RE: MG ZR is Rover's new top performer
Wednesday 1st December 2004
MG ZR is Rover's new top performer
Rover's niche product outshines ancient portfolio
MG’s pocket rocket ZR is now the company’s best selling car, Rover reports. 2004 is the first time an MG model has consistently outsold a Rover car since the brand’s expansion in 2001, though the Rover reckons the marque still commands greater overall sales popularity accounting for 65 per cent of the company’s sales.
Commenting on its new number one status, sales and marketing director Rod Ramsay, said: "The popularity of the MG ZR continues to grow and represents the brand’s young-at-heart position. Though the top of the range ZR 160 leads the range in the performance stakes, racing to 60mph in 7.4 seconds, and onto a top speed of 131mph, it’s the entry model ZR 105 that is the one that is turning young heads. Its appealing price, great performance and high standard equipment specification, means it enjoys two thirds of the model’s sales performance."
The 2004 MG ZR has a new exterior appearance, with a new style of bumpers, clear lens halogen headlamps and integrated front grille design which are now more reminiscent of the MG SV supercar. The ZR has improved dynamics for a great driving experience. Inside, the high quality and stylish cabin has also been revised with a new fascia design, rotary air vents, a new centre console, soft touch switchgear and an array of technology features.
The MG ZR 105 is available from £10,395 with a 7E / T1 (Thatcham approved) ABI insurance rating with the top-of-the-range MG ZR 160 available from £14,995. Since launch, sales of the ZR have exceeded 70,000 cars.
However, a less kind commentator on the ailing Rover Group's results might suggest that most of the range is so long in the tooth that it's hardly surprising that a car aimed at a niche audience becomes a top seller.
Discussion
When are the press going to stop treading on a car manufacturer that is trying?
It seems that everyone is baiting this company. at the end of the day it is a good product for a reasonable sum of money. The directors took an ailing company over from BMW , one of the worlds largest car companies after they asset stripped what was left of Rover. then they get slagged off for taking a cut to set them up for retirement. P wheeler took an 11 million cut and no one is slagging him off (neither am I good luck to him)
Its about time that the British press got behind the UK's only remaining volume car manufacturer and gave it the support it so desperatly needs.
its about time we re-awakened the Buy british mentality. british people are still building these cars in British factories after all?
I wonder if people would be so di-interested if it was TVR??
Neil.
It seems that everyone is baiting this company. at the end of the day it is a good product for a reasonable sum of money. The directors took an ailing company over from BMW , one of the worlds largest car companies after they asset stripped what was left of Rover. then they get slagged off for taking a cut to set them up for retirement. P wheeler took an 11 million cut and no one is slagging him off (neither am I good luck to him)
Its about time that the British press got behind the UK's only remaining volume car manufacturer and gave it the support it so desperatly needs.
its about time we re-awakened the Buy british mentality. british people are still building these cars in British factories after all?
I wonder if people would be so di-interested if it was TVR??
Neil.
telecat said:
Surely the ZR 160 is one of the few Small hatches that can do that sort of 0-60 time these days?
If the head gasket doesn't blow first!
They were stripped when BMW left and now the current management are attempting to do the same for their own pockets.
This company needs new cars now! (and not reworked existing models!)
But given the escalating costs of developing a new vehicle, i doubt much will be done.
A sick joke. The sooner the managing directors take the money and run, as they are reported to be going to do, and the company either goes belly-up or is bought by the Chinese (poor Chinese!), as it most assuredly will, the better. Sheesh - what a LOAD OF RUBBISH. What do they take us for?
Supersonic said:
Great, is this going to be another 'let's bash MG Rover' thread?
Exactly my point. this is a company that needs support. The cars are in my opinion very good. (100k miles in a Rover 214 without any head gasket problems)
too many people, many with zero mechanical skills are too quick to criticise based on media hype only. These are Brit cars built with a Brit workforce.
look whats happening in coventry at the moment????
we don't make nowt anymore. 2 many people doing 2 many customer service type jobs and the skills base is dissapearing too quickly.
Neil.
if i had 30 million in my bank i would gladly invest in mg rover.
i would love nothing more than to see mg rover succeed
it's a real shame and there downfall is only fuelled by negative non believers were's the spirit of this country gone, and we wonder why its all falling apart
drove past an auntie rover p5 on the m3 near basingstoke last night
richard branson come and sort out this mess
i would love nothing more than to see mg rover succeed
it's a real shame and there downfall is only fuelled by negative non believers were's the spirit of this country gone, and we wonder why its all falling apart
drove past an auntie rover p5 on the m3 near basingstoke last night
richard branson come and sort out this mess
Well a typical shite reporting piece on MG/Rover - be interesting to know who wrote it (surely not you Ted - cheap jibes aren't your normal form)
We bought a ZTT for my wife (kid on the way, need the space yadda yadda yadda) and immediately all and sundry took it upon themselves to shake their head ruefully and offer the helpful rejoiner, 'should have bought German.'
Well thankyou but some of us choose not to join the ranks of the uberpimp and instead want to choose a car that appeals to us as an individual not as an amorphous ego led wannabe. The thing that rankles me (in case you hadn’t guessed) is that it doesn't matter how much you can quantify how much better your product is (ranked one of the 4 most reliable cars on the road (Which) came 13th in the JD Power survey last year and 30 odd this one versus South African built 3 series anyone?) it will always come down to image.
The fact that there are more Boxsters in our car park at home than Fords and 3 series outsell Mondeos doesn’t register, especially among the motoring press who, in particular, have taken it upon themselves to shit on the aspirations of our last remaining volume manufacturer.
We bought a ZTT for my wife (kid on the way, need the space yadda yadda yadda) and immediately all and sundry took it upon themselves to shake their head ruefully and offer the helpful rejoiner, 'should have bought German.'
Well thankyou but some of us choose not to join the ranks of the uberpimp and instead want to choose a car that appeals to us as an individual not as an amorphous ego led wannabe. The thing that rankles me (in case you hadn’t guessed) is that it doesn't matter how much you can quantify how much better your product is (ranked one of the 4 most reliable cars on the road (Which) came 13th in the JD Power survey last year and 30 odd this one versus South African built 3 series anyone?) it will always come down to image.
The fact that there are more Boxsters in our car park at home than Fords and 3 series outsell Mondeos doesn’t register, especially among the motoring press who, in particular, have taken it upon themselves to shit on the aspirations of our last remaining volume manufacturer.
sidevalve said:
A sick joke.
No, I think you're the sick one.
sidevalve said:
The sooner the managing directors take the money and run, as they are reported to be going to do,
So you believe everything they read in the papers? The press (in particularly the London based press) are trying to run the company down when most of them predicted that it would last only 6 to 12 months after the split from BMW yet it's still in business after 4.5 years of independance. This riles the press who still seem to be doing their level best to ensure that it won't survive for much longer.
sidevalve said:
and the company either goes belly-up or is bought by the Chinese
It is not being bought by the Chinese, SAIC and MGR are trying to negotiate a joint venture, but I guess you only believe what you read in the press.
sidevalve said:
as it most assuredly will, the better.
Why do you think it will be better if MGR close? Are you an ex-employee with a bitter vendetta against them, or are you just a BMW driver? What about the huge loss of jobs and the fact that the UK will no longer have a volume car producer?
sidevalve said:
What do they take us for?
I think I know what they'll take you for, but it's probably not printable here!!!
BTW on 16th July 2004 you posted that you would give the company 6 months.... 8 months later and it's still here. Like the press, I guess this riles you.
>> Edited by mgcrazeee on Wednesday 1st December 17:30
I think that's great news about the ZR, we've had 4 MGs , all brand new from 2000 to 2002, and, on the whole, they were fantastic, mechanically. I think some people are so damn narrow minded when they say infantile statements like 'it'll be better when the whole lots gone and closed down', or words to that effect,, the implications to many UK workers, families and local economy would be disasterous, and it could may well put the idiots who rubbish UK companies out of a job due to direct or indirect repercussions of thousands more not having any spare money and being of the unemployment heap. I am sure some people are just spiteful for the sake of it!
I agree it's a case of buy British. This just doesn't happen any more as people believe everything they're told rather than try it.
If you take France for example, nobody cares over there that the cars are kinda pants (no better realability or build quality) but they wouldn't dream of buying anything else other than Pugs, Renault or Citreon.
If you take France for example, nobody cares over there that the cars are kinda pants (no better realability or build quality) but they wouldn't dream of buying anything else other than Pugs, Renault or Citreon.
I've got an MG ZT which I chose over a BMW 525 SE. Not as fast and not RWD, but for the money, newer and lower mileage. I also found the BMW too soft in its suspension and as bland as hell inside (which I was very surprised at).
I'm not sure if the web-site is still going, but MG put together the "MG beats BMW" site after their survey showed that people preferred the MG ZT 190 over the BMW 318is in every test that they performed. The reason they picked that BMW was becuase it was the same prive as the MG (whereas the 5 series cost a lot more).
So, for all you MGR sceptics out there, don't knock it 'till you've tried it.
>> Edited by vladd on Wednesday 1st December 18:32
I'm not sure if the web-site is still going, but MG put together the "MG beats BMW" site after their survey showed that people preferred the MG ZT 190 over the BMW 318is in every test that they performed. The reason they picked that BMW was becuase it was the same prive as the MG (whereas the 5 series cost a lot more).
So, for all you MGR sceptics out there, don't knock it 'till you've tried it.
>> Edited by vladd on Wednesday 1st December 18:32
OK article, but why the cheap jibe at the end - unnecessary...
Like the MG ZT260 on top gear. Spends the artcile praising it, then in one comment at the end reduces it to worthless status because of its badge. Astonishing shite from what is supposed to be motoring journalism.
Not impressed Ted, not impressed!
Like the MG ZT260 on top gear. Spends the artcile praising it, then in one comment at the end reduces it to worthless status because of its badge. Astonishing shite from what is supposed to be motoring journalism.
Not impressed Ted, not impressed!
mgcrazeee said:
No, I think you're the sick one.
Careful - as with anything automotive everyone is allowed their opinion. Sidevalve, appears to have an issue with MGRover, it doesn't make him sick.
This, however, does:
sidevalve said:
The sooner the managing directors take the money and run, as they are reported to be going to do, and the company either goes belly-up or is bought by the Chinese (poor Chinese!), as it most assuredly will, the better.
What a tit. What a total tit.
Dickster – I actually disagree that it is actually about wanting to ‘buy British.’ We made a judgement on value, performance, reliability and individuality and the ZTT came out leagues ahead of the rest. Wanting to support a company that has been raped by our friends in Munich, turned some very average cars into performance bargains and rides the daily wave of constant sniping in the press was all the motivation I needed to sign on the dotted line. I suppose the fact it was NOT bloody German was more the issue…..
thanks guys. it is nice to know that i am not the only one out in the wilderness who feels strongly about the need to support a British company.
the trouble with the world today is that everyone seems to believe the hype. the press is running the country these days, not the politicians.
I screwed my little white 200 series rover mercilessly as a company car and that little 1400 twin cam could take everything in its class and harry a good few cars that were bigger. My old fella drives a 200 diesel. i drive a land rover. and have 2 TVR's my only deviation is an S4 audi, and that is simply because no other car manufacturer produce a 4 wheel drive estate car of such quality. that said Jag now do, but they aint having my money if coventry gos down the pan.
Similarly i threw my Dyson out when he F
d off to india.
I am not a total zenophobe, but I like to support my economy. damned it though, Its getting harder to find british let alone buy it these days.
If we don't start to engineer and make things again, we will be no more than a 3rd world country in the next 10 years.
neil.
the trouble with the world today is that everyone seems to believe the hype. the press is running the country these days, not the politicians.
I screwed my little white 200 series rover mercilessly as a company car and that little 1400 twin cam could take everything in its class and harry a good few cars that were bigger. My old fella drives a 200 diesel. i drive a land rover. and have 2 TVR's my only deviation is an S4 audi, and that is simply because no other car manufacturer produce a 4 wheel drive estate car of such quality. that said Jag now do, but they aint having my money if coventry gos down the pan.
Similarly i threw my Dyson out when he F
d off to india. I am not a total zenophobe, but I like to support my economy. damned it though, Its getting harder to find british let alone buy it these days.
If we don't start to engineer and make things again, we will be no more than a 3rd world country in the next 10 years.
neil.
I bought the ZT260se rather than the BMW 530i, it is a far more rewarding car to drive, much more comfortable too. There were a couple of small niggles with the car but an hour at the dealer sorted that out and I just can't wipe the smile off my face when I get in her to go driving.
There is only one way forward.... Sideways
There is only one way forward.... Sideways
I can see both perspectives here.
While every right thinking British car nut wants to see MGR survive, there is also too much blinkered support of the management going on here.
The idea that the current management came in to save the day and the lives of the working brummie when the nasty Germans left is just ridiculous. The management of MGR saw an opportunity to take advantage of good will and a huge honeymoon period , to give them time to restructure the company and fill their pockets.
They only put in 60k each at risk for gods sake, yet tens of millions in assets have been siphoned off in their direction.
There is nothing wrong with this. Its capitalism after all, you could argue, and they are doing nothing illegal.
But the idea that MGR management are fighting some noble battle to protect British manufacturing industry is total hype and spin, and the evidence tells us the opposite.
I do not sincerely trust the management to care about the MGR workforce. I never did. They are no different to any of the other vultures who wanted to strip the company. They are just a little more patient, but they are the same.
And the way they trade off the "hero of the working Brit" thing sickens me.
I am a fan of MGR. The ZTT is a fantastic car which can stand proud in any market. But lets ditch the rose coloured glasses where the management are concerned.
Ask any of the banks and moneymen in the City about MGR, their accounting standards and conduct and their credit activity. It is'nt pretty, and not many financiers think much of the team there.
Sad, but true.
While every right thinking British car nut wants to see MGR survive, there is also too much blinkered support of the management going on here.
The idea that the current management came in to save the day and the lives of the working brummie when the nasty Germans left is just ridiculous. The management of MGR saw an opportunity to take advantage of good will and a huge honeymoon period , to give them time to restructure the company and fill their pockets.
They only put in 60k each at risk for gods sake, yet tens of millions in assets have been siphoned off in their direction.
There is nothing wrong with this. Its capitalism after all, you could argue, and they are doing nothing illegal.
But the idea that MGR management are fighting some noble battle to protect British manufacturing industry is total hype and spin, and the evidence tells us the opposite.
I do not sincerely trust the management to care about the MGR workforce. I never did. They are no different to any of the other vultures who wanted to strip the company. They are just a little more patient, but they are the same.
And the way they trade off the "hero of the working Brit" thing sickens me.
I am a fan of MGR. The ZTT is a fantastic car which can stand proud in any market. But lets ditch the rose coloured glasses where the management are concerned.
Ask any of the banks and moneymen in the City about MGR, their accounting standards and conduct and their credit activity. It is'nt pretty, and not many financiers think much of the team there.
Sad, but true.
Alicatt said:
I bought the ZT260se ...
There is only one way forward.... Sideways
Which is rather how Mr. Needell presented the ZT260 on 5th Gear last week. Seemed to quite like it but in the end gave a big thumbs up to the Monaro instead.
One has to ask if he is hoping to return to the BBC and was practising how to make small differences appear huge or, as at the end of the 6 o'clock news tonight, some unprovable theories appear factual.
Why the preference for the Monaro? It was, on the day in a rather unscientific test drive, 1.6 seconds faster than the the ZT260 on a lap of around 1 minute.
So what did he forget to add as a "but to be fair ..." observation?
ZT was giving away about a litre of capacity, about 80 or more bhp, about 100Kg weight and, in terms of a practical family road car, has 4 doors making it somewhat usable.
I looked at the Monaro (not a test drive, just a look) when it was launched. Too much exposed paintwork and uglu metal seams - especially in the boot - for a near 30k road car. And having had several years of experience of Vauxhall dealers and their attempts to understand any of the vehicles in their range, let alone the rarer ones, I thought it best to forget it.
Now it is very possible that the MGR dealers are as bad. Pretty sure they cannot be worse, but I don't think I am alone in that belief re VX. They have problems shifting the VX220's and despite the very limited availability last time I looked a few days ago there were about 19 very low mileage (or new even) Monaros advertised on the Autotrader web site. 2 or 3 were VXR with dealers still trying for top prices, but the rest looked like ex-demo cars or sales that had not stuck too well. Or maybe the first of the Vauxhall fleet vehicles being released.
Anyway, the upshot from where I sit is that if there is a market for that middle ground of non-German mainstream manufacturer with sports car pretentions, then the ZT260 is an interest option. And probably available, even new, at a much more sensible price than most of its competition.
One I may keep an eye on I reckon. I and most of my friends are getting too old to want clamber in and out of the back of a 2 door coupe. Give me a more practical 4 doors any day if I have 4 or 5 seats available.
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