MG Z Range - talk to me...
Discussion
I started out looking at the MG ZT range and quite liked the idea of the auto 180bhp model. Nice looking, nice interior, decent engine for little money. Insurance wasn't as cheap as I would have hoped however! I also looked at the ZS 180 and this one looks the quickest and most engaging from what I've read however insurance quotes are coming in at £750ish which seems a bit unfair for a married 30 year old with 12 years experience!
I might stump the extra insurance if they're that much better but for those of you that know, how do they compare? My driving is mainly motorway / city driving so if it's down to handling I'm not actually that bothered (sounds worrying for a petrolhead I know!)
I'm trying to weigh up whether to go for a saloon / estate with more barge qualities and better practicality or the S which will undoubtedly be a bit swifter. What are they both like to live with?
I might stump the extra insurance if they're that much better but for those of you that know, how do they compare? My driving is mainly motorway / city driving so if it's down to handling I'm not actually that bothered (sounds worrying for a petrolhead I know!)
I'm trying to weigh up whether to go for a saloon / estate with more barge qualities and better practicality or the S which will undoubtedly be a bit swifter. What are they both like to live with?
Two of the models are rehashed rover 200's and 400's, the ZT is 75 based and is essentialy a clean sheet design, some say its a front wheel drive e46, ive always fancied one meself, but id only look at the zt because i think the 75 was a far better car than the rest of the range, and i really like the look of the zt, may be the 260 for me though.
6potdave said:
I started out looking at the MG ZT range and quite liked the idea of the auto 180bhp model. Nice looking, nice interior, decent engine for little money. Insurance wasn't as cheap as I would have hoped however! I also looked at the ZS 180 and this one looks the quickest and most engaging from what I've read however insurance quotes are coming in at £750ish which seems a bit unfair for a married 30 year old with 12 years experience!
I might stump the extra insurance if they're that much better but for those of you that know, how do they compare? My driving is mainly motorway / city driving so if it's down to handling I'm not actually that bothered (sounds worrying for a petrolhead I know!)
I'm trying to weigh up whether to go for a saloon / estate with more barge qualities and better practicality or the S which will undoubtedly be a bit swifter. What are they both like to live with?
It's worth pointing out that the ZT is insurable as a modern classic sole use vehicle with a certain insurance company named after a bomber. (although you don't get any no claims on the policy)I might stump the extra insurance if they're that much better but for those of you that know, how do they compare? My driving is mainly motorway / city driving so if it's down to handling I'm not actually that bothered (sounds worrying for a petrolhead I know!)
I'm trying to weigh up whether to go for a saloon / estate with more barge qualities and better practicality or the S which will undoubtedly be a bit swifter. What are they both like to live with?
I think he mg zt was the best car made by rover.
The diesel is a bmw unit and the v6 units are fairly bullet proof as long as the belts are done.
Loads of car for the money the v6's are a bit thirsty but sound good, and the v8 is something else.
There are loads of spares available and for any questions and advice try.
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk
The diesel is a bmw unit and the v6 units are fairly bullet proof as long as the belts are done.
Loads of car for the money the v6's are a bit thirsty but sound good, and the v8 is something else.
There are loads of spares available and for any questions and advice try.
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk
farrendahl said:
It's worth pointing out that the ZT is insurable as a modern classic sole use vehicle with a certain insurance company named after a bomber. (although you don't get any no claims on the policy)
I followed advice and got a much cheaper quote! What is the deal with them though they didn't ask me enough information for a quote surely?? Making it very tempting if it is genuine! How does the NCD work then? I don't want to lose it all by using them..I currently have a ZT and really like it, but take my advice and either go for a 1.8 Turbo or a 2.5V6 190 if you can afford it. Mine is a 1.8 non-turbo and it really struggles up hills. IIRC the ZT weighs 1600Kg so a non-turbo'd 1.8 is far too small if you want any real performance. The only reason I plummed for it is that it returns late 30's mpg on a run and its more insurance friendly.
Don't discount the 2.5V6 ZS180. It might be based on a Rover 45 body but its a different animal. Just make sure the belts have been done or budget for them if they havent (£600ish). For what you pay for them they are a hell of a lot of car. I used to run a 1.8 ZS120 and loved it.....it was also a hell of a lot faster than my 1.8 ZT!
Never driven a ZR so can't comment, the ZR160 is supposed to be lively though!
If you join the MG car club you can get insurance discounts through Peter Best.
Don't discount the 2.5V6 ZS180. It might be based on a Rover 45 body but its a different animal. Just make sure the belts have been done or budget for them if they havent (£600ish). For what you pay for them they are a hell of a lot of car. I used to run a 1.8 ZS120 and loved it.....it was also a hell of a lot faster than my 1.8 ZT!
Never driven a ZR so can't comment, the ZR160 is supposed to be lively though!
If you join the MG car club you can get insurance discounts through Peter Best.
6potdave said:
I followed advice and got a much cheaper quote! What is the deal with them though they didn't ask me enough information for a quote surely?? Making it very tempting if it is genuine! How does the NCD work then? I don't want to lose it all by using them..
It's simply a case that the policy itself doesn't generate a NCD so any you have unless you have a second car on a conventional policy which you can utilise the NCD on will be lost. The policy itself is fully legit (I use them myself) and I believe underwritten by Zurich (I'd need to get my docs out to check)The basic jist of it is that said broker is the retail arm of the MG owners club so do offer a very much preferential rate on ANY MG. Personally speaking I don't mind the lack of a NCD as I intend to stick with classics/modern classics (well okay MG's yes I've become a fan boy) for the foreseeable future anyway.
All I will say is go in with open eyes if you do go for a ZT and avoid the standard 1.8 k series, yes if it's properly looked after it will run and run but you will always have that niggling worry that the head will go, and to be honest the dip in fuel economy on the 2.5 V6 over the 1.8 isn't that huge anyway (and it makes a much nicer noise when you press the loud peddle)
I have a MKII ZS180. Coming from a decent Golf previously the interior is dated and doesn't feel like a quality product, and the radio is terrible. The touch points, stearing wheel, handbrake and gearstick are nice leather though. There is also quite a lot of wind/road noise and the steering lock is pretty poor. These things aside though it is a lot of fun to drive though which makes up for the negatives, the V6 sounds great with a few tweaks and is still pretty brisk even by todays standards. The suspension is really pretty firm which makes for little roll in the corners, but also can be quite crashy on bad roads.
I think the ZT would be better for wafting along, where as the ZS is more driver focused.
I think the ZT would be better for wafting along, where as the ZS is more driver focused.
6potdave said:
Thanks guys. I think the ones I am considering realistically is the ZT190 or ZT180 auto. I've heard many horror stories about the K series engines going kaput. My car is on ebay at the moment so based on whether it fetches the right money I'll be out looking at them this weekend.
Well if you want to have a poke around a ZT-T 190 anytime just give me a bell, I'm only based down in Cheshire and any excuse for a decent drive etc etc.Another point to keep in mind is if you can get a pre facelift model (which IMO looks better than the face lift model anyway) in most cases it'll come into the standard rate tax which means a saving of about £200 there. If you want bargey waftability I'd say go for the Tourer (although like the Alfa 159 the boot space is actually less with the cover in place than the saloon counterpart)
I cannot state just how different the MG ZS is from the Rover 400. I used to own a ZS180 and I assumed all the comments about the 400 were just irrational Rover prejudice until I drove one.
The ZS is a great car for the money. They're ridiculously cheap now and I found the ownership experience to be pretty good. Mine suffered from the relatively common VIS (Variable Intake System) failure, but apart from that it was rock solid mechanically and returned pretty decent fuel economy for an old school V6 in a car with a giant spoiler stuck on the back.
Can't say I've driven a ZT, but the consensus at the time was indeed that the ZS was a significantly better driver's car (however, I can believe the ZT makes up for it other areas).
There's some debate as to whether the hatch or saloon handles better, but FWIW I found the rear bulkhead on the saloon a pain in the arse when you came to fold the seats down. It only leaves an area a couple of feet square to poke stuff through from the boot - a bit like a glorified ski hatch - which kind of defeats the object of folding seats. I have a feeling the hatch overcomes this problem, which would make it more useful if you plan to transport bikes or other large objects!
The ZS is a great car for the money. They're ridiculously cheap now and I found the ownership experience to be pretty good. Mine suffered from the relatively common VIS (Variable Intake System) failure, but apart from that it was rock solid mechanically and returned pretty decent fuel economy for an old school V6 in a car with a giant spoiler stuck on the back.
Can't say I've driven a ZT, but the consensus at the time was indeed that the ZS was a significantly better driver's car (however, I can believe the ZT makes up for it other areas).
There's some debate as to whether the hatch or saloon handles better, but FWIW I found the rear bulkhead on the saloon a pain in the arse when you came to fold the seats down. It only leaves an area a couple of feet square to poke stuff through from the boot - a bit like a glorified ski hatch - which kind of defeats the object of folding seats. I have a feeling the hatch overcomes this problem, which would make it more useful if you plan to transport bikes or other large objects!
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