I just bought a vz2008 from J&G and had to weigh in here. I would never argue that buying a "real" VZ 58 is a mistake. However, I do think it's a mistake to turn your nose up at the vz2008 without looking at it, and I see far too many posts on various forums recommending just that. Century's questionable reputation is all over the internet; I've never owned anything from Century before, so I have no first hand basis to confirm or refute that information. However, when checking into the VZ2008 I noticed that most of the first hand reviews were positive, and I live just a short jaunt from J&G, so when they dropped the price of the fixed-stock version to $429, I paid J&G a visit to check one out for myself.
I've only once, and very briefly, handled a czech VZ (and never shot it), so I have next to no basis for comparison, but the Century VZ2008 seemed well made, finish looked good, everything fit well including no wiggle on the mag when it snapped in. The bore looked clean, and while not a mirror finish, shiny and smooth. I saw nothing to quibble with. I was leaning toward the fixed wood stock rather than the bakelite, because I like to tinker, and I thought I might want to stain it and spruce it up a bit. The wood was obviously used, but in good shape. After discussing J&G's 30-day return policy (which allowed me to do a function check) I bought it.
Got it home, tore it apart, and was equally satisfied upon inspection of the innards. All parts, surplus included, in good shape and clean. Again, I like to tinker, so I found the simple and different-from-AK mechanisms fascinating, especially the short stroke piston mechanism that's independent of the bolt carrier. Tear-down was very simple. Cleaned/lubed, slapped it back together, and today headed for the range.
Even before I got to the range, the VZ2008 had one unfair strike going against it. These were, I think, something like $600 or so a year ago, and I felt like I got a very good deal when the price dropped to $429. However, two days after I bought it last weekend, J&G lowered the price to $359. Of course, I can't hold that against the gun - not fairly, anyway - but there's that little cheapskate voice in my head that looks at the VZ2008 and says "you'd better be good, you SOB; I already paid $70 more for you than I should have!". Such is life; I got the deal of the day, somebody else will get the deal of the century (no pun intended).
So I load it up, 20 rounds at a time. First 20 - about every third, maybe fourth round, didn't eject right. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I'm hoping this is just a break in thing, that the bolt isn't sliding smoothly and all the way back to where the ejector kicks out the round. The comments about Century's reputation begin to come back to me . . . .
I check the action, cycle it a few times, inspect it closely like I know what I'm doing (a clever ruse), and load up another 20 (30 round mag, but boxes of 20, so I load box at a time) - just like that, smooth shooting, nary a hiccup this time. A third 20 - no problems. So far this has been the Walmart Winchester white box ammo. I switch to some imported steel-cased stuff, Russian I presume but the box only says "imported by"; got it at Sportsman's Warehouse. Smooth shooting again, 20, 40, 60, 80 rounds, not a single glitch. I finish out the Winchester, again no problems. I finish off with a box of American Eagle brass-cased stuff, and 2 rounds didn't want to chamber; compared to the initial glitches, this seemed like an ammo thing - maybe not an ammo problem, but perhaps one of those "ammo picky" issues with a gun. Other than those 2 rounds that didn't want to chamber all the way, the VZ2008 ate the remainder of the American Eagle without a hitch. I think my initial problems may have been a break-in issue.
The VZ2008 shot straight. Started at 25 yards just to get it on the paper. It shot straight on but just a bit high. Moved out to 50; still straight on, but a bit higher (at 50 yards, 6-8 inches high). I didn't want to adjust the sights because I want to sight it in at 100, and I ran out of ammo before moving out that far. Grouping is acceptable, can't judge beyond that. I don't shoot centerfire much, and I was using the iron sights, offhand, and usually standing, but at 25 yards all shots (as in, about 50 or so per target) were easily inside the 8-inch targets I was using; and most shots were at 50 yards. Given my marginal skills, offhand shooting, and iron sights, those results tell me this rifle shoots more than straight enough for me. Eventually I'll get some accessory that lets me try it with some optics, I'll rest it, and see what it will really do, but for me, a milsurp isn't about benchresting anyway; today's results tell me it's a keeper.
Again, I have to defer to others on Century's reputation, and maybe the CZ version is better, but at $359, I think the VZ2008 is a deal. Sometimes I want the best, and I won't quibble here with those who do. Other times, "good enough" is good enough for me, and for my purposes, the VZ 2008 is more than good enough. I recommend that before you spend your hard-earned dollars on any VZ, if you can access a VZ2008 to check it out in person, give it a look.
Original VZ58 and FSN01 rifles go for 300-350€ over here... 
is so damn short and feels rather fragile. I hit myself in the face with the rear of the rifle if I take a normal shooting position and like I said, it seem to me that it's not very durable. 
