Anyone got an MG ZR?

[rob13]

This aint turning into a car forum i know, but just wondering if anyone has one. Ive got an MX-5 at the moment but its not for me. Prefer the bike and its just too thirsty for 50 mile round trips to work. Used to have a Rover 200 and now im wondering whether to plump for a ZR diesel.

Cheap diesel without being boring??

[PoRk ChOp]

They are cracking little cars, dont be put off by the 'horror stories' about build quality and head gaskets!

I had a ZS for 2 and a half years and put 80k on it!!!

[Ceri JC]

My ex-flatmate had one. She loved it, comfy, practical(ish) and quick enough.

[mattSV]

Ceri JC wrote:-

My ex-flatmate had one. She loved it, comfy, practical(ish) and quick enough.

That's enough about your flatmate, what was her car like :wink:

[Scoobs]

They are cracking little cars, dont be put off by the 'horror stories' about build quality and head gaskets!

Don't be put off but check the head gasket all the same. The heads are "known" to warp. A quick double check to make sure you don't have a problem won't hurt.

[embee]

Someone I do some work for has one, and I drive it occasionally. Have to say I really don't like it, it's an old design and basically feels it.

I'm sure you can get one very cheap now, but not for me thanks. [-(

Too many alternative cars around which are much more modern designs and likely to be more reliable (don't mean breaking down, just things going wrong).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/last_10.shtml
2005 survey puts Rover 25 at 153rd out of 159. More or less the same thing as the MG as far as I know. Apologies if I got that all wrong.

[Biker Biggles]

I would'nt buy a chinese car. :lol:

[Skip]

I would recommend something VAG with their diesel lumps - a mate at work has a 130hp TDI Passat and its quicker than my 325i :oops: :lol: Gets 40-5mpg from it too (and he thrashes it everywhere!)

[wolverine04uk]

I had the older Rover 214si, a P reg, from new. 3 years later the head gasket went. A year after that, the head gasket went again.

My in-laws had the Rover 414. Same age. Head gasket went.

A collegue at work had a Rover 214. Head gasket went.

So when it came round to us finding another car, we looked at the MG range. And whilst I still think that for the price range there are few nicer, I wouldn't buy one as apparantly they haven't fixed this head gasket problem. If they were just to solve this one thing thats been going on for so long, I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

[Kate]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/survey/last_10.shtml
2005 survey puts Rover 25 at 153rd out of 159.
But look at the top car in that survey! 8)


Before the S2000 I had a P reg Rover 214si and had no problems with it for the 3 years I owned it. Great little car. I was going to get a ZR next but ended up giving in to wanting an S2000.

[rob13]

Well im looking at the diesel ZR which runs the L Series engine. The K Series petrol engine is that which has so much trouble with HGF. My old 200 had it which cost £600 to fix. The diesel engine isnt alloy casted and apparently its pretty strong. The K series only seems to have trouble in the Rover - in the Elise there is very little history of any head gasket failure

[Gnan]

get a skoda fabia VRS - a bit of cheap remapping you can get them up to 200 bhp very nicely (VAG 1.9 PD TDI motor)

really reasonable to insure, and brilliant on the economy - 60mpg combined (with the remap)

288lb ft of torque and close to sub 7 second 0-60's with very flat handling - can't imagine a ZR being anywhere near as good?

[454697819]

i very nearly bought one... but i decided that after all it was a old design in a new shape.. it didnt feel quality...

so i picked up my Meridian 306 for less money with higher standars spec.. albiet a few more miles but thats noffin for 306 diesel. (elec windows, half leather air con, sports seats etc etc)

The 306's are ok to insure as well.. so if u want quick and quality try the gti-6.. yummy..

I wouldnt say no to having one but i had had my heart set on a 306 for yrs so opted for that in the end..

Good luck..

[ivantate]

I've got a ZR diesel.
Had it for about 3 years and done 60000miles. Had no problems until last month when some oil pipes had corroded through and started squirting oil out ( £60 for parts). Possibly the only known problem on the L-series. Done all the servicing myself so minimal running costs. I get between 52 and 55mpg taking it steady and 45mpg when razzing. Taken to driving slowly since getting the bike as the car will always be slower anyway.

Great handling, good looks, British, cheap parts and servicing etc.
There are also some very cheap ones around.


I would consider the Fabia as it is probably the best small diesel, fast/economical/cheap when new but you do have the the 5 door body and the badge to put up with. If I was spending Fabia money though I would be tempted by the MG ZT Diesel.

[Cloggsy]

Ceri JC wrote:-

My ex-flatmate had one. She loved it, comfy, practical(ish) and quick enough.

That's enough about your flatmate, what was her car like :wink:

Ba dum Tishhhhhhh :roll: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jp]

My dad has the ZS diesel, and he must like it alot, because he used to let me drive his Escort, but he wont let me anywhere near this.

I dont think the ZR would be that much different in terms of build quality etc, and there never seems to be anything wrong with our ZS

[Gnan]

I would consider the Fabia as it is probably the best small diesel, fast/economical/cheap when new but you do have the the 5 door body and the badge to put up with. If I was spending Fabia money though I would be tempted by the MG ZT Diesel.

to be fair the skoda name is probably worth more than MG/Rover nowadays!

[Daimo]

Depends on your budget really..

AS someone has said, Mk4 Golf 110TDi or 130TDi. Superb engines.

My best friend had the 110 and used a "tuning box".

Tbh, it wasn't much slower than my 2.0 Corsa, which is saying a bloody lot! I think it must have been running 130-140bhp with 200+lb ft torque. It just pulled and pulled.

Otherwise, what about one of the Seat Leon Diesels, or an Audi A3 1.9 D (Same VAG lump basically).

Otherwise, the new Vauxhall CDTi range is superb. Be it 1.7 DTi or 1.9 DTi (90, 110bhp, and 120 and 150bhp respectivly). They just go on and on and give real good stats.

The Skoda Fabia is also a superb little diesel. Don't know the skoda name, its basically a VW with a different badge. In some cases, the Skoda is even better.

[rob13]

Good choices listed Daimo, but im looking at spending about 5k on one and for that money you are looking at high mileage golfs and im not sure u can get an a3 for that price.