Should I buy a zs?
 

My dad is after a new car (Jag X type 3.0 v6 sport) and he's been offered a p/x of 3k for his Zs180, so naturally he's offered it to me for the same price.

I'm after a car at the moment anyway, I've got way more than enough cash saved up, but I dont know what to do!

I know it's a good offer for a 2003, 50k miles, amazing condition, trophy blue, extreme spoiler.

I know I probably shouldn't say this on here as I'll get shot down, but I'm not 100% keen on how they look! It might be the fact I'm bored of it as he's had 2 one after the other, identical minus the spoiler, so I'm too familiar with it if you get me...It's completely standard, is there any good examples on here with some mods that may change my opinion?

I know the beauty lies beneath, and that's why I haven't taken it for a drive yet, because I know I'll love it lol.

What do you think? Although the initial cost is cheap, I'm worried about tax and fuel.

Sorry for rambling, I really can't make my mind up!

I know what u mean mate, TBH I preferred the look of my zr to the standard state my zs was when I got it. IMO, the fronts a little plain looking. For me the mk2 grill and 45 lights make a whole load of diffference, either that or just buy a mk2 :) Werent you after a bmw ?

Yeah I'd agree with the above. If youve got plenty of savings, go for a mk2 (if youre not keen on the mk1, which I think look good). IMO the mk2 looks stunning, and for the performance, mileage etc... theyre hard to beat!

Exactly yeah, the front is lacking something!

I've had a look at bmws but they don't tickle me like they used to. I've been driving one for the past month and it's very functional, but as JC would say, I wish it would just put its hands down my trousers and have a rummage!

If I don't buy dads zs, I'll get something else completely. The critera is practical fun. It's only a weekend car for me anyway as I won't be at home this year during the week much (away training).

It's a good deal, especially considering I know it's been looked after extremely well.

Sounds like youre not that intersted in the car tbh. Seems that youre only considering it cause its available, cheap and you know the history... not because its a car you really want to own, or have any passion for.

They are great cars though, and you might love it if you owned one. But, if youre bored of its appearance before you even have it, then thats not a good start.

My advice would be to get a car you really want, not the first that gets offered to you. Im sure the ZS will go to a good home :beer2:

I'd say that you should probably 'pass it up'. Yes, you like the car but at the same time it doesn't appear to 'do it' for you.

IMO the MKI was perfect for the ZR. but the MKII shape is definitely for the ZS.

I think if you asked the opinion of most ZS 180 Owners it would answer your question.

The mk2 is better Styled etc except for the backend.

The mk2 wheels are alot cheaper than the original MK1 wheels.

The sound deadening in the mk2 is pathetic.

To cut a long story short the mk1 is far superior in build quality compared to the MK2.

I know this as we have owned 2 MK1s and now have a MK2.

Really ?? I would be convinced that by the end of the day i f i needed a set that i could get a full set of MK1 straights for a hundred quid. Would struggle to get even one MK2 11 spoke alloy for that !

take one out for a drive dude, only thing you can do, see how you get on with it and if you step out of it smiling.....you know its the right car for you!
In the end....remember its a Rover so don't expect supreme built quality, but do expect amazing amounts of fun, and you never get tired of the looks you get from everyone thinking "is that a 4 door family saloon making all that noise :huh:" (they are always ammusin:D)
im sure if ur local to a MK2 owner on here they will drop round and let u have a fish around it? i never even contemplated the mk1.....way to 45 for me! (sorry!:()
im sure u'll make the right choice :)

I have also had zs's since they arrived in the showrooms back at the start of the millenia and i still get a smile out of it when i keep up with cars that should way outclass the performance of the zs.

I have spent quite a lot of money on mine over the years but i don't regret any of it.

It's a great car inside and out.

The decision.... (as they say on blind date)....is yours.

All very good, honest replies, thanks.

I think you're right, although I have huge respect for the car, I don't think I want to own her myself. I think the main aspect is the front end looks, I'm very fussy about my cars exterior aesthetics (ask Craig) so that's as gooder reason as any. If it were a mk2 I would snap it up no questions asked! I would also be worried in a years time it will be worth peanuts due to the ever increasing tax and fuel.

As said though, thanks for the input guys, your advice and a good nights sleep has helped me to come to a decision (i think haha!).
I'm looking at a couple of zr160s and a clio cup today so fingers crossed :)

Better the devil you know ;) At least you know what you are buying but also remember next year it will be 6 years old, so will require the cambelts/90k level of service.Get your old man to drop it by £600 and strike up a deal ;)

If you prefer a mk2, also bear in mind the availability of certain body parts if the need ever arose.

I like the mk2 for its bodykit and revised interior, but prefer the mk1 for its build quality and rawness.

Thanks for the replies. I didn't buy it, and my dad hasn't bought the Jag yet either lol. But here's what I did get!

http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c400/plum25/clio3.jpg
I'm happy with my choice :king:

As long as you are happy, that's what counts. So what spec is it?

Dead chuffed.
it's a 172 cup, for those that don't know what a cup is, it's basically a stripped out lightweight 172 with different suspension etc.
It's quick!

Those are great little cars. I was qiute interested in one before I got the ZS, but I already had a hatch and wanted a bigger car (and either a turbo or V6). I hear theyre a brilliant drive though, and if one came up against a ZS180 it would mostly be down to who is the better driver :)

i had a dabble with a pug 205 gti the other night Small hot hatch car so kinda on topic and it overtook me like i was going backwards i was at 90mph on my own test track of course ;)

So i cant imagine the 172 being any different really, I did get the impression that my bigger wheels may have slowed me down a little but im not so sure on that one

Anyways nice car mate shame its french :p

Yeah you're right, proper little drivers car. Suits me down to the ground, the visibility is excellent and that was important for me.

I don't mean to come across all 'my cars faster than yours' or anything, but the clio is quicker. 171bhp/ton compared to the zs's 144/ton! Handling is similar on both

lol I know, shame really!

:laugh:

Does it smell of garlic :p

That's like asking if our cars smell of pasties or fish and chips !! :laugh:

Mine usually smells of thinners :laugh:

or Polyurethane Paint from me after work

Its quicker, yes, but not by much (0.5 sec to 60 or similar IIRC for the Cup), hence why I said it would mostly be down to the better driver coming out on top. Someone who knows how to get the most out of the V6 would give a regular Clio driver a real tough time I think :) They drive like gocarts though, so I think it would be a great race around the twistys :D But yeah in a straight line the Clio would win 4 times out of 5.

My only gripe with the Clio 172 was they look pretty much the same as a normal Clio, and what killed it for me was you cant see the exhausts (Why?!)! The 182 solved that problem but I still prefer the sporty looks of the ZS.

Ive got a lot of respect for the Clio 172, dont get me wrong, but I prefer my ZS as an overall car :bow:

I see what you're saying mate :)
Although I don't go by 0-60 times, they're rubbish. Looking at the 0-100mph times you can see the cup does it in 16.8, and the zs around 20/21.

I know what you mean about it looking like a normal clio, but I kind of like that aspect! I've always been a fan of sleepers though tbh.

I may put a different exhaust on there as I'm not 100% on the hidden style, we'll see how that goes!

Likewise, I have muchos respect for the zs (my dads had them since they first came out), but this is more suited for my needs :D

Sorry that 0-100 time for the ZS sounds absolute pish mine does it in way under 20 seconds with bigger wheels hence slower acceleration

Mine hits 0-60 in way under 7 seconds id hazard a guess at 6 standard is 7.3 isnt it, with the bigger wheels too id say that was impressive (This isnt proven i have no timer but it feels that way)

If i put my OE wheels back on i recon it'd be quicker still

Sleepers have their advantages, but I gotta admit I like the feeling when people turn and stare at the ZS as its drives past :) I can see how it would also be a lot of fun zipping past a ZS180 is what looks like a regular Clio though hehe :D

I wouldnt know about the Cup's 0-100, but I think a regular 172 does it in 18.5, according to my site (which also states the ZS at 20.05). After driving a little Suzuki with 107bhp, I would agree 0-100 times are more helpful than 0-60, but for my driving 60-90 would be more helpful yet (overtaking speeds). This is all on my private track of course ;)

Yeh i agree with how people look at the mk2 ZS gets loads of attention especially when it sounds like a Touring car on full throttle like mine :laugh:

best test for the ZS180's engine is a 30 -90 in 3rd gear best ive managed is about 13seconds which is about the average time for a slightly modded 180

Not so sure on the clio though

I honestly havent a clue how my car sounds from the outside! :slap: Ive been meaning to get me Dad to do a driveby for me on a nice stretch of deserted road I know, but havent got round to it yet. All I know is the V6 and Xpower zorst sounds amazing from the driving seat, so must sound pretty good from the outside too! :D

I di post a video on here of how mine sounded ill route it out for you unless youve seen it already

http://www.themgzs.co.uk/vb/showpost...7&postcount=10

Also just to add by the time i hit that corner i was doing 60mph

I dont think Ive seen it. What exhaust do you have on yours?

Custom Hand Built Powerflow with a decat and a Custom inner wing Air filter jobby

last time it was rollered it was pushing about 195bhp at the fly and about 174 at the wheels

highly unbelieved on XPF as a guy on theyre who has cams is only pushing out 174 atw like mine and he has spent just shy of 3.5k getting it theyre :laugh:

Tim, you say you have bigger wheels, surely the tyre aspect ratio compensates for this and will have a rolling circumference that is near on the same as the OE ones? For those mods I would say 6.5s 0-60 being probably closer to the mark, but like you say, getting those times takes alot of practice and getting the take off technique right. It is just a yardstick they use to compare cars, joe public won't be able to achieve it for sure.

here's roughly what times you're looking at if it really was running that power.
Bearing in mind rolling roads aren't the most accurate of things...
Power at Flywheel (BHP) : 195
Weight without Driver (KG) : 1285
Power to Weight Ratio (BHP Per Ton) : 154.19
0 - 60 (Secs) : 6.98
0 - 100 (Secs) : 18.23
60 - 100 (Secs) : 11.25
Quarter Mile (Secs) : 15.39
Terminal Speed (MPH) : 91.87
Drag Strip Quarter Mile (Secs) : 15.19
Drag Strip Terminal Speed (MPH) : 93.46

These figures dont take into account torque or gearing though. The ZS180 has a good amount of torque and a close ratio box so should be a bit faster than the above calculations.

hmm torque doesn't come into the equation in a straight drag on a flat road..

Those figures are only theoretical. Pretty sure torque doesnt only affect the car up hills :)

The 180s unladen weight is 1235kg

Power at Flywheel (BHP) : 195
Weight without Driver (KG) : 1235
Power to Weight Ratio (BHP Per Ton) : 160.43
0 - 60 (Secs) : 6.76
0 - 100 (Secs) : 17.50
60 - 100 (Secs) : 10.74
Quarter Mile (Secs) : 15.17
Terminal Speed (MPH) : 93.09
Drag Strip Quarter Mile (Secs) : 14.97
Drag Strip Terminal Speed (MPH) : 94.71

some good info theyre folks id say 6.5 is about right although in my head its quicker but isnt everybodys car :laugh:

I dunno about the wheels Stamford i always thought the bigger the wheel the slower the acceleration or top end speed

Feel Free to correct me if im wrong