RE: Shed Of The Week: MG ZT

RE: Shed Of The Week: MG ZT

Author
Discussion

JMF894

5,478 posts

154 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I quite like these, well known over the years as a tidy steer but the thirst would irritate given they're not very quick when all said and done.

But, for shed money....................

Jimbo

Daston

6,074 posts

202 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I run a ZS 180 with the same V6 and for an every day car it has been fantastic......only down point is the interior is letting water in frown on the plus the V6 without any carpets in sounds fecking fantastic!!!

Macadoodle

828 posts

132 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I had a ZT190+ for five years and 80k miles. Comfortable, solid, well equipped, lovely sounding (if ultimately not that fast) machine. Mine had the TV/sat nav lifted straight from the BMW Three Series. 28mpg was the norm and as has been said, the ride/handling balance was spot on.

One word of advice - don't pull out on a Transit pick up. It tends to ruin your day, not to mention the front of the car


BMWE34FAN

96 posts

124 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Great cars these! I got the 75 diesel and It's a great car, even with the common airbag light on (easily goes off with a fiddle of the cables under the seat). I would love to drive a V6 one, Infact I'm considering getting a Lexus IS200 maybe I should take one of these out.

olof3528

28 posts

211 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Superb car. In 2002, I took a 190 to a track day at Snetterton and managed to whip the then new Cooper S. The "S" was faster on the straights but simply couldn't follow me through the corners.

Dad later bought a Trophy Blue 190 and was very pleased with it. My, very beautiful, spouse took it on and was frequently stopped by blokes who couldn't stop complimeting her choice of car. Well, perhaps the car was even more stunning. It never happens when she's out in her new Passat.

Roman

2,031 posts

218 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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I've had a couple of these.

Originally ZTs came with very hard suspension but later in 2003 a more compliant setting became standard which was an excellent compromise.

Performance wise I'd compare a 190 to a contemporary 325 or 525 (in my experience of using both). I've found there can be quite a variation in performance between different 190s, My current mk2 has a sports filter and exhaust and certainly feels more lively than others I've used - sounds good too.

As a largish very solid car it isn't going to have the mid range punch of some 3 litre or 2 litre turbo rivals but the grip, composure and handling make it surprisingly swift and enjoyable cross country, as evidenced in this German test where a ZT190 beat a BMW 323Ci and Accord Type R around their handling circuit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK7UKlpHL18

Accommodation wise it feels fine to me at 6'2" with size 12s, rear legroom isn't huge but the boot is and the seats fold though you need the electric seats to be able to lower the front passenger seat.

Quality wise, early mk1s had better dashboards (easily sourced for £50 and retrofitted to a mk2 in 1hr) and soundproofing (no hardship with a nice sounding KV6 though) but the panel fit is better on my facelifted car.

Wet carpets or condensation tend to be caused by split rear light gaskets or the holes where the side trim connects to the rear quarter - both easy to rectify.

A great buyers guide, excellent technical support, spares and the best maintained examples for sale via the owners club: http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/forum/showthread.p...

SEs are the ones to go for if you can find one - they come with virtually every extra available as standard.

Interesting to read all the positive comments on here - ZTs were rather maligned on PH a few years ago. With another 30bhp, standard traction control and a 6th gear a 190 would be brilliant.

NNH

1,515 posts

131 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Roman said:
Interesting to read all the positive comments on here - ZTs were rather maligned on PH a few years ago. With another 30bhp, standard traction control and a 6th gear a 190 would be brilliant.
I always thought what it needed was a light pressure turbo to make it perfect.

Sampaio

377 posts

137 months

Friday 19th December 2014
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Macadoodle said:
I had a ZT190+ for five years and 80k miles. Comfortable, solid, well equipped, lovely sounding (if ultimately not that fast) machine. Mine had the TV/sat nav lifted straight from the BMW Three Series. 28mpg was the norm and as has been said, the ride/handling balance was spot on.

One word of advice - don't pull out on a Transit pick up. It tends to ruin your day, not to mention the front of the car

Is that the facelift? I like it better.

Macadoodle

828 posts

132 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Sampaio said:
Is that the facelift? I like it better.
I suppose you could call it the facelift of the facelift biggrin

stu67

804 posts

187 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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I've just purchased a 75 v6 connie se myself as a second car as SHMBO hogs our other car. 42k on the clock and couldn't be happier, putting aside the fuel use its a really nice place to be. I just paid just shy of shed money also. By the way an excellent on line owners club also.

OwenK

3,472 posts

194 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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I've had three, and two of them had major problems that have soured the memory a bit.
The last one to go was a diesel that had a major brake failure that I spent £700 chasing and fixing, then the alternator went and after the "easy DIY refurb" following a guide didn't work, spent another almost £300 with a specialist to repair. Then it failed its MOT with a quote of another £300 of work to get it through so I sold it to a mechanic for a few hundred quid.

Never again. I still think they're handsome cars but... No.

TheAngryDog

12,394 posts

208 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Keith Alexander said:
weez123 said:
The best MG cars of that time ...didnt they do one with a mustang engine?
My current one with KB blower



That looks lovely! I'd happily own that!

VolvoT5 said:
These really appealed to me until I actually drove one. Big, heavy and not very comfortable despite the size. Not enough poke from the engine and not particularly smooth either. Looks and sounds good but just doesn't deliver on the driving experience. I would rather have the 75 with leather, fake wood, etc, and just accept the fact it is an uncool wafty barge, not a sports saloon.

However the ZT does look the business (just the right side of halfords chav IMO) and this one looks rather tidy for £900.

Edited by VolvoT5 on Friday 19th December 16:42
75's also came with real wood dash boards. I had a 2003 ZT and I never felt that it was uncomfortable. I did many miles in it and never had an issue.

Clivey said:
As others have already mentioned, the ride / handling balance is brilliantly judged and would embarrass most brand new cars, including the "premium" german ones. Find one with leather heated seats and you've got a very comfortable barge on your hands. The only real downside is that the V6s are thirsty; the diesels however are BMW engines and would make for an excellent motorway car. An auto would make for a very relaxing / soothing car to commute in. Of course, many will ignore this because it's got a Rover / MG badge and lacks the "imagine" they crave.
The M47R Engine fitted to the 75/ZT was a decent unit. Came in two tunes, 111bhp and 131bhp. They were identical engines, just a different ECU map. Rover dealers offered an X-Power tune for the 111bhp to take it to 131bhp. My old one had this done not long after it was bought brand new. The main issues with the diesel was the MAF sensor, thermostat and clutch. The MAF sensor could be replaced with a Pierburg item, but you'd need a box of tricks to make sure it worked with the car, which was also a "tuning" box. Mine had one of these and it was remapped. I reckoned on it having around 160bhp, it certainly went well enough for what it was.

Gandahar said:
I'm going to have to say it.

This was Rover past their prime, trying to be like Jaguar. So quad headlights and those unreadable clocks.

Better is the Rover 600 ti turbo which was at least something trying to be honest and quite a Q car to boot. And you could read how fast you were going on the speedo.
The 620Ti was OK, but I preferred the 820 Vitesse Sport. I had both cars and felt that the larger 800 was quicker and handled better. It had proper Recaro seats as well, when the 620Ti had to make do with non-Recaro's. Just a shame the T16 engine had chocolate pistons that didnt like more than 12psi of boost pressure from the T25 fitted to it. Some people fitted the piston's from the O series engine IIRC as these were more up to the task.

I'd have another 820 Vitesse sport. I wouldn't have another 620Ti.

hornetrider said:
FWDRacer said:
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 readit. Ride and handling balance would leave most BMW/Audi drivers claiming witchcraft.

Edited by FWDRacer on Friday 19th December 10:54
laugh
My ZT handled quite well for a front driver. Not as well as my M5 but there are vast differences in the layout of the cars etc. MG could make cars handle. While it probably has no bearing, I recall Jeremy Clarkson commenting on how well the V8 ZT handled. Tiff Needell also thought it handled well. Whether they would say the same today is another matter.

I think a lot of people who knock the ZT have never actually driven one.

olof3528 said:
Superb car. In 2002, I took a 190 to a track day at Snetterton and managed to whip the then new Cooper S. The "S" was faster on the straights but simply couldn't follow me through the corners.

Dad later bought a Trophy Blue 190 and was very pleased with it. My, very beautiful, spouse took it on and was frequently stopped by blokes who couldn't stop complimeting her choice of car. Well, perhaps the car was even more stunning. It never happens when she's out in her new Passat.
Worst "I have a very beautiful spouse" post ever.

OwenK said:
I've had three, and two of them had major problems that have soured the memory a bit.
The last one to go was a diesel that had a major brake failure that I spent £700 chasing and fixing, then the alternator went and after the "easy DIY refurb" following a guide didn't work, spent another almost £300 with a specialist to repair. Then it failed its MOT with a quote of another £300 of work to get it through so I sold it to a mechanic for a few hundred quid.

Never again. I still think they're handsome cars but... No.
What was the brake issue in the end? I had a brake issue on my ZT, pedal would be hard and offer little braking and then would "free up" and slow the car.

xxxscimitarxxx

101 posts

186 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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With the demise of MG propa, Rover was rightfully accused of 'badge engineering' on the their range of Pensioners runabouts....but I like this one, and tho the body styling is a bit bolt on....its subtle and not some bit of double sided 'tape on tat' from the Ebay 'Tuning' section .

Now if they had only made them in RWD turbo form you would want one all day wouldn't you

perfect choice for a petrol head who is 'in between Porches' and needs a mota

VolvoT5

4,155 posts

173 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Am I right in thinking the ZT 260 V8 was RWD?

My main complaint after driving the ZT was the seats, driving position and lack of steering wheel adjustment for reach.

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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VolvoT5 said:
Am I right in thinking the ZT 260 V8 was RWD?
Yes.

Clivey

5,108 posts

203 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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OwenK said:
I've had three, and two of them had major problems that have soured the memory a bit.
The last one to go was a diesel that had a major brake failure that I spent £700 chasing and fixing, then the alternator went and after the "easy DIY refurb" following a guide didn't work, spent another almost £300 with a specialist to repair. Then it failed its MOT with a quote of another £300 of work to get it through so I sold it to a mechanic for a few hundred quid.

Never again. I still think they're handsome cars but... No.
You'd get the same with a cheap Audi / BMW / Merc though. - We traded-in the E46 when the list of jobs totted-up to 1/2 the value of the car. They all have "common", or known faults (seat occupancy sensors, corroding wheelarch & bootlid etc. on the 3-Series). I would have spent the money if it were a nice 330i, but a 320i wasn't really what I wanted and I wouldn't have got any extra money back when selling / trading it in.

Escort Si-130

3,270 posts

179 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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The typical DRY recycled Halfords joke from Clarkson about 15+ years ago. You must be really impressed with yourself.

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

Edited by only1ian on Friday 19th December 09:35

Escort Si-130

3,270 posts

179 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Twit, cant see much difference on this from the normal 75. At least they tried to do something.

Ted1990 said:
What only1ian said, with bells on. Hateful car, awful Halfords tat looks, and a wheezy v6 that does nothing bar drink fuel..

WojaWabbit

1,112 posts

217 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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Clivey said:
You'd get the same with a cheap Audi / BMW / Merc though.
True story. Consumables and failure points on cheap, old cars wear and fail... who'dathunkit?

Similar vintage Audis have chocolate auto gearboxes and electrical gremlins, the supposedly bullet proof E39 5-series are 'reknowned' for having expensive to repair cooling problems and Mercs built between early 90's and late 00's have serious rot and electrical issues.

People mentioning the lack of pace.... iontewrested to know what you're comparing it to? A quick google places the ZT 190 in amongst contemporaries like the Mondeo ST220, Vectra GSi, Accord Type R, 525i Sport etc. in terms of straight line performance. And from what I can see, Vauxhall aside, you won't get either of the others for near £1k!

sjc

13,884 posts

269 months

Saturday 20th December 2014
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fatboy69 said:
Looking for an MG-ZT to replace my trusty BMW 318.

I have looked at a couple which were absolute dogs as they both had waterlogged boots (in the summer) which the dealer blamed on the car washer forgetting to close the boots when he pressure washed the cars!!!!

Drive one a couple of weeks so, went away to think about it, returned to put down a deposit 30 minutes later & it had gone!!!

Was well pissed off about that.

The good ones seem to go fairly quickly with only the hounds remaining unsold.

The shed looks good value however too far for me to go so the hunt, locally, continues.
Wate r in the boot is normally rear light seals, cheap and easy fix, and on the very active 75/zt club forum there's chap sorting out upgraded ones.Water in the footwells will prob be sunroof drains blocked.
Did you se the link I posted previously of the 17K mile one?