Discussion
Looking around for a cheaper smaller car than my BMW E39.
Have looked at a few MG ZR's which seem good value as long as it had its head gasket replaced.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3834020.htm
Any other reason to avoid?
Please no 'they're crap' statements. Why are they crap?
Thanks
Have looked at a few MG ZR's which seem good value as long as it had its head gasket replaced.
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3834020.htm
Any other reason to avoid?
Please no 'they're crap' statements. Why are they crap?
Thanks
Cracking little cars really, 103hp from a 1.4 so nippy but no where near enough power to trouble the chassis and the suspension is well set up so you can drive it flat out all the time without ever really bothering it. Had 2 as company cars and loved them, would suggest finding a 105 Plus/+ model as it had more kit and definitely worth finding one with the 17" alloys and the full body kit as they look much better.
Those that hate have probably never driven one and for the money they are now an absolute bargain. If it's cost saving you want though try and find the diesel one if memory serves top diesel power was 110 hp but was quicker than even the 160 from 50-70 and still pretty economical.
Those that hate have probably never driven one and for the money they are now an absolute bargain. If it's cost saving you want though try and find the diesel one if memory serves top diesel power was 110 hp but was quicker than even the 160 from 50-70 and still pretty economical.
Good little cars. Better than the stereotypes people like to brand them with. All the petrol engines 1.4 - 1.8 give peppy performance and good mpg.
Diesel is Rover's own L-Series engine. Not the last word in refinement but very tough and in a diddy car like the MG, makes it pretty swift.
Interiors are a bit naff only in the same light as something like a Ford Puma. Leather seats are comfortable though.
Try one, you may be surprised.
Diesel is Rover's own L-Series engine. Not the last word in refinement but very tough and in a diddy car like the MG, makes it pretty swift.
Interiors are a bit naff only in the same light as something like a Ford Puma. Leather seats are comfortable though.
Try one, you may be surprised.
I bought a 2003 ZR 1.4 for my wife last year. I quite like it as a runabout, but it does lack the refinement of some of it's contempories. The head gasket was done by the previous owner, and I did a bit of work when I got it (just service stuff that had lapsed) and since then it's been totally reliable over the 4000ish miles we've put on it. The thing that I like was that parts for them are dirt cheap - both new and used, which is handy if you're trying to save money. MPG is ok, but not great, if this one hadn't come up at a decent price I probably would have kept looking for a diesel model.
Ours is the base model so does suffer from a lack of luxuries - it's got remote locking, PAS and weirdly a/c, but no electric windows, electric mirrors or fog lights. The part leather bucket seats are very supportive, but you can feel a bit cramped as a result. Interior plastics are a bit cheap.
Suspension is quite firm which I find annoying sometimes - I know it's the 'sporty' MG version, but it's only a lowly 1.4 hatchback. I prefer the look of the MG but I do wonder whether the Rover version would make a better daily driver if the ride is a bit more complient.
Ours is the base model so does suffer from a lack of luxuries - it's got remote locking, PAS and weirdly a/c, but no electric windows, electric mirrors or fog lights. The part leather bucket seats are very supportive, but you can feel a bit cramped as a result. Interior plastics are a bit cheap.
Suspension is quite firm which I find annoying sometimes - I know it's the 'sporty' MG version, but it's only a lowly 1.4 hatchback. I prefer the look of the MG but I do wonder whether the Rover version would make a better daily driver if the ride is a bit more complient.
I testdrove the 160 version when I was 18 and thought it was dog slow and felt like it hadn't been upgraded since the N reg metro I was getting rid of but then I was looking at it as a 6month old 7grand car as opposed to a cheap mildly entertaining motor at the time. My mate has had a 1.4 for the last couple of years and says it's the best car he's ever owned and for circa a grand I don't think there are many more modern looking cars about for the money.
I will give you a honest opinion
Good Points
. Once headgasket is done from my experience uterly reliable parts are cheap and easy to get hold off both new and especially used as popular car with younger lads meaning many in the scrap yards for spares. I have down 10k miles in 9 months and never broken down or had any issues at all
. Engine itself for a 1.4 is a little peech quite revvy and will do 40mpg all day long unless thrash it all the time
. They are a nice drive in my opinion quite fun to hustle down a lane has a sort of old school appeal in that aspect and reminds me of my classic mini in a way.
. Great value its a 2005 car that still looks decent for sub 2k which I think it pretty good
Bad Points
. The road noise can be a bit loud at 80ish... mph they is a bit of wind noise no more than my mk5 fiesta I owned mind but obviously going to be not as good as your BMW I just turn the radio up a couple of notchs...
. Ride is quite firm but suppose that is the pay off for good handling and by no means does it break your back I find the seats very comfortable
. Brakes can cook themselves quite easilly if hustle down lanes a lot although these can be upgraded to the 120/160 ones if needed
. Interior is a bit low rent it looks fine to my eyes on the mk2 and seems pretty solid but obviously plastics wont be like on a VW and they seem to have a habbit of the plastic cover over the door pull falling off on mine.
Overall though they are very good cars to be honest and really enjoyed owning mine only selling it really to get something more powerfull but unless I get a decent price for it can see me owning it for another year or so as really it has never let me down and have really enjoyed my ownership thus far.
Think it carefully however as even I will admit this will be a big downgrade from a E39 5 series however if you want a cheap runabout that is fun to drive they do make good sense owning both would be ideal imo
Good Points
. Once headgasket is done from my experience uterly reliable parts are cheap and easy to get hold off both new and especially used as popular car with younger lads meaning many in the scrap yards for spares. I have down 10k miles in 9 months and never broken down or had any issues at all
. Engine itself for a 1.4 is a little peech quite revvy and will do 40mpg all day long unless thrash it all the time
. They are a nice drive in my opinion quite fun to hustle down a lane has a sort of old school appeal in that aspect and reminds me of my classic mini in a way.
. Great value its a 2005 car that still looks decent for sub 2k which I think it pretty good
Bad Points
. The road noise can be a bit loud at 80ish... mph they is a bit of wind noise no more than my mk5 fiesta I owned mind but obviously going to be not as good as your BMW I just turn the radio up a couple of notchs...
. Ride is quite firm but suppose that is the pay off for good handling and by no means does it break your back I find the seats very comfortable
. Brakes can cook themselves quite easilly if hustle down lanes a lot although these can be upgraded to the 120/160 ones if needed
. Interior is a bit low rent it looks fine to my eyes on the mk2 and seems pretty solid but obviously plastics wont be like on a VW and they seem to have a habbit of the plastic cover over the door pull falling off on mine.
Overall though they are very good cars to be honest and really enjoyed owning mine only selling it really to get something more powerfull but unless I get a decent price for it can see me owning it for another year or so as really it has never let me down and have really enjoyed my ownership thus far.
Think it carefully however as even I will admit this will be a big downgrade from a E39 5 series however if you want a cheap runabout that is fun to drive they do make good sense owning both would be ideal imo
Edited by greggy50 on Wednesday 25th April 01:36
Had a 105+ when I was 19 - 20. Great car, head gasket was on the way out when I traded in, but it was my own fault - no mechanicl sympathy etc.
Loved to be revved and was really fun to push down country lanes. Seats were comfortable, but the suspension never seemed to be damped as well as it should have - may have been car specific though.
Interior was OK, the plastic etc didn't bother me as such. Sound system was good enough, but I did upgrade with a sub and a new set of components.
Reliable to the end, never had an issue and from what I remember fuel was ok, although I never really paid attention to MPG.
Having owned rag tops afterwards I can't comment on the refinement, but I don't remember it being an issue.
When I see one I think about getting another and engine swapping for K20 / F20 or something. I imagine they could handle a lot more power.
Loved to be revved and was really fun to push down country lanes. Seats were comfortable, but the suspension never seemed to be damped as well as it should have - may have been car specific though.
Interior was OK, the plastic etc didn't bother me as such. Sound system was good enough, but I did upgrade with a sub and a new set of components.
Reliable to the end, never had an issue and from what I remember fuel was ok, although I never really paid attention to MPG.
Having owned rag tops afterwards I can't comment on the refinement, but I don't remember it being an issue.
When I see one I think about getting another and engine swapping for K20 / F20 or something. I imagine they could handle a lot more power.
i own a 160.
Good points
- cheap
- 36mpg real world.
- plenty of power for overtakes and fun. 7300rpm redline
- handles like a go kart
- parts are cheap full hg repair with new belts, tensioners, inlet/exhaust gaskets, power steering belt and waterpump £400.
- helpful forum mg-rover.org
- nice seats.
- burbly sound at low speed and lots of popping on over run.
- Short throw gear change mechanical but still pretty sweet.
Bad points
- rattles. Stop one find another.
- low gearing means that if you do a lot of motorway driving forget it as the noise is loud.
- wont suit a really tall driver due to lack of adjustability.
- You'll have people talking to you about head gaskets so much you abbreviate to hg.
- insurance is high compared to comparitive cars. 160 is group 17.
- Not as cool as a corsa apparently.
- Not much oppertunity to increase power with mods.
- Suprisingly small inside.
- Similarly priced cleo's are more modern.
I always smile driving this, under normal conditions it has enough torque to go from 30-70 in fifth gear if your not in a hurry so can be driven lazily. I drive mainly mountain roads and dropping it to third for overtakes means i go plenty quick enough without exceeding 5000rpm and 7000rpm in third will have you at law breaking speeds so they are quick enough. Not the best if you spend your life drag racing diesel astras as you'll need to come off the roundabout in second to stay ahead.
Other than keeping an eye on the cooling system and watching out for boot leaks its been pretty bulletproof. You always feel very involved with the drive, steering feedback is good (power steering feels heavy to some) the noise is infectious, you're planning gear changes and rpm to match the situation when pressing on and even on budget tires 160bhp doesnt trouble traction or the chassis.
Would be very different to a bmw.
Good points
- cheap
- 36mpg real world.
- plenty of power for overtakes and fun. 7300rpm redline
- handles like a go kart
- parts are cheap full hg repair with new belts, tensioners, inlet/exhaust gaskets, power steering belt and waterpump £400.
- helpful forum mg-rover.org
- nice seats.
- burbly sound at low speed and lots of popping on over run.
- Short throw gear change mechanical but still pretty sweet.
Bad points
- rattles. Stop one find another.
- low gearing means that if you do a lot of motorway driving forget it as the noise is loud.
- wont suit a really tall driver due to lack of adjustability.
- You'll have people talking to you about head gaskets so much you abbreviate to hg.
- insurance is high compared to comparitive cars. 160 is group 17.
- Not as cool as a corsa apparently.
- Not much oppertunity to increase power with mods.
- Suprisingly small inside.
- Similarly priced cleo's are more modern.
I always smile driving this, under normal conditions it has enough torque to go from 30-70 in fifth gear if your not in a hurry so can be driven lazily. I drive mainly mountain roads and dropping it to third for overtakes means i go plenty quick enough without exceeding 5000rpm and 7000rpm in third will have you at law breaking speeds so they are quick enough. Not the best if you spend your life drag racing diesel astras as you'll need to come off the roundabout in second to stay ahead.
Other than keeping an eye on the cooling system and watching out for boot leaks its been pretty bulletproof. You always feel very involved with the drive, steering feedback is good (power steering feels heavy to some) the noise is infectious, you're planning gear changes and rpm to match the situation when pressing on and even on budget tires 160bhp doesnt trouble traction or the chassis.
Would be very different to a bmw.
My friend and my mechanic race them, they remind me of the older cars when they still had great handling and feeling. Even with the VVC motor you'll still be returning good mpg.
Do watch for HGF though, we had to have ours done on the mgf. Since then it's been perfect. Due to the race series even in poor condition they're worth money in parts.
I like em.
Do watch for HGF though, we had to have ours done on the mgf. Since then it's been perfect. Due to the race series even in poor condition they're worth money in parts.
I like em.
Thanks for the opinions everyone, much appreciated.
Other than checking for hg & general weariness sounds like there can be quite good cars out there.
Different yes to the Über Saloon but I have had it for five years & itchy for something different. After a house purchase funds are limited, hence asking if the ZR is the bargain it looks.
Other than checking for hg & general weariness sounds like there can be quite good cars out there.
Different yes to the Über Saloon but I have had it for five years & itchy for something different. After a house purchase funds are limited, hence asking if the ZR is the bargain it looks.
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