...to want to swap a remapped Octavia vRS for an MG ZS 180 Mk1?

I think I must be mad really lol as my vRS is probably the better choice, but hell the sound of the v6 and the handling tempts me lol.

I think I need talking out of this, it is a Rover after all

dont do it :no:

I looked at the MG's before getting my VRS, they have quite a few problems with the engines. Join up an MG forum and check it out, one of the faults cost around £400 to fix.

was thinking of the zr this is the next one up lol

never been in one of them did look but couldnt get insured lol

Edited 20 March, 201016 yr by westallc

DONT DO IT!

Granted the MG looks very nice well the facelift one.

I wanted one just before they went under, luckily my car was not releiced so I went round the corner to the Skoda place and got a BN vRS and had 5k change plus a few extras over the ZS.

Interior is crap and falls apart, plus the TAX on them is 400+ i do believe.

DONT DO IT.

Just get a Turbo Back zorst on the vRS and a CAI with DV.

Also read about engine probs. And with a broken engine ---> no sound and no handling

Keep the VRS. (and buy one of those lighter-engine-sound thingies )

...to want to swap a remapped Octavia vRS for an MG ZS 180 Mk1?

I think I must be mad really lol as my vRS is probably the better choice, but hell the sound of the v6 and the handling tempts me lol.

I think I need talking out of this, it is a Rover after all

Hmm, Well I came from a ZS180 mk1 and I can tell you that they are different cars for different reasons.

The ZS180 is by far a better handling car by miles in standard form and even with a modded handling VRS. The ZS180 chassis is one of the best I have experienced and I have driven and owned a lot of sports cars.

The v6 engine is great sounding and not a slouch. I had XPower janspeed exhaust on mine with XPower suspension also.

The Saloon is a better looking car than the hatch IMO. ( the MG hatch not the VRS hatch)

A nice looking car from the outside and not a lot really needed to do to it.

The V6 engine is very reliable but like anything service history and good looking after is essential

IMO the ZS is a dated car. The interior still reminds me of a standard Rover apart from the coloured trim. There is very little to offer in performance mods that can be done without really breaking the bank.

The fact that there is little that can be done to it actually to me makes that boring.

Expensive on the fuel front.

The VRS seems a more modern car and feels like it. Build quality on the VRS feels better

The performance of the VRS is better as the turbo verses V6 is more urgent. The torque of the ZS is nice though.

I came from a Mondeo ST200 to the ZS and the ZS was much better than that.

God......... could I be turning myself..........

Edited 20 March, 201016 yr by Bowders1

I'm in the same situation mate!

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

Hmm, Well I came from a ZS180 mk1 and I can tell you that they are different cars for different reasons.

The ZS180 is by far a better handling car by miles in standard form and even with a modded handling VRS. The ZS180 chassis is one of the best I have experienced and I have driven and owned a lot of sports cars.

The v6 engine is great sounding and not a slouch. I had XPower janspeed exhaust on mine with XPower suspension also.

The Saloon is a better looking car than the hatch IMO.

A nice looking car from the outside and not a lot really needed to do to it.

The V6 engine is very reliable but like anything service history and good looking after is essential

IMO the ZS is a dated car. The interior still reminds me of a standard Rover apart from the coloured trim. There is very little to offer in performance mods that can be done without really breaking the bank.

The fact that there is little that can be done to it actually to me makes that boring.

Expensive on the fuel front.

The VRS seems a more modern car and feels like it. Build quality on the VRS feels better

The performance of the VRS is better as the turbo verses V6 is more urgent. The torque of the ZS is nice though.

I came from a Mondeo ST200 to the ZS and the ZS was much better than that.

God......... could I be turning myself..........

bang on there

the ZS got quite good reviews on the handling front

id love a mk2 ZS 180

i believe the VIS motors are one of the things which fail the most

I'm in the same situation mate, looking at selling my 05' black VRS with 44k on the clock for £4500 and buying a Mondeo ST220 Estate on a 54 plate with 37k on the clock......for £7500, am I mad too?!

DONE DO IT, lol

thats not a lot for yours nd a fair bit fot the mondeo.

4500k for an 05 vrs your mad worth more than that for sure

i sold my 2002 in bits and made that lol

I'm in the same situation mate, looking at selling my 05' black VRS with 44k on the clock for £4500 and buying a Mondeo ST220 Estate on a 54 plate with 37k on the clock......for £7500, am I mad too?!

I am not a lover of the newer ST220 although the look of it and the spec is very very good , that heavy V6 engine makes the car heavy and very cumbersome and handling is not good. Also the ST engine are not very reliable bottom ends are weak and very coslty to run and fix. My ST200 engine went at 60,000 just after I p/ex'd to a garage for a scooby. Cost the garage £4,500 they were not happy.

bang on there

the ZS got quite good reviews on the handling front

id love a mk2 ZS 180

i believe the VIS motors are one of the things which fail the most

That's true they do go but it is still rare. It seems that a lot of owners warn about that as a issue before they actually have the issue themselves. Kind of a bit like the coil pack issue on the 1.8T everybody knows about it and it is the first thing that is remarked on but half the owners have never had that issue either. Well I have'nt .

Wait for it wait for it...............................ducking now to be shot down in flames....

I have not had the Coil trouble neither.

I just think its all down to how you look after the engine/car.

...to want to swap a remapped Octavia vRS for an MG ZS 180 Mk1?

I think I must be mad really lol as my vRS is probably the better choice, but hell the sound of the v6 and the handling tempts me lol.

I think I need talking out of this, it is a Rover after all

If it's what suits you now and its what you want why not go for it? I've always wanted an MG ZS v6 but could never afford to run one.

That said I must be mad, have sold my most excelent modded octavia and bought a Rav4 then sold our Fabia vRS to buy a french car and I'll tell you something, they suit our current circumstances better than either skoda and while we do miss our Skodas other manufacturors cars can be just as good.

An MG is just a re badged Rover with glitter bits & performance kit fitted at the factory. Rovers were always crap & still are......... ... You cant polish dog crap!!!!!!!!!

Enough said!!!!!!!

Don't do it it's just a rebadged Rover!!! Friend of mine has one and it's just a big black hole for money as so much goes wrong with the engine. He has spent enough in the past three years to almost buy the car over again. Not many performance mods available either.

3 words: Head Gasket failure.

For god's sake, don't do it. Yes, the V6 sounds lovely, they're quick, and they handle, but above all, it's a Rover.

I'm in the same situation mate, looking at selling my 05' black VRS with 44k on the clock for £4500 and buying a Mondeo ST220 Estate on a 54 plate with 37k on the clock......for £7500, am I mad too?!

That's not the same situation- You're not buying a tarted-up Rover....

I never had head gasket failure with any of my k-series engines in my rover and used todo nearly 30k per year in it, if they have a good service history you should see few problems. My Rover hadn't rusted and suffered few mechanical problems and was well modded (inc engine transplant )

Forums always tend to highlight cons rather than pro's. at the end of the day, it's your desicion.

i had the mg zt i can tell you that they handle amazing and feel great to drive, it also gives you that feeling your driving something a bit different / special.

it was probably one of my favourite cars i have ever owned to be honest, but as has already been mentioned the 1.8 is basically the rover head gasket blowers and although many people say once they changed it for the uprated type they have had no more issues, this is fine if its already been done and your not the poor sole that has to fork out for it.

my mg was the zt 2.5 v6 and was great to drive with plenty of punch but again had its own issues. the inlet manifold has plastic butterflies and the guides wear out leaving them rattling and sounding like really bad tappets, although you can still get replacement inlet manifolds they are £400+ ( i had to do mine).

also the main reason for me selling was that it was due a cambelt change and when i looked into it they have 3 cambelts, one to link the crank with heads and the other two link the two camshafts together on each head (the other end of the engine) this basically means about £650 to get them done so unless your a mechanic i would atleast factor this in to price if you dicide to buy one.

and just one other think the ride is really hard but i suppose with the handing you get you kind of expect it.

i hope that gives you something to think about, and good luck with your purchase if you decide to go down that route.

nick

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy

So what do you think my Octy is worth then??!! It's in fairly good knick, the only thing on the to do list left was a cambelt change (I am informed that will be £350 approx....) and some aero wipers!! Am I just wanting an ST220 for the elec heat seats, cruise control and the nice looks, it is a rare car and I just love it. Sorry to hijack your thread mate! Billy, how do I drag the picture across from your old thread about the grill, so I can show what mine looks like and maybe on a for sale thread also...I'm just bored of my Octy, it has 4 new tyres though, 11 months MOT and has been well looked after, light mods

If you just want electric seats and cruise control why not fit the octavia / golf variant leather electric seats and fit OEM cruise control?

I like the look of the ST220 but I would recomend you drive a few as liking the look of something and driving it and getting a feel of the car are different things. You may find that the Octy is a more rounded car at the end of the day..

3 words: Head Gasket failure.

Only on the K-series though, the V6 shouldn't be a problem.

I friend of mine had the ZS 180 V6 and like others have said it had good handling and sounded great but not long after buying it he had to drive to Devon and back and was so shocked by how bad the fuel economy was he got rid of it!

If you can live with £400 tax and getting in the low 20s mpg rather than the low 30s then go for it.

That's a good shout Bowders, can't find a thanks button on here anymore?! Am hopefully gunna go and test drive two tomorrow, both ST220 estates. I don't know if I am just having a funny five minutes but I seem dead certain on this...I have already test driven the one I wanna buy, it sounds sweet but there is only so hard you can drive a car in a 'test drive' with the owner/salesman sat next to you holding on for dear life..! I went from a Saxo VTS to my VRS, gambled and am chuffed with the Octy. The online reviews for the ST are pretty good, seems like a sort of rare collectable car, may hold it's value...?! I suppose it's not just the seats and cruise, it's the whole package really. Thanks for your input though mate

Edited 17 August, 201015 yr by Woo7dy