What to do?

C

Cracker

Member
 Carlisle
Looking for a bit of advise. I've a 03 3.0 in sterling grey, owned it for 14 months & love it. The plan was to spend abit of money on it this year. Tighten the front end up, new pads & discs all round & get the bumper/bonnet sprayed to get rid of stone chips.
But now I've come into a little bit of money. So I'm thinking should I upgrade to a 3.0si? Or should I really push the boat out & get a MR? The M would be a stretch, but do able just! Is the si worth the upgrade? Or do I keep what I have & maybe spend a bit more on it changing the seats etc? My girlfriend would prefer that as she wants a new kitchen!!!! :headbang:
 
Hi Cracker, can't comment on the 3.0 but i've had both a 3.0si and an MR, the si is creamy smooth, very easy to drive and very torquey and to be brutally frank unless you really really want an MR I wouldn't bother, yes they're mad and lots of fun but they are expensive to look after, servicing on time which is vital is mega money, discs are around £200 each etc etc, the si in my humble opinion is plenty good enough, apart from the run flats and the sometimes sticky steering which mine had, if you need to be careful with money I'd go si, i'll prob get shot for saying that but there it is. Hope that's a bit of help. :thumbsup:
 
Wow, now that's a quandary. . . I can't directly compare but will add my thoughts seeing as how you asked! There's no concrete answer though!

On the road, the differences are not that important. The 3.0i is just as capable with a good driver of staying with an si and an ///M - it's only where driving become fit for the track that the difference is obvious. There is the different driving and ownership experience of course and having an ///M outside my front door does appeal! What doesn't appeal is the running costs which seem to double once you start with ///M ownership. Road Tax £500+, expensive tyres (the best tyres) and servicing which seems to literally be double that of the 3.0si and 3.0i. So it's not just the cost of the initial ///M, it's the on-going costs that I would have to take into account (as I do a lot of miles in my Zed) - including mpg.

So the 3.0si and 3.0i then become a more affordable Zed next to an ///M. Is there a difference in upgrading to the 3.0si from the 3.0i? I would say, if you were looking to buy a Zed then go for a 3.0si (if it's in your budget). If you already have a 3.0i then I wouldn't bother upgrading. The extra 34bhp only makes a difference for a very short time at the top of the rev range and unless your moving from a very early Zed (as you are) to something like an 08 or 09 then it doesn't make much sense. These are still, at best, 6 year old Zeds that need to be well maintained and you will have on-going costs and investments to make whether you have an 03 or an 09.

I would keep your 3.0i and your girlfriend happy (with a new kitchen) - in the long run it will be a far cheaper way of having a Zed which you can still have lots of fun and enjoyment with - knowing that the work is done to keep it fresh and capable, without losing thousands upgrading. Some on the forum state that the 3.0i engine is a more solid and reliable engine than that in the 3.0si and that Sterling grey was always the best Zed colour.

But then again, not many of us do the logical thing and often change our vehicles on a whim!

All the best with your decision - it's not going to be easy! :cry:

:driving: :thumbsup:
 
It's hugely subjective, but I doubt you'd notice the extra bhp in an Si over your current 3l. As John says, unless you really want the MR (and associated costs), I'd stick a bit of cash in what you have if its a good base platform. M3 front ARB, bushes and a strut brace will help the front, LSD will massively improve the handling (so I'm told - I'll know myself later this year :D) and good pads and discs - oh and a decent advanced driving course will see you get the most out of a great car, and possibly leave some pennies behind for something else that's fun (£4k will buy you a decent 205GTi for example) :driving:

** edit - or a kitchen :cry: **
 
I went from the 3.0si to the M.

Definitely don't look back! It's not just the 80bhp I've gained. It's the whole package. Noise, throttle response, steering feel. Yes it's expensive, but find a good one, and the costs won't spiral out of control.
 
Thanks for all the advice gentlemen. I have to admit the upkeep of the M was something I worried about. I might get lucky & find one with a recent service & lots of life left in the brakes & of course have no major issues. Think I really need to drive one.
Not sure the si is worth the upgrade as id just start ploughing money in a car very similar to mine, alloys, exhaust etc & it still won't be a M.
So I'm just gonna keep mine enjoy it for now & keep an eye on the M market.
Avoid all chat on the kitchen front & see what happens.
Cheers again
 
A wise choice Cracker :thumbsup:

I'd love to say 'get the M', but you're not there yet. Running costs are not massively different unless they go bang, which they generally shouldn't if they are well maintained. The biggest 'ordinary' costs are brakes, major servicing and tyres as mentioned... And actually I'm not sure tyres are that much more expensive unless you go Super Sports or similar. I've yet to see a major service on mine (11,000 miles to go :cry: ) or new brakes (maybe the same, at least for the fronts :cry: ), but I know I'll have to have more than a grand in the bank earmarked for it even though the actual service should 'only' be about £700. Bit scary, especially as I have feck all in the bank at the moment :lol:

Keep an eye as you say, and eventually if you really want one you'll have worked out how to afford it and be asking 'which one' rather than 'should I'... Or you could just do what I did and ditch The Plan early, hang the consequences - though I couldn't recommend that in good conscience :D
 
Well Ive just drove a M for the first time. Wow I want one, the noise, the steering wheel, the view of that bonnet.
Need to count my £'s :driving:
 
Oops. Shouldn't have done that :cry: Did you drive it with the roof down ? It's nuts, right ? :driving:
 
No the weather was crap so the roof was wet. It is such a brut, like my Staffie straining on his leash. The steering is so precise. It just felt special. Not sure that particular car is the one. But money permitting I know a zmr is the one. :D
 
Cracker said:
Well Ive just drove a M for the first time. Wow I want one, the noise, the steering wheel, the view of that bonnet.
Need to count my £'s :driving:
Click to expand...

This is the reason im not going to drive one, good luck with the M
 
Been wrestling similar demon's on & off for the last 6 months Cracker .
SI or M is not a easy choice for mainly the already mentioned reason,s
Once you have made up your mind then it kinda makes things easier :?
There are some good cars out there for sure , kinda regretting not making the Bantam a offer for his M roady before he traded it as its now up for sale at silly money :cry:
Keep us filled in with your search :thumbsup:
 
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