how do they drive?

[ianinfrance]

Hi,all and Merry Christmas. I have decided, for the moment anyway to look at buying a ZS as a replacement for my Focus when it has done its time as my work run around.

This won't be for a while. I have asked a MG mechanic/Trader I know to do me an inspection of a car when the time comes to ensure the purchase of a car not and not a yellow coloured bitter fruit!

I live in France and have very limited access to ZS's, of any version, to try one.

I could do with knowing what they drive like before I commit.

Has anyone experience of a MK1 Focus 2.0 and could try to give me a comparison in terms of the responses of steering brakes suspension etc etc.

E.G. Is there room to put your left foot down the side of the clutch?
I will be buying a RHD as the LHD prices are unbelievable!!!

Do they suit people of average height as the column adjustment is limited compared to the Focus. I have a Ford Ranger as well and that doesn't have much either.

Not being in my first flush of youf! I like a bit of comfort

It is a bit of an unfair question I know! Still, if someone feels they could put this into words it would help.

Any ZS owners in the midi-pyrenees, I am in department 82, could be another idea?

Any advice would be gratefully received.


Ian the Horse Dentist from France.

[big_wasa]

Ive worked on and driven a mates mk1 focus. I have owned three 180's and worked on and driven a 120. I am 6.3" and I prefer the zs even though there is a little less room than the focus. Less room still in the scooby I am having a fling with at the mo'.

The focus is like a boat, the zs just has somthing about it. Yep there is a ledge at the side of the clutch to rest your foot so you dont ride the clutch.

I love the 2.0 zetec and it has more grunt than a zs 120 but a zs 180 with breathing mods is another level.

[peterzs]

Think the best way, is to find one near you for sale (might be a bit of a ask) and go for a test drive. Nothing like getting behind the wheel to appreciate the grunt and fine handling.

Like every thing, no two drive the same, so the more you can try the better.

We do have a few French members and if one of those were thinking of selling.............

:santa::santa: :clap::clap::clap:

[p_b82]

or mayb the alternative is to arrange a trip over to visit some-one who may be kind enough to give you a test drive, expensive way to learn - but probably a must before you buy.

If you lilke comfort you would be better off with the 16" wheels as they have a higher sidewall than the 17's. tho imo avoid any 18's as they are harsher still.

not sure if you had considered the derv - as i know diesel is cheaper still over in france - can be midly breathed on for a good boost in performance, not up to a 180 unless you spend big money and loose reliability, but def better than the 120's.

[ianinfrance]

Thanks for the replies so far.

Found this one not too far away.

http://www.marche.fr/petite_annonce_auto-occasion-achat-vente-mg-mg-zs-115ch-diesel-ref25002721.html

See what I mean about the price!

Also 700€ 570 quid for a cambelt change!!!!!!

Ian

[stamford]

Hi Ian, the biggest problem you have is asking a daft question on this forum relating to buying a ZS over a Ford or any other car for that matter! :laugh:

Seriously many have owned ZS's and gone to other marques but it is surprising how many have come back again and again. Strange that for what is a 90s car at heart.

I have owned mine for nearly 8 years and that is a record for me and I have no intention to sell it. Every time I drive it I end up with a daft smile on my face. For someone in their late 40's I should be driving someone different but refuse to! Have a read through varous threads on here and you will get a picture of these cars and what they are about. You cannot compare them to many, it is just something about them. Drive one and see. Alot of car and fun for very little money.

[ianinfrance]

Hi Ian, the biggest problem you have is asking a daft question on this forum relating to buying a ZS over a Ford or any other car for that matter! :laugh:

Seriously many have owned ZS's and gone to other marques but it is surprising how many have come back again and again. Strange that for what is a 90s car at heart.

I have owned mine for nearly 8 years and that is a record for me and I have no intention to sell it. Every time I drive it I end up with a daft smile on my face. For someone in their late 40's I should be driving someone different but refuse to! Have a read through varous threads on here and you will get a picture of these cars and what they are about. You cannot compare them to many, it is just something about them. Drive one and see. Alot of car and fun for very little money.

I knew it was unlikely to get a non ZS biased response but I didn't know about the pedal space, I do now, as I sat in a friends ZR and there is nowhere for your feet.

I am looking at a Diesel as well as it's a sort of no-brainer with diesel at around £1.14 here.

Where I live it is hard, without traveling some distance to find anything other than the usual French fayre to have a drive in. I don't like wasting private people's time and not much turns up in the traders other than 307's and C4's.

I might come across one on my travels!

I need a car I can enjoy driving as here in the Midi-pyrenees the roads are wonderful for a car with nice pointy steering and balance. I do lots of A and B roads and less often a 3 to 4 hour run on the Autoroute.

I also need something I can look after without too much specialised kit and these days that is harder and harder to find. I looked at Zt's but you need deep pockets for those things.

Ian

[stamford]

I have covered around 75k miles in mine and found it a decent ride and comfortable considering the suspension set-up. Pedal space I have found to be good, it has a rest to the left of the clutch pedal. Running costs are good compared to some. The only issues will be as per the buyers guide, depends what engine you want. I have found my 180 to be very reliable and cheap to run. You do need to budget for the big service items but that is common for most cars these days. As for fun on the twisty bits then you have got the right car imo. It is a very capable car when pushed with plenty of driver feedback and confidence.

[peterzs]

my ones a derv had it nearly 5 years now, old school "L" series derv engine, bit agricultural but easy to maintain and you can tweak them a bit.

Taken it around Brands Hatch and they do go and handle well.

Belts are easy to do and the clutch has just been replaced for £320 ish.

Derv fuel is dearer over here than petrol, used to be the other way round.

This might help:- http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=11326

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=11255

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=11254

Hope you find a good one.

:clap::clap::clap:

[pheelay]

Hi Ian,
I'm living in France at the moment as well, I'm in Paris though so we're fairly far apart. Have 2 RHD ZS's here and as it happens one is up for sale (http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/402391248.htm?ca=12_s) :-D I'm trying to sell in France though for the exact same reason you say...2nd hand car market way way stronger over here.

The Zeds in France are almost all diesels. A few 180s around, but not many. Mk2s, in any flavour, are very rare.

I see a couple of private sales on leboncoin around your area. The only Mk2 is up at 7000€, and a Mk1 crash right-off going for 2200€!
http://www.leboncoin.fr/voitures/offres/midi_pyrenees/?f=a&th=1&q=mg+zs

If you're up in Paris sometime, give us a shout on here. You could drop over perhaps and try one out for yourself. :beer2:

phil

[talkingcars]

Iain - don't try and compare a ZR with a ZS, thye are very different, I know because we have both.

I have never driven a focus so can not compare but I do find the ZS is very much a drivers car compared to other cars such as VW.

[ianinfrance]

Thanks for the offers and the links. Don't think I will be paying out 7000 euros anytime soon!

I have looked at lots of cars over the years. I am concious of a potential envy issue of turning up in a bmw or a merc as my customers may get the wrong impression if you follow. To be fair most don't care but you never know.

I am at an age where I can pretty much afford most things insurance wise and have looked at Jags and Alfa's and Volvo's, Audi's etc etc, you name it, as well.

There are so many to choose from all with differing issues/problems associated with them.

Lets face it it can still be a complete lottery as to whether you buy a lemon or not even with the best of intentions and care.

So I will try to buy a car for the heart but with my head.

I really fancied a ZT, but they can be very pricey to run, and I have many other things to spend money on, other cars, I have a horse, and the means to move it around the country, a means of making and moving hay for the horses, things to cut wood for the fires and the list of tools and maintenance just goes on.

So a simpler car, designed and engineered well in the first place, in an earlier time yet still contemporary and imo attractive still, is a definite contender.

So save up a few pennies and see how the Ford and the business income bears up this year.

Happy New Year!

Ian

[M17TT180]

I've come from a 1.8 mk1 focus to the zs180 and the difference is staggering, even tho my focus was a special edition with 17 inch alloys and handled like it was on rails the driving enjoyment was seriously lacking. My ZS is much more fun to drive and even the petrol consumption between the 2.5 and the 1.8 is good. Infact I found that doing the 20 odd miles from my house to my parents I have found that I get better mpg than the focus.

[MG mad]

We have a ZT (albeit a 260) and a ZS 180, and we test drove a number of ZT 190s and 180s when we moved to Germany. ZT is, in general, the better car all round, except as a driver's car (excluding the 260 - it's hard to pick between that and a ZS). ZS is an outstanding handling car.

French prices make me feel much better about the prices in Germany. Our ZS 180 was just over 4000 euro, and was the top end of the price bracket in Germany - seem to be going for 2-4k mostly. Only ever seen one MK2 for sale though, and it was a derv (= not an option for me).

We've done a few 800km/day trips in ours, mostly on the motorways, and it's comfortable enough. Economy for a 2.5 petrol is not bad, we manage 35-36 pretty constantly at normal motorway speeds, or about 33 at autobahn speeds. Drops a bit over some of the passes in the Alps though, but fun increases exponentially.

[ianinfrance]

We have a ZT (albeit a 260) and a ZS 180, and we test drove a number of ZT 190s and 180s when we moved to Germany. ZT is, in general, the better car all round, except as a driver's car (excluding the 260 - it's hard to pick between that and a ZS). ZS is an outstanding handling car.

French prices make me feel much better about the prices in Germany. Our ZS 180 was just over 4000 euro, and was the top end of the price bracket in Germany - seem to be going for 2-4k mostly. Only ever seen one MK2 for sale though, and it was a derv (= not an option for me).

We've done a few 800km/day trips in ours, mostly on the motorways, and it's comfortable enough. Economy for a 2.5 petrol is not bad, we manage 35-36 pretty constantly at normal motorway speeds, or about 33 at autobahn speeds. Drops a bit over some of the passes in the Alps though, but fun increases exponentially.

Thank you for the input, interesting about the mpg on the V6, i wouldn't have expected that much. I agree ZT is a "better" car all round but I have no access to a T4 here and would go Diesel Auto as the more reliable option but again no Autobox guys for 150 miles of here. for ease of maintenance and in all probability lower repair costs the ZS wins hands down every time for me.

[talkingcars]

The ZT is basically BMW 5 series under the skin, especially the diesel.