New car or spend on the Zs?

[livewire1888]

Hi folks

Want to see what peoples opinion is on buying another car or spending on the Zs?

Mg ZS 180, 12 years old with 62000

Car needs, all values are estimates

New timing belts and water pump etc £500 to £700
discs and pads all round £200
oil vapor catch tank supply and fit £120
little bit of welding and tidying up rust underneath £100
new wipers £10
full service £140

Total £1200 ish

if I done all the previous, I would then want

stainless steel decat custom £500
paint and lacquer fixed £100 to £400.

Also I'am sick of trying to explain to birds in a nightclub what an Mg Zs 180 lol. I'am looking at 10year old Mercedes Clk's with maybe 120K on the clock, (thoughts on these cars?). I know their old cars with high mileage and not worth much more than what i have now , however girls don't. They just know that you drive a Merc haha.

Please note that the girls part is not the main reason and just a bit of fun. Women should be attracted to you and not the car, although the car is part of what is you.

Thoughts?

[daytona365]

Id keep the ZS, my 180 makes a much sexier noise, and is much roomier......

[petet16]

£120 for a catch tank

[daytona365]

My catch tank fitted for £25, discs and pads all round were less than £200 and that inlcuded the front ones being, drilled and slotted racing discs...

[livewire1888]

Saw catch tanks for 50 and estimated 50 to fit. I did say all values were estimates. The main job is the timing belts.

[Mark S]

merc clgay, typical merc, rusting at 2-3 yrs old. 3.2 engine is sweet, 2.3s is coarse, convertible great when roof down but windows chatter when up, but long in the tooth now.
You can pick up a SLgay new shape, 53> for not vast amounts (think they've just dropped sub 10k), and they still look the dogs.


Girls and cars, you will never win, better off with a mini cooper s, at least it goes some, round the corners too and girls tend to like them.

[MG ZS STE]

You won't need the full service if getting the belts done. I would have thought you'd get a garage to include plugs, filters and fluids for a £700 price tag if you shop around, saving you £140. But it is 12 years old so no way worth the outlay for belts alone unless you intend on keeping for at least another 6 years. Plus you don't get many girls attracted to ZS drivers so I would personally be looking for a change.

If you've got the money for a merc I would be looking at Audi RS4s, similar age to your zed but 200 more horses.

[tcb 180]

Well out on your prices. Discs and pad boxed set around £110 on ebay. Mintex boxed set. Full cat back hand crafted ss exhaust around £350. As for service, basically, plugs, oil and filters about £100 parts. As for Mercs. Yes lovely cars. Just bought 03 plate Cdi 220 40k on the clock. BUT as with all 10yr old cars I had to spend a few bob on here to get her up to my standards plus hours and hours of flating and polishing. New front suspension arms and drop links, front back plates rotten. AND although it had been serviced by a supposedly reputable Aston Martin Specialist, who had recently adjusted the tracking twice. I have never come across such badly seized track rod end lock nuts. Makes me wonder why people put such faith in these outfits? Took me longer to free them as it did to rebuild suspension.

So may be better the devil you know. Mercs can be pricey to repair but I love mine. BUT I also miss the zed too.

[talkingcars]

I suspect the O/P is paying to get most of the work done.

I'm in 2 minds about getting the belts done on a car of this age, TBH it will be a similar price to get a new engine dropped in if the belts fail.

As for a 120k merc - no way - not good value for money - maybe the convo should go like this -
"wot car you got?"
"cum 'ave a look love "

[idge2003]

Higher mileage isn't as much of an issue if it's been looked after I now have a Lexus GS430 with full service history @ 159k miles and I would guess as smooth now as it was @ 59k miles!