Time For The 205 To Go?

[MrG 3]

and slippers.

 

There's one not far from me, sounds the nuts and the dullish looks means it draws little attention, not sure how they handle though.

 

With regards the M3, the saloon is a good car however dependent on how old the kids are you'll need to look at the space in the back as they're not the best. But maybe bang for outlay, is an M5 out of reach? (E34 or E39!).

Edited July 27, 2010 by MrG

[Baz 421]

Yes yes they may both be coupes but both are way more classier than a scooby imo.

 

I have owned a JDM WRX and didnt rate it to be fair. Now whenever i hear a burble coming down the road, rather than looking admiringly I expect to see a chav in a burberry cap and diy tatoos behind the wheel.

 

PS - P1's still do things for me though

 

Agreed classier than a Scoob, but P1's do less for me tbh, although basically the same car, i'd much rather a Type R. I've always loved them but the reality is their build quality, reliability and general imagery now is very poor. Even an Evo 5/6 seems to be better on all fronts now, and IMO will be a much more appreciated classic, hence my suggestion.

 

An E36 -even an M3 to me, however classy it should be, still doesn't look very appealing, i can't quite put my finger on why i've never held much regard for them, they're just boring... it'd have to be a saloon, and would still only be a bigger, more grown up cheap track-hack for me, whereas an Evo wouldn't be just that, the only thing that doesn't quite do it for me, and i must be getting old, is the fact that to the unknown they appear to be a cheap Jap saloon with a silly bodykit, same for Scoobies but to a worse extent tbh.

 

I still want one though...

[MrG 3]

you need to drive an M3 to see the appeal but like many cars these days there are so many about.

[Baz 421]

And the blocks are not the strongest ones and are prone to cracking.

 

And the diff hangers snap and break... and... and... and...

 

I used to love them, and had a serious hankering for one, but after a few friends had a couple each, i wouldn't touch one at all, especially compared to what else you can get for the money these days.

 

And Justin's right, a decent powered and handling 205 being pedalled well will make one look stupid.

[Baz 421]

you need to drive an M3 to see the appeal but like many cars these days there are so many about.

 

I have driven a few, but not in a few years now, and remember them never being that amazing, certainly an Evo 6 with a slipping clutch i drove at around the same time was more fun! I keep considering one though as i'm sure i've probably mentioned, i was very close to buying a lovely low-mileage saloon in Technoviolet when i bought the Longman 8v, but there was something that just held me back making me think i'd never be that happy with one...

 

An E39 M5 though...

 

[Baz 421]

MrG - Caterham is also going. It'll be mainly for pleasure, but practical enough for the wife and kids to use occasionally. Given the comments on here I think I'll have a look at an M3 or two, but I'd definitely want a saloon and preferably a non-VANOS engine.

 

From what i've learned about them, it's a common mis-conception that the non-Evo is just as good and more reliable for Vanos issues etc etc. The earlier ones didn't have the same chassis/suspension as the Evo's, and despite the fact that alot of Evo's reputedly never make their 321bhp, the Non-Evo's don't make the 300ish that seems to be claimed.

 

The main thing though, this day and age the Vanos issues aren't as bad as they used to be, there's cheaper fixes about and now that the problems are widely known, decent servicing with the correct oil and filter changes are much more-commonplace so of course limit the issues.

 

I'd just go for the better condition/looked after one, regardless of it being an Evo or not, i've always looked at Saloons, and there's many less non-Evo saloons than there is Evo's, coupled with the fact that they're older, a good one is getting hard to find.

 

 

 

Same here, I've got my eye on one of those as well. Problem is only 30 ZT260-T (V8 estates) were made, so the estates will hold their value nicely. Then there is around 700-800 normal saloon ZT260s that were produced. I'd want the estate model even though the 0-60 is slower at 6.3 compared to saloon of 6.2, as it has all the extra space and thus I can claim to my missus that it'd be good for the kids.

There is relatively good news though is that if you can put up with it just being a standard V8 Rover 75 then I believe more numbers were produced in both saloon and estates, so you might be able to find one there for less money. I've not looked into that side of things myself though as if I was going to have one it'd have to be an MG one to at least keep a little bit of street cred.

 

Me too! Love them, despite the fact of all the worries that go with it being essentially a Rover!

 

I managed a fleet of 30 MG ZT 180 & 190's in '04/'05, 1.8 turbo and 2.5 V6's, they were actually very nice cars, naturally i drove them quite a bit, and they're actually surprisingly good, a firm chassis that rewards pressing on, will let the tail come out just slightly and isn't as under-steer tastic as you'd expect. They were abused, naturally being rental cars, and weren't unreliable at all in the great scheme of things!

 

I know the V8 one is totally different, but i've only ever heard and read good things about them!

[kyepan 291]

And the diff hangers snap and break... and... and... and...

but the blocks don't crack... lets get that straight at least this is how rumours (like the one about you having a massive todger) get started.

 

I used to love them, and had a serious hankering for one, but after a few friends had a couple each, i wouldn't touch one at all, especially compared to what else you can get for the money these days.

an early evo - for example is a much better car, but you would be driving an evo .

 

 

And Justin's right, a decent powered and handling 205 being pedalled well will make one look stupid.

Not quite what i said... any monkey can pedal a pulsar as quickly (but usually more quickly) than a quick 205. But a well driven tricked up 205 Mi, is not far behind. When you compare running costs, the 205 wins every time..

 

only flaw is it doesn't set hot women's underwear ablaze at 50 paces solely with the sound of it's engine.

 

i had this sticker (turbo version) on the back side of the sun visor in the pulsar, comedy.

 

 

but more importantly, if Chuck Norris was a car, which car would he be?

Edited July 27, 2010 by kyepan

[SurGie 54]

A daewoo .

[MrG 3]

the underpinnings of the 3.0 and the 3.2 are essentially the same, the main differences are the brakes are better on the 3.2 as they have the floating calliper set up from the M5 where as the 3.0 doesn't, the rest is as per the 3.0 with a few tweaks here and there. The main differences is the 6spd box and the 3.2 engine, plus trim change and then later on a facelift (slight).

there are differences between the saloon and the coupe though.

 

The 3.0 didn't suffer the same vano issue as the 3.2, it had a single vanos system which did fail but when they did it was more progressive, where as the 3.2 had the twin system that when it did, all hell could break loose under there. But it was a relative rarity however the issue is still there. It was a simple issue really, a small filter gets blocked that over time starves the unit of lubrication, they become noisey then can either fail completely and you loose a lot of oil or just stay geting noisier by the year!

 

But the saloon is the rarest of the lot really, not many made between 97 and 99.

 

Also have to add that many when new would have produced their claimed 286bhp or 321bhp when new, if not more, but with todays cars being at least 11 years old I doubt that they still have all the horses behind that stable door.

 

An Evo isn't for me so I'd stick with an alternative BUT saying that I've never driven one (well not on the road), the looks put me off have to say.

 

Looking forward to what you end up buying though.

Edited July 28, 2010 by MrG

[CaptainK 11]

I'd like a green or brown Rover one with the 4.6 Supercharged engine from the Mustang SVT Cobra and uprated brakes/suspension.

Whilst driving I'd wear a hat at all times.

Funnily, MG had plans to put the 4.6 Supercharged motor into the ZT and it was going to be called the ZT-385 I think. Unfortunately only the one prototype was made I believe and then after that Rover went downhill and it never went into production. But as you said, as the running gear is pretty much all Mustang stuff then hoof the SC motor out of a Mustang and have a real grandad street sleeper.

[maturin23 10]

Huge thanks to everyone for their input - it's been a really enjoyable discussion.

 

I'm going to watch the Impreza market for a month or so (PH, Scoobynet, Autotrader & eBay) - get an idea what's out there. In the meantime I'm going to get the 205's clicky start thing sorted so I can sell her in excellent working order (thanks in advance JackHerer!).

 

I'll also keep my eyes peeled for an Accord Type R - I've never driven one so I'd like to at least have a go.

 

If there are any developments/purchases I'll let you know on here.

 

Thanks again

Ian

[jackherer 543]

I was running a company ten years ago and my business partner had a new Accord Type R which we went all over the country in, you should definitely check them out, I can't believe how cheap they are now.

 

I'll be in touch tomorrow about your 205.

[kyepan 291]

i'm going to test a pulsar too to make sure i've covered the alternatives

 

Good idea.