listy Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Looking for a new daily and I've come across this MG ZS. 2002 1.8 11 months MOT Service history HG replaced (I know they are prone to failure so this is a big plus) £675 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201508045769666?onesearchad=used%2Cnearlynew%2Cnew&radius=20&channel=cars&postcode=ex85bt&price-to=1500&seller-type=private_adverts&page=2&search-target=usedcars&sort=locasc&logcode=p Opinions? Potentially going to have a look in the next few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 From what I gather they drive okay, but they feel much older due to being based on a late 80s Honda platform. People always tell you about the headgasket issues, they never mention that the k series is powerful, lightweight, full of character and loves to rev. Once the gasket issue is resolved they are a Great engine. It is no mere coincidence that both lotus and Caterham chose to use the k series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Walk away. The end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Which ones used the bmw diesel lump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 From what I gather they drive okay, but they feel much older due to being based on a late 80s Honda platform. People always tell you about the headgasket issues, they never mention that the k series is powerful, full of character and loves to rev. Once the gasket issue is resolved they are a Great engine. The head gasket issue is never resolved. Those wet lined engines are pants. 9 times out of 10, when the gasket is replaced, nobody actually bothers to check that the liners are still flat and haven't lifted causing it to fail again 10k miles later. And you'll always be worried if you get stuck in traffic as to whether or not it'll overheat... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Actually if you look on the Elise forums, they use a special gaskets, different head studs and some other bits to reliably solve the issue. Although all k series are known to suffer, the whole thing is based on the Landrover freelander, a car to which the k series was poorly matched. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 As Benjy says unless it has had the uprated head gasket then budget for another failure, it will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skippyboyo1 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Terrible car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Actually if you look on the Elise forums, they use a special gaskets, different head studs and some other bits to reliably solve the issue. Although all k series are known to suffer, the whole thing is based on the Landrover freelander, a car to which the k series was poorly matched. Yeah, in a Lotus. How many garages are gonna fit Lotus uprated gaskets to a MG? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Which ones used the bmw diesel lump? The MG ZT isn't it, the estate was a very good car for the money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 I had a modded 620 ti many years ago, quite fun but loads of torque steer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
formatzero Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Walk away. The end. This. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 There must be worse cars and engines, but right now I cannot think of any. The engine concept, tying the head to the main cap girdle, was ingenious, the execution dire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 There must be worse cars and engines, but right now I cannot think of any. Wet lined Skoda 1.3 8v. Rotary. The Mazda 6 2.0 diesel that fills the sump up with Diesel in an attempt to regenerate the DPF. The engine concept, tying the head to the main cap girdle, was ingenious, the execution dire. As with anything MG/Rover. It was almost as if they had a really good design department, and then handed it to monkeys to put it into production. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike33 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 So apart from all these cons! It sounds like an awesome car as a daily drive!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 I'm not a huge fan of the ZS, but I think the K-series is a good engine. Okay, so it has its issues (and many great engines do, Nissans weak RB engine line for example) but having driven various cars with them I've always found the engines to be a lot of fun. They love to rev. Would I personally own a car with one in? Except for perhaps a Caterham or a MK1 Elise/Exige, NO. In exactly the same way I wouldn't own an RB or CA18 engined Nissan or a rotary Mazda, they are lovely engines but the worries just wouldn't be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Have you considered a Civic VTi? Almost exactly the same car, but with a Honda B18 Vtec engine and Japanese standard electrics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott-tt Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 Civic VTI definatly a better car but nice ones tend to be a bit more like £2k. If you can find a receipt for when the gasket was replaced you might be able to find out if it was done by a reputable garage and if it had the uprated gasket. Ive only ever driven a ZR but these MGs are fun to drive and do look quite smart though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 16, 2015 Share Posted August 16, 2015 POS enough said Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted August 17, 2015 Author Share Posted August 17, 2015 Think I'll leave it then. Cheers for the input guys. I've found a 3 series BMW I'm going to look at on Wednesday now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benjy Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Make sure it's had lower arm rear bushes, rear coil springs and an expansion bottle fairly recently. Why aren't you looking at things like an Avensis? Honda Accord? Hyundai's or Kia? Anything from europe is gonna break fairly often. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Listen to Benjy. The wife's Audi TT has started to mutate into a Christmas tree from the number of warning lights now showing on the instrument panel. I am always giving big bills for BMW's, especially at MOT time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz6002 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 Suspension by TWR K-Series engine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyson Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 I had a Zr 160 fantastic car to drive in the twists and nippy of the mark but it spent more time in the garage than it did on the road. If you can find one with a t series lump from a rover 220 it will be an excellent sleeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_jza80 Posted August 17, 2015 Share Posted August 17, 2015 If you can find one with a t series lump from a rover 220 it will be an excellent sleeper I know someone who did similar, but a Fiat Bravo with a 5cyl 20v Turbo engine from a Fiat Coupe. Was a monster, and sounded amazing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.