I'm on the hunt for a new car
 

With the ZS being sold, I'm now on the hunt for a new car.

So, if people can keep their eyes peeled for one of the following please.

1) An MG ZS 180 Mk2 Saloon, lowish mileage with some service history and not silver (XPower Grey is fine). Un-molestered.

2) An MG ZT 1.8t (or maybe 190) Mk2, would prefer the 1.8t just for ease of maintenance. Again, lowish mileage, service history. Again, not silver. I would possibly consider a Mk1, but it would have to be really good and a later model.

Budget, around £1500.

I missed out on this ZT, which is only 10 mile away and would of been ideal, 50k mile, FSH, £1200.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...82es?logcode=p

I've checked auto-trader etc, but there's nothing that really fits my criteria. There's a lovely black one in the link below, the interior is absolutely lovely, but all the engine work puts me off, as well as the aftermarket exhaust and the tinted windows.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2004-MG-ZT...item3f20516179

Ease of maintenance??? Ha Ha... The 1.8Turbo's I've seen have all been money pits! :smart:

I'm more thinking along the lines of cheaper parts, easier access, especially if you're going to do most of the maintenance yourself.

Timing belt for example, cheaper parts, quicker to do on the 1.8.

Then there's the inlet manifold on the V6, if that goes you're looking at £200 for a used unit or £500 brand new.

ok, so the 1.8 might suffer HGF, but if you do it yourself the parts are less than £100.

Also better MPG.

Like I say, I'm not ruling out a 190, it's mainly the fuel consumption that's putting me off, something like 28mpg. Based on a tank of fuel (£85) you'd get 353 mile, compared to 507 mile from the 1.8t.

The 1.8t can also be remapped to the same BHP as the 190, and the fuel economy shouldn't really suffer unless you're constantly using all that extra power.

Head gasket goes, then the turbo goes, then the wastegate, etc etc... the ZT 1.8T (and the 75 CDTi) both cost us thousands more than the ZS180 cost us to run in the time we had them :)

True, I never really thought of the turbo needing to be replaced.

I plan on only covering around 3000 mile a year...in an MG ZT that works out at...

ZT 190 - 24p per mile. 3000 = £720 per year
ZT 1.8t - 16p per mile. 3000 = £480 per year
ZS 180 - 20p per mile. 3000 = £600 per year

I've also priced up parts for the ZT 1.8t and 190.

1.8t
£55 - Timing belt/water pump/tensioner
£60 - Gasket set
£500 - Turbo (recon)
£80 - Wastegate (I think this is right)
TOTAL: £695

KV6
£160 - Timing belts/water pump/tensioner
£500 - Manifold
TOTAL: £660

As you can see there's very little in it in terms of buying the parts should something go wrong.

Ah bollox.

I might have to have a re-think about which car I get. I've always insured MG's with Peter Best, but on they won't insure a driver on a ZT that's under 30 year old. Which is a shame as the insurance on a 2002 MG ZT is only £190 a year.

I asked for a quote on a 2004 ZS 180, and it came back at £320 because it's younger than 10 year!

In your costing you work out the ZS180 at 20p a mile meaning an average of 30mpg!

I got less than 24mpg out of my last tank! I must have a lead filled right shoe i think as 27mpg is the most I've averaged on a tank in over 5 years and 3 180's. :(

Brett

My av is 25.1 over the last 13k, last was 24.1 and best is 33mpg.

So the ZT 190 is going to be much worse.

I didn't make my earlier post clear.

I'm 32, but my wife is only coming up 29, so I can't insure her on a ZT. If I end up getting one, she'll have to go on the policy the following year.

Isn't that a good thing? :laugh:

If only doing 3k a year why worry about economy, enjoy the car!