hi folks what to do decisions on a zr for the zs

[kev mocko]

Hi i have a friend who has a zr with the t16 turbo conversion the engine has pretty much been rebuilt also,now ive known him a good few years so hes been a good mate,now hes offered if im intrested in swapping my mk1 180 for it as i used to have a zr 105 too i do like them but my car has no problems of what i know of,its pristine condition inside and out and my misses loves it,and i have it on classic insurance for 150 a year with the comp car.so is it worth really swapping for a zr turbo for that bit more power or is it worth sticking to what i know best? would that poss get on classic insurance or cost me a fortune then? and the thing im curious of he said its still down as a 1.4 on the log bk too which id have to change? what would you do folks ? or is it a lot of hassle? cheers kev:hmm:

[ZS]

Personally I'd keep the ZS... but then I prefer the ZS drive (and look) to the ZR.

[talkingcars]

I'm of the same opinion, the 180 isn't much slower than a T16 and far more user friendly.

[Dan1971]

Well as a ZS site - I'm fairly sure most will say keep the ZS ! A ZR site would say get the ZR.

I must admit to a real hankering for a T16 ZS or ZR and to be honest, I use the MG as a plaything so practicality for me doesn't come into it.

Depends what your needs are I suppose. If you need a bigger car and use it on a daily basis - I'd say stick to the ZS. You want a pocket rocket - get the ZR.

As far as the 1.4 badge is concerned. Truth be told - unless it's to make it look like a sleeper - it's more than likely an insurance dodge and if you got stopped and your insurance was checked and it's insured as a 1.4, a keen eyed trafpol - like a few we have on here - would report you and you'd be looking at 6 points and £200 there and then and having the car seized. Insurance in the future becomes difficult after that point too. The DVLA should also be informed and failure to do so is also an offence.

If you fancy it - get on the blower to a specialist and get a quote to get it on the road legally - and see if it's worth it. Take it for a drive maybe ....

The other thing to consider is that it sounds - to me anyway - to be a decent offer. Mk1 180s are worth what - £500 - to £900 these days. If your getting offered a swap on a good well built T16 that's in decent nick - I'd say that you're getting a good deal.

[kev mocko]

Hi dan thats what would worry me the fact he hasnt declared it to the dvla i think is wrong and exactly like you say mate it would only be a matter of time before you got stopped and done for not declaring it, thats why im a little weiry of doing it ad my car is legit and always have been, im thinking just stick with what i know really as i do like my zs a lot and theyre more well built for me too, what would i have to do if it went to dvla? Does it have to have all sorts of checks done aswell? Thats why im worrying is it me hed be passing the book too? Cheers

[sambomonkee]

I have driven both, and much prefer the ZS, in handles so much better, the ZR just felt two heavy on the front.

Also the refinement of the ZS is much better, the ZR feels cheap and quite old fashioned inside.

Also my opinion is the ZR is for the youngsters and the ZS for the more mature, so you got to think how you would look in a beefed up ZR :punk:

[andys1981]

keep the zs mate,youd regret going back into a zr,ive had two zses and i still have my zr,but id jump at the chance of another zs,be it around the right circumstances

[talkingcars]

I'm of the same opinion, the 180 isn't much slower than a T16 and far more user friendly.

To quantify

I have a ZS180, wife has a ZR160 and I have a maestro with a T16 engine and that's the way I prefer them, all are fun to drive for their own reasons but I'd go for the ZS for daily driving, the maestro for fun and the ZR when there is a chance Mrs TC might do some of the driving.

[petet16]

I'd stick with your zs, you'll miss the v6 for a start, the T16 may have more power but it doesn't have the sound or refinement of a v6.

Also if the car your mate wants to swap is still down as 1400 on the V5 you may run into all sorts of problems with the DVLA when you try and change the cc from 1400 to 2.0.

[stamford]

ZS end of!

Also do you still need to obtain an engineers report on such a conversion in order to get insured?

[kev mocko]

Think il keep my zs folks that was my big worry too all the messing and changing with the dvla and insurance would be daft, and i like coming on here too youre all very friendly people and very helpfull too, as im 31 its more my cup of tea on here too i like a nosey on the zr forum but its not the same, :-)

[stamford]

Common sense prevailed! :D

[talkingcars]

To quantify

I have a ZS180, wife has a ZR160 and I have a maestro with a T16 engine and that's the way I prefer them, all are fun to drive for their own reasons but I'd go for the ZS for daily driving, the maestro for fun and the ZR when there is a chance Mrs TC might do some of the driving.

To further quantify - when time and space allow I may even KV6 the maestro....

[WalkerDnB]

Id be tempted to swap if it was a really nice one. ZR Turbos are a fair bit quicker than a 180 its a car rover should have built tbh.
The fact that's is registered as a 1.4 would put me off though its not worth the risk.

[kev mocko]

Yep true its a lot of hassle and risk i dont really need when i dont have any of that hassle with my zs and thats the best thing i like about it,cheap on insurance and its not that bad to run if driven sensibly,and i had a zr and no matter how much i looked after it it started to bubble and rush on all four arches? i never got why but the three zs ive had never had any rust issues at all really? a zr turbo does intrest me but only if done properly to the right standards it should be really and you was right stamford i just hope to get to come along to some meets on the forum now too ive been registered a while and never been to any on here :-),