RE: Shed Of The Week: MG ZT
Discussion
HorneyMX5 said:
I loved mine:
IMG_5007.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
IMG_5008.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Served me well trundling round the UK to visit clients and towing the MX5 to trackdays. Mine was a derv and while it didn't set the world alight with straight line speed it was surprisingly good to hustle down a b-road. The ZT has revised suspension, uprated ARBS and solid mounted subframes over the 75 and this made it a very good steer. It was also mistaken for a Bentley a couple of times by non petrolhead women.
Whenever I see one now I remember fondly the time I spent with mine and I would do it all over again, although maybe a V8 one next time.
Nice house, stately car for a stately pile.IMG_5007.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrIMG_5008.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrServed me well trundling round the UK to visit clients and towing the MX5 to trackdays. Mine was a derv and while it didn't set the world alight with straight line speed it was surprisingly good to hustle down a b-road. The ZT has revised suspension, uprated ARBS and solid mounted subframes over the 75 and this made it a very good steer. It was also mistaken for a Bentley a couple of times by non petrolhead women.
Whenever I see one now I remember fondly the time I spent with mine and I would do it all over again, although maybe a V8 one next time.
Had a Jewish Racing Gold ZT190 Touring for a few years. The original owner in the logbook was the MG Press Department, so I guess it was specced as a press demo as pretty much every single box on the options list had been ticked. Amazingly well equipped right down to the Harmon Kardon stereo with TV and Nav (rare in these cars) - best OE stereo I've ever had.
It was bought as a second hand family car with c. 40k miles and I put another 20 or so on it. It had two main problems in my ownership, the rear gearbox mount clearly wasn't up to the job, and though replaced, broke again, giving a nasty driveline shunt. A bigger problem was a mystery overheating problem, which resulted in me losing faith in the car - didn't want it to blow up leaving wife and nipper stranded somewhere. I ended up chopping it in for £700px against an Audi A6 Tdi, which is a vastly superior car in almost every way, but lacks the quirkiness and character of the MG.
It certainly liked a drink, and though not outright quick, was capable of decent progress, and made a reasonable V6 noise when given the beans.
I don't regret owning it - in terms of bang for buck, in a good sized estate car, nothing came close to it at the time. Financially it didn't work out brilliantly as I was scalped on the px due to the driveline issues and overheating problem. I toyed with the idea of parting it out, but the hassle factor was too great.
Don't like saloon cars though - I've never really understood what use they are........
Jamie
It was bought as a second hand family car with c. 40k miles and I put another 20 or so on it. It had two main problems in my ownership, the rear gearbox mount clearly wasn't up to the job, and though replaced, broke again, giving a nasty driveline shunt. A bigger problem was a mystery overheating problem, which resulted in me losing faith in the car - didn't want it to blow up leaving wife and nipper stranded somewhere. I ended up chopping it in for £700px against an Audi A6 Tdi, which is a vastly superior car in almost every way, but lacks the quirkiness and character of the MG.
It certainly liked a drink, and though not outright quick, was capable of decent progress, and made a reasonable V6 noise when given the beans.
I don't regret owning it - in terms of bang for buck, in a good sized estate car, nothing came close to it at the time. Financially it didn't work out brilliantly as I was scalped on the px due to the driveline issues and overheating problem. I toyed with the idea of parting it out, but the hassle factor was too great.
Don't like saloon cars though - I've never really understood what use they are........
Jamie
HorneyMX5 said:
I loved mine:
IMG_5007.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
IMG_5008.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Untitled by Nicholas R Horne, on Flickr
Served me well trundling round the UK to visit clients and towing the MX5 to trackdays. Mine was a derv and while it didn't set the world alight with straight line speed it was surprisingly good to hustle down a b-road. The ZT has revised suspension, uprated ARBS and solid mounted subframes over the 75 and this made it a very good steer. It was also mistaken for a Bentley a couple of times by non petrolhead women.
Whenever I see one now I remember fondly the time I spent with mine and I would do it all over again, although maybe a V8 one next time.
Great photos.IMG_5007.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrIMG_5008.jpg by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrUntitled by Nicholas R Horne, on FlickrServed me well trundling round the UK to visit clients and towing the MX5 to trackdays. Mine was a derv and while it didn't set the world alight with straight line speed it was surprisingly good to hustle down a b-road. The ZT has revised suspension, uprated ARBS and solid mounted subframes over the 75 and this made it a very good steer. It was also mistaken for a Bentley a couple of times by non petrolhead women.
Whenever I see one now I remember fondly the time I spent with mine and I would do it all over again, although maybe a V8 one next time.
Thanks Shed, I learnt a few things. These have some appeal to me.
If the waterpumps go do they take out the cambelts?
Perhaps she was a petrolhead woman and was checking out the usual rear wheelarch rot?
Cotic said:
monzaxjr said:
Belts might not fail but the waterpumps do and frequently.
At £40 a pop its hardly the end of the world though. These have an excellent ride/handling compromise, and the cabin ventilation system is better than most 'new' cars. The biggest gripe of mine (albeit an R75 version) was that the interior trim was easily marked, and looked shoddy really quickly. Sold mine in 2007; wouldn't like to think what it looks like now...HorneyMX5 said:
It was also mistaken for a Bentley a couple of times by non petrolhead women.
Years ago one night I parked up a dark coloured Rover 600Si with the plastic 15 inch wheeltrims in a busy thoroughfare with shops either side, and saw a young woman looking over her shoulder at it as she approached it from behind.Perhaps she was a petrolhead woman and was checking out the usual rear wheelarch rot?
Handsome car. Great colour. Badge snobs and people that ride around in german cars with seized dampers need not apply.
Tyres only grip when they are in contact with tarmac
. Ride and handling balance would leave most BMW/Audi drivers claiming witchcraft.
Tyres only grip when they are in contact with tarmac
. Ride and handling balance would leave most BMW/Audi drivers claiming witchcraft.Edited by FWDRacer on Friday 19th December 10:54
J4CKO said:
only1ian said:
No just no! It will never be a classic, the rover 75 maybe, but MG ZT versions are parts bin desperation specials. Fitted in a style that was reminiscent of a ram raid on Halfords in the max power era. Urgh
"Ram raid on Halfords", how very original !Edited by only1ian on Friday 19th December 09:35
"Parts bin", so MGR just had all the bodywork changes for the 75 sat in the Parts Bin and just lashed them on, rather than taking what they had and restyling it with a more sporting look, appreciate it may not be to everyones taste but at least try to come up with your own ideas and perhaps get it correct ?
Such a decent amount of car for the money, I think they are ageing quite well, the v6 is actually reasonably economical on a cruise for what it is.
Although that was in my zs which was a bit lighter, just need to find a family member to buy this so I can have a go. Never driven a zt.
Although that was in my zs which was a bit lighter, just need to find a family member to buy this so I can have a go. Never driven a zt.
Strawman said:
Why was she walking backwards?
She wasn't taken in by the chrome and thought it was an eyesore? She was walking past it and looked over her shoulder at it. That such a humdrum car would merit such attention was surprising.B.J.W said:
Johnspex said:
I love the idea of a driver intelligence pack. What happens if you don't spec that?
It morphs into a base spec Audi A4vz-r_dave said:
J4CKO said:
only1ian said:
No just no! It will never be a classic, the rover 75 maybe, but MG ZT versions are parts bin desperation specials. Fitted in a style that was reminiscent of a ram raid on Halfords in the max power era. Urgh
"Ram raid on Halfords", how very original !Edited by only1ian on Friday 19th December 09:35
"Parts bin", so MGR just had all the bodywork changes for the 75 sat in the Parts Bin and just lashed them on, rather than taking what they had and restyling it with a more sporting look, appreciate it may not be to everyones taste but at least try to come up with your own ideas and perhaps get it correct ?
I had a 2001 ZT 190+, bought as a 3-month shed, sold a year later with much TLC having been lavished upon it. It had been specced from new with Xenons, the HK stereo and weirdly a set of 75 piped black leather seats - as much as it was a sporting version of the 75, the 75-spec seats made it a great long distance machine and were very very comfy.
Two issues: even with a very careful right hoof, I couldn't get more than 350 miles to a tank, around 27mpg. It's not the mpg that irritated me, it's that a regular journey I undertake is about 375 miles, and I dislike having to stop for fuel. My 3.2 S-class returns 33mpg on the same run and would do it in one hop even without the extra capacity of the fuel tank in the S.
Rear legroom if you're a six-an-half footer like me is non-existent. With both front seats all the way back it becomes a 2+2.
The only thing that failed on mine was the thermostat - as it's right in the middle of the Vee under the inlet manifold it is an absolute pain to change, though it can be done without removing the lower manifold. Make sure you have access to a small pair of hands.
Would I have another? Definitely. I have no worries about using one every day, apart from the thermostat mine was utterly dependable and covered nearly 18000 miles in the 12 months I owned it. For my personal circumstances however, I'd have my S-class alongside it as the family/long distance car, and the ZT as the fun car.
Two issues: even with a very careful right hoof, I couldn't get more than 350 miles to a tank, around 27mpg. It's not the mpg that irritated me, it's that a regular journey I undertake is about 375 miles, and I dislike having to stop for fuel. My 3.2 S-class returns 33mpg on the same run and would do it in one hop even without the extra capacity of the fuel tank in the S.
Rear legroom if you're a six-an-half footer like me is non-existent. With both front seats all the way back it becomes a 2+2.
The only thing that failed on mine was the thermostat - as it's right in the middle of the Vee under the inlet manifold it is an absolute pain to change, though it can be done without removing the lower manifold. Make sure you have access to a small pair of hands.
Would I have another? Definitely. I have no worries about using one every day, apart from the thermostat mine was utterly dependable and covered nearly 18000 miles in the 12 months I owned it. For my personal circumstances however, I'd have my S-class alongside it as the family/long distance car, and the ZT as the fun car.
carinaman said:
Thanks Shed, I learnt a few things. These have some appeal to me.
If the waterpumps go do they take out the cambelts?
You will get fair warning. The usual tell tale squeek from the pump and a lovely puddle of coolant under the car. Changing a waterpump on one is a fair old job and if the pumps away it makes sense to change the belt and tensioner etc. while you are in there as you really don't want to strip one twice.
Cotic said:
monzaxjr said:
Belts might not fail but the waterpumps do and frequently.
At £40 a pop its hardly the end of the world though. These have an excellent ride/handling compromise, and the cabin ventilation system is better than most 'new' cars. The biggest gripe of mine (albeit an R75 version) was that the interior trim was easily marked, and looked shoddy really quickly. Sold mine in 2007; wouldn't like to think what it looks like now...You will get fair warning. The usual tell tale squeek from the pump and a lovely puddle of coolant under the car. Changing a waterpump on one is a fair old job and if the pumps away it makes sense to change the belt and tensioner etc. while you are in there as you really don't want to strip one twice.
-crookedtail- said:
Geoffcapes said:
Have always liked these. Not sure why.
Maybe it's because they were in GTA London?
The Getaway, what a game Maybe it's because they were in GTA London?
"MG Rover's top of the range car. This is sometimes mistaken for a Jaguar, by the less informed. It's a long car, looks sophisticated but despite having a large engine, it offers only a few thrills. The acceleration and top speed are as you'd expect - quite good, but you can usually half-inch a better motor than this."
There was a 'Raver' in Grand Theft Auto: London. Based on the Rover P4...
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