Don't know what to do?

[talkingcars]

I was expecting a massive fail on the MOT on the ZS this week and
it's getting long in the tooth at 118k,
the aircon is noisy,
it has an oil leak,
NSF CV joint is going,
OSF brake is sticking under heavy breaking (this is the only caliper that hasn't been changed),
3 of the door handles have failed (all 3 have been previously repaired,
the good one hasn't),
the bluetooth isn't working.
And I've had it for 5 years.

The MGF needs money chucking at it asthe suspension on one side goes flat in 6 months and I need to pay someone to cure the emisions problem for the MOT as I've not been able to DIY the problem.

The maestro needs masses of work and will always be a toy.

The ZR is Mrs TC's car and it did look like she was going to start using it for work due to promotion and working further from home but this has been delayed.

This time of year gets depressing any way, topped with nearly loosing my job and health worries with several members of the family and I was looking for a way to cheer myself up. A new car always does this, Jays yellow ZS come up at a bargin price, followed by several others, all I missed out on by a fraction but I'm now in car buying mode.

I had a clear idea of what I wanted and how much I was willing to spend but the ZS passed it's test with 1 advisory on 1 tyre, normally I get a new pair of tyres before the test but assuming it would fail I hadn't bothered.

Do I keep looking or do I spend money on the cars I have.

I could repair the above list and do the LSD and flywheel on the ZS or just continue running it into the ground, get the MGF sorted and use it more and move the Maestro here and fiddle with it when I get time.

I could continue looking for another car.

Not sure what to do, what would you do?

[Dan1971]

I'd get rid of the MGF and the ZS and get one decent car for the money I raised plus whatever else you've got. Too many cars spreads any money you've got to spend on upkeep / improvements too thinly ....

Saying that - if you put your mind and effort to it, you'd get the ZS sorted in a couple of days.

[stamford]

Better the devil you know I say. But when you have in your head buying a car it's impossible to get rid of it! Sell the F and put this towards your ZS or sell yours and the F and buy a good mk2 as Dan has said. Depends what you really want.

[daytona365]

Sell the F, you known the ZS makes more sense. Its the better car...Especially as its YELLOW.

[talkingcars]

Not wanting to get rid of the F, officially Mrs TC thinks it's hers as that got around buying it in the first place, and she does drive it in the summer. I'm just frustrated it failed this years test on emissions after getting it through last years by replacing the entire exhaust system.

Part of the problem with working on my cars is the lack of shelter and a drive that is too small to fit most cars on so I have to work on the road. This summer never happened and I'm getting too old to appriciate getting wet, especially as I work most outside.

[talkingcars]

And TBH the current value of the ZS is less than £500 and the F with no MOT is only about £300.

[grimmy]

I would cut my losses with the fnd get rid it will free up some space and some money.and I would get the zs back into shape.while it is a fairly big list its not a horrendous one and has been said most if it could be knocked out in a day.

[Craig-ZS180]

I've had an F and yes they are a great little fun toy card or a little blast around when its nice and sunny and warm but you have the Maestro for the toy car too.
I would personally say if the F is more a summer car that would probably be the better option to sell that and put the money into the zs as with everything that's been done to it to give it up on the list that's wrong would be a shame.
You've had it 5 years you say, you know it well and know its history, in the long run the little bit of outlay to keep it going again may be better than buying something that could be hiding some real horrors.

The main thing though is what do you really want to do with them, if you have it in your mind you want something else that's a hard feeling to shift.

[peterzs]

Well, now the ZS is MOT'd, do the work and get it back to scratch.

Better the devil you know, I reckon.

[talkingcars]

I don't want to get rid of the F, it's a great little driver and at 34k it's hardly run in, the condition of it is good except for this suspension leak and the emisson problem, it's got new brakes all round, alcantra, hoops etc.

It took us all over europe last summer without missing a beat.

Mrs TC is scared of driving the T16 anyway and I don't think she'd let me get rid of the F.

Cash isn't a problem, spending it is - LOL.

[welshone]

Get rid of all four and buy a nice Hatch mk2 ZS for the Mrs and a nice mk2 ZS saloon for yourself :D

[peterzs]

Sure Ben will find some cheap suspension bits!!!!!

Have to ask MGF reborn about the emission fix.

[Ritchy]

Emmisions may be the upstrean oxygen sensor if it isnt the cat, whats the fail for on the emmisions? High HC or high CO?
Tbh if the body is still okay on the zs id continue with it depending on what the oil leak is

[Craig-ZS180]

I don't want to get rid of the F, it's a great little driver and at 34k it's hardly run in, the condition of it is good except for this suspension leak and the emisson problem, it's got new brakes all round, alcantra, hoops etc.

It took us all over europe last summer without missing a beat.

Mrs TC is scared of driving the T16 anyway and I don't think she'd let me get rid of the F.

Cash isn't a problem, spending it is - LOL.


I think you have answered your own issue there really James, keep the F & the Z and just sort the few things out on the zs. Keep going with your projects on the zs and carry on enjoying it as you know what's what with it.

Like your advice to me when I was having the same worries the other month about changing up in size, I've stuck with the zs now and although minor teething issues at present I'm glad I did as still everytime I turn the key I grin knowing I'm going to enjoy the drive again :)

[talkingcars]

Get rid of all four and buy a nice Hatch mk2 ZS for the Mrs and a nice mk2 ZS saloon for yourself :D

That wont happen, she wont let me sell 3 of them, ZR is hers, she chose it, she paid for it, she loves it, the F was a present to her and she paid for the engine converstion on the T16.

And she thinks the ZS is too big.

[talkingcars]

Emmisions may be the upstrean oxygen sensor if it isnt the cat, whats the fail for on the emmisions? High HC or high CO?
Tbh if the body is still okay on the zs id continue with it depending on what the oil leak is

In 2011 I replaced everything on the exhaust from the manifold gasket to the tips with new parts except the manifold that I refurburished.

In 2012 after it failed I replaced the new cat with another even though the other one was only a year old, generic ones are only £30.

That should just leave the probe which is a pain to reach unless the car is in the air, I've bought one but not fitted it.

IIRC the lambda reading refused to get up to .97.

[talkingcars]

Forgot to add to the first post that she doesn't like starting when cold, a coil pack or something is on the way out.

[talkingcars]

And after I post this thread, read the replys, get myself to thinking that keep the cars I have and spend the money on them and then 2 interesting mk2's come up!

Could I justify adding another car to my accumulation?

[Dan1971]

And after I post this thread, read the replys, get myself to thinking that keep the cars I have and spend the money on them and then 2 interesting mk2's come up!

Could I justify adding another car to my accumulation?

That is your call and yours alone. I struggle to get the time to drive my ZS. Can you share your time, and more importantly the funds between so many cars ?

[talkingcars]

So here is the plan -

Arrange for the F to go to MJS's place in Shoreham to sort the suspension and MOT (need to ask him first).

Tax it and push it into service.

Replace the O/S/F caliper and fit the braided hoses I've had for years on the ZS.

Then take the ZS down there so he can cure the oil leak, and bleed the brakes.

I have ordered replacment brand new handles (and LEDs ;) ) which will need painting once they have arrived.

Once the Zed is back I can finish the bits on the F, apollo induction/52mm TB/cruise control/remote audio.

I shall keep my eyes open for cheap LSD and flywheel for the ZS so when the CV does fail I can get all 3 done at the same time.

I also have an eye on a roof for the F at a decent price.

At some point I'll need to refit the skirts, replace one of the re seats as it doesn't fold and finish wiring the door handle LEDs on the ZR to keep Mrs TC happy

and once the F is on the road I am allowed to bring the maestro home as long as I wash it first, I can then draw up a list of what needs doing and do it.