I then found another ZS 180 a few days later and bought it - pictures to follow. Which is in 10x better condition than the 17k one.
Obvious problems I was aware before buying the car are:
Exhaust needs re-positioning as its not sitting as it should (I think its an OE equivalent with a mild steel 'tip' on it)
Passenger side has 3 common circular dents (But apart from that the car really is pristine - an im very particular about bodywork) so I will get round to getting these pulled by Dent devils/simillar.
'MG' Badges are originals and therefore have seen better days (But im glad they havent been changed to show that the originals have been kept on if that makes sense)
Interior fan not working on 1 + 2 (will get a new heater resistor on ebay and change it) - this will cure it? My bro's BRM had the same problem.
Engine/bay have never ever even been wiped - so I will attack this next weekend.
Its not had the belt(s) changed - how common has it been for the KV6 in the 180 to snap?
Plus points:
Trophy Blue (was this the flagship colour for the ZS?) 2 owners, 42,000 miles, FSH, 2 keys 2 remotes
Body work is near perfect apart from the few passenger side mini dents.
Interior looks like its never been sat in or used even the drivers seat!
Armrest cupholder is present.
Rear headrests
Rear parking sensors (I thought I would hate these but they have already come in handy plus not that much of an eyesore)
Original straights have minimal kerbing which can only mean the last owners have been careful. The colour of the wheels have a become quite flat but I will be swapping them with my ZR straights (Which have 4 new toyo T1rs and had a refurb a few years ago)
Overall it seems a solid fun car and a mighty step up from a ZR 160! But I have noticed one main concern which is total sods law! Overall I test drove the car for an hour over the two days and left it running after to see if the fans kick in etc which they did. I paid the money got the keys etc go to the car and start it, drive it 100 yards behind my friend and suddenly the revs went from idle to 1500 on a cycle of 3 times then the EML came on and the car cut off! I thought typical! Ive committed at this stage to the car re-started it and it was fine! It had been standing about 20 mins from the test drive before I went to drive it home once I paid. It did not do the same thing later in the day so im a bit puzzled. What you guys think?
Looking forward to reading the forums and posting when I can! Thanks.
I did a 300 mile round trip to view a 17,000 mile 2003 180 4dr in TB and it was advertisied as a rare opportunity/beautiful example etc and I went with cash and dissapointed was an understement, the passenger side looked like it had been in a war + front passenger door was a different colour. I was really hoping the car was for me but it was not! Had the rare monogram interior pack with the colour coded cappings/steering wheel. The inside was above average condition but not perfect. (should still be on Autotrader)
I then found another ZS 180 a few days later and bought it - pictures to follow. Which is in 10x better condition than the 17k one.
Obvious problems I was aware before buying the car are:
Exhaust needs re-positioning as its not sitting as it should (I think its an OE equivalent with a mild steel 'tip' on it)
Passenger side has 3 common circular dents (But apart from that the car really is pristine - an im very particular about bodywork) so I will get round to getting these pulled by Dent devils/simillar.
'MG' Badges are originals and therefore have seen better days (But im glad they havent been changed to show that the originals have been kept on if that makes sense)
Interior fan not working on 1 + 2 (will get a new heater resistor on ebay and change it) - this will cure it? My bro's BRM had the same problem.
Engine/bay have never ever even been wiped - so I will attack this next weekend.
Its not had the belt(s) changed - how common has it been for the KV6 in the 180 to snap?
Plus points:
Trophy Blue (was this the flagship colour for the ZS?) 2 owners, 42,000 miles, FSH, 2 keys 2 remotes
Body work is near perfect apart from the few passenger side mini dents.
Interior looks like its never been sat in or used even the drivers seat!
Armrest cupholder is present.
Rear headrests
Rear parking sensors (I thought I would hate these but they have already come in handy plus not that much of an eyesore)
Original straights have minimal kerbing which can only mean the last owners have been careful. The colour of the wheels have a become quite flat but I will be swapping them with my ZR straights (Which have 4 new toyo T1rs and had a refurb a few years ago)
Overall it seems a solid fun car and a mighty step up from a ZR 160! But I have noticed one main concern which is total sods law! Overall I test drove the car for an hour over the two days and left it running after to see if the fans kick in etc which they did. I paid the money got the keys etc go to the car and start it, drive it 100 yards behind my friend and suddenly the revs went from idle to 1500 on a cycle of 3 times then the EML came on and the car cut off! I thought typical! Ive committed at this stage to the car re-started it and it was fine! It had been standing about 20 mins from the test drive before I went to drive it home once I paid. It did not do the same thing later in the day so im a bit puzzled. What you guys think?
Looking forward to reading the forums and posting when I can! Thanks.