Simon
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 02:32 PM |
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Future Donors
I thought you might like to know that Rover launched their ZT260 V8 yesterday.
155mph/6.2 to 60
Front engine/rear wheel drive and a V8
Give it a few years, should be able to use them for donors!!
ATB
Simon
PS Anyone want to GIVE me £28000
[Edited on 23/9/03 by Simon]
 
Rescued attachment ZT V8.jpg
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timf
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 02:40 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Simon
Give it a few years, should be able to use them for donors!!
[Edited on 23/9/03 by Simon]
its a rover give it 6 months
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Simon
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 02:55 PM |
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I think you're thinking of when it was BMW/BL
ATB
Simon
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 04:18 PM |
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rover are coming up with interesting ideas to keep their old range going.
but have you seen the streetwise!!!!!
a fiat strada grey front with 2 inch higher suspension, hmmm
they need to come up with something mainstream asap thats not pre 1994 or from India, where im told their next small car comes from.
atb
steve
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chrisg
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 07:17 PM |
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When's that V8 "musclecar" thingy coming out?
(please excuse the technical jargon)
Cheers
Chris
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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eddie
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 07:37 PM |
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Personally i'm not too kean on the current crop of badge engineered MG's
take that tarted up rover 25 with an MG badge, i'm sure its a worthy successor to the MG maestro
then there was the MGf, can just picture the planning meeting, 'well chaps if we stick a body with undertones of the old MGb on a metro chassis,
we can get into a niche market by selling to hairdressors'.... 'drivers car? body roll? no we dont need to worry about that, these
ladies never go over 55....'
the problem is that you can put whatever badge you like on them, theyre never gonna get taken seriously by MG any MG enthusiast, they will end up the
same way as the MG metro / maestro, (if you are wondering what i mean, go to a MGOC weekend, the lowly midget gets more cachet, while the
metro's / maestros are put in the corner, as far away as possible)
now b4 you all start saying look at the roots of the company, i know where mg came from, (being a badge engineered runaround for what ever BMC wanted
at the time) but MG was developed into a brand in its own right, making distinctive cars at a realistic price....
the pix in the press a couple of months ago that was to be new successor to the midget, seem to be the only light at the end of the whole dismal MG
tunnel, a real breath of fresh air, going back to the roots of what made MG a genuinely innovative brand for decades untill 70/80's
rationalisation at BL ended the MG saga.
and if youre wondering why i seem so passionate, i had to sell my 1972 midget (my pride and joy) 18 months ago so i could get married...
But one day i will ride again, Oh yes I WILL RIDE AGAIN
[Edited on 23/9/03 by eddie]
Please feel free in advance to: correct, update, ridicule or laugh and point at any comments made by myself in this post....
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Stu16v
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| posted on 23/9/03 at 10:33 PM |
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quote:
MG was developed into a brand in its own right, making distinctive cars at a realistic price....
Err, what like?
MG Midget = Fast Austin A30.....
MGB = Fast Marina....
It's all the MG has been forever as far as I can see. Hell, they even rotted quicker than their 'donors'
All in the name of pi55 taking of course (but frighteningly true, all the same)
Dont just build it.....make it!
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thekafer
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 02:44 AM |
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Speaking of far off future donors, is the RX-8 going to be released in the U.K.?
Fletch
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy...
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mackie
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 08:51 AM |
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Rover do need to update thier range and urgently or they will die. I went "wtf?!!?" when I heard the new metro would be a Tata but
it's recieved some praise in the press and they may just pull it off, who knows?
The MG saloon range isn't just badge engineering, ok the ZT190 is not quite an ST220 but it's got a chassis on par with it and the new V8s
should make an interesting and welcome alternative to the large engined BMW 3s and Audi A4s of similar cost. Don't forget there's a
380bhp version coming too
Someone was talking about BMWs being the next big thing as far as donors are concerned but I think there'll still be plenty of Sierras around
for a while yet. However my friend is planning on trading in his 325i coupe (M reg I think) and has been offered £900 for it, it's got 200k on
the clock though Modern-engined bmws are going to become affordable eventually, but unfortunately they don't rot like a Sierra.
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Noodle
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 09:15 AM |
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I rang a mate to organize a beery evening. I asked him if his phone was playing up because it sounded wierd. "No, I'm in the Autralian
outback testing the Rover 75 V8". Needless to say we didn't go out that night. I met an engineer working on the engine setup from the USA
(it's a Ford V8). He didn't seem to be able to find any sort of enthusiasm for the vehicle at all. I've also had a look over the
pre-prod car when my mate brought it round to the house. It all looked rather nice. He had recommended the GM V8 though, smaller, lighter, more
powerful and cheaper. But, it was too late then they were already at the vinegar strokes stage with Ford.
The rest of the range is an ageing P.O.S. though. I don't think they've the money to do something about it either, TWR took a load of
their cash when the went down as they were developing a 45 replacement.
As for the Streetwise(link), I'd be too embarasses to
manufacture something like that. I think it shows their desparation. The next metro (CityRover -
link) is a rebadged Indian Tata. Lotus have started
using Toyota Celica engines in the hot Elises, not tuned Rovers. The omens are not good.
On the positive side, Datsun re-assembled kit Austin 7's after the war. Did BMW too? Both those companies managed to sort themselves out
subsequently, so maybe Rover can do them same. (Don't hold your breath though)
I've written to Rover on several occassions imploring them to sort themselves out (with recommendations) I've only ever got one reply
(from the Chairman years ago who was that Canadian bloke) who basically said people don't want interesting cars. They want economical crap. When
Peter Stephens took over as design director, I begged him to design something interesting and don't to another MG Maestro/Montego/Metro. 3
months later 'MG' versions of the 25 and 45 appear.
At least I've tried to help!
Cheers,
Neil.
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Simon
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 09:27 AM |
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Chris,
"I thought you might like to know that Rover launched their ZT260 V8 yesterday. "
which was the 22/9
or are you referring to the SV. If so, no idea. Should be good though with options including nitrous and xs 900 bhp.
For all those that like slagging off Rover, bear in mind that this company has suffered under investment/major mismanagement and union probs, and to
cap it all ownership by some dodgy german outfit.
Since they became their own company in the spring of 2000 they have made big changes to their (admittedly old) range, but I think they work.
They haven't got the budget of Ford/GM/VW etc, but if you lot went out and bought their products instead of whinging about them, you might find
them better than you think.
I, for the first time in 18 years bought a foreign car 18 months ago, and it's going to be replaced by ANOTHER Rover as soon as she'll let
me!!
ATB
Simon
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Noodle
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 09:30 AM |
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Funnily enough, I've just looked on Rovers web site. The "MG Heritage" a section completely ommits all Montego/Maestro/Metro models.
In fact everything front drive is missing over (MG 1300 etc) until the 75.
Strange that
Neil.
p.s. I would like a V8 75.
p.p.s. Yes, the RX-8 is coming to Europe, but it's de-tuned for Euro4 emmision regs.
p.p.p.s. Autoexpress reckon Alfa are returing to RWD for the models from the 156 up, to make them interesting and capable of competing with the
Germans.
p.p.p.p.s. The 75 was designed as RWD, the BMW took them over and said "De Inglish shvine vont to make anuzzer 3 seriez! Nein! Nein! You vill
make an Audi and it vill be FWD so noone vill vont it. Ve vill laugh at zee funny joke Ja? Ha ha."
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Mark H
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 09:36 AM |
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The only reason Datsun and BM got themselves onto two feet was because of the war!
After alledgedly losing WW2, the allied governments then spent gazillions making these two countrys the most efficient manufacturers around, at a cost
to say Vauxhall/GM and Ford.
Perhaps Rover could re-assemble Iraqi motors, or perhaps Rover are hoping for WW3, with a different outcome than the first two? 
I had a Rover 75 for a year, and it was very nice - leather, aircon, plastic wood the lot! But I came from a Ford Mondeo baseline, not a Beemer or
Merc driver.
MG's are for the people with champagne taste but lemonade budgets (I include myself here!). Get one two years old and you get a bargain due to
mammoth depreciation - turning this thread around full circle, wait four years for the ZT260 to be second hand, and you HAVE got yourself a
decent, cheap donor.
Mark Harrison and
Q986 KCP back from the dead...
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Noodle
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 10:04 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark H
wait four years for the ZT260 to be second hand, and you HAVE got yourself a decent, cheap donor.
Could always import a knacked Mustang
from the U.S as it's the 75's donor!
Cheers,
Neil.
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eddie
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 05:48 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Stu16v
quote:
MG was developed into a brand in its own right, making distinctive cars at a realistic price....
Err, what like?
MG Midget = Fast Austin A30.....
MGB = Fast Marina....
all though there is a ring of truth to that, lets not forget the origional midget was a cheap pre-war sports car, which was resurected in the late
50's as a cheap post-war sports car, also bear in mind the concept was devised by one Donald Healy
then there was origional 'T' series of cars
and if you are going to say an MGb is just a marina, then consider this....
is a capri a cortina? most people would say NO, but the running gear is all done by parts bin engineering ie the same range of engines, gearboxes,
steering, brake parts, interior items etc, with minimal adjustments to suit the respective cars, producing two very diffrent solutions from one set of
bits
Please feel free in advance to: correct, update, ridicule or laugh and point at any comments made by myself in this post....
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Stu16v
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 06:41 PM |
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quote:
is a capri a cortina?
Yes. But for hairdressers in the Seventys....
Like the Calibra was a rebodied Cavalier, etc, etc.
I've considered it, the MGB is still a fast Marina
Dont just build it.....make it!
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Noodle
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 06:54 PM |
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I'd say the MGB is a re-bodied Morris Minor. That's what the Marina was.
However, Autoexpress are running a story on the NEW MGB. Yes new. Unfortunately, it's indicative of the problems at Rover that new new MGB is
actually an MG-F without the roof taken off. Yes, that's it. (Link)
Cheers,
Neil.
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 07:12 PM |
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By the same token, the Audi TT, Audi A3, Seat Leon, Skoda labia are rebodied Golf's
PS I forgot the Beetle!
I am sure there are more
[Edited on 24/9/03 by Mark Allanson]
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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chrisg
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 07:51 PM |
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I delight in telling 911 owners that what they have is a super developed Beetle!
Goes down really well
Cheers
Chris
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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stephen_gusterson
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 09:25 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by thekafer
Speaking of far off future donors, is the RX-8 going to be released in the U.K.?
Fletch
its in the 'what car road test directory oct - nov 2003' in the UK.
costs 20k or 22k pounds depending on it being the 189 or 228 hp.
Its quoted as a 1.3 litre!!!!
I imagine thats a singe chamber? so really its 3.9 litres total 'swept' volume.....does it work like that?
atb
steve
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Peteff
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 10:20 PM |
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is a capri a cortina?
No it's an Escort, otherwise we would all be using the front uprights off of it. .
From what I remember (dim and distant past and all that) the MGB was produced before the Marina and I don't think it was fast.
yours, Pete.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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thekafer
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 10:53 PM |
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Its quoted as a 1.3 litre!!!!
I imagine thats a singe chamber? so really its 3.9 litres total 'swept' volume.....does it work like that?
atb
steve
Actually I believe since there are three intake and exhaust cycles per rev it's more
like having a six cylinder 1.3l. Oh, I forgot,
it has two rotors like the rest.
They are turbine smooth and oh so small,it's a shame they are so loud.
I've got a rebuilt 12a,but I'm starting to rethink my whole drive train for noise and emissions.
Fletch
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal labotomy...
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Stu16v
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| posted on 24/9/03 at 11:03 PM |
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quote:
the MGB was produced before the Marina and I don't think it was fast.
Correct indeed, but relating the MGB to the Marina winds folk up more, as Minors have (a little bit of) cred.....
[Edited on 24/9/03 by Stu16v]
Dont just build it.....make it!
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chrisg
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| posted on 25/9/03 at 08:24 PM |
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The MGB actually used the running gear from the Morris Oxford, engine and all.
Cheers
Chris
Note to all: I really don't know when to leave well alone. I tried to get clever with the mods, then when they gave me a lifeline to see the
error of my ways, I tried to incite more trouble via u2u. So now I'm banned, never to return again. They should have done it years ago!
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Peteff
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| posted on 26/9/03 at 09:39 AM |
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Yes but
It used the twin SU setup as found on the MG Magnette which was a sporty version of the Oxford available in racing green to make it even faster. Our
music teacher had one.
yours, Pete.
I feel even older for remembering that.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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