(modern retro content - sorry!) Any MG ZTT owners?

[BudgieV8]

APOLOGIES for the modern retro content - penance paid below with some pics
Need some feedback on a potential next purchase please.
- Will be selling my daily Audi A4 1.9TDi Avant & Granada Mk2 shortly. Thinking about a 2003 ish MG ZT-T 2.0 CDTI+ Estate (the one with the BMW engine)
Anyone got one as their daily?
Any feedback on owning one would be appreciated (niggles, gripes, problems as well as good things please)
Thankyou
Paul

Please accept some Retro-ness as my penance for bringing up 'modern' stuff. Enjoy:

[Mad Max]

I look after a 75 with this engine and it just goes on and on. Doesn't need much outside of basic servicing and is a pleasure to drive. Beats any of that VAG stuff IMHO (but I might be slightly biased?!)

[dodgerover]

My OH has a MG ZT cdti? auto saloon and its nice enough, nothing special though although you can chuck it about a fair bit and it feels well planted on the road, auto box is lovely you honestly can't feel the gear changes, mpg is about 38-40 on a run - a lot less 25? doing a lot of stop start around town, its allegedly got a superchip fitted as well.
Not overly comfy for a long journey though and boot space is awkward, a spare wheel was an optional extra when new too...

[retrolegends]

Followed the V8 version of the ZT the other day,dead give away by the twin tail pipes and the thunderous noise they still look appealing to me,a lot of car for the money but not great on rear leg room.

[stefan]

Just got rid of mine, like the looks, CRAPEST car I have ever owned complete pile of donkys toilet and I used to love MG Rover cars

[retrolegends]

And the one they should have made

[davemnw]

I bought a 2003 ZT-T just over 12 months ago to replace my ageing Range Rover (too big for the missus to drive and expensive to run even with the LPG kit).

Company car park has lots of Audis and BMW's - looks like a car supermarket - so wanted somthing a bit different, but mid-range stuff (think Laguna, Vectra, 407) were soooooo DULL!!! Ended up with the MG because it ticked all the boxes, was another British car (never owned anything else in 20+ years)... and it's (still) the only MG in car park.

Overall I've been really happy with it - comfortable, reasonably quick once it's wound up, nice spec, and quite tidy handling for a big FWD car. It will eat up the miles on the motorway, but is still entertaining on a nice A-road. Rear legroom isn't great compared with some of the competition but not so bad unless you, and your passengers, are all 6ft plus. Coped well in the snow too (on standard tyres). Apart from a thorough service and new discs and pads all round it's needed nothing except fuel.

Things to watch for....?

Clutch can be a problem on all versions - crappy (BMW designed) plastic cylinders. Concentric slave means it's a gearbox out job if it lets go, and the master holds hardly any fluid so the slighted leak sends the pedal to the floor (and garages will claim it's a sealed system and all has to be relaced... rubbish, just keep it topped up). Some people will tell you the DMF's fail too but it's usually just garages replacing them as a matter of course (they're much more reliable than the Ford duratorq for example).

Diesels can also suffer with worn out MAF sensors, faulty thermostats, and gummed up EGR valves - all lead to poor economy and sluggish performace, but all fairly easy to fix.


Well worth a visit to www.the75andztclub.co.uk or www.mg-rover.org for more info.


PS: Here's my bit of retro-ness (when I'm not driving the MG) to make up for the modern car review...

[joem83]

I had a E46 with the 150bhp engine, hated it. Not a good power plant, never stalled a car so much. Had a massive flat spot from idle until the turbo spooled. Was a well maintained 4 year old at the time.

Cleaned the EGR out and had the car serviced as needed but made no difference.

[Deleted]

Another common problem with these is the bulkhead drain holes blocking and then drowning the ECU.

Joe

[niwid]

My best mates dad has the v6 one. I love the car, it looks fab, is comfy enough, big boot, nice noise, very british interior. not the best car by any means, but a hell of a lot more interesting than anything similar made around the time.

Also, I've always thought the standard 75 estate has a real 'retro' look to it. lots of chrome and nice stance.

[qwerty]

On the diesels also watch out for diesel pumps going. Although that may only be the earlier cdt.

[bl1300]

My uncle has the one with a 5l V8 un it. To quote Clarkson it sounds like the Norse god of thunder gargling a hammer.

Fast comfy and with a wonderfull soundtrack, on the downside it drinks fuel and gives you a headache on a long journey

[Fiat Daft]

That sounds like an interesting conversion.

[Smiler]

I've had a Rover 75 1.8T since just before christmas and have to say I am very happy with it. There are a couple of quick fixes for them regarding water retention in the screen scuttle due to clogged drain tubes and a modified hand brake cable bracket, so if the handbrake is rubbish don't panic.

Very comfortable place to be, good chassis, quiet, more sense of occasion than any other car for the money. Only downer is front wheel drive but then, so is the competition.

It also definately has an identity as opposed to all the other mass produced default choices.

Given the chance, I'd still have bought one.

[v8ade]

This is my ztt 2.5 petrol very comfy and eats the motorway miles up, we have just done a trip around France very comfy on a run not as fast as my old 820 vittesse and averaged 28 mpg. I'm also looking for a diesel version just for the fuel economy as were planning to drive to spain for christmas.

[Graham]

Here's mine they are a great motor i also have a R75

[samwell]

anyone else find the visibility for manoeuvring them terrible? I only ever drive these to move them round at my mate's garage and I really struggle compared to other similarly sized estates. Nice enough place to be and different at least.

[martymcfly]

hi my daily is a ztt+ 160 v6 its on of best cars ive ever owned its far better to drive than any car in its classic and even higher tbh get a ztt + and you will love it its got charm like classics do that new euro boxes just don't have all in all 1 of the best cars ever made

[BudgieV8]

Thankyou for all your comments - they have helped me learn a lot. Won the car on e-bay tonight (Yayy!) so now I've GOT to sell my Granada Mk2 Estate & my Audi 1.9 TDi Avant sharpish!

[sonus]

I've got a 1.8T which has had 3 engine failures in 18 months. Now sitting idle after the turbo failed after two HGFs
Love it and hate it really. Need to get it going again soon.