Anyone got a MG ZS V6?

[Somnophore]

Looking at these as potential next car and first quickish car. Apparently V6 doesnt have the same issues with headgasket as the smaller k series engines.

From what I've seen they seem to get decent enough reviews for handling and performance figures look ok, you seem to be able to get a low mile facelift on pretty cheap now too, cheaper if you go ore facelift.

So has anyone got or had one, and how did you find it. I haven't got much of a budget and I know I can get reasonable insurance on this, and it's still reasonably practical.

Any views welcome, I'm fully expecting the usual, it's a rover comments which don't bother me. Nearly bought a 620ti as a first car but couldn't get insurance cheap enough then

[shaun442k]

Just sold mine. I like it, but it was a bit dated.

Check out some comments made the other day here:

urlhttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...

running costs quite high- ie insurance, servicing, cambelts etc, but for under £1k not much(standard) will beat it. Handles pretty well on track too.

[300bhp/ton]

shaun442k said:

Just sold mine. I like it, but it was a bit dated.

Check out some comments made the other day here:

urlhttp://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=...

running costs quite high- ie insurance, servicing, cambelts etc, but for under £1k not much(standard) will beat it. Handles pretty well on track too.

This URL?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[300bhp/ton]

Somnophore said:

Looking at these as potential next car and first quickish car. Apparently V6 doesnt have the same issues with headgasket as the smaller k series engines.

From what I've seen they seem to get decent enough reviews for handling and performance figures look ok, you seem to be able to get a low mile facelift on pretty cheap now too, cheaper if you go ore facelift.

So has anyone got or had one, and how did you find it. I haven't got much of a budget and I know I can get reasonable insurance on this, and it's still reasonably practical.

Any views welcome, I'm fully expecting the usual, it's a rover comments which don't bother me. Nearly bought a 620ti as a first car but couldn't get insurance cheap enough then

I like them, the V6 is nice. If you like Rover's though, the 200BRM is a better performance car IMO as it has a close ratio diff, LSD and is lighter. But they are also older. Nice interiors though.

The Tomcat 220 Turbo Coupe is maybe a little soft and GT like, but pretty darn fast for the money.

[shaun442k]

300bhp/ton said:

This URL?

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Yep. Mucked that up a bit.

[Chris71]

I used to have a ZS180 saloon a few years back and it was only the insurance costs that put me off buying another one when I was looking for a new daily driver recently.

Pros:

• Creamy, revvy V6
• Nice soundtrack
• Quite rapid
• Usable rear seats and boot space
• Rigid body, well damped suspension and direct steering
• Grips well and turns in well
• Huge value and most parts are easy to get hold of (contrary to popular belief)

Cons:

• Steering feedback okay but not great
• Some say the interior is a bit dated
• The hatch between the boot and the rear seats is quite small, so the saloon is uselss for carrying big bulky objects like mountain bikes (hatchback cures this I believe?)

I personally like the big-winged look; it's some how less chavvy than it should be, but others may disagree! Also, I reckon the fuel ecomomy was pretty good - I averaged around 29mpg in mixed driving - but you would do better with something like a Clio 182 if that's a priority.

[RobCrezz]

doogz said:

Never driven one, i'm sure they're very nice.

But 175bhp from a 2.5V6? Bit on the feeble side, is it not?

Didnt they manage 185ish in the ZT 190? I wonder what the difference is on the ZT version of this engine.

[300bhp/ton]

doogz said:

Never driven one, i'm sure they're very nice.

But 175bhp from a 2.5V6? Bit on the feeble side, is it not?

Should be 180PS or 178bhp. Same engine makes 190PS in the ZT.

When new a Ford V6 2.5 was 160'ish HP so I don't think it was far out. It's also not particulary stressed or highly strung and makes a fair bit more mid range poke than smaller displacement inline 4's of similar peak power.

I do admit it's not startling figures. But does specific output really matter? Surely it's what it does that counts and how it does it.

[aka_kerrly]

doogz said:

But 175bhp from a 2.5V6? Bit on the feeble side, is it not?

Not really when you consider that V6 make more power at lower revs compared to a 4 banger with the same peak horse power. Also if you look at other manufactures V6 options Ford 2.5 packs 170hp, Alfa 2.5 v6 158hp, Land Rover 2.5 v6 137hp.

dave

[iantek]

I had a pre facelift 180 saloon and it was a great drive. It was also my first 'performance'car. I believe the air inlet manifold is an issue and had to have mine done at around 900. Quid! The interior was ok but it is dated and some of the build quality is a bit patchy. However, the engine is great , the handling is great and the boot and cabin space is good too. The guy I bought it off paid the full new price of about 17k and twelve months and 10k miles later I bought it for 6k! That's quite a hit!

[pitbull turbo]

I would stay clear if it was me and avoid the mk2 face lift at all costs!
They suffer from pektron alarm issues which are very expensive and rare to get! New alarm is £800 and you can't by pass them! Also body panels are weak and not availiable any more so you crack a wheel arch your stuffed!
Normal kv6 issues are inlet manifold and inlet motor issues, thermostats spliting and are a pain to replace, cambelts are a big job! Brake master cylinder/ slave cylinders fail! Cluch hydrolic issues! There quite fragile and the mk2 electrics are a real worry! I love rovers and wanted to like my mk2 saloon zs 180 but it was a nightnare

[SlowStig]

Check out this site: http://forums.mg-rover.org/index.php

The guys on there will be able to give loads of advice, tips and reviews of ZS180's as well as the other rover options.

I have been out in a ZT190 which imo wasn't that involving but apparently the zs180 is one of the best handling cars from the newer MG range and if you compare them to cars of similar performance it offers a lot of car for the price. My friend was looking at the zs120 and the amount of zs180's for around £1500 was surprising, esp considering the milage on some of them, possibly the economy of a 2.5 V6 engine is what makes them so cheap....

[Somnophore]

Hmm fair play. I reckon it might be worth a punt on a pre facelift one, can get them well under a grand and just service it myself do the odd bit but just run it into the ground. Then when I have a few more quid get something else.

[Chris71]

Somnophore said:

Hmm fair play. I reckon it might be worth a punt on a pre facelift one, can get them well under a grand and just service it myself do the odd bit but just run it into the ground. Then when I have a few more quid get something else.

Usual caveat applies - make sure you know exactly what bits are bringing the price down to that sort of level. I honestly reckon they're a pretty good competitor for the hot hatch of their era - not quite as good as the best but a lot closer than the price differential would suggest - but just like a 306 or an Integra or a 3-Series or whatever you'll find a tired example could be a bit underwhelming.

If you haven't driven a ZS 180 yet you may be pleasantly surprised and wish you'd bought a keeper!