Taking the plunge?

[VMax1000]

I used to commute 65 mls round trip for work from 2007 to mid 2009.
ZT was the daily driver (apart from the bike weather permitting)

Moving to another job 110 mls away, again the 260 took me there on Sunday, commute during the week, and back on a Friday
Done that for about a year.

It's just in the last year and a half that the miles went down as I moved to Swindon and now do about 8k a year.

Never had any regrets using the ZT on a daily basis and never had any major problems.

[kaiser]

Originally Posted by hst125

I have been trawling the web looking at the market, the availability and the support for owning a 260. I have a good shortlist, a price range/ceiling and have been in useful talks with a few sellers.
I am almost ready but there's still some nagging doubts! Do we really think the market has bottomed out? The scrap/sale values of non v8 ZTs are positively frightening!
I popped into Beech Hill Garage today and asked about any weaknesses in the breed, knowing how little it took to write off a V6 or K series - DMFs and gear cables as much as HGF, but although he said the V8 was less troublesome, he had seen more cases of broken springs and other non-V8 generic failures.
I see on the forum there is a wealth of information and support, the known easy fixes like the orange clip and silicon hoses, and having run a fair few Alfas with forum support, I feel a V8 would be accompanied by the same!
It seems £6k is the starting point for decent ones, I would think a low owner low miler would be more important than spec and facelift?
It feels like its what I want in a car, but I am selling a late model car in excellent condition with day one history, and leaving the security that comes with it.
That aside I also own an MGB...........

Analysis paralysis?

If you really want one. Just go and do it. It is the only Rover with a decent engine. It is wasteful, sinful and you most likely will go to hell when your life on this earth is over.
But you will go with a smile!

[David Watts]

I've had my V8 for 4 years, I do approx 3000 miles a year, I love the car and am not concerned with MPG, if you are don't buy one.

[Will.S]

I've had mine 2yrs, luckily I live 1.5 miles from work so drive in first day and run in/out til last, couldn't afford it if I had to drive any distance so I'm lucky.

I love it!

Everyone tries to talk me out of it.."What you need is a diesel Golf....' No,No I don't, they're just jealous, they all love the sound and deep down they'd have one!

I had a 160+ before, but if you want to be a bear....be a grizzly!!!


P.S. I went for non SE spec and TBH wish I hadn't, would have liked the extra toys!

[David Watts]

Yes it is the same for me I couldn't run a V8 on a daily basis but that makes me appreciate it even more, the trouble with SE spec is theres more to go wrong (leaking sunroof etc.)

[Keith]

or less - no ECU in the plenum to get drowned on the 260 they fitted it in a far more sensible location

[Les4048]

Originally Posted by David Watts

Yes it is the same for me I couldn't run a V8 on a daily basis but that makes me appreciate it even more, the trouble with SE spec is theres more to go wrong (leaking sunroof etc.)

I read somewhere they'd fixed the leaking sunroof on the facelift models

[3disco]

Originally Posted by Les4048

I read somewhere they'd fixed the leaking sunroof on the facelift models

Not on mine!!

[hst125]

Thanks for all this input chaps, forgot to update recently as I have gone all sensible! I decided to plough the Saab money into my MGB, so slashed my budget. However, as detailed elsewhere on the forum, I have bought John Nettles' old company car
On hols and not collected yet but smooooth motoring ahead!
Oh and lots of wire brushing, scraping, gathering, and not a little welding..........