Mine is a daily driver but I am thinking about buying a cheap nothing car for winter. We always get some snow and the gritters are always out.
That said I haven't done it yet.
That said I haven't done it yet.
Do you use your Zed through the winter?
- Thread starter paulgs1000
- Start date
Under the new tax/sorn rules I tax mine for 12 months but around November sorn and reclaim tax until april/May time and do it all again - as regards mileage it's still under 30k ( 2004 3.0 SE ) Not taken out much I'll admit ( around 400 miles a year ! ) but what does it really matter - not worth a fortune but still pretty unique - as regards winter driving we seldom get snow down here so could get away with standard RFT's all year round - I've had mine nearly 3 years and the previous owner was as fussy as me so I doubt it's ever seen snow let alone rain !
Winter? You mean drift season right? :lol:
On a more serious note, yes, all year round for me! I was concerned before last year about how it would be but had no issues even during the periodic cold snaps we had - I'm sure it'll be fine, and besides I enjoy knowing the car car through all types of weather - I'd probably not be suitably prepared for summer if I hadn't had some practice over winter!
On a more serious note, yes, all year round for me! I was concerned before last year about how it would be but had no issues even during the periodic cold snaps we had - I'm sure it'll be fine, and besides I enjoy knowing the car car through all types of weather - I'd probably not be suitably prepared for summer if I hadn't had some practice over winter!
I used mine as a DD for the first 5 years. Now its good weather only but is take and insured all year round to allow for those beautiful crisp day drives.
paulgs1000 said:flimper said:Sure do
Do you just leave it outside flimper? I do as well but have a light half cover (to avoid damage to the paint and keep the water out of the motor housing) - it's fitted every day.
Yep, just left outside, no garage
Do look after it regularly thoughjimbo1958 said:
Magic Jim - good to hear
Does the fun of driving it ever leave you?paddy wright said:
Yep, some memorable winter runs to be had
Ed Doe said:
Drift season - I like your thinking :lol:
I reckon you're right about the practice through the winter months obewan said:All year round for me
Pretty lucky here, we are not much above sea level and with the sea on three sides there's rarely much snow/ice
And if there is, the Zed is definitely better than the Gixer
That's the benefit of having a moderate maritime climate - it's amazing how the Zed can 'fill in' for a bike, at times
gov said:
These are the differences I imagined when I posted this title . . . 30K mileage and 400 miles a year - amazing
Used to have a classic motorcycle that would be used like that. Certainly a cherished example Bing said:paulgs1000 said:
47k isn't exactly 'high', but I take your point. It is however still very much cherished :wink:
47K is low mileage Bing
I meant it's your increased usage and increased annual miles that makes me interested in your posts AlienZed said:Yes of course. Some of the best drives are over the winter..Heated seats on.silly hat compulsory. Top down.and the roads are quieter.Great.
M
Yep, the quieter roads is a very valid point - driving within the conditions (we've gone out in the rain for the same reasons) we've often had a clear run at your favourite route - like this day - road to ourselves - magic!
AlfaScozzesi said:Mine is a daily driver but I am thinking about buying a cheap nothing car for winter. We always get some snow and the gritters are always out.
Hmm - wondered whether folk had gone this route - a cheap winter hack does make sense. (A Skoda Octavia diesel is our family work horse and returns high 50s mpg and never lets us down
DumfriesDik said:buzyg said:Drive mine through the winter. But only when the suns out and there's no salt on the roads.
Pretty much the same here. I have been tempted to sorn it during the winter months, but you do get some great days during the winter months. So put me down for a fair weathered winter user. Hang on, thats the same during summer as well.
That said I haven't done it yet.
You've got some great runs to come then
rossonr said:
I suppose it depends where you live but I'm not bothering with winter tyres again - I'll just drive within the abilities of my GoodYears (the weather has been quite mild though over the last few years with very little snow).
Ed Doe said:The thing is Paul, Flimper has a proper roof on his
A 'proper' roof Is one that can come down if necessary surely :? :lol:
Some great days to be had through the winter . . . .
paulgs1000 said:domsz4 said:
I bought my winter's last year and didn't need them. I came to the same conclusion as yourself and will be wearing summers all year after I've worn the winters out - should be easy as they spin up with the least provocation(I suppose I might have a different view if I was using the Zed for commuting)
from all the other posts I must be in the minority. I drive mine all year round all conditions to hell with it. I think I just don't see them as anything special. its not an M or alpina so not rare. At the end of the day it is nothing special. there is not one single bit on a normal Z that is anything fancy its just a bastardised 3/5 series. They are piss easy to drive to the point of you don't need to think even when slippy they are not that powerful either.
Maybe its just me. I don't think i drive like miss daisy and i dont think im amazingly brilliant either. dont get me wrong i wouldn't swap the z at the moment for anything else unless i needed better fuel consumption or more space just its a car worth about 5K with 85K on the clock. no amount of preening or keeping off the road will change that.
anyway each to their own. its a free country
Nictrix said:
Probably the right choice Richard but aren't the winters harsher in your part of Scotland? :lol:
domsz4 said:
Quite a few drive them all year it seems, though you might be in a minority regarding your attitude to the Zed. Can't argue with your bastardised comment but for many on the Forum (me included) there is something that makes the Zed special and a drive in one, an event. (Despite that you'll see in the photos how my Zed gets used - it's no garage queen). As you say - each to their own.
Not sure what you're used to but my 3.0si is the fastest car I've ever owned (nothing comes close to the acceleration of our previous motorbikes) and although I would like an ///M, an Elise or a Caterham, it's fast enough on the road to have fun, challenge myself and make the best of the back roads in Northumberland. Guess it depends what you mean by fast. Piss easy to drive? Well I guess that also depends what you mean by drive. I like to make the most of it's capabilities on the road and in that respect I wouldn't hold with your view - you must have a lot more experience and skill than I have (which I'm quite willing to accept).
The Zed has always been and as it gets increasingly older, continues to be, a car that looks worth a lot more than it actually costs. That now means it can be bought and run just as you've described. Bit of a bargain really
I've used mine every winter so far but only very sparingly the last 4 years (probably 500 miles per winter). I am considering SORNing it this winter though as I've just replaced my ancient Honda Civic with a Countryman Cooper S All4 which is fun to drive and practical too
I have no doubt that the zed could cope with being my daily driver during the winter but I am not sure I want to subject it to the grit and even bigger temp swings for a quick 10 miles to work.
Yes you are correct Paul the temps do get silly and we always get snow every year here. Last year the family Saab got stuck 300yds from the house. Not sure how the zm would have coped with that and line others both myself and partner work and can't car share.
Yes you are correct Paul the temps do get silly and we always get snow every year here. Last year the family Saab got stuck 300yds from the house. Not sure how the zm would have coped with that and line others both myself and partner work and can't car share.
original guvnor said:
That sounds fun and a capable winter car
AlfaScozzesi said:
Taxi sounds a solution then - as long as it can get through
like i said each to their own. people put different values on things. i dont find the z special as i dont see any tech in it that makes me go wow. i know its 10yrs old but even for 10 yrs there isnt much on it that is wow. it find it well made and testament to that is 10+yrs on its still feels well put together.
I agree the Z looks worth more than it is.
cant explain what i mean by piss easy. i find most cars easy to get used to but the z was very easy. my test drive was just around burnley 10-20 mins type thing. day i collected went to the lakes and over the hard knott pass. i can feel the weight in the z shifting and it squirming it feels planted and predictable, simple mechanical grip is easy enough to break but there is plenty of it. front always feels a bit light.
maybe i do just drive slow and my limit is always less than the cars so i get the buzz easily i really dont consider myself an amazing driver by any means im not observant enough and ive got lazy in the z/westy relying on point and squirt driving rather than carrying speed (why i like the KA). but that being said ifeel its a car that you can just jump in and drive. lack of lsd is not a huge problem to me.
my other cars in order were fiat 126, yugo 55, sierra, v6 mundano, clio, focus, vx frontera (these were all at the same time) and i still have my westfield (which with a lsd and decent power means i can pull away like a racing car) so nothing spectacularly fast. but all had their own fun. i particulaly like thrashing the other halves KA, its like a gocart, and the frontera once it got to its set point was amusing. ( a bit like the 7.5t horse box an x had)
z'd are deffo a bargain in Si or i form. rather this than a equivalent 3 series
I agree the Z looks worth more than it is.
cant explain what i mean by piss easy. i find most cars easy to get used to but the z was very easy. my test drive was just around burnley 10-20 mins type thing. day i collected went to the lakes and over the hard knott pass. i can feel the weight in the z shifting and it squirming it feels planted and predictable, simple mechanical grip is easy enough to break but there is plenty of it. front always feels a bit light.
maybe i do just drive slow and my limit is always less than the cars so i get the buzz easily i really dont consider myself an amazing driver by any means im not observant enough and ive got lazy in the z/westy relying on point and squirt driving rather than carrying speed (why i like the KA). but that being said ifeel its a car that you can just jump in and drive. lack of lsd is not a huge problem to me.
my other cars in order were fiat 126, yugo 55, sierra, v6 mundano, clio, focus, vx frontera (these were all at the same time) and i still have my westfield (which with a lsd and decent power means i can pull away like a racing car) so nothing spectacularly fast. but all had their own fun. i particulaly like thrashing the other halves KA, its like a gocart, and the frontera once it got to its set point was amusing. ( a bit like the 7.5t horse box an x had)
z'd are deffo a bargain in Si or i form. rather this than a equivalent 3 series
You don't mention the Zed's looks (which does it for many of us :lol: ).
Interesting - main point for me is that you reckon all your cars have had their own fun - that would be my view for the cars I've owned.
I can imagine the Zed feels heavy, lethargic and not especially fast after your Westy
Interesting - main point for me is that you reckon all your cars have had their own fun - that would be my view for the cars I've owned.
I can imagine the Zed feels heavy, lethargic and not especially fast after your Westy
