A bad idea that refuses to go away

"djmt1" (djmt1) 10/22/2014 at 10:12 • Filed to: C'mon Son

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Been looking at Hot Hatches for a while now and have knocked quite a few off the list but one car refuses to go. I know this is a bad idea heck anyone who knows what this is probably thinks it's a bad idea but I keep coming back to it. I wonder why?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 10:13

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Soooo British...

djmt1 > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie 10/22/2014 at 10:14

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Maybe my irrational hatred on the new Chinese MG is the reason.

ACESandEIGHTS > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 10:14

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It's not bad, especially if you're having fun with it. I just passed a GTI on the way to work—it was a cool funky orange color, fast, low. People buy them because the potential for "little sports car" is high.

I own a Suburban and an Envoy. I still want a Golf coupe.

djmt1 > ACESandEIGHTS 10/22/2014 at 10:16

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That is why it is a bad idea. If there is one car I guaranteed has been thrashed during it's life it's the MG ZR.

ACESandEIGHTS > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 10:29

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Ahhhhh, I didn't see that we were concentrated on one particular model. Yeah, f that. You live where people can buy Citroens, Renaults and any number of cool Euro hatches. Drop that idea now, son. It's time to let it go.

Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 10:38

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Do it.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 11:05

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Expect rust and people in baseball caps trying to race you all the time.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 12:55

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My sister had one of these (albeit a 105bhp 1.4l) as a first car. Great looking cars, fun to drive too. Corners really flat, but the ride is consequently a little on the harsh side.

Rust hasn't seemed to be a problem at all and it's not as if hers has led an easy life. What you should look out for is whether the head gasket has been changed, and what for.

The K-Series engine in these little cars is an absolute screamer. Great little engine, and has a high performance ceiling for a 1.8l. Check out the Lotus-tuned variants for that :) It's also got a novel (for the time) construction which involves through-bolting the whole thing, which makes it very light but caused frequent head gasket failures.

As MG-Rover had such little capital to play around with at the time, they took ages to fix this (which probably stuck the final nail in the company's coffin). However, Land Rover had a similar issue with one of their engines and developed an uprated head gasket which is a common fix (must be done preventatively), for these engines.

If it's had this done, I wouldn't expect any sort of unreliability issues above and beyond most other cars this age :)

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 12:59

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Oh, they're also in a class about the dinky hot hatches. More family-hatch size. Think Golf or 306 GTi rather than 106 GTi

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/22/2014 at 12:59

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I was edging back towards the Clio 172 but you just swayed me back.

Rule Britannia.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 13:03

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They're chuckable little things, but I expect them to have been abused in their lifetime since they're cheap as chips now. And that K-Series - beware the head gasket problems, although stronger ones are easily sourced.

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/22/2014 at 13:07

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Insurance, tax and price is what is dictating my choice. I have a budget of £3000 for everything.

Clio 172/182, C2 VTS, Focus ST 170, MG ZR and the 106 GTi are the current options.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 13:08

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If I was being perfectly honest, a Clio 172 is a better regarded car, but I presume more expensive. I haven't driven the two back-to-back, but it would be worth reading some road tests.

Would you be looking to do any modification to them, or keeping them stock?

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 13:10

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Hmmm, I'd say that of those the Focus and the Clio will be the dearest on insurance. The C2 VTS will probably be the cheapest, but the buy-in price would likely be higher and it's definitely the least fun car on that list.

I've driven a 106 GTi and they really are great fun. All would be good options though (and I would plump for the MG myself...).

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/22/2014 at 13:15

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All of them are £1,500 insurance. The MG and focus are appealing as they are 5 doors and like you said the C2 is cheap really cheap.

djmt1 > BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires 10/22/2014 at 13:18

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All less than £1200 and stock. I don't like modifying cars.

djmt1 > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut 10/22/2014 at 13:20

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Nothing is more guaranteed in life then a ZR being abused.

BiTurbo228 - Dr Frankenstein of Spitfires > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 13:29

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Hmmm, between the MG and Focus the Focus will probably feel more solid, but the MG more chuckable. I'd personally avoid the C2, but I'm sure they're not bad cars :)

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 14:53

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If it refuses to go away, then it mustn't be as bad of an idea as you think.

djmt1 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 10/22/2014 at 15:17

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Probably. MGs get a bad rap as the default Boy Racer car but at the end of the day it is still an MG and everyone I know who has driven one has told how great they are to drive that said buying a used one which hasn't been thrashed is pretty much impossible.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 15:22

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Same with an EP3 Type R, but I wouldn't kick it out.

djmt1 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 10/22/2014 at 15:46

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If I had the patience to save for another 6 months I would get an EP3 without a second's thought. The fact that the EP3 is still faster than so many of the new Hot Hatches is part of the reason why I believe it to be the best Hot Hatch ever made, it does 0-60 in 6.4 and for a car that came out in 2001 that is bloody impressive. Hmm... I think I might wait, the insurance costs comes out the same as the MG but it costs 2.5 times more to buy but it is an EP3 afterall.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 15:50

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Here's your motivation.

djmt1 > G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 10/22/2014 at 15:52

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That and the fact that if you Youtube MG ZR this comes up.

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > djmt1 10/22/2014 at 16:02

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Do it.