2002 MG ZS 180 Saloon
Discussion
Hi all,
First of all, I'm a long time silent reader of 'Readers' Cars' on PH. I'm hopeful that I can do some justice to my latest purchase and its travels over the coming months (and hopefully years!).
I've been into cars since before I can even think. Some good, some great and quite frankly some odd cars come into my all time favourites, most of these would be down to how they make you feel. This is where my admiration of the MG ZS comes in.
In my early teens, my old man purchased a very tidy Anthracite MK1 180 Saloon (on just over 40k miles if I remember correctly) as his weekend run-around and toy to enjoy as and when the feeling came. Even then, the car was a very reasonable £2500. I have fond memories of MGOC rallies completed in the car, as well as a simple B Road blast, or the 2 mile run to the local supermarket for a French Stick on a Saturday ahead of sitting in front of the tele for the F1 qualifying.
I went through a fair few cars in my late teens to mid 20's, including 2 other MK1 180 Saloons where life wouldn't allow for them to stay for one reason or another, but this one should be here to stay.
The car itself was bought through Facebook, completely unseen by me as it resided in deep West Wales and I'm based on the Essex/Suffolk border. Very small ad, a couple of messages exchanged with what appeared to be an enthusiast owner and a couple of weeks later a friend and I were on our way to collect the MG and return it 350 odd miles back home. The most under-prepared I'd felt on a car buying day in a while, accompanied by a bottle of Lucozade and my wallet.
First of all, I'm a long time silent reader of 'Readers' Cars' on PH. I'm hopeful that I can do some justice to my latest purchase and its travels over the coming months (and hopefully years!).
I've been into cars since before I can even think. Some good, some great and quite frankly some odd cars come into my all time favourites, most of these would be down to how they make you feel. This is where my admiration of the MG ZS comes in.
In my early teens, my old man purchased a very tidy Anthracite MK1 180 Saloon (on just over 40k miles if I remember correctly) as his weekend run-around and toy to enjoy as and when the feeling came. Even then, the car was a very reasonable £2500. I have fond memories of MGOC rallies completed in the car, as well as a simple B Road blast, or the 2 mile run to the local supermarket for a French Stick on a Saturday ahead of sitting in front of the tele for the F1 qualifying.
I went through a fair few cars in my late teens to mid 20's, including 2 other MK1 180 Saloons where life wouldn't allow for them to stay for one reason or another, but this one should be here to stay.
The car itself was bought through Facebook, completely unseen by me as it resided in deep West Wales and I'm based on the Essex/Suffolk border. Very small ad, a couple of messages exchanged with what appeared to be an enthusiast owner and a couple of weeks later a friend and I were on our way to collect the MG and return it 350 odd miles back home. The most under-prepared I'd felt on a car buying day in a while, accompanied by a bottle of Lucozade and my wallet.
Having seen the traffic on the M4 on the way there, it wasn't a journey back I'd looked forward to too much, in a car that had completed 92 miles since its MOT last August which had a couple of oddities to be sorted. The closer we got, the more concerned I was about the vehicle not making it back, how much it'd cost to fix, whether the weather was going to be on our side of not. Turns out, no need to be THAT concerned. The car was pretty straight, the owners admitting that the tyre's were on their way out (PS3's from 2011 from what I could work out) and that it had been serviced within the last couple of thousand miles.
MG collected, a stop off at a services to grab some food and relook at the journey back. Filled up with 99 octane fuel for the first time in some time for the car. Very quick snap taken next to my friends RS3 which had been our vehicle to make the journey with.
MG collected, a stop off at a services to grab some food and relook at the journey back. Filled up with 99 octane fuel for the first time in some time for the car. Very quick snap taken next to my friends RS3 which had been our vehicle to make the journey with.
Car made it all the way back, almost faultlessly! Has an SRS light on which more often than not is a very simple fix. Desperately needs 4 tyres (Have gone for Goodyear ASM 6's, just awaiting fitting in a couple of weeks), the roof lining is sagging as they all do, the door cards have seen better days, but most importantly is a good service.
Listening to the previous owner tell me 'she's been serviced in the last couple of thousand miles', that's a pretty good thing normally. Got home, dug through all the information on the car (original bill of sale included!), and it hit me. The car has barely been used in years. The last documented service was indeed a couple of thousand miles ago, in 2011! 13 year old oil, filters and even more worryingly, cambelts that had made it through almost 400 miles in that one journey back.
I reached out to a friend of mine to get a service sorted. DMGRS have assisted massively in having just about everything I needed on the shelf, full service kit was ordered, belts as well, ahead of my friend giving the car the once over. A full stainless catback exhaust has been purchased, as has one a BMC CDA intake and most importantly in my eyes, the 'Sheddist' clutch kit.
I'm hoping once we've got these odds sorted, I can get the car used a little bit more before summer ends and she's inevitably tucked away for the harsher months. I know, I know, it's just a Rover in disguise (or with a big wing), but it's one that I'd like to keep hold of a fair bit longer.
Listening to the previous owner tell me 'she's been serviced in the last couple of thousand miles', that's a pretty good thing normally. Got home, dug through all the information on the car (original bill of sale included!), and it hit me. The car has barely been used in years. The last documented service was indeed a couple of thousand miles ago, in 2011! 13 year old oil, filters and even more worryingly, cambelts that had made it through almost 400 miles in that one journey back.
I reached out to a friend of mine to get a service sorted. DMGRS have assisted massively in having just about everything I needed on the shelf, full service kit was ordered, belts as well, ahead of my friend giving the car the once over. A full stainless catback exhaust has been purchased, as has one a BMC CDA intake and most importantly in my eyes, the 'Sheddist' clutch kit.
I'm hoping once we've got these odds sorted, I can get the car used a little bit more before summer ends and she's inevitably tucked away for the harsher months. I know, I know, it's just a Rover in disguise (or with a big wing), but it's one that I'd like to keep hold of a fair bit longer.
cst said:
Looks like a nice example, a few friends had ZR’s in our youth and always liked the look of them.
On just over 55k now too, so still relatively low miles. I’m a fan of a ZR, just never owned one. My old man had a 55 plate Trophy SE when they were chucking new cars out for silly moneyVery nice! I always had a real soft spot for all of the MG badged Rovers - a ZR in Yellow was a car I always wanted (but was put off in part by a mate who had a 25 as a company car and described the handling as awful).
I still remember seeing the adverts at the cinema - full fat, high caffeine!
Yours looks very tidy and barely used! Hope the refresh goes well, and don't risk any more miles until you've done the cam belt!
I still remember seeing the adverts at the cinema - full fat, high caffeine!
Yours looks very tidy and barely used! Hope the refresh goes well, and don't risk any more miles until you've done the cam belt!
darkyoung1000 said:
Very nice! I always had a real soft spot for all of the MG badged Rovers - a ZR in Yellow was a car I always wanted (but was put off in part by a mate who had a 25 as a company car and described the handling as awful).
I still remember seeing the adverts at the cinema - full fat, high caffeine!
Yours looks very tidy and barely used! Hope the refresh goes well, and don't risk any more miles until you've done the cam belt!
The ZR's do look great in yellow, would have loved for a Trophy Yellow ZS but the last one I'd seen for sale was at an auction and went outside of my price range really.I still remember seeing the adverts at the cinema - full fat, high caffeine!
Yours looks very tidy and barely used! Hope the refresh goes well, and don't risk any more miles until you've done the cam belt!
It's certainly got a couple of odd little bits bodywork wise, but realistically nothing that a couple of hundred £'s can't fix. Definitely no more miles before the belts!
d_a_n1979 said:
This should be a superb project. Always like these, never owned one
Had a few ZT 190s and a ZT-T 190 also. Last ZT was Trophy Blue and was a good 'over winter car' whilst I was between E39s etc
I'm the polar opposite! Always appreciated a ZT, albeit a ZT-T would be the one for me really yet never gone down the route of actually convincing myself to go and buy one. Had a few ZT 190s and a ZT-T 190 also. Last ZT was Trophy Blue and was a good 'over winter car' whilst I was between E39s etc
I've an E92 325d LCI that I use for daily duties, normally between 2-3k a month which is comfortable enough.
The two previous ZS180's I'd owned.
Nightfire Red 3 (CBT) - purchased as a low mileage example, must've been used at a bumper car at some point. Not a straight panel on it, but the engine was solid. Intention was to have it resprayed but ended up selling to assist in finalising my deposit for my first property. Had piper cams, a good tune all the usual breathing mods otherwise, made an estimated 205-210bhp. In good company with a friends 147 GTA too.
Starlight Silver (MBB) - A COVID purchase, seemed like a great daily to do my (then) 4 mile round trip a day and retiring my 260bhp Abarth 595 Turismo to be enjoyed on occasion. Only a stainless catback on the car. Fun fact, the second image is when I first got it home, completely died after doing 80 miles, crankshaft sensor fixed that one!
Anthracite (LQW) - The car that started it all for me, back in 2009. My Dad's 180.
Nightfire Red 3 (CBT) - purchased as a low mileage example, must've been used at a bumper car at some point. Not a straight panel on it, but the engine was solid. Intention was to have it resprayed but ended up selling to assist in finalising my deposit for my first property. Had piper cams, a good tune all the usual breathing mods otherwise, made an estimated 205-210bhp. In good company with a friends 147 GTA too.
Starlight Silver (MBB) - A COVID purchase, seemed like a great daily to do my (then) 4 mile round trip a day and retiring my 260bhp Abarth 595 Turismo to be enjoyed on occasion. Only a stainless catback on the car. Fun fact, the second image is when I first got it home, completely died after doing 80 miles, crankshaft sensor fixed that one!
Anthracite (LQW) - The car that started it all for me, back in 2009. My Dad's 180.
Limpet said:
Great cars. Tiff Needell famously reckoned it was one of the best handling front wheel drive cars he'd experienced when he drove one on track for Fifth Gear.
They seem criminally undervalued in a world where people will pay silly money for old Escorts and the like.
Enjoy it!
Cheers Limpet! I agree, it’s not a bad handling car at all, I once owned an Arctic Blue PFL DC5 Type R which is still probably the best handling car I’ve owned, but a 180 is certainly fun to chuck around.They seem criminally undervalued in a world where people will pay silly money for old Escorts and the like.
Enjoy it!
This one was on the pricier side of the market for a car without belts being done, but still sat at £2k. A hidden gem that the price would be much higher if it didn’t have the badge
dobby9600 said:
d_a_n1979 said:
This should be a superb project. Always like these, never owned one
Had a few ZT 190s and a ZT-T 190 also. Last ZT was Trophy Blue and was a good 'over winter car' whilst I was between E39s etc
I'm the polar opposite! Always appreciated a ZT, albeit a ZT-T would be the one for me really yet never gone down the route of actually convincing myself to go and buy one. Had a few ZT 190s and a ZT-T 190 also. Last ZT was Trophy Blue and was a good 'over winter car' whilst I was between E39s etc
I've an E92 325d LCI that I use for daily duties, normally between 2-3k a month which is comfortable enough.
Starlight silver ZT-T 190 and then a trophy blue 190. All pre facelift as preferred the look of the headlights etc
Interesting to see you had a DC5 too. That was my last JDM Honda as well. Rotrex charger etc and then got bored after 12 months. Reverted it back to OEM and sold the car / parts on and bought an E38... Like you do
I’m generally not a fan of retro cars, but somehow MG/Rover got this one right, almost a sign of things to come, but sadly not.
The ZS 180 is certainly a bit of show, but backed up by a fair amount of go; according to the jurno’s of the time, one of the best handling front wheel drive cars of its time.
Reading the invoices, must have been a eye opener plus a bit of a shock. Once serviced and up to date, it looks like you will have a cracking car, so much fun, for a relatively modern classic.
It does look good.
The ZS 180 is certainly a bit of show, but backed up by a fair amount of go; according to the jurno’s of the time, one of the best handling front wheel drive cars of its time.
Reading the invoices, must have been a eye opener plus a bit of a shock. Once serviced and up to date, it looks like you will have a cracking car, so much fun, for a relatively modern classic.
It does look good.
d_a_n1979 said:
Yeah I went straight to a gunmetal grey ZT190 ex Managers car in the mid 2000s as I had a JDM EG6 SiR-S alongside and wanted to keep the miles off. It was a well spec'd ZT with the red alacantra interior too
Starlight silver ZT-T 190 and then a trophy blue 190. All pre facelift as preferred the look of the headlights etc
Interesting to see you had a DC5 too. That was my last JDM Honda as well. Rotrex charger etc and then got bored after 12 months. Reverted it back to OEM and sold the car / parts on and bought an E38... Like you do
X-Power Grey is a massively underrated colour! Huge fan.Starlight silver ZT-T 190 and then a trophy blue 190. All pre facelift as preferred the look of the headlights etc
Interesting to see you had a DC5 too. That was my last JDM Honda as well. Rotrex charger etc and then got bored after 12 months. Reverted it back to OEM and sold the car / parts on and bought an E38... Like you do
The DC5 is a sore point to be honest, my only Honda, only Japanese car to be fair. I bought it with 36k on, 1 UK owner for £9k (a steal in comparison to today’s going rate for the same car). Sold it 3/4 months later with just under 40k on for £9.5k, for a TD04 Abarth. I under appreciated the DC5 at the time, wasn’t quick in a straight line, expensive to get it to be quick in a straight line (I was 21, so rarely was a wise choice made in many aspects). Sold it on the basis that I’d itch the scratch of a big turbo Abarth and would get another as a toy later down the line, 7 years later and I can’t justify the JDM tax for one now really.
daqinggregg said:
I’m generally not a fan of retro cars, but somehow MG/Rover got this one right, almost a sign of things to come, but sadly not.
The ZS 180 is certainly a bit of show, but backed up by a fair amount of go; according to the jurno’s of the time, one of the best handling front wheel drive cars of its time.
Reading the invoices, must have been a eye opener plus a bit of a shock. Once serviced and up to date, it looks like you will have a cracking car, so much fun, for a relatively modern classic.
It does look good.
You hit the nail on the head, a lot of show, but just enough go to make it fun. I liken it to a 172/182 Clio really, albeit a bit heavier. Similar power delivery in my experience and a well setup chassis from factory. Only added bonus (for me) is a V6 soundtrack to go with it, albeit not the greatest sounding V6 on earth.The ZS 180 is certainly a bit of show, but backed up by a fair amount of go; according to the jurno’s of the time, one of the best handling front wheel drive cars of its time.
Reading the invoices, must have been a eye opener plus a bit of a shock. Once serviced and up to date, it looks like you will have a cracking car, so much fun, for a relatively modern classic.
It does look good.
The history for the car is great, 2 previous owners from the same village in Wales, serviced at the same place from new, can’t ask for much more in a 22 year old, used car (other than maybe a Limited Slip Diff!)
dobby9600 said:
d_a_n1979 said:
Yeah I went straight to a gunmetal grey ZT190 ex Managers car in the mid 2000s as I had a JDM EG6 SiR-S alongside and wanted to keep the miles off. It was a well spec'd ZT with the red alacantra interior too
Starlight silver ZT-T 190 and then a trophy blue 190. All pre facelift as preferred the look of the headlights etc
Interesting to see you had a DC5 too. That was my last JDM Honda as well. Rotrex charger etc and then got bored after 12 months. Reverted it back to OEM and sold the car / parts on and bought an E38... Like you do
X-Power Grey is a massively underrated colour! Huge fan.Starlight silver ZT-T 190 and then a trophy blue 190. All pre facelift as preferred the look of the headlights etc
Interesting to see you had a DC5 too. That was my last JDM Honda as well. Rotrex charger etc and then got bored after 12 months. Reverted it back to OEM and sold the car / parts on and bought an E38... Like you do
The DC5 is a sore point to be honest, my only Honda, only Japanese car to be fair. I bought it with 36k on, 1 UK owner for £9k (a steal in comparison to today’s going rate for the same car). Sold it 3/4 months later with just under 40k on for £9.5k, for a TD04 Abarth. I under appreciated the DC5 at the time, wasn’t quick in a straight line, expensive to get it to be quick in a straight line (I was 21, so rarely was a wise choice made in many aspects). Sold it on the basis that I’d itch the scratch of a big turbo Abarth and would get another as a toy later down the line, 7 years later and I can’t justify the JDM tax for one now really.
I loved my DC5 and took it down to Anglesey a number of times (helped that my folks had a house in Rhoscolyn back then too) so time on the circuit was easy. But in fair was the charger ruined it for me and regretted fitting it. That's why I stripped it off and sold it and all the gubbins. It was a much better car completely OEM bar the D2 coilovers and Buddyclub wheels...
As you said, prices have gone high now but I'm considering them as well as FN2s and maybe an older BMW E46 for my next project, once the wife starts her new job and takes my F31 on and I'll sell her Racing Jazz (don't want 3 cars on the drive)
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