MG ZT good value or not?

[TonyRPH]

I've seen quite a few advertised for around the £2k mark.

+- 60k miles, 160bhp

Absolute bargain for £2k or not?

Or are most of them sheds?

[kambites]

I'd be wary of the 1.8 K-series in anything that heavy, personally. The V6s and V8 are a lot of car for the money, though.

[TonyRPH]

The 2.5 is a V6 isn't it?

That's what I'm looking at.

[Ozzie Osmond]

As with all cheap cars it's good value - until it goes wrong!

The question is whether the cars are cheap because,
a) foolish car buyers don't appreciate the wonders of the vehicle, or
b) smart car buyers have the sense to stay away?

[300bhp/ton]

Ozzie Osmond said:

As with all cheap cars it's good value - until it goes wrong!

The question is whether the cars are cheap because,
a) foolish car buyers don't appreciate the wonders of the vehicle, or
b) smart car buyers have the sense to stay away?

It's always a). Not sure their are any b)'s or if they even exist at all.

[Chris71]

They're fairly old-tech FWD saloons. Accept that they're not M3 chasers and you should get a good car for the money, particularly now any non-enthusiasts with £2k cars are probably starting to think twice about the V6 running costs.

[kambites]

TonyRPH said:

The 2.5 is a V6 isn't it?

That's what I'm looking at.

The 160 is a turbocharged 1.8 I4 K-series. The 180 and 190 are KV6s.

[MG511]

kambites said:

The 160 is a turbocharged 1.8 I4 K-series. The 180 and 190 are KV6s.

160 can be a V6 or 1.8 turbo. 180 is an auto, 190 is manual V6.

[confused_buyer]

Early 160's were 2.5 V6. They're usually pretty cheap.

They're good cars are the ZT as long as you find a well looked after one. Cluches give trouble as do thermostat housings on the V6's and the variable intake system.

On the whole, however, they are as well built as most and better built than many so it is the usual used car checks.

[aruck]

Be aware that at 90k they need a cambelt change which I seem to recall is circa £700. Something do with having to take engine out. Going from memory here so could be wrong on the reasoning. I had a 2.5 V6 ZS some years ago. Was a good car. Interior left quite a lot to be desired though!

[Z28fan]

The cam-belt needs doing at 7 years or 60k (IIRC) price-wise if you get it serviced at the same time about £550 will see you in there (I did this in Sept)... they grip well and have a revvy engine, interior is nice enough but nothing ultra special (loved the oval dials though, nice touch). So all in all fking awesome value... BUT (there's always one isn't there!!) if you're going to do long distances just make sure that the revvy engine doesn't piss you off - @ 85/90 it was doing c.4,000 rpm which really did my head in

[kambites]

MG511 said:

160 can be a V6 or 1.8 turbo. 180 is an auto, 190 is manual V6.

Ah OK, never realised they did a 160 V6.