MG ZT 260 4.6 V8
Discussion
Well after over 1600 trouble-free miles in 3 weeks I thought it might be a good idea to post here - before something breaks! I've not done one of these readers blog things before so go easy on me.
I've loved the concept of these things since they first came out, totally bonkers idea for a firm like Rover and there were only ever 800 or so made. I finally decided now was the time. They seem to have bottomed-out price wise, my commute is reasonably short and I'd had the RX8 long enough to be ready to move on again.
After starting to look seriously I realised there are not many about, and you need to travel to see any at all. The first one I saw was owned by a proper enthusiast but was a little rough around the edges for the asking price. It also had loud exhausts which sounded amazing from outside but were just too intrusive for daily driving and keeping the neighbors and other half on-side. This helped narrow down my choices to those with standard pipes.
The second car I saw made me a little nervous as it had been with its owner only 6 months and had only done 500 miles in his hands...but I bought it anyway! I was reassured on picking it up to see that it was being neglected due to his true love - a mint Ford Gran Torino in original Starsky and Hutch colours, kept in a Carcoon in a barn
Here's my car, as it was advertised:
It's SE spec and comes with TV (analogue so no signal oh well), Harman Kardon audio, sat nav, auto wipers, full black leather (pristine), memory settings on drivers seat, auto-dipping rear view mirror, sunroof, xenons and trip computer (but with fuel consumption feature deleted as standard!)
Driving it home was a revelation. The engine dominates the car but the rest of the package complements it perfectly. The noise inside is like nothing else I've owned, a proper bass throb you feel through your seat. It's subdued and mellow enough to live with all day with bags of character. The only downside is that it's disappointingly anodyne from outside. That's the price paid for having standard exhausts
Comparing it side by side with my RX8 was interesting. My RX8 is a PZ model with Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers configured by Prodrive. The ZT suspension is also Eibach and Bilstein, also configured with help from Prodrive. Both cars do the same times 0-60 and 0-100, both do around 20mpg, and the both even have similar leg room in the back. Everything else is the complete opposite - 6k rpm red line vs. 9k, 8 cylinders vs. no cylinders, 302lb ft vs. 156lb ft, 1800kg vs. 1350kg. The Mazda is a sportscar which can do civilised very well but the MG feels like you're piloting a Lancaster bomber, setup for long distance raids on foreign soil but still surprisingly maneuverable when required.
Here's both of them together. The Mazda is now for sale as I'm not lucky enough to own a barn to keep all my cars in.
Within a week of buying it I'd done more miles than the car had done in it's previous 6 months. I'd also found a few niggles to be fixed. I knew the badges were all a bit faded and the rear plate was stained but I hadn't spotted the fact that only the drivers door speakers worked. So I hit the Rimmer Bros site with my debit card and called a mobile auto electrician. The stereo turned out to be nothing more than a dodgy car kit fitting so that was removed and now everything works as it should. The badges etc whiled away a sunny Saturday afternoon and in my eyes at least freshened the cars appearence up no end.
Before:
After:
Next step is a service and then Le Mans weekend! There's not a lot else needing doing on the car except maybe get the bumpers resprayed - the front has been done before and it's a good finish but not a great colour match, while the rear has a couple of minor scrapes.
I plan doing probably 15,000 miles in the next 12 months. Should be interesting
I've loved the concept of these things since they first came out, totally bonkers idea for a firm like Rover and there were only ever 800 or so made. I finally decided now was the time. They seem to have bottomed-out price wise, my commute is reasonably short and I'd had the RX8 long enough to be ready to move on again.
After starting to look seriously I realised there are not many about, and you need to travel to see any at all. The first one I saw was owned by a proper enthusiast but was a little rough around the edges for the asking price. It also had loud exhausts which sounded amazing from outside but were just too intrusive for daily driving and keeping the neighbors and other half on-side. This helped narrow down my choices to those with standard pipes.
The second car I saw made me a little nervous as it had been with its owner only 6 months and had only done 500 miles in his hands...but I bought it anyway! I was reassured on picking it up to see that it was being neglected due to his true love - a mint Ford Gran Torino in original Starsky and Hutch colours, kept in a Carcoon in a barn
Here's my car, as it was advertised:
It's SE spec and comes with TV (analogue so no signal oh well), Harman Kardon audio, sat nav, auto wipers, full black leather (pristine), memory settings on drivers seat, auto-dipping rear view mirror, sunroof, xenons and trip computer (but with fuel consumption feature deleted as standard!)
Driving it home was a revelation. The engine dominates the car but the rest of the package complements it perfectly. The noise inside is like nothing else I've owned, a proper bass throb you feel through your seat. It's subdued and mellow enough to live with all day with bags of character. The only downside is that it's disappointingly anodyne from outside. That's the price paid for having standard exhausts
Comparing it side by side with my RX8 was interesting. My RX8 is a PZ model with Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers configured by Prodrive. The ZT suspension is also Eibach and Bilstein, also configured with help from Prodrive. Both cars do the same times 0-60 and 0-100, both do around 20mpg, and the both even have similar leg room in the back. Everything else is the complete opposite - 6k rpm red line vs. 9k, 8 cylinders vs. no cylinders, 302lb ft vs. 156lb ft, 1800kg vs. 1350kg. The Mazda is a sportscar which can do civilised very well but the MG feels like you're piloting a Lancaster bomber, setup for long distance raids on foreign soil but still surprisingly maneuverable when required.
Here's both of them together. The Mazda is now for sale as I'm not lucky enough to own a barn to keep all my cars in.
Within a week of buying it I'd done more miles than the car had done in it's previous 6 months. I'd also found a few niggles to be fixed. I knew the badges were all a bit faded and the rear plate was stained but I hadn't spotted the fact that only the drivers door speakers worked. So I hit the Rimmer Bros site with my debit card and called a mobile auto electrician. The stereo turned out to be nothing more than a dodgy car kit fitting so that was removed and now everything works as it should. The badges etc whiled away a sunny Saturday afternoon and in my eyes at least freshened the cars appearence up no end.
Before:
After:
Next step is a service and then Le Mans weekend! There's not a lot else needing doing on the car except maybe get the bumpers resprayed - the front has been done before and it's a good finish but not a great colour match, while the rear has a couple of minor scrapes.
I plan doing probably 15,000 miles in the next 12 months. Should be interesting
Edited by moribund on Wednesday 16th May 00:45
Tinyflier said:
The centre caps on my ZT have gone the same way as yours - where did you source replacements?
I too had the OEM analogue TV system but changed it last year for a proper DVD/CD/Digital TV/SatNav unit. Brings the centre dash bang up to date!
Although mine is only a 2.5 V6, I agree that all round they are very well built, comfortable long distance mile eaters - BMW quality at low low bargain prices.
David
I got the trims from Rimmers, original MG Rover parts: http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-RRJ000051MNHI too had the OEM analogue TV system but changed it last year for a proper DVD/CD/Digital TV/SatNav unit. Brings the centre dash bang up to date!
Although mine is only a 2.5 V6, I agree that all round they are very well built, comfortable long distance mile eaters - BMW quality at low low bargain prices.
David
They're also available on eBay etc
Is your TV the Chinese integrated unit? I'm tempted but maybe not just yet.
FIK said:
Great car. I have a ZT-T 190 and love every minute of it - apart from paying for all the petrol it uses!!
I notice that you changed the rear plate, can I ask where you got the new one from? I need to change mine as well.
Thanks! This thing seems to get 22mpg overall which is actually better than I was expecting. It's only money after all...I notice that you changed the rear plate, can I ask where you got the new one from? I need to change mine as well.
The plate came from http://www.demonplates.com/ It's a proper legal plate with the makers name and postcode on it, just printed in a really small font to keep it neat.
that little V8 on the back is the ONLY exterior badge it comes with anyway. You've got to be nerdy to spot one of these, the quad exhausts are the only other giveaway.There's a guy on http://www.two-sixties.com/ with a 400bhp supercharged one who lives on the continent and just loves baiting confused Audi, Porsche and BMW drivers. Mine is just 260bhp and it's no ball of fire to be honest, but its quick enough for me and has that unstoppable feel you get with lots of torque
A quick update on the updates... since getting the car it's had a few more odd jobs done.
A replacement for the missing undertray was found on eBay. A bit battle-scarred but it was a bargain price for such a rare item. When I went to pick it up the seller showed me around his immaculate Escort Cosworth which was a nice bonus
The next job was a new air-con compressor to replace the noisy one fitted to the car. The old one worked, but I was nervous about it failing on me at Le Mans as they're a notorious weak spot. No pics, but the new one arrived from the US only 3 days after I placed my order which I thought was impressive.
The final update has been iPod integration using an Alpine KCA-420 from eBay and an Intravee II. Expensive upgrade but now I have full iPod control via the head unit. It replaces the CD changer, which I left in the boot and used to mount the new boxes to using numberplate tape.
Finally ready to go to Le Mans!
Had a great trip. The car does the whole autoroute thing extremely well. Slightly regretting going for a car with a quiet exhaust, but made up for it by my mate capturing my starring moment on Mad Friday.
http://youtu.be/7qDEfXjSLZ4
A replacement for the missing undertray was found on eBay. A bit battle-scarred but it was a bargain price for such a rare item. When I went to pick it up the seller showed me around his immaculate Escort Cosworth which was a nice bonus
The next job was a new air-con compressor to replace the noisy one fitted to the car. The old one worked, but I was nervous about it failing on me at Le Mans as they're a notorious weak spot. No pics, but the new one arrived from the US only 3 days after I placed my order which I thought was impressive.
The final update has been iPod integration using an Alpine KCA-420 from eBay and an Intravee II. Expensive upgrade but now I have full iPod control via the head unit. It replaces the CD changer, which I left in the boot and used to mount the new boxes to using numberplate tape.
Finally ready to go to Le Mans!
Had a great trip. The car does the whole autoroute thing extremely well. Slightly regretting going for a car with a quiet exhaust, but made up for it by my mate capturing my starring moment on Mad Friday.
http://youtu.be/7qDEfXjSLZ4
bungle said:
Great engine no doubt, but it's a big 'ol lump, does it do corners? What's the handling like?
Seems ambitiously priced http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3861126.htm but is that the going rate?
Love the idea of them though!
It's a nice drive for it's weight. You can feel its a big old bus under braking but it corners very well and has excellent steering. It's a very satisfying 8/10ths car if that makes sense? Makes good fast progress on quick A-roads. It has flow.Seems ambitiously priced http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3861126.htm but is that the going rate?
Love the idea of them though!
That estate has sold now as far as I know. I think it's priced OK for a good condition car from a dealer and the estates are harder to find. Decent private cars seem to be £5.5k -> £7k, with quite a bit of variation which seems to relate more to the confidence of the seller that the condition of the car!
Max M4X WW said:
Sort it!
Stop it, there was a group buy on two-sixties.com recently and I nearly caved.Want my car to sound like it does now inside, not annoy my OH and neighbours, then sound like this the rest of the time:
http://youtu.be/TqZZfXdm7D0
Can't square the circle though
(the car in the vid is for sale apparently and looks in top condition, not SE spec though)
It's been quiet for a while on the ZT front, it just keeps churning out the miles in a nice throbby sort of a way (around 15k miles in the last year - at 19mpg lol)
Unfortunately one of the "known issues" reared it's head yesterday and the water pipe to the heater gave way in spectacular fashion:
Luckily not too far from home and gaffa tape along with copious amounts of water got it back later in the evening.
This hose is a weak spot to the extent that the owners club have had stronger silicone replacements made. I now have one on order so hopefully it'll only be off the road for a week!
Unfortunately one of the "known issues" reared it's head yesterday and the water pipe to the heater gave way in spectacular fashion:
Luckily not too far from home and gaffa tape along with copious amounts of water got it back later in the evening.
This hose is a weak spot to the extent that the owners club have had stronger silicone replacements made. I now have one on order so hopefully it'll only be off the road for a week!
Edited by moribund on Saturday 29th June 21:10
It's about time I updated this thread. The car has now done over 80k miles and is still cruising along.
It's had the expensive custom rear disks and pads replaced a few months ago (half price via the Two-Sixties site - more than justified the MG Owners club membership there!) along with replacing some corroded brake pipes.
Last week was an oil service plus the front disks and pads. These are standard ZT 190 parts and much cheaper and easier to get hold of. All done by M & G Bradford who had another ZT 260 in at the same time - they know their way around these things.
I now need new rear tyres. It's all been just normal maintenance but combined with the Lotus it's been an expensive month so far!
Still, all it takes is a good run out for all to be forgiven. On Sunday I made an early morning trek to Aviemore from Yorkshire. The roads were deserted so a steady cruise and I don't think I touched the brakes more than 4 or 5 times the whole journey! This was the result:
All in comfort listening to podcasts on the stereo, and arrived fresh enough for a couple of hours skiing. Though obviously the speed reading must be broken
Just add it to the list of quirks...
This things just devours the miles. I even managed 25mpg for one tankful on the way back home this morning
It's had the expensive custom rear disks and pads replaced a few months ago (half price via the Two-Sixties site - more than justified the MG Owners club membership there!) along with replacing some corroded brake pipes.
Last week was an oil service plus the front disks and pads. These are standard ZT 190 parts and much cheaper and easier to get hold of. All done by M & G Bradford who had another ZT 260 in at the same time - they know their way around these things.
I now need new rear tyres. It's all been just normal maintenance but combined with the Lotus it's been an expensive month so far!
Still, all it takes is a good run out for all to be forgiven. On Sunday I made an early morning trek to Aviemore from Yorkshire. The roads were deserted so a steady cruise and I don't think I touched the brakes more than 4 or 5 times the whole journey! This was the result:
All in comfort listening to podcasts on the stereo, and arrived fresh enough for a couple of hours skiing. Though obviously the speed reading must be broken
Just add it to the list of quirks...This things just devours the miles. I even managed 25mpg for one tankful on the way back home this morning
Edited by moribund on Tuesday 11th March 21:23
gary71 said:
Originally the plan to get it to run was the Mustang key bonded inside the PATs transponder in a box stuck to the bulkhead... The Rover ignition then just powered up the Ford ECU. That's how the first car (the grey one above) was made to run first time around. Can't remember if that was ever replaced.
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