Discussion
Ok, so my car might not be worth very much since the collapse of the MG chain of companies. It may have the looks of a boy racer motor, but did I have some fun last night. (Not in an unsafe way at all) Worked over time, jobs my hobbie, traffic should have calmed down - Driving home from the office:
Leave car park, gently driving to the motorway, 10 minutes away, car nicely knowing it's going home. Approach the roundabout, one long right, set off, 1st, 2nd, back end wants to play, :LET ME OUT! LET ME OUT!: up to 3rd gear, I sensibly (spelling?) join the slip road, nicely does it, 3rd to 4th indicate onto motorway, I'm on, upto 5th gear resting for 5 minutes I indicate onto the "overtaking lane"
Motorway is clear, motorway lamps/lights shining onto the blue effect of the paint. 5th gear 60mph, to 65, to 70mph. 70 becomes 80 passing traffic wanting to join. Back to 70. Motorway is clearer than usual, I steadily go my way.
Rev counter, reading 4500 rpm/ 5th gear, car sounded like it wanted more and it did. Put my foot down, car just flew, I could hear the grunt of the twin exhaust, give me some more, 400m from end of motorway, turning right. braking slightly, change from 5 to 4. 300m to go, gently touching the brake, slowing down, the end of my journey
200m, down to third, look right, nothing there, turning right, 40, go for it, back end just follows the front end, no oversteer, dry road, still turning right, onto dual carriage way, back into 4th gear and off I go. One still very happy MG ZR owner, smiling on various occasions but am loving the drive of a great car that I am proud of owning.
Join the club. I got my car 10 days for the unfortunate events, but don't regret it for a moment. Yes I has lost loads of money on the car, but I honestly don't care! I didn’t buy it as an investment, I bought it to drive and enjoy.
And I know that MG feeling.
Walked out of work last night at dusk, few clouds around but no immediate sign of rain, so down went the hood, and on came the heater a touch. Cruising along the NSL lanes with a big grin on my face, laughing an the idiots driving with no lights on, or sidelights and fogs on. Speed limit drop to 40 as I enter a village. Look in the mirror. Saxo with blue sidelights on rapidly closing, obviously speed limits don’t apply to Saxos. He's all over the back of the car, clearly wondering why I am only doing 40 in a 40 zone. We leave the village, see the sign for the NSL ahead, drop a gear or 2, pass sign, plant the throttle, wave to Saxo driver out of roof, smile as Saxo disappears into a small neon blue dot on the horizon behind me. Smile gets bigger. Turn off into another village. Speed humps, damn. Bus has just dropped off a load of brats ahead. Stop at the crossing, group of youngsters cross. One says 'cool car mister' another 'yeh and its an MG'. Small wave and 'thanks' as I move off. Smile get bigger still. Road changes to NSL again, nice long straight bit, up to the red line in 3rd, change to 4th, revs rapidly heading for the red line again, gaining on a weird shape unidentifiable Jap thing doing 40, road still clear and straight, pass jap thing without even easing of power. Moving so fast doubt the old dear behind the wheel even noticed me. Speed back down to 30, turn onto drive. Raise hood and climb out. Lock car and head for the front door. Stop, turn and glance at car, smile, thanks the lord that I don't have to drive some dull Eurobox. Smile remains for an hour or 2 after. Can't wait for the drive to work in the morning......
And I know that MG feeling.
Walked out of work last night at dusk, few clouds around but no immediate sign of rain, so down went the hood, and on came the heater a touch. Cruising along the NSL lanes with a big grin on my face, laughing an the idiots driving with no lights on, or sidelights and fogs on. Speed limit drop to 40 as I enter a village. Look in the mirror. Saxo with blue sidelights on rapidly closing, obviously speed limits don’t apply to Saxos. He's all over the back of the car, clearly wondering why I am only doing 40 in a 40 zone. We leave the village, see the sign for the NSL ahead, drop a gear or 2, pass sign, plant the throttle, wave to Saxo driver out of roof, smile as Saxo disappears into a small neon blue dot on the horizon behind me. Smile gets bigger. Turn off into another village. Speed humps, damn. Bus has just dropped off a load of brats ahead. Stop at the crossing, group of youngsters cross. One says 'cool car mister' another 'yeh and its an MG'. Small wave and 'thanks' as I move off. Smile get bigger still. Road changes to NSL again, nice long straight bit, up to the red line in 3rd, change to 4th, revs rapidly heading for the red line again, gaining on a weird shape unidentifiable Jap thing doing 40, road still clear and straight, pass jap thing without even easing of power. Moving so fast doubt the old dear behind the wheel even noticed me. Speed back down to 30, turn onto drive. Raise hood and climb out. Lock car and head for the front door. Stop, turn and glance at car, smile, thanks the lord that I don't have to drive some dull Eurobox. Smile remains for an hour or 2 after. Can't wait for the drive to work in the morning......
Have had my ZR 160 for the past 17 months now. (Company car) But very tempted by the TF160. Have seen one in black and it looks the dogs b
!!
I am very keen on the blue but black... yes please.
NB. I should not own up to this but I have had two saxos in my car history.
Happy Motoring!!
!! I am very keen on the blue but black... yes please.
NB. I should not own up to this but I have had two saxos in my car history.
Happy Motoring!!
I had much fun in my MGF Trophy160 when I had it, that we're going to look at a red one next week 
, it's for the wife, but I don't think there is much else out there that comes close to the performace/handling of a 2 seater roadster like the Tropy 160, it reminds me of a budget version of the Tam, and I don't mean that in a bad way, I remember keeping up with everything I came accross on the twisties in my 160.
, it's for the wife, but I don't think there is much else out there that comes close to the performace/handling of a 2 seater roadster like the Tropy 160, it reminds me of a budget version of the Tam, and I don't mean that in a bad way, I remember keeping up with everything I came accross on the twisties in my 160. I'm an 'oldie' with a 1980 BGT, but I know exactly the daft grin you 'newies' are talking about. I have had a lot of performance cars, but nothing comes close to the MG for simple thrill in driving. Cecil Kimber's idea of producing cars that the average Joe could drive to work during the week and then race at weekends lives on in all cars bearing the Octagon, be they six weeks or sixty years old. The one thing missing on the new cars is the magic of being able to work on and modify them for yourselves.
One of my 'hoot' drives is going to see a mate of mine (who owns a V6 ZS in banana yellow) about three villages away.
Drop into the driver's seat, insert the keys, greet the car (MG's like you to be polite!!), choke out full, crank the engine - three turns, falter, four turns, the fires light and she speaks. Push choke in to thickness of top joint of thumb and twist over to lock; the eight-stroking stops and a fast 'B-burble' at 1500rpm ensues.
Clutch down and into first, ease clutch up and we're off the drive and negotiating private estate 'cow's intestine' roads. Coming to public road, lose half of choke and pull out. Into 2 then 3 and back to 2 for access to main road. On main road lose rest of choke. All in 2 over mini roundabouts up to dualled arterial feeder road - first chance to use throttle in anger. Little tw@ in Pug 106 right up duff; okey dokey - 1600rpm in 2, begin planting throttle, twin Speedographs snort and Peco cherry-bomb bellows to 4500 rpm, up to 3 then 3+OD at 4500, OD out and 4, then 4+OD at 75 mph, Pug and Chav driver now distant clutch-and-oil smoke comet in door mirror, begin to brake for arterial flyover roundabout, OD out and down to 3. Use torque to go over roundabout (coated in b*stard diesel oil as usual) tail twitches on downside exit, but is easily caught, up to 4, but steady for next village with its (pointless) 30mph limit - Pug Chav is now stuck to my 'arris again and is weaving to overtake. NSL after 90 R/L hairpin, so blip 3, blip 2 - sure enough, newark (anagram!!) tries to come round on left hairpin, but is redlining in first; wakey-wakey SU's and we're away, leaving Chav in the middle of nowhere. This road is mainly 'K' lefts and rights with a couple of tight 90's to keep you awake. All driven in 3, 3+OD and occasionally 4. Poor road edges allows a bit of 'ditch-hooking', but I have to feel for the rear unhooking before the front and catch the oversteer as it forms.
Draw up outside mate's house and knock for him to go to pub, "Can we take your motor?" he asks, "OK", "Can I drive?", "Go on then".
As I open the passenger door, Pug Monkey-Boy pulls up and winds down window - "I nearly fackin' 'ad you back there" he crows...Yeah, right - dream on Bub...
One of my 'hoot' drives is going to see a mate of mine (who owns a V6 ZS in banana yellow) about three villages away.
Drop into the driver's seat, insert the keys, greet the car (MG's like you to be polite!!), choke out full, crank the engine - three turns, falter, four turns, the fires light and she speaks. Push choke in to thickness of top joint of thumb and twist over to lock; the eight-stroking stops and a fast 'B-burble' at 1500rpm ensues.
Clutch down and into first, ease clutch up and we're off the drive and negotiating private estate 'cow's intestine' roads. Coming to public road, lose half of choke and pull out. Into 2 then 3 and back to 2 for access to main road. On main road lose rest of choke. All in 2 over mini roundabouts up to dualled arterial feeder road - first chance to use throttle in anger. Little tw@ in Pug 106 right up duff; okey dokey - 1600rpm in 2, begin planting throttle, twin Speedographs snort and Peco cherry-bomb bellows to 4500 rpm, up to 3 then 3+OD at 4500, OD out and 4, then 4+OD at 75 mph, Pug and Chav driver now distant clutch-and-oil smoke comet in door mirror, begin to brake for arterial flyover roundabout, OD out and down to 3. Use torque to go over roundabout (coated in b*stard diesel oil as usual) tail twitches on downside exit, but is easily caught, up to 4, but steady for next village with its (pointless) 30mph limit - Pug Chav is now stuck to my 'arris again and is weaving to overtake. NSL after 90 R/L hairpin, so blip 3, blip 2 - sure enough, newark (anagram!!) tries to come round on left hairpin, but is redlining in first; wakey-wakey SU's and we're away, leaving Chav in the middle of nowhere. This road is mainly 'K' lefts and rights with a couple of tight 90's to keep you awake. All driven in 3, 3+OD and occasionally 4. Poor road edges allows a bit of 'ditch-hooking', but I have to feel for the rear unhooking before the front and catch the oversteer as it forms.
Draw up outside mate's house and knock for him to go to pub, "Can we take your motor?" he asks, "OK", "Can I drive?", "Go on then".
As I open the passenger door, Pug Monkey-Boy pulls up and winds down window - "I nearly fackin' 'ad you back there" he crows...Yeah, right - dream on Bub...
Yugguy said:
Yeah, still enjoying my ZS180, it does everything I want to and it really is a cracking driver's car. Surprises a lot of people, most recently a 206GTI180 who found he couldn't lose me.
Ever been in a pug180. performance is supposed to be good, but it is to small inside.. Got in one at the motorshow..
Still prefer the zr.
I am supposed to be changing cars in March, but have no idea what to go for. Where do I go from a hatchback that offers 160bhp and is a hoot to drive. Ideas anyone????
oc7 said:
Yeah, still enjoying my ZS180, it does everything I want to and it really is a cracking driver's car. Surprises a lot of people, most recently a 206GTI180 who found he couldn't lose me.
Ever been in a pug180. performance is supposed to be good, but it is to small inside.. Got in one at the motorshow..
Still prefer the zr.
I am supposed to be changing cars in March, but have no idea what to go for. Where do I go from a hatchback that offers 160bhp and is a hoot to drive. Ideas anyone????
MGB GT V8 - but only if you have the stones for it...
I actually just recently bid on one on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-B-GT-Coupe-1
Carefully considering it.
Went to the most recent Cars in the Park at Bolton Abbey and spotted this beauty:
http://home.btconnect.com/fourinstanc
(LEFT CLICK "GALLERY"/LEFT CLICK "16TH OCTOBER/SCROLL DOWN THREE PICTURES, LEFT HAND SIDE)
May not be V8's but are very tasty to look at
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MG-B-GT-Coupe-1
Carefully considering it.
Went to the most recent Cars in the Park at Bolton Abbey and spotted this beauty:
http://home.btconnect.com/fourinstanc
(LEFT CLICK "GALLERY"/LEFT CLICK "16TH OCTOBER/SCROLL DOWN THREE PICTURES, LEFT HAND SIDE)
May not be V8's but are very tasty to look at
I reckon after the ZS I might go for a Focus ST, should have depreciated nicely by then. I believe the peak torque on it starts at 1900rpm, torque of a diesel and the go of a turbo petrol and should be easily tunable to 300bhp. It could well be the kind of car as described above, docile drive to work during the week, blast at the weekends.
Gassing Station | MG | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff