nowhereboy

Thanks for the input lads. I appreciate it gets frustrating reading similar post about this from me but at the end of the day I'm a petrol head and enjoy talking through ideas/options with fellow petrol heads. Going to test drive the focus and fiesta ST in a couple of days. Focus ST with moutune upgrade seem's like a better option between the two, as it will still have the power I'm used to (probably quicker than the Z actually) but better MPG numbers and nice modern comforts. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has owned or drove the new focus.

It's time for my twice annual "shall I get rid of the Z" thread. Current situation, I feel like the car is starting to show it's age. It's nothing serious and it could be sorted, I'm just at a point where I feel a little bit tired of putting money into it. I have a little rust bubbling and paint flaking on the front passenger side arch which is now noticeable, it has a little rust that's not visible (yet) on the drivers side wheel arch. Both rear arches have been rolled and a very small amount of rust is showing under each lip where it's been rolled back. I'm also running a tarmac front splitter that has been DIY fitted, it fit's well but it could do with being fitted and paint by a body shop etc. Aside from this the car also has the usual stone chipped front bumper etc. I feel like the whole car would benefit from a re spray or wrap, it cleans up well but on the whole I feel like it's starting to look it's age. The millage is also creeping up and I'm approaching 90k. Mechanically the car is good, exedy clutch, light flywheel, brand new tyres all round and recent service/break pads etc. It's running all the usual mods that most would do to a Z, suspension, rotas etc. I'm at a point where I feel a little bit fed up with owning an older car, I've had the Z for four years now and have put a lot of money into it in that time, the majority of my driving is spent sitting in traffic jams for two hours a day heading into and out of the city center and it's hard not to start questioning if it's worth it, I'm spending a small fortune on petrol each month which isn't helping. I feel it's time to move on, It's just very hard because I've become really attached to the car. I'm finding myself looking at more modern hot hatches at the minute, something like the focus or fiesta ST, I drove the little fiesta not long ago and was really impressed. It doesn't have the straight line power of the Z but it has an element of fun that I would never expect in a front wheel drive car. It's also cheap as chips to insure, does 40 + MPG has a nice fresh modern interior and is just generally a more modern and comfortable package all round. Downside is that they are EVERYWHERE and really common and don't have the same presence and character on the road that the Z has. Been driving myself mental thinking about what to do over the last few days. It's worth a mention that I have a mate who is quite high up in ford and can get me a cracking deal on new/used ST's. The RS has also been considered but I think financially that really defeats the point. Obviously I have to make my own decision, it's just good to get other peoples opinions etc.

Nope!

Probably more cost effective to just replace with a low millage lump from one of the traders on here. Saying that, Bradders re built his recently, he should be able to help you if thats the road you go down. I do recall saying it before and I will say it again, if it aint broke don't fix it. No harm in putting money aside incase the worst happens but fixing something that isn't broke? I wouldn't bother.

Sorry to hear this. Must be the season for it, I've recently split from the Mrs and I'm currently living with my mam until I sort my finances out Hope you're doing ok fella.

Haven't got time to go through the whole thread right now. I can say whatever your feeling, I've been there. I went through a very dark couple of years about 5 year back now, I genuinely felt there was no coming back from it. I was on the brink of being sectioned twice I'm completely fine now and thankfully haven't had anything close to another episode of depression or whatever that was since. CBT helped me massively, along with clean living, no drink, no drugs and a good diet and a healthy dose of mindfulness. It will pass, just remember that.

Damn it all the good stuff for sale is down south.

Yea I didn't know this existed either. Really nice!

Good to put faces to names with videos like this! I enjoyed it, I can see potential in the videos.

Add me if you want I play forza 6 xARTISAMx is my gamertag

Never thought of it on an annual basis. I average £50 a week - so whats that... £2,600 a year! Jesus.

try driftworks or speedhunters Neither of them have any for sale fella....

Really like the look of a decent sized sunstrip on the Z, currently have a plain black one but quite like the idea of a branded one (driftworks, speedhunters etc). Can't seem to find any online and the ebay stuff looks awful. I know Tarmac does one but I don't really fancy paying £60 for a sunstrip (sorry tarmac ) Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Oh yea dont get me wrong i know its a very tuneable car. I was a little supprised by the out the box performance tho. Looked fantastic mind

And probably faster than a Z on track

I stumbled across a 16 plate mustang on the way home from work last night. It was late and the road was clear so it would be rude not to have a little fun (however frowned upon it is on here haha). To my suprise he couldnt hang with the Z, looked really unsteady in the corners too. I know very little about them to be honest. I asume it was the ecoboost one....

Sounds like you have a keeper there mate! I just mention car parts and shes got a face like a smacked behind.

Yea this will be 50-50 all day long guys. As Ekona already said, it's not the end of the world mate. Plenty of insurers will cover you even with zero bonus and a claim.

Always fancied one but don't feel they are worth the premium they go for these days. Saying that, the same can be said for most the older jap cars now, prices are going mental. Just a shame the Z doesn't seem to follow the trend

What wheels have you went for?

Jesus. Thats just outright dangerous. Not even sure how these places get away with it...

Mine used to do the same thing and it turned out to be the battery. Battery held charge for radio/lights etc but was struggling to start the car. It gave out all together in the end. Not missed a beat since replacing it. Maybe worth a look into that.

This. I've had correspondence with them a few times, and even visited them on 2 separate occasions. I was disappointed with their customer service on all occasions and took my money elsewhere. Wish I had known what they were like before I got the car, I travelled so far for it that I took it (little did I realise what lay beneath). Fundamentally there isn't much wrong with the car but when they shove radweld in the radiator to hide a leak god knows what else they do. Being the distance they were from me and the level to which they performed everything else required of them (not changing oil in a car sat for 9 years, underseal sprayed all over sideskirts/wheel arches/propshaft, bearings seized.... the list goes on) it was far safer to invest more money and make it decent. That's shocking! Very few importers about with any pride in what they do these days. It's a minefield out there at the minute.

It's a catch 22 situation really isn't it? I was a pub manager when I was in my early 20's, lifestyle was great but in the end I got sick of making a terrible wage for the amount of work put in. I lived above the pub but it's hardly a long term and stable option. I work in insurance now and make considerably more money on considerably less hours. Job's boring in comparison but there's no way I could have afforded the lifestyle I have now on a publicans wage. Personally I'd never take a job with less money now, it would mean selling the car's and never buying my own place etc. When I was young I spent a lot of time traveling around, I was a bit of a hippy type, spent my days watching Alan watts speeches and vowed never to conform to the system etc, I realized life gets much easier once you stop fighting the inevitable and get a proper job like everyone else does.

I think the answer to the question lies within how well you could afford the purchase to be honest. If you can comfortably afford it I'd go for it, however if this is an awful lot of money for you I don't feel like it's worth it. I fall into the second category at the minute to be honest, I've liked the idea of a 370 for a while, I could afford one but it would be at a push and it's not really worth it for the small increase in performance etc.