Just bought an MG ZT - let the slating begin....

[Z28fan]

Well after a little while of umming and ahhing I went out today and won an e-bay auction for a red 190+ ZT... looked at her yesterday and she seemed to be fairly well screwed together, no real creaks or groans, stone chips not too bad either. finally drove it a little last night and everything seem to be ok, very quiet and refined with a muted V6 (which I'm actually quite liking, not as nice as an 8 - but still quite pleasant)

Important details...

solid red
V6 (190 apparently)
alcantara interior
only one key
67,200 miles
climate control
good tyres
gun-metal alloys (could do with a re-furb)
rear high spoiler
head-lamp washers
lecky windows F+r
carpet and ear seats seem spotless
never smoked in (it appears)
mot/tax - mar 11
NEEDS service (indicator is -10k )
cam-belt not yet done

on my doorstep for £1,120 (+500 for service and cambelts) which seems like quite a bargain to me... providing it doesn't go wrong!!!

[aka_kerrly]

Sounds like a good deal for a lot of car to me especially if you can service it yourself.
I am right in saying the ZT is the 75 based version isnt it but not RWD like the V8 version.

dave

[LukeBird]

Sounds like a good deal!

I quite like the ZT, especially the V8.

Oh and Dave, yes you're correct; the V8 version was the only RWD one.

[boomboompow]

I have soft spot for ZT's, especially pre-facelift ones; all in all sounds like a good buy TBH.

[Fastra]

I think you'll find that the ZT has a reasonable reputation amongst the masses on here!

Enjoy it!

[Jakg]

For just over a grand thats a very good buy!

Edited by Jakg on Monday 20th September 12:15

[mike325112]

Z28fan said:

on my doorstep for £1,120 (+500 for service and cambelts) which seems like quite a bargain to me... providing it doesn't go wrong!!!

If the 500 for the service is correct that sounds like a great deal. I thought I read on here somewhere that the cam belt change on the V6 is very expensive.

[miniman]

Nice one, got mine for a grand, has proven pretty reliable and a decent drive so far.

Make sure there is a reasonably noticeable "boost" at around 3k rpm. If not, the VIS valves probably need attention.

[Z28fan]

mike325112 said:

Z28fan said:

on my doorstep for £1,120 (+500 for service and cambelts) which seems like quite a bargain to me... providing it doesn't go wrong!!!

If the 500 for the service is correct that sounds like a great deal. I thought I read on here somewhere that the cam belt change on the V6 is very expensive.

lol... well that's the fun bit, some garages can charge up to £8/900 apparently though one of the specialists near Brum does said service for £400... being a tight bd saving myself £400(ish) for a days journey (and a hoon on the way back) seems like a worthwhile excercise (and being an MG specialist hopefully you'll end up with a decent job done)

well quick addendum here - just spoke with a specialist in Southend and price for belts and tensioners is.... £450, works for me Being a lazy sod I'll probably get them to change the plugs while it's in there as well

Edited by Z28fan on Monday 20th September 13:01

[confused_buyer]

I wouldn't panic over the belt change. Yes, technically it is due, down to the age of the car but the belt change interval is very conservative on these cars. It is not an Alfa and is not likely to go any time soon.

I'd be tempted to prise off the cover and inspect the belt for condition before shelling out and stick the £400 away for when the clutch slave cylinder goes.

Edited by confused_buyer on Monday 20th September 16:42

[Chris71]

Lot of car for the money - no slating here. Personally I'm just hoping I can one day think of a way of justifying the purchase of a ZT260. I know the running costs would be a whole other level of commitment, but drift-tastic RWD V8ness in a car most people haven't even seen before.

[Papa Hotel]

Why would you get slated? I think you're misunderstanding this site - unless you're claiming that your Perodua thing can keep up with a 458 because you got it chipped and fitted a panel filter, pretty much every car is accepted. It's about having fun behind the wheel, not what you drive.

[Z28fan]

Papa Hotel said:

Why would you get slated? I think you're misunderstanding this site - unless you're claiming that your Perodua thing can keep up with a 458 because you got it chipped and fitted a panel filter,

but it does - honestly!!! Did it on my PSBox30Wii this morning

Papa Hotel said:

pretty much every car is accepted. It's about having fun behind the wheel, not what you drive.

hmmmm... being a fellow follower of Yank metal like 300 and Lu I'd differ slightly lol but true enough - I've bought for a cheap(ish) run-around I can have some fun in for the next few years so I'm well chuffed

[Munter]

I almost picked up a 180 (auto) zt. I was so very tempted. But a worn seat bolster made me think it might have been clocked....turns out the bolster just wears very fast... Part of me still wishes I'd got it because it was so cheap!

[Z28fan]

Munter said:

I almost picked up a 180 (auto) zt. I was so very tempted. But a worn seat bolster made me think it might have been clocked....turns out the bolster just wears very fast... Part of me still wishes I'd got it because it was so cheap!

from what I've seen and read the seat bolster is really an issue with most of these ZTs - my one has got alcantara which isn't the hardest wearing material to begin with so the seats could look better (not that they're 'bad') but otherwise it seems fine... like I said though seems a little churlish of me to complain at this for a price of a smidge over 1100

[Kitchski]

Papa Hotel said:

Why would you get slated? I think you're misunderstanding this site - unless you're claiming that your Perodua thing can keep up with a 458 because you got it chipped and fitted a panel filter, pretty much every car is accepted. It's about having fun behind the wheel, not what you drive.

Go and by a Saxo and see if you can hang onto that opinion!

[Chris71]

Z28fan said:

Munter said:

I almost picked up a 180 (auto) zt. I was so very tempted. But a worn seat bolster made me think it might have been clocked....turns out the bolster just wears very fast... Part of me still wishes I'd got it because it was so cheap!

from what I've seen and read the seat bolster is really an issue with most of these ZTs - my one has got alcantara which isn't the hardest wearing material to begin with so the seats could look better (not that they're 'bad') but otherwise it seems fine... like I said though seems a little churlish of me to complain at this for a price of a smidge over 1100

The seat bolsters on my ZS had quite a lot of wear after 40,000 miles. I believe they're the same on the ZT.

[Jakg]

Z28fan said:

Munter said:

I almost picked up a 180 (auto) zt. I was so very tempted. But a worn seat bolster made me think it might have been clocked....turns out the bolster just wears very fast... Part of me still wishes I'd got it because it was so cheap!

from what I've seen and read the seat bolster is really an issue with most of these ZTs - my one has got alcantara which isn't the hardest wearing material to begin with so the seats could look better (not that they're 'bad') but otherwise it seems fine... like I said though seems a little churlish of me to complain at this for a price of a smidge over 1100

The half alcantara / half leather ones wear really easy. The cheaper half cloth / half vinyl (always called half leather by dealers... you can tell by the "pattern" on the seat) don't wear so bad.

I have a set of alcantara seats from a 50k ZT 190 which look like it's done 250k, and a set of the matrix ones from my car which look like they've done 1000 miles, but have actually done 90k...

[RobM77]

Kitchski said:

Papa Hotel said:

Why would you get slated? I think you're misunderstanding this site - unless you're claiming that your Perodua thing can keep up with a 458 because you got it chipped and fitted a panel filter, pretty much every car is accepted. It's about having fun behind the wheel, not what you drive.

Go and by a Saxo and see if you can hang onto that opinion!

I'm with Kitchski. There's not a lot wrong with the MG ZT. I actually quite like Saxos as well - they're the same basic build as the 106, which was a great car.

[miniman]

The seats also seem to creak like a bd. Anyone else's do this?