Wednesday 12th September 2001

MG ZT XPower 385

Rover take on the BMW M3 with their V8 saloon. Strong styling or Max Power'd Mistake?

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[Jezza]

This is the one I''ve been waiting for. I''ve been impressed for months, so much so I''ve a ZT385 on order. See www.xpower-mg.com or www.jerryflint.net

[campbell]

It look like some one from Max Power gave a chava a gif voucher for four grand then the chava took it to Demon Tweeks and bought a load of stick on bits and created this !!! Why not use the money it cost to by this and by a TVR ?

[angrybeats]

[binned]A rival to the M5 me thinks and unlike a TVR will be very reliable.[/binned]

[angrybeats]

Name a TVR that can seat 4 people ?, and forgot the Cerbera, you`ve got to be a midget to use those rear seats.

[Jezza]

Nick I like TVR's, always fancied a Chimera, but there is no way on God's earth that will make me part with that amount of mony on something with dubious build quality. Not being childish, just a my point of view. As already been said, the car has 4 seats and has tremendous horsepower, courtesy of a reliable power plant. TVR should have stuck with the Rover V8, then maybe they would n't fail so often. A Griff500 was on a Dowley's low-loader only yesterday in my home town!

[apache]

jezza, sounds like you still might be regretting not giving it a go, let your heart rule your head, life can be too short as this week has illustrated so JFDI, I did and love every minute of it, I haven't wanted any other car since and that is a miracle for me

[Jezza]

Apache You could be right. To get 350bhp+ for less than £40k in a car today is brilliant. I should have given it a go a few years back. Now I prefer 4 seats and balh, blah

[hoganscrogan]

Jezza - I saw a Ford Mondeo and a newish BMW 3 series on low loaders this week - seems people should avoid these as they must be unreliable!?

[Jezza]

Hogan I detect just a little sarcasm - but you are right I would avoid the rep mobiles mentioned like the plague. Especially from our Bavarian cousins (no they are made in SA- sorry). Another two models I would NOT buy. Regards Jez

[campbell]

angrybeat You say, Name a TVR with 4 seats and I say the Cerbera Then you say you have to be a midget to use them and I say, at least they have created a fast 2+2 seater car that looks good and gose like stink TVR minght not have the best of reliability but that will not put me of bying one and for performance per pound you will strugle to find a car in the same league that can beat it

[Ahonen]

So what if BMs are made in SA? Some Chimeras are Malaysian, while the rest are made in Blackpool: so it's frying pan, or fire? Soon they'll be making Trevs in Brazil, a nation renowned for its top-drawer engineering abilities... The Rover does look a bit maxy p, but good luck to them. It's clearly aimed at the M5 and I don't think "M5 man" would really consider a Cerbera because his ten-year-old children probably have arms and legs. It's a sort of British Holden, and you should all buy it instead of a Holden because you're patriotic, right? Don't really know what point I'm making here so I'll stop.

[Cerbman]

I am very impressed with all that MG Rover have done. ZT385 looks so good, X80 too.

[Jezza]

Ahonen Agreed it's irrelevent where the cars are made. However, as we all have points of view and that is the idea of the Forum, I would not consider the marques mentioned. Now a TVR, MG, Aston, Jaguar, Elise, Caterham, Strathcarron - get my drift!

[danmangt40]

dammit I wish I lived in GB... no mg's in the US, altho the mangusta was legal here, so the x80 should be the first one off the boat, and the rovers haven't been here in forever... uggh, I think I'll stop before I start listing all the TVRs I wish I could buy here...

[dubbs]

Cor blimey you girls do go on!! Forget turning this into a pro-TVR rally and get on with commenting on the car we are supposed to be commenting on!! I think it's a good effort but they should have tried to smooth those arch extensions into the body a bit more - as Ted says it's seeing it in the flesh that will be the make or brake for it. I wouldn't mind getting hold of one if they do a lightweight (a la M3CSL) version that I could use everyday AND take to trackdays. Oh, and maybe an upgrade for 500bhp would be nice...!! Imagine that then, comfortable, luxurious, great chassis, handling, brakes, seats 4-5 in comfort and performance of a cerbie (nigh-on). That's the kiddie!!!

[jezza]

It's a real tease though - announcing a car & not being able to buy it until next Summer. I've known about this thing for months - placed an order months ago. Started a website because of my enthusaism for the the new MG-Rover. www.xpower-mg.com One thing I know it will be worth the wait - regardless of 385 or 500 bhp. It's still a kick ass machine and in Anthracite it will be the "Q" car to have! Let

[filmidget]

So what if the styling looks a bit w*****s-window-ish? (thanks whoever came up with that phrase)

So does that new lightweight M3 I reckon.

Even if marque/model 'xyz' were proved to be the best cars in the world (somehow), not everybody would want one.

Each to their own. Live and let live. And other suitable cliches.

Cheers, Phil

[Cerbman]

The ZT385 look superb, but I do think there should be a wood and leather option on MG's for those who like it.