Who buys modern day MGs?
Discussion
Krikkit said:
I just don't understand why you wouldn't buy a Peugeot/Citroen/Ford/Hyundai/Kia instead.
Well why would someone buy one of those instead of an MG?The current MGs have reasonably good handling, screwed-together fairly well and are decent value for money. I'm glad to see them out and about because too few companies care these days about making a chassis handle well; they are tuned for UK roads.
If they bring out something along the lines of the old ZR or ZT I'd definitely be interested.
Edited by FA57REN on Monday 6th July 17:41
donkmeister said:
It's actually ironic that you picked TVs... 
LG, Sony and Samsung are the only TV manufacturers who actually make their own screens... Even then LG and Samsung buy a lot of their panels from "random Chinese companies no-one has heard of". So, unless you buy a Sony then there's a very good chance your TV wasn't made by the company on the label.
This is not accurate.LG, Sony and Samsung are the only TV manufacturers who actually make their own screens... Even then LG and Samsung buy a lot of their panels from "random Chinese companies no-one has heard of". So, unless you buy a Sony then there's a very good chance your TV wasn't made by the company on the label.
If you buy a Samsung or an LG, the panel will have been made by the manufacturer. Samsung has 13 panel plants globally, and LG has 7. Both fulfil their own product ranges, as well as making panels, and the associated processing technology to other manufacturers, including Sony.
If you buy a Sony, it MAY have a Sony panel in it (latest OLED stuff is in-house, everything else is bought in). Sony currently only operates one plant (with a stake in a second)
Sony and Samsung set up a joint venture for LCD screen R&D and manufacture, which was dissolved in 2011 when Sony sold their share to Samsung.
A middle aged couple who live near me have a ZS. He's ex Army and they're very nationalistic, so there's an element of patriotism in it even though the cars are Chinese.
The top of the range model with bigger alloys doesn't look too bad, but with smaller wheels especially it seems to have rather odd proportions.
I've never seen the bigger HS in the metal to see if it looks better.
The top of the range model with bigger alloys doesn't look too bad, but with smaller wheels especially it seems to have rather odd proportions.
I've never seen the bigger HS in the metal to see if it looks better.
AJB88 said:
Haltamer said:
There was a big MG Club stand full entirely of the modern (Chinese) cars at the BTCC a couple of years ago, which did seem a little odd.
When Plato was with MG? We had a SEAT meat at BTCC Silverstone few years ago and about 50 MG's turned up as well, mix of old and new. caffeine said:
kambites said:
That was exactly my point - the idea that the definition of "no-one" somehow precludes the two thirds of the world's population who live outside the traditional West. 
Well, I was talking from a UK/ European perspective, it wasn't intended to be taken quite so literallyThe fact no-one has heard of SAIC in Europe is of course precisely why they bought MG. It may have been w
ed to hell by various owners over the last 50 years, but it's still a well known classic European brand. My mother has a mg3 had it 4 years its perfect for what she does 7 miles to work and back with the odd shopping trip and days out etc. Paid 7k for a ex demo with hardly any mileage just had servicing and last week replace the radiator which is a known issue with it. They are cheap daily transport for people that have no interest in cars I struggle to understand why people don't get that.
As a family my dad owned a v6 zs for 10 years and I had a mgb gt as a project car when I was 16 with my dad had good fun with that car. Would I own a modern day mg no way but plenty of people do.
As a family my dad owned a v6 zs for 10 years and I had a mgb gt as a project car when I was 16 with my dad had good fun with that car. Would I own a modern day mg no way but plenty of people do.
stickleback123 said:
As others have suggested they seem to exist in hot spots around dealers who are pushing them hard.
This does rather suggest that a certain number of people buy cars based on almost nothing other than what the closest car selling place is shifting, and if it hadn't been an MG it would have been a Nissan, or a Chevrolet, or a Dacia, or whoever else was friendly and flogged them something for an appealing price. I bet these small independent dealers are a joy to deal with compared to the big franchises who don't give a st about you though; "Nigel has sold me a new car every 3 years since I bought an Ital in 1980 and he's never steered me wrong".
Absolutely this. A few years ago a lass at work bought a Peugeot 207 and the only rationale for buying it was that the salesman was easy to deal with and the dealership is nearby. It blew my mind initially but then when I thought about it, she is very introverted and I can imagine the thought of buying a car via slippery salesmen was probably quite unpleasant for her. The current MG’s are absolutely awful but there are clearly plenty of people out there who buy cars for various non PH reasons. This does rather suggest that a certain number of people buy cars based on almost nothing other than what the closest car selling place is shifting, and if it hadn't been an MG it would have been a Nissan, or a Chevrolet, or a Dacia, or whoever else was friendly and flogged them something for an appealing price. I bet these small independent dealers are a joy to deal with compared to the big franchises who don't give a s
t about you though; "Nigel has sold me a new car every 3 years since I bought an Ital in 1980 and he's never steered me wrong".I do think that there is just enough cachet remaining in the brand for a well priced warm hatch to be sufficiently popular with youngsters. In 5-10 years it will be gone if they keep churning out budget cars. The old rovers/MG’s divided opinion but they still had a somewhat premium image amongst non-car people.
Lester H said:
It’s the price. Like FSO, Proton, even and Lada before them, it’s a new car for those who are scared of second hand, or just like the perception of “something for nothing”. When slightly used, ironically, they are almost for nothing.
Proton and Lada aren't exactly household names these days though.....There's an 'MG' garage a few miles away from me. I'm not overly impressed. It's an eyesore, and apart from the branding there's no viable link to the MG's of old. Chinese tat.
Jag_NE said:
The current MG’s are absolutely awful...
What makes you say that? Have you had bad experiences of them? What was the issue and what was the model? Volumes are small enough that it's quite hard to find people with first-hand experiences of the latest models which is frustrating if you're considering buying one. Thus far the only issue I've been able to uncover is a problem with rust on an early batch of the petrol ZSs which were built in Thailand (as opposed to China).
Unfortunately 99% of people who hold a strong opinion on the cars are either brand snobs who've never even been near one let alone owned one, or idiots who assume it must be rubbish just because it's built by a Chinese company.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th July 07:33
kambites said:
Jag_NE said:
The current MG’s are absolutely awful...
What makes you say that? Have you had bad experiences of them? What was the issue and what was the model? Volumes are small enough that it's quite hard to find people with first-hand experiences of the latest models which is frustrating if you're considering buying one. Thus far the only issue I've been able to uncover is a problem with rust on an early batch of the petrol ZSs which were built in Thailand (as opposed to China).
Unfortunately 99% of people who hold a strong opinion on the cars are either brand snobs who've never even been near one let alone owned one, or idiots who assume it must be rubbish just because it's built by a Chinese company.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th July 07:33
Mr lestat said:
I wouldn’t buy one with what’s happened with China. We give them far too much business and things need to change in light of the current situation. I now actively look for things not made in China and accept I will pay slightly more.
Be that as it may, it's nothing to do with my question.Practically speaking, avoiding buying which which are made in China is very difficult these days. The Macbook I'm using to post this is, so are the (Apple) external keyboard, (Logitech) mouse and (Philips) monitor connected to it. Even if you go out and buy a BMW, I'd bet 80% of the component parts are made in the far east, probably mostly in China.
I can't say I like what China are doing but then I don't like the current administration in the states much either; or the one in the UK come to that.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 7th July 08:44
cheddar said:
Car Magazine on MG:
Stone dead last in a seriously competitive sector and still last if it wasn't so competitive.
That's nice but I was asking for personal experience of faults. I prefer to make up my own mind about more tangible aspects of cars by actually driving them. Novel idea I know. Stone dead last in a seriously competitive sector and still last if it wasn't so competitive.
Anyway that quote makes no sense, how can a whole brand come last in a sector?
The ZS EV is a tempting proposition and I think they'll do very well out of it and built up a decent presence. It looks inoffensive and seriously beats any other long-range EV on price, and the ZS and HS aren't completely awful inside.
I've sat in one but not driven one, and by all accounts the worst thing about MG is the 1.5 N/A engine with whatever gearbox is bolted to it. The EV gets rid of that problem in one go.
They also appear to be sold by independent dealers or those that sell Isuzu or other agricultural type stuff in the countryside. As a generalisation, these dealers tend to have higher ratings and are trusted by locals so that will work in its favour as well.
The residuals are absolutely gopping at the moment so it'll be interesting to see what happens in 3-5 years, when either they'll be haemorrhaging on lease returns, or if they improve, the cars could get even cheaper!
I've sat in one but not driven one, and by all accounts the worst thing about MG is the 1.5 N/A engine with whatever gearbox is bolted to it. The EV gets rid of that problem in one go.
They also appear to be sold by independent dealers or those that sell Isuzu or other agricultural type stuff in the countryside. As a generalisation, these dealers tend to have higher ratings and are trusted by locals so that will work in its favour as well.
The residuals are absolutely gopping at the moment so it'll be interesting to see what happens in 3-5 years, when either they'll be haemorrhaging on lease returns, or if they improve, the cars could get even cheaper!
cheddar said:
Car Magazine on MG:
Stone dead last in a seriously competitive sector and still last if it wasn't so competitive.
I would think that there is little crossover (dreadful pun unintended) between people who buy MGs and people who read Car Magazine, based on knowing one ZS owner who is well pleased with it.Stone dead last in a seriously competitive sector and still last if it wasn't so competitive.
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