ZT V8 ownership ?

Hey guys

Jim here first time poster from Galway in the ROI.

Have had my current car for almost two years now a 2007 focus ST but I'm after abit of a change and have always wanted a V8. The focus is modified to around 300bhp but the ride is crashy and driveshafts and clutch give problems on these once you go 300+bhp.

Originally I wanted a Vauxhall monaro vxr but these are very expensive ATM and my Max budget is 8k sterling. All I want really is a V8 burble and something more practical with habit of comfort.

V8 mpg doesn't bother me as I'm currently getting 19mpg from my focus :p

Is a nice black 2006 I have my eye on with the facelift grille around 6k.

A few questions.
Any known issues with these ?
Best cat back for about more noise ? (Been looking at the zero cat back so far and seems like good value) is only modification I will make besides maybe the bigger rear spoiler.
Is the car relatively brisk ? (No supercharger plans here)

My friends think I'm mad buying such an expensive to run car that only makes 259bhp from a big v8 but for me its not really about power and the whole Q car v8 thing really appeals to me. 300bhp from a cheap hatch feels manic so 260bhp from a refined saloon now that I'm turning 31 appeals much more if I'm honest.

Thanks a lot for your replies. Hopefully in a month or so I will have some pics to share.

Jim.

Hi and welcome Jim
youve been looking for a while?
:cool:

Nope the fun starts soon though :)

Been looking at this one, but while it's relatively cheap its a boring colour by ZT standards (abit of a sleeper i guess) but lower spec

http://www.usedcarsni.com/2006-MG-ZT...3336d2288c6264

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Hey guys

Jim here first time poster from Galway in the ROI.

Have had my current car for almost two years now a 2007 focus ST but I'm after abit of a change and have always wanted a V8. The focus is modified to around 300bhp but the ride is crashy and driveshafts and clutch give problems on these once you go 300+bhp.

Originally I wanted a Vauxhall monaro vxr but these are very expensive ATM and my Max budget is 8k sterling. All I want really is a V8 burble and something more practical with habit of comfort.

V8 mpg doesn't bother me as I'm currently getting 19mpg from my focus :p

Is a nice black 2006 I have my eye on with the facelift grille around 6k.

A few questions.
Any known issues with these ?
Best cat back for about more noise ? (Been looking at the zero cat back so far and seems like good value) is only modification I will make besides maybe the bigger rear spoiler.
Is the car relatively brisk ? (No supercharger plans here)

My friends think I'm mad buying such an expensive to run car that only makes 259bhp from a big v8 but for me its not really about power and the whole Q car v8 thing really appeals to me. 300bhp from a cheap hatch feels manic so 260bhp from a refined saloon now that I'm turning 31 appeals much more if I'm honest.

Thanks a lot for your replies. Hopefully in a month or so I will have some pics to share.

Jim.

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Known issues = yes but none major ( same as any other car)
Best cat-back = X-Powers but Zero is very good
Brisk = I think so for a 1700 kg car nut mine has 274 BHP

Anyway welcome and good luck with your quest

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

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WELCOME :D

Good luck with your future 260 ownership.

MG ZT260 FAQ

Two-sixties Blog

Public Section

Items For Sale in Public Section
List of MG ZT/ZTT/75 V8s For Sale

(We have many threads in the Members Section that will help you when you own a 260/75V8)
If you have other any question please ask.

Thanks alot guys :)

What mods do you have for 274bhp Hermann ? Supercharger kits are very expensive :(

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Thanks alot guys :)

What mods do you have for 274bhp Hermann ? Supercharger kits are very expensive :(

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My guess is XPower Exhausts and an Accufab throttle body would give that kind of increase :cool:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Nope the fun starts soon though :)

Been looking at this one, but while it's relatively cheap its a boring colour by ZT standards (abit of a sleeper i guess) but lower spec

http://www.usedcarsni.com/2006-MG-ZT...3336d2288c6264

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Vin #220 originally for sale on 24/05/2013 and then again on 15/08/2013 at 54934 miles for £6995.

Nich.

Hi Jim and welcome! I know that ZT V8's aren't the fastest car out there, but a V8 gets a certain sort of respect that no other car does! You'll get often stopped and asked questions, but the best thing is that noise......wow, that noise!! Good luck with the quest!!!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Thanks alot guys :)

What mods do you have for 274bhp Hermann ? Supercharger kits are very expensive :(

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by colintf

My guess is XPower Exhausts and an Accufab throttle body would give that kind of increase :cool:

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All of the above and a modified air intake plus K&N filter

Jim lad I had my first V8 - Rover SD1 auto - when I was 26 and it changed my outlook on cars forever.

if you took a standard ZTV8 for a spin across the Burren and along the west coast roads you would be happy. I have owned an old MGB GT four pot, three TVR V8s inc Griff 500 and several Rover SD1 V8 Autos, plus an Audi A8 4.2 petrol and this car, whilst not as fast as Griff or A8, does everything with a uniqueness that is hard to describe.

Sure, I would like more power to weight, but unless you are on a track or your life depends on it, safety fast is what you will get with a 260. They aint all in the 250+ BHP either it seems, and some are more like 230 +, but for value for money, I couldnt ask for anything nicer . The burble and pop are there aplenty and there's nothing sweeter than the overrun in second or third between tall buildings or in valleys or tunnels. The handling is terrific, the car is an absolute driver's car, but my passengers have all commented how comfy it is. Serene and smoothe at low speeds, and quiet at 70 in 5th, it comes to life with effortless ease when you wanna lift up the skirt and squirt.

There are some issues that you need to ensure have been addressed before you buy though and there are clues on threads on this site or some of the experts might point you to where to check these out but as far as I can tell they include electrical and cooling system gremlins, water ingress into the car thru sunroof and boot seals , the latter potentially wiping out battery and associated gubbins in the boot, as they sit in well where a spare tyre would be found in other motors. Previous owners of mine had spent thousands on these, plus a gear box and engine, as it seems the car had been used on tracks and damaged gear box, as there is anecdotal evidence on here to indicate that the gear box breaks if taken anywhere into the red line.

For me, max torque at 4000 and max BHP at 5000 suggest why go over 5000 anyway, as it is just a waste of time and money, so I use 5000+ as slippage. The car has not used one iota of oil in the 2000 miles I have done in 5 weeks.

If I had the cash I would get supercharger but it costs around £6K to get done properly, as they reckon the chassis as standard can cope easily with up to 400 BHP.

But as it is a V8, it should be about lower end torque, for me.

I am trying to sell, having said all that (MPG in town is an issue for me, at this moment in time, as I have a few other commitments that cropped up in same week I bought the car last month ) but until I do I am having great fun and driving to and from and in work has never been more enjoyable.

My advice is drive a few and see how they feel, as it is worth spending a few hundred quid to travel and see them. I plumped for first one I drove and paid £6200. I should have haggled down several hundred but was impulsive and smitten. No regrets though as even if i sell, i might have lost in all around £2K, but I would have spent that on a two week holiday somewhere special, but I prefer being here in the city by the bay, with a sunset over the Irish Sea and welsh hills opposite and swally in the kitchen and this car has just added to all that.

Good luck and drive safe.

PS Make sure to change the pollen filter! Mine was minging and the mechanic who assisted in the delicate changing operation said it looked like it had never been changed in 10 years since new. Now its SO much cooler in the cabin since renewed

Yep, welcome along Jim. The good thing about the Ford engine is there are a lot of aftermarket parts out there that will push the horses up without turning it into a sewing machine and making it unreliable.

Good luck in your search. You know where to come if you have questions ;)

Thanks mate.

I'm after

- Comfort
- Noise
- Character
- Handling
- Performance

In that order really. ST was fun but its a younger fellas car and even at 31 it makes me fat and old on my daily commute :)

Will test drive that one in Tyrone if its still around in abit to seen if it fits my criteria. Want something I can happily live with for 2-3 years.

- Comfort
- Noise
- Character
- Handling
- Performance

the 260 has ALL the above, in any order you like

plus understated great appearance, if it is right.Attachment 6255

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Thanks mate.


Will test drive that one in Tyrone if its still around in abit to seen if it fits my criteria. Want something I can happily live with for 2-3 years.

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See post #8, it's been there nearly a year now and the price has dropped considerably but it's not SE spec.

Nich.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nich

See post #8, it's been there nearly a year now and the price has dropped considerably but it's not SE spec.

Nich.

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Yea I noticed the seats are half cloth and it has a different looking stereo.

Anything else I'm missing out on by it not being SE spec ? Also I'm sure if I rolled up with cash or a bank draft of 5k+ some change they would do me a deal.

Obviously a new oil filter and oil would have to be part of the deal. Would have background check done before heading up. What are the odds of getting an extended test drive for a day to get it up on some ramps and giving a good looking at underneath. I'm sure the 300 odd mikes from Galway and back would also give me an indication of the cars condition or any niggles.

Would that be a reasonable request ?

A long test drive will prove to be advantageous, it does take a few months to get used to the car and its superb qualities.

Most of the reviews by car programs drive them a few miles and think they know how the car handles.

If your used to the Ford hooligan mobile take care when driving the zt as gear changing needs to be done with relative care and not to quickly. the set up of the engine management system means that the revs hang up a bit before they drop, this is perfectly normal and was done to reduce emissions. I have fitted a restrictor in the bypass pipe which drops the revs quicker and allows for quicker gear changes without crunching the selectors. Check the history carefully get it up on a ramp and check for oil leaks and the condition of the rear sub frame. if its wet be careful coming off roundabouts other than that enjoy.

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Originally Posted by Ken B

check for oil leaks and the condition of the rear sub frame. if its wet be careful coming off roundabouts other than that enjoy.

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;)

I agree about the gear change thing, and that's one of the things that makes the car like such a traditional old sports car. It demands care and will reward drive after drive. There are lots of even new turbo diesels now with engines 2.7 or above with tiptronic boxes that fly off the line quicker than our 260s but the way the car feels , taut, with assuredness and the mid range oomph to justify the sound, and the way the box rewards also with it's precision when used right, are just a few of the qualities that make every drive an experience to savour

Sounds good.

As to aftermarket cat backs what would be the best bang per buck for quietish cruising and a V8 burble under load ?

Is a company near me called Souhans and was half considering a custom jobby from them if an X Power set of back boxes are hard to source.

There are several examples on youtube. Here is one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY1ZVylMLEc

Mine has the X Power silencers - not sure about the whole system from manifold to finals pipes - and I think mine sounds better than the link. It retains some of the old style burble. It is not the same as the Rover based TVR V8 sound, not quite anyway. I just love it though

Would only be looking at s cat back or de-res really. Purely for sound

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Would only be looking at s cat back or de-res really. Purely for sound

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Helpful if we could lapse into English from time to time to enable us 'oldies' to keep up............:)

Nich.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Nich

Helpful if we could lapse into English from time to time to enable us 'oldies' to keep up............:)

Nich.

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Haha :)

Cat back = Section of the exhaust from the catalytic converter back

De-Res = Deresonate the rear silencers by either cutting out the resonator section or by removing the sound deadening insulation :)

Sorry I'm used to hot hatch forums innit guv :p

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Would only be looking at s cat back or de-res really. Purely for sound

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gurrier

Haha :)

Cat back = Section of the exhaust from the catalytic converter back

De-Res = Deresonate the rear silencers by either cutting out the resonator section or by removing the sound deadening insulation :)

Sorry I'm used to hot hatch forums innit guv :p

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Sound, either straight through or X-Powers. Could have a chat with Kevin at Zero Exhaust, He'll probably can make sound to order.
Cat is already a hi-flow one so not much gain in going for a sports-cat.

Cold air intake also can raise the sound levels a bit :)

standard boxes can be modded to make them straight through or go for a set of zeros they sound very nice and bark when you want them to. X powers are hard to come by now.

Do Zeros have the option of twin oval pipes or do they have to be a twin exits per side jobby ?

Both, can be either ovals, one outlet each side or quads, two outlets per side.

o0

http://zeroexhausts.co.uk/images/gal...ower-500-2.bmp