Help or advice as I'm totally confused..

[Craig-ZS180]

Originally Posted by talkingcars

For what it's worth heres what I think.

The key to me is you saying "guilty pleasure. You need an outlet, not allowing yourself a bit of "me" will lead to resentment, yes, family come first but if you can do right by the family while retaining the car I would.

Just be a little more careful of when you put your foot down, even sign upto something like www.fuely.com and watch the fuel consumption, mine is improving through this.

Also do you really need an estate, holidays can be covered by the use of a roof box and most of the time the ZS is big enough.

If your car is sorted you run the risk of buying a money pit and even simply changing cars will cost you money, the ZS isn't worth a great deal so you'll need to put cash to it to get a "better" diesel.

I'd keep it, drive a little more gently and enjoy the 180 when you can.

James

P.S. congratulations on the birth of no.2.

Thanks for the response James & the congrats, Mrs passed on a thanks too lol.
I totally understand where your coming from but this is where the head and heart are battling.
I know the value of the 180's is rock bottom unless you have something really special and then its still only worth what someone will pay for it do it's certainly not a time to sell one.
I do enjoy driving it a lot with things that I've done to it but it is still not "sorted" in my mind lol.
It will have to do as is though whatever happens for now.
This was why was wondering if the 115 diesel ZS is as fun drive wise as after having the 200 sd which was modded to 138bhp/278ft/lb I know the L series is certainly fun.
I work it out often that round town we get between 24 - 27mpg an on runs can get another 10 on top easily but remembering the diesel getting nearly 40 round town does appeal again.
The estates appeal as when we go out, buggy, bags and the boy wants his bike it doesn't get anywhere near in the ZS's boot.
Just need to think it over rather than rushing into something I may or may not regret. decisions decisions..

Originally Posted by talkingcars

And if you both like the ZS and your good lady doesn't like estates what are you gaining by buying a ZT diesel apart from a car that will cost more when it breaks?

She's only ever driven a nasty escort estate and hence not keen but this was why I thought a far nicer example in a make she likes.
If after a test drive she's still adamant then change of plans I think.
Not too worried about parts as for BMW engines & box's I can get most bits as in the trade.

[Craig-ZS180]

Originally Posted by zsserbia

I couldn't compare the three as I didn't own any other than the ZS derv, but someone on here will drop a line... Personally I wouldn't go for a ZT-T unless I really needed an estate, but each to their own.

As for the ZS derv, I don't see why it wouldn't handle the same as the 180, the brakes you may as well upgrade to 180 ones or some aftermarket setup. It will be slower and it wouldn't sound as pretty but it's a compromise you have to take when you want to save on fuel. Anything with a BMW engine would provide less mpg than the L-series.

Also, it being rather simple, there are less things to go wrong and most of the time you would drive it rather than repair it...

Although not so powerful, it's torgue won't dissapoint you and your pocket money would be enough to tune it a bit if you want a lot more power.

I know they are very tuneable and cheap to run after the old 200, this is why I do keep looking at the ZS option now.
Also like you say with the probable saved income over using less fuel, cheaper tax and lower insurance I would be able to make it more interesting to drive over standard.
Plus think still got some diesel goodies hidden away in the garage for the last L series.

Originally Posted by Captain Peanut

I made the mistake of moving to an estate when my second came along, was great for lugging stuff on holiday once a year but cost a load more to run as a daily.

I think the two posts above hit the nail on the head, you are probably going to lose money on the 180 given current prices and will regret it.

This is the main heart argument, I know I will miss the v6 but if I keep plowing money into it am I going to lose the love and then regret not changing when I could possibly afford to.
If it does go I will have another one day.

[talkingcars]

This highlights why it was such a shame there wasn't a ZS estate - darn Japanese blocked that one.

[Craig-ZS180]

Originally Posted by talkingcars

This highlights why it was such a shame there wasn't a ZS estate - darn Japanese blocked that one.

Yeah it does, I remember seeing that red civic estate that had the ZS front put on it and thought that looked great. It's a shame they never came through with that one as would've completed the range.

[Ritchy]

What kind of mileage are you doing? And whats the difference in insurance? Personally wouldnt buy a zt for cheaper running costs as they arent as reliable. Need to do the maths really, expected mpg from the new car over x number of miles and rough guestimate of the same distance i yours and work out what the price difference is to run. As said you may buy a lemon that needs a ton of work so factor that in too

[Craig-ZS180]

Originally Posted by Ritchy

What kind of mileage are you doing? And whats the difference in insurance? Personally wouldnt buy a zt for cheaper running costs as they arent as reliable. Need to do the maths really, expected mpg from the new car over x number of miles and rough guestimate of the same distance i yours and work out what the price difference is to run. As said you may buy a lemon that needs a ton of work so factor that in too

Mileage varies tbh, never the same every month but in terms of tanks a full tank in the 180 will just get 2 weeks but when I had the L series I know I'm a 200 so would give a slight variable but that used to give me 3.5 to almost 4 weeks out of a tank. Even when on a higher mileage month the SD used to cover at least 3 weeks which was sometimes 650 miles of round town and motorway mix.
I know I'll get very little for the 180 but I'd probably sell it off the forum as not everyone outside the forum knows how cheap they can be. Got to try for the best possible result for my pocket really.
Difference on the ZS diesel is nearly £200 cheaper with possible mods declared whereas the zt is on par just cheaper tax and running "in general".

I know I need to weigh it all up properly but I always feel guilty running the V6 when I could possibly enjoy the diesel just as much with fewer running costs.
More money for the family and house.

[daytona365]

Keep the 180......................

[Dead Eye]

Just my two cents but if you are uncertain as to whether you will enjoy the diesel then you really need to go and test drive one and see what you feel - it seems like the most logical step forward at this stage

[Dan1971]

Well - I've had a ZT-T and a diesel ZS and a few 180s.

The ZT-T is a classy car. Very solid and feels really well made. It's also slower and thirstier. It costs a bit more when things go wrong. Sheppey's got a ZT-T and Im sure can confirm if it's any more practical for a younger family.

A ZS diesel is a great car. I got a 115 and after I got it running properly with a new MAF it went well. I saved a few pennies and for about £200 added SDis, blanked the EGR and got a decat on there and had it RRd at 151bhp. Sounded like a bag of spanners though compared to a 180 even though it went well.

Your issue is going to be pound notes. Bottom line is that your 180 will fetch around £800. A decent diesel ZS will cost you a few hundred more and a decent ZT easily a grand on top of that.

If I were you - I'd stick to what you've got. The ZT-T will be OK for when you actually spend over an hour in the car with ALL the family. All the rest of the time it'll be a waste of space.

Sit down and do the maths and look at it like an equation. I've said it to myself before around looking at cars - for example recently looked at changing my C4 to an insignia. It was going to cost me maybe £150 a month for 2 yrs. My thought process was simply is it £150 a month better than my C4 ? On the first of the month if I physically had to hand a guy £150 to drive an insignia instead of my C4 - would I be thinking - Yep - worth it. Bottom line - I thought Nope and the C4 is still outside.

Look at the maths and think to yourself - It'll cost me X to drive a ZS diesel or Y to drive a 180, or Z to drive a ZT-T - Make a list with your Mrs - pros and cons .....

[Alan.F]

Having owned both a 180 and a 135bhp Rover 75 tourer diesel (same engine as ZTT) for economy i would say yes do it was getting 45-50mpg from the 75 but you dont get the WOW factor with the ZTT when you boot it like you do in a 180. I currently have a ZT 1.8 Turbo this returns mid 30's mpg when you dont boot it, and it does go quite well when you do.

As far as the BMW engine goes yes it is a good one but the 75/ZT derv does have issues like the under bonnet and in tank fuel pumps go wrong on them, the under bonnet one is not that expensive but the in tank one is, If you keep the fuel level above quarter of a tank it seems to stop the in tank one failing,

If you are going to go for a 75/ZT i would get a saloon boot is huge on them because the rear seats are set further forward that the estate and i can get more camping gear in my saloon than i could in my tourer.