My Old-New 260

SteveTD · 25th October 2014, 20:03

Evening Chaps

So I collected Vin 436 earlier today and was reunited after 7 years.
I know it sounds stupid, but it's been a really surreal, slightly emotional day!
Whilst those 7 years have without a doubt not been at all kind to me, they have also not been overly kind to the car either.
When I left if stood on the forecourt of Summit Motors back in 2007 is was just about perfect condition.
I want to get the car back to this but first need to tackle this list:

- IPK display has missing pixels and some lines. How do I resolve this - will a new instrument pack (A14) do the trick?
- gearknob is faded and looks rubbish - replacement required. Ebay?
- the padding on the drivers side door card has worn and is slightly saggy, again - Ebay?
- Passenger front side internal door handle outer rim is missing?
- the paint has stone chips which to someone who has OCD about chips, is causing me great distress. I need to source some Poseidon paint.

I'm sure this list will grow too.

Since I last drove a 260 about 5 years ago; I've owned a large number of cars including a CLS 55 AMG and a 300c SRT8.
When I first sat back in the 260 it felt like it was from the 80's and the heavy clutch and gear change was a real shock to the system.
It feels so slow too!!! (I have got an Audi TT RS which does 0-60 in 3.0 secs so i guess I've got used to speed!)
I don't remember it feeling that slow!

However, 20 minutes later I had adjusted and it was intoxicating. I had one guy on the motorway chase me down, beep the horn frantically and give me a massive wave and thumbs up - which was really cool.

The G/F was initially very negative about this purchase and the car itself until we got there and I got a 'it doesn't look as bad as it does in the pictures'. Not instantly convinced, she got out of the car 2 hours later when we got home and declared her love for a car she says is very much like me by all counts - noisy, old fashioned (read vintage), thirsty, strong, imperfect and characterful.

I think I can set about resolving the list above - not sure yet how best to tackle all the stone chips, but there's no rush!

I'm back and it feels great!

Steve

trikey · 25th October 2014, 20:08

Brilliant, get some pics posted!

Number 6 · 25th October 2014, 20:15

Regards the Lines etc have a word with Klarzy on here he can repair them

T16 · 25th October 2014, 20:44

Does a TT RS really do 0-60 in THREE Seconds?

ARe you sure?

If so, thats utterly savage.

No wonder the 260 feels so bad!

Without the accufab, they feel like they are going backwards they are so slow.

Still.... its all about the noise, if you can tolerate the gearbox from a tractor!!

Its certainly not my favourite car to drive, but, its all about the character

LotusLC · 25th October 2014, 20:46

Nice story, wish i could be reunited with my Lotus Carlton.

VMax1000 · 26th October 2014, 07:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by T16

Does a TT RS really do 0-60 in THREE Seconds?

ARe you sure?

If so, thats utterly savage.

From Autocar

Quote:

For an idea of how swift this car can be, consider that it can cover the 30-70mph sprint through the gears in just 4.4sec, and make the same leap using fourth gear alone in 6.4sec. And the all-out sprint to 60mph requires just 4.7sec, a number that convincingly eclipses the Porsche Cayman S’s 5.1sec, for instance. Unusually, there is no performance penalty for specifying a drop-top model over the coupé.

Like previous RS models such as the RS6, Audi has launched a 'Plus' variant of the TT RS as a production swansong. Power is boosted by 20 points to 355bhp and 343lb ft of torque is claimed. The resulting 0-62mph time of 4.4 seconds is enough to make rivals like the BMW Z4 sDrive 35iS look rather sluggish in a straight line.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T16

No wonder the 260 feels so bad!

Without the accufab, they feel like they are going backwards they are so slow.

Still.... its all about the noise, if you can tolerate the gearbox from a tractor!!

Its certainly not my favourite car to drive, but, its all about the character

When will it be up for sale then

Tim · 26th October 2014, 07:25

Welcome back to V8'dom

SteveTD · 26th October 2014, 08:10

Ah but Herman that's for a standard car. Mines not standard.

PS Even standard is c. 4 seconds just Audi don't market it that way to take sales away from the R8.

Thanks for the pointers and the welcome chaps!

BigJohn · 26th October 2014, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveTD

Evening Chaps

So I collected Vin 436 earlier today and was reunited after 7 years.

I don't remember it feeling that slow!

However, 20 minutes later I had adjusted and it was intoxicating.

Not instantly convinced, she got out of the car 2 hours later when we got home and declared her love for a car she says is very much like me by all counts - noisy, old fashioned (read vintage), thirsty, strong, imperfect and characterful.

I'm back and it feels great!

Steve

As the 1982 advert for the MG Metro proclaimed "Welcome back"

The précis of your original post above sum up the 260. For a 4.6 V8 in a mid sized saloon they are not fast but they are so full of character. Mine which I don't drive as often as I'd like to ( I have averaged only 400 miles pa since purchase 4 years ago due to other demands of my time ) feels so solid and purposeful from the clunk on closing the driving doors to the cacophony of sound from the x power exhaust on start up.

It never ceases to put a smile on my face even just looking at it. You'll get it back to it former glory and above all enjoy driving it.

SteveTD · 26th October 2014, 08:27

Do you know what John, it's funny.
When I last had one of these (I've owned my fair share of them too...) none of the above really hit me. I loved it back then because it did feel quick to me (I had never experienced anything significantly quicker) and it felt 'new' to me and well equipped. Prior to 260 ownership which started when I was 25 my car history had been very modest due to budgetary constraints!

But this time, the reasons I loved it back then have long gone; and all the things I've written above became apparent. I guess these things were apparent to most of the other owners a long time ago.

I'm just slow!.........(like my car lol)

25th October 2014, 20:03	#1
SteveTD Loves to post MG ZT 260 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Byfield, Northamptonshire Posts: 271 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts	My Old-New 260 Evening Chaps So I collected Vin 436 earlier today and was reunited after 7 years. I know it sounds stupid, but it's been a really surreal, slightly emotional day! Whilst those 7 years have without a doubt not been at all kind to me, they have also not been overly kind to the car either. When I left if stood on the forecourt of Summit Motors back in 2007 is was just about perfect condition. I want to get the car back to this but first need to tackle this list: - IPK display has missing pixels and some lines. How do I resolve this - will a new instrument pack (A14) do the trick? - gearknob is faded and looks rubbish - replacement required. Ebay? - the padding on the drivers side door card has worn and is slightly saggy, again - Ebay? - Passenger front side internal door handle outer rim is missing? - the paint has stone chips which to someone who has OCD about chips, is causing me great distress. I need to source some Poseidon paint. I'm sure this list will grow too. Since I last drove a 260 about 5 years ago; I've owned a large number of cars including a CLS 55 AMG and a 300c SRT8. When I first sat back in the 260 it felt like it was from the 80's and the heavy clutch and gear change was a real shock to the system. It feels so slow too!!! (I have got an Audi TT RS which does 0-60 in 3.0 secs so i guess I've got used to speed!) I don't remember it feeling that slow! However, 20 minutes later I had adjusted and it was intoxicating. I had one guy on the motorway chase me down, beep the horn frantically and give me a massive wave and thumbs up - which was really cool. The G/F was initially very negative about this purchase and the car itself until we got there and I got a 'it doesn't look as bad as it does in the pictures'. Not instantly convinced, she got out of the car 2 hours later when we got home and declared her love for a car she says is very much like me by all counts - noisy, old fashioned (read vintage), thirsty, strong, imperfect and characterful. I think I can set about resolving the list above - not sure yet how best to tackle all the stone chips, but there's no rush! I'm back and it feels great! Steve

25th October 2014, 20:08	#2
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,802 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Brilliant, get some pics posted! __________________ Lest we forget..

25th October 2014, 20:15	#3
Number 6 This is my second home Rover 75 tourer Club CD/Limo Tints Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Meneac Posts: 6,759 Thanks: 5,007 Thanked 1,609 Times in 869 Posts	Regards the Lines etc have a word with Klarzy on here he can repair them __________________ ] "I started out with nothing, and Ive still got most of it left!"

25th October 2014, 20:46	#5
LotusLC This is my second home MG ZT CDTi Auto / ZT-T Trophy Blue Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: York Posts: 3,981 Thanks: 3,329 Thanked 1,644 Times in 1,238 Posts	Nice story, wish i could be reunited with my Lotus Carlton. __________________ Lotus Carlton - Number 852 (My old car) https://i.imgur.com/Cwa3376m.jpg

26th October 2014, 07:25	#7
Tim Feel the size of my Quads MG ZT 440SE, MG HS PHEV & MG3 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Addlestone Posts: 1,735 Thanks: 0 Thanked 128 Times in 85 Posts	Welcome back to V8'dom __________________ Member 23 or 63 depending on what you look at. https://www.two-sixties.co.uk/mgoc26...0rum/forum.php http://two-sixties-blog.com/ http://www.youtube.com/user/TheTwoSi.../1/1wPt2rhd_Ps

25th October 2014, 20:44	#4
T16 I really should get out more....... ZT CDTi 135, ZT260SE Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Dundee Posts: 2,877 Thanks: 10 Thanked 331 Times in 213 Posts	Does a TT RS really do 0-60 in THREE Seconds? ARe you sure? If so, thats utterly savage. No wonder the 260 feels so bad! Without the accufab, they feel like they are going backwards they are so slow. Still.... its all about the noise, if you can tolerate the gearbox from a tractor!! Its certainly not my favourite car to drive, but, its all about the character

26th October 2014, 08:10	#8
SteveTD Loves to post MG ZT 260 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Byfield, Northamptonshire Posts: 271 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts	Ah but Herman that's for a standard car. Mines not standard. PS Even standard is c. 4 seconds just Audi don't market it that way to take sales away from the R8. Thanks for the pointers and the welcome chaps!

26th October 2014, 08:27	#10
SteveTD Loves to post MG ZT 260 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Byfield, Northamptonshire Posts: 271 Thanks: 13 Thanked 12 Times in 8 Posts	Do you know what John, it's funny. When I last had one of these (I've owned my fair share of them too...) none of the above really hit me. I loved it back then because it did feel quick to me (I had never experienced anything significantly quicker) and it felt 'new' to me and well equipped. Prior to 260 ownership which started when I was 25 my car history had been very modest due to budgetary constraints! But this time, the reasons I loved it back then have long gone; and all the things I've written above became apparent. I guess these things were apparent to most of the other owners a long time ago. I'm just slow!.........(like my car lol)