Well, I’ve had the car a month now and all seems to be going well. The replacement inlet manifold is working well with no rattles or noises and no other problems (touch wood) seemed to have manifested themselves. This doesn’t mean that the car has been left alone though.
After the issues with inlet manifold, I decided to try and prevent the problem occurring again, so one of the first jobs on my to do list was fit an oil catch tank. The premature wear on the actuation arm is thought to come from the oil vapour that is recirculated in to the inlet manifold. The oil, along with various particulate matter is supposed to get in to the ball and socket joint and create premature wear. By fitting an oil catch tank, this problem is supposed to be eliminated. Thirty quid on eBay and about ten minutes worth of fitting later, the ZS was fitted with a shiny silver aluminium oil catch tank. Let’s just hope it work!
Next up was the stereo. One of the most important safety features, in my opinion, that can be fitted to any car is a blue tooth hands free kit. However on trying to fit the Mutant unit that I had kicking around, I found the aperture for the radio on the ZS is not deep enough to accommodate anything other than the standard fit unit. Being a bit of a perfectionist, I was not prepared mess the look of the dash up and sit the head unit further forward, so I took to the plastic moulding at the back with a hacksaw blade. Fortunately there are no wires or cables running behind, so it was a relatively simple job. Once out, the stereo fitted straight off.
Another important safety item, the front tyres were next on the list. I knew the tread was getting low when I bought the car and preferred to negotiate a discount rather than get the dealer to replace them, and put on some Chinese no branded make that would send the car understeering off in to the scenery. As this is effectively my third car, top notch tyres were less of an issue, although I still wanted something that handled and stopped come rain or dry. A quick look at black circles revealed that other than the ultra cheap Hung Well death masters, the Kumho was the next best bet. Having used Kumho’s before on my mum’s TT, dad’s Jazz and one of the company vans, I was fully aware that they were a good tyre, in every case before out performing the original fit equipment.
Once on, their 100% success record was unbroken, the car gripping and handling in all conditions. For £65.00 per tyre, I figured this is probably one of the best value bits you could buy to improve the MG.
Lastly was something that was purely cosmetic. I’ve always thought the ZS lacks something in frontal visual drama, so I thought I’d look round for an after market front spoiler / splitter that doesn’t look chavvy! I eventually found one from Poland that seems to fit the bill, understated and looks almost like original equipment. One hundred pounds later, it’s ordered and on it’s way so I wait with anticipation to see if it’s as good as the photo’s look!
The most important bit though, of course, is driving the car and from that aspect I am smitten! I am pleasantly surprised by the overall competence of the package considering both the age of the design and budget that MG had when they were creating the car. The ride and handling is excellent and certainly doesn’t feel like it comes from a base that dates back to 1995. The engine, whilst newer, spins sweetly and has plenty of torque. The seats, also used in the MG ZT are big and comfortable, whilst being supportive. Ironically for a car with so much sporting intent, it also does an amazing impression of a great cruiser. Shame it never came with cruise control then. The only issue, as I mentioned in the last report, is the quality of the cabin materials, even though they are screwed together well and don’t rattle or squeak.
Whilst cruising along the M11, I pondered about how good a modern day MG would have been like if the company hadn’t have gone to the wall; the great wall that is. Not what we are expected to get at some point, a Chinese MG but a genuine British engineered ZS replacement, the sort they had in the pipe line in the form of the RD60. We’ll never know though and that’s sad, not only for me as I’ve taken a bit of a shine to my MG, but to thousands of other people, be they MG Rover workers or other enthusiastic owners.
