RE: You Know You Want To: MG SV
Discussion
Numeric said:
A car I hate with a passion cos it took so much time away from dealing with the real issues the company was suffering from and absorbed cash in a useless and stupid project - the usual men with small willies wanting to drive big cars problem!!
That'll be the same group of men in need of a big enough distraction so that they can continue to pay themselves an obscene amount of money while fiddling as much coin as possible out of a pension fund.It certainly worked in that respect.
300bhp/ton said:
Numeric said:
I don't disagree with your assessment of the performance at all - and that was the problem. There was an assumption that somehow an MG V8 would be a premium product and it would appeal to performance car drivers through its great performance so it could be priced nicely above a 330i!
But it wasn't quicker (a smidge slower if memory serves?)so wasn't exactly a high performance car, drank fuel so was doomed as a company car and rather than having advantages by being a V8, just seemed overwhelmed by the more advanced engineering of other companies.
As for 260 being lots of power - well all things are relative, but at the time 260 was a fair bit more than BMW/Merc offered in their cooking models (was the BM 220 at the time?)and the torque of the V8 was supposed to be better so yes, I was surprised it was so slow, the weight of course being a part of the issue, but other models weren't so badly hampered, the 190 went quite well and the 132 diesel was well up to pace, so I did slightly blame the engine.
So huge M-car type build costs but a vehicle that was slow and lacked image - pointless from my position, but a nice thing for an enthusiast to have today I'm sure!
I don't recall pricing, but how did the ZT260 compare to an equally specced 330i? The BMW had 231bhp (upgraded to 256bhp later on). The MG compared fairly well performance wise, although I admit fuel was worse.But it wasn't quicker (a smidge slower if memory serves?)so wasn't exactly a high performance car, drank fuel so was doomed as a company car and rather than having advantages by being a V8, just seemed overwhelmed by the more advanced engineering of other companies.
As for 260 being lots of power - well all things are relative, but at the time 260 was a fair bit more than BMW/Merc offered in their cooking models (was the BM 220 at the time?)and the torque of the V8 was supposed to be better so yes, I was surprised it was so slow, the weight of course being a part of the issue, but other models weren't so badly hampered, the 190 went quite well and the 132 diesel was well up to pace, so I did slightly blame the engine.
So huge M-car type build costs but a vehicle that was slow and lacked image - pointless from my position, but a nice thing for an enthusiast to have today I'm sure!
Jag X-Type 3.0 was around 230hp also, and 241 or something for a V6 S-Type.
Sadly it's probably more British ignorance that we assume "having a V8" means supercar potential. When the rest of the world knows this isn't true (BTW - why not check out how quick a 3.2 V8 XJ8 Jag was
)So what we had was a car that was a natural 330i competitor on performance (so only adequate) but was crucified on any CO2 based company car tax, needed deep pockets to run, cost a fortune to build and wasn't wanted by a market that felt if it was to have the penalties of running a V8 wanted it to be able hassle an M3.
Pricing ended up at 330i levels after a lot of internal battles (ours is a V8 their's is only a 6 so should be more type rubbish) but this was utterly unrealistic and discounts were everywhere. So like the SV, cost jobs rather than created them!
Numeric said:
A car I hate with a passion cos it took so much time away from dealing with the real issues the company was suffering from and absorbed cash in a useless and stupid project - the usual men with small willies wanting to drive big cars problem!!
BUT - on the overun there really is a most remarkable sound - it sucks air in as if trying to hoover small children off the pavement and fires it out the back in a rather lovely nascar type noise, very addictive! Everything else about it was total and utter drivel!
Although the real issue of the company was that no one wanted their product as it was dull, non asperational and linked to little old men and blokes who still lived with mother.BUT - on the overun there really is a most remarkable sound - it sucks air in as if trying to hoover small children off the pavement and fires it out the back in a rather lovely nascar type noise, very addictive! Everything else about it was total and utter drivel!
As a gamble it was a relatively cheap way to suddenly change the brand dynamic of a dying entity.
Casey K said:
This SV was completed by QCR Ltd one of the 3 official sub-contractors appointed by the factory to finish the cars. They also painted many of the McLaren F1 Road cars and the Jaguar 220's for the respective factorys.
They have carried out other Coach Building projects over the years for Rolls Royce, Bentley and the Sultan of Brunei. Many other manufactures have also commissioned QCR in the past for special projects, including Mitsubishi Ralliart for their WRC cars.
This example was one of the final cars and had been in dry storage following the collapse of MG Rover until finished to a high standard. It was registered last year on an 04 plate, having to be the year of orignal manufacture. ( I'm guessing they were bought from the receiver )
Will it in years to come be a highly desirable car for the collector? who knows? I do recall coming very close buying an RS200 for £33,000 many years back ( Dreadful road car ) and a good friend parted with his Metro 6R4 International for £14,000 and was glad to see the back of it .... The SV is a much more civilised and usable road car so who knows?
I think a quick call to Xtreme UK chaps from the Pistonheads team would have answered the build question, rather than make it sound a little mysterious. QCR completed 3 cars, one of which went to a German buyer and two remain, and these are the only two delivery mileage cars available to my knowledge?
Thanks for clearing this up! I'm sorry, that course of action would have been preferable, will take heed of that advice if something similar comes up. Knowing it's been in dry storage perhaps makes it even more tempting... Regarding collector appeal, the ad does mention 6R4 values. Can't see it losing much cash?They have carried out other Coach Building projects over the years for Rolls Royce, Bentley and the Sultan of Brunei. Many other manufactures have also commissioned QCR in the past for special projects, including Mitsubishi Ralliart for their WRC cars.
This example was one of the final cars and had been in dry storage following the collapse of MG Rover until finished to a high standard. It was registered last year on an 04 plate, having to be the year of orignal manufacture. ( I'm guessing they were bought from the receiver )
Will it in years to come be a highly desirable car for the collector? who knows? I do recall coming very close buying an RS200 for £33,000 many years back ( Dreadful road car ) and a good friend parted with his Metro 6R4 International for £14,000 and was glad to see the back of it .... The SV is a much more civilised and usable road car so who knows?
I think a quick call to Xtreme UK chaps from the Pistonheads team would have answered the build question, rather than make it sound a little mysterious. QCR completed 3 cars, one of which went to a German buyer and two remain, and these are the only two delivery mileage cars available to my knowledge?
These really do seem to get uglier with every passing year.
Love the concept and the aggresive aim of the styling, but the execution, stance, Halfords rims that don't fit the arches (or vice versa), and that botched kit car interior result in a failure of a car.
The Alfa SZ was an aggresively and controvercially styled car, with a characature family face, and reasonably humble underpinings and trimings, in much the same way as this MG. History will only remember one of those two fondly.
Love the concept and the aggresive aim of the styling, but the execution, stance, Halfords rims that don't fit the arches (or vice versa), and that botched kit car interior result in a failure of a car.
The Alfa SZ was an aggresively and controvercially styled car, with a characature family face, and reasonably humble underpinings and trimings, in much the same way as this MG. History will only remember one of those two fondly.
Justayellowbadge said:
Article doesn't mention one of the selling points when new - the body is all carbon.
A nice pub bragging fact for sure, however meaningless if the car is still a bit porky when its loaded onto the scales.Edited by Justayellowbadge on Wednesday 26th September 12:00
I've always thought these things look a bit naff but there is something strangely appealing about them to me. Perhaps it is their scarcity, the whole back-story surrounding MG and the rosey tints that make anything old-school look inviting.
I like it! The last of large scale British motoring manufacture. And being registered only last year, that would make it the very last of the line too.
I like it! The last of large scale British motoring manufacture. And being registered only last year, that would make it the very last of the line too.
They have one in the museum at Gaydon, was dripping oil all over the floor.
I'd say the seller is being very optimistic with the pricing, very much in car collection territory.
With the low numbers and someone with a passion for them, they may be lucky.
Personally, even if I had the money, I wouldn't.
I'd say the seller is being very optimistic with the pricing, very much in car collection territory.
With the low numbers and someone with a passion for them, they may be lucky.
Personally, even if I had the money, I wouldn't.
Justayellowbadge said:
Article doesn't mention one of the selling points when new - the body is all carbon.
Maybe... Although as with push bikes a carbon structure doesn't necessarily make it better than an alloy or steel equivalent Edited by Justayellowbadge on Wednesday 26th September 12:00
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