My MG ZS 180 in comparison to my last car - Skoda Octavia 1.8T 4x4

[brf1976]

The cars
Previously owned prior to current MG ZS 180
Skoda Octavia 1.8T 4x4 Estate
- Remap to 194 Bhp (MIJ Performance Walsall)
- Pipercross panel air filter
- AP coilover adjustable suspension (Awesome GTI)
Current Car
MG ZS 180 (Bhp unknown – 180-185 approx.)
- Decat Exhaust (brand unknown)
- Piper cross cone with DIY cold air feed

Pros & Cons
The power delivery is completely different while both cars feel as powerful the MG ZS 180 needs to be on the high revs to compete also due to the extra torque from the Octavia (remapped) the power lasts longer with advantage of 4 wheel drive (less wheel spin).

The MG ZS 180 looks great the Octavia looks like a bog standard car

The MG ZS 180 sounds beastly the Octavia purred.

Fit a flat pack double bed in the Octavia and still room for wife and child.

The Octavia 1.8T 4X4 looks bog standard and to look at it you would not know it could beat an Octavia (Mk 1) VRS off the line (wolf in sheeps clothing ) surprised a few people.

The MG ZS 180 cornering is as standard is as good as the Octavia with adjustable suspension the MG ZS fills you with confidence

Interior is great in the MG ZS 180 love the colour coded seats Octavia cloth seats.

To summarise you could ask or say it is quite a change going from the Octavia to the MG ZS however the Octavia was as fun to drive as the MG ZS is now and that’s what both the cars have in common the only thing is I love the look and sound of the MG ZS I think im an addicted as I am now always looking for excuses to go to shops etc. anything to get behind the wheel…………LOVE IT :super:

[Lukeus101]

Glad you are liking it mate :) Keep enjoying it!

[brf1976]

Cheers mate hard not to like it

[Lukeus101]

I love my 180, the sound is second to none. Unfortunately my soppy German Shepherd doesnt find the saloon as comfy.

[ZS]

Pros & Cons
The power delivery is completely different while both cars feel as powerful the MG ZS 180 needs to be on the high revs to compete also due to the extra torque from the Octavia (remapped) the power lasts longer with advantage of 4 wheel drive (less wheel spin).

My current 180 pulls through all Revs like a train, it is modified though! Certainly don't need to be in a specific rev range to have power :)


Fit a flat pack double bed in the Octavia and still room for wife and child.


I got a flat pack double bed in my 180 the other day :D also, the other week, I went camping with an 8 man tent (two huge bags make up the tent) and enough kit for me and the two kids for 5 days.. Plenty of space, although I swear the saloon has more space, for non bulky items!


I love the look and sound of the MG ZS I think im an addicted as I am now always looking for excuses to go to shops etc. anything to get behind the wheel…………LOVE IT :super:

Gotta agree with you there! love driving my 180, I do kinda wish it was a Black Saloon MK2 instead of a Red Hatch MK1... but even so still bloody gorgrous to look at, and the mods done to it make it soooo much better to drive ;)

[peterzs]

Plus its the best colour, Trophy Yellow......................

;););):thumbsup::thumbsup:

[ZS]

Plus its the best colour, Trophy Yellow......................

;););):thumbsup::thumbsup:

Had a Trophy Yellow 180 once... But I recovered :)

[brf1976]

My current 180 pulls through all Revs like a train, it is modified though! Certainly don't need to be in a specific rev range to have power :)

Agree with you the comment the MG ZS certainly does have alot of power but the turbo of the 1.8T (remapped) kicks in at lower revs as to your modified MG ZS it could be different.

I got a flat pack double bed in my 180 the other day :D also, the other week, I went camping with an 8 man tent (two huge bags make up the tent) and enough kit for me and the two kids for 5 days.. Plenty of space, although I swear the saloon has more space, for non bulky items!

I hear what your saying not tried a double bed in ZS yet lol but I think the estate would have more boot space



Gotta agree with you there! love driving my 180, I do kinda wish it was a Black Saloon MK2 instead of a Red Hatch MK1... but even so still bloody gorgrous to look at, and the mods done to it make it soooo much better to drive ;)

Once I've changed my induction to enclosed type mine sure the drive will be that much better.....and yes agree it is a better drive pleasure.

[brf1976]

Had a Trophy Yellow 180 once... But I recovered :)

Sure you didn't bump your head lol

[stamford]

Interesting read, until you have driven a 180 you would never know.

[ZS]

I got a flat pack double bed in my 180 the other day :D also, the other week, I went camping with an 8 man tent (two huge bags make up the tent) and enough kit for me and the two kids for 5 days.. Plenty of space, although I swear the saloon has more space, for non bulky items!

I am sure I can get more in the Hatch 180 than I could in the 75 Tourer I had before... Its odd, but the 75 was a huge car and didn't seem to have much space in it at all!

Sure you didn't bump your head lol

No, I was fed up of people not seeing the car... it was like that car was invisible... The Trophy Blue 180 was better, but this Solar Red 180 seems to get people moving, maybe its that stance of this one? (Tis on very low coilovers)

Wow. Just realised that this 180 is my 3rd 180 and my 5th ZS overall (first being a 101 Diesel and there is also a 120 in there somewhere as well) :D:D - 3 Hatch's and 2 Saloon's

[brf1976]

I am sure I can get more in the Hatch 180 than I could in the 75 Tourer I had before... Its odd, but the 75 was a huge car and didn't seem to have much space in it at all!



No, I was fed up of people not seeing the car... it was like that car was invisible... The Trophy Blue 180 was better, but this Solar Red 180 seems to get people moving, maybe its that stance of this one? (Tis on very low coilovers)

Wow. Just realised that this 180 is my 3rd 180 and my 5th ZS overall (first being a 101 Diesel and there is also a 120 in there somewhere as well) :D:D - 3 Hatch's and 2 Saloon's

Only thing I noticed when you put the seats down there is a restriction in the usable width in the MG ZS

[ZS]

Only thing I noticed when you put the seats down there is a restriction in the usable width in the MG ZS

With the saloon yes, the Hatch allows much more usable width :)

[Adamzs180]

I have that problem with the saloon. Went to put a dresser in there the other day and found it was an inch wider than the gap when you take the seats down. Is there a reason for this overlap behind the seats?

Also to the original message i noticed you used mij for a re map. Did they do a good job? My exhaust is coming from them. If they're any good i may has well get some other bits done there too.

[MG6Turbo]

Not a good comparison for size, as the octavia shown is an estate and had mg done a zs estate then im sure it would have been just as accomodating.

However, if you went a test drove a octavia vrs diesel saloon today, the only thing you would miss with the 180 is the engine note.

The handling of the new vrs is better than the zs 180. The spec is better than the 180, the interior is better than the zs 180.

The new Octavia vrs 170 is in my eyes the perfect replacement for the zs 180 and i have seen a couple of people go from the zs to the new octavia and not look back.

Having driven both cars on track, im afraid to say the lap time of the octavia was slightly quicker, but then it should be considering that its newer technology.

The zs 180 can still hold its own, but it is showing its age in places. However, if you was to compare a vrs of same vintage with the zs, the zs would show it how its done.

Shame the Mg6 cant even compete with a 180 in its handling and performance, saying that, it cant even compete against a skoda in that respect either.

Looking forward to seeing how my MG6 goes when its completed. Im hoping it will deserve to be badged an MG.

George

[Dan1971]

To be honest - I don't see the newer shape Octovia 170 Vrs diesel as a fair comparison to the ZS 180 either.

They are miles away from each other cost-wise with Mk2s now swapping hands for £1200 on the bay and £2K tops for a good one from an enthusiast seller. Cheapest you'll get a 170 diesel Vrs for off the bay is £5,500 and it's an 07 with 138K miles. Ofcourse it's gonna be better specced etc ......

The op compares the first Vrs in terms of power, handling and fun etc and the ZS stands up well. In practical terms - never gonna be fair comparing a saloon to an estate, but hey, we all know that.

[MG6Turbo]

Dan if you actually read the post instead of quickly scanning it, i did say if you was to compare the zs 180 to the octavia of same vintage. That means of same year !!

Since there isnt a current mg to pitch against the vrs skoda the 180 is the last comparitive model. The MG6 isnt exactly a pitch is it and i also did say that.

But hey we all know that as well dont we !

[Dan1971]

......The handling of the new vrs is better than the zs 180. The spec is better than the 180, the interior is better than the zs 180.

........

George

How is that comparing the "old Vrs" against the 180 ? ..... read your own posts .....

[MG6Turbo]

I dont need to read.. If you read, it says if you was to go an test a new skoda octavia today, and then goes on to say that in my eyes, the new vrs octavia 170 is the perfect replacement for the 180 and i have explained why.

What people are now looking for is something to replace the 180 that does what it did and is up to date.

Passat, boring, audi boring, bmw boring .... get my drift.. Skoda vrs is striking to look at and is no means boring !

Thats what the zs had.. it wasnt boring and didnt look like every other car on the road !

G

[R8NMG]

Passat, boring, audi boring, bmw boring ....

Absolutely :punk:

Thats what the zs had.. it wasnt boring and didnt look like every other car on the road !

The ZS certainly still stands out from the crowd but unfortunately the MG6 looks to me just like every other hatch back on the road :yawn:

[brf1976]

I have that problem with the saloon. Went to put a dresser in there the other day and found it was an inch wider than the gap when you take the seats down. Is there a reason for this overlap behind the seats?

Also to the original message i noticed you used mij for a re map. Did they do a good job? My exhaust is coming from them. If they're any good i may has well get some other bits done there too.

No problem with remap they provided me with a good service and from what I know they are competitively priced with their exhaust systems. I would go there again. :)

[talkingcars]

.........No, I was fed up of people not seeing the car... it was like that car was invisible...

So it's not just me, I regularly get people puase and then still pull out, and then get stressed because you are on their bumper, had it tonight with a hotel minibus, I went to over take him so he moved right but not fully, then signaled, slowed and eventually turned right into a car park for a factory that had closed for the night.

Back on thread - I worked for a VW/Audi main dealer at the end of the 90's for about 4 years and got to drive some interesting cars, still prefed my maestro to the golfs (although the mk2 16v GTi were quite good) and TBH I couldn't get excited by even the Audis on offer, even the S8 when it came out, a very very capable car with mountains of power and more grip than you you can imagine but driving it was just so mundane.

The ZS saloon isn't the best load carrier but it wasn't designed to be, wife has a ZR and step daughter has a metro so those bases are covered and I can always borrow something from work, be it a transit sized van or pick up or an 18 tonner with tail lift, 26 tonner without or even a 44 tonne wagon and drag complete with crane. However I find the saloon is great for travelling, suitcases in the boot and a nice cabin for traveling in.

Personally I like the interior of the mk1 ZS, with the addition of a few more modern features such as heated seats, cruise control, climate control, blue tooth and DAB it holds it's own.

I've owned my ZS for four years now, still smile every time I get in it, or even see it parked up, you can't say that about most cars, and to think I was going to be grown up and buy a safira.

[peterzs]

Glad its just not me that has a grin, when I walk up to the ZS in a car park!!!!!

[Adamzs180]

No problem with remap they provided me with a good service and from what I know they are competitively priced with their exhaust systems. I would go there again. :)

Thats good to know thankyou. You're right about competitive prices. I was quoted under £300 for a stainless cat back and tail pipe of my choice. I nearly opted for a twin like found on carrera gt but stuck to my original Escort cosworth style oval.

[brf1976]

Thats good to know thankyou. You're right about competitive prices. I was quoted under £300 for a stainless cat back and tail pipe of my choice. I nearly opted for a twin like found on carrera gt but stuck to my original Escort cosworth style oval.

You will have to post pics and feedback when done I like the oval style exhaust tail pipe :)