The MG ZS was fantastic. Having owned one, and also a Golf GTI from the same era, I can tell you that there was no comparison for driving pleasure. The English marketing spin always favoured VW though. Such a shame. You can a low mileage ZS for £500 now though - can't go wrong (as long as you've had the head gasket done!).
I wish MG to make the ZS that you've already know but this generation have gone SUVs. I'm not too sure about the handling comparison between the proper British ZS and the Chinese ZS but on the straight, the ZS EV will monster ICEs with similar HPs. The ZS EV's instant torque can even give Subbie Stis, Mitsi Evo Xs and Teslas a surprise on a green traffic light.
I really loved my ZS180 it was a nice car despite what people think . Fast very good handling , wiped the smile off of smug badge snobs that's for sure .
For that I wish SAIC to build a hatchback version of the new ZS but too bad this generation have gone SUVs. I don't think the SAIC MG ZS EV can handle as good as your ZS180 but on the straight, the EV can easily monster ICEs cars with similar HPs. Even a Subbie WRX cannot overtake our ZS EV, probably because he was in a wrong gear. If there's a ZS EV hatchback, it would've been a pretty good comparison with a Volkswagen eGolf which I wanted to buy but it's too expensive.
@@t8polestarcyan22 May be at low speeds for a short few seconds Subarus are quite known for turbo lag. You try to boot it, and it’ll pick up slowly until the turbo spools and then Woosh it’s off. EV throttle response is instant. There is no torque curve, it’s consistent at any speed That said the old 2.5 KV6 was surprising good engine and the car was light ,. I was younger then still had the Boy racer syndrome, in its day Like 2003 2004 when it was new it was pretty competitive. Upset a BMW 323ci driver held its own with a 328is , done a Vauxhall Astra turbo coupe . The Early Mk4 golf gti were slow I totally crapped over them . Done a focus ST170 It was a great car, there were no fancy gadgets But it was pure driver focused.
@@t8polestarcyan22 Yes your EV will have instant pick up with a reasonable amount of torque without the fuss of ICE, only performing at certain rpm. Like for Eg: may be the bigger BHP Subaru has a bigger turbo so May be it won’t really pick up until it gets to about 3000rpm, then upto 6000rpm it has massive power . A small turbo car will pick up speed quickly from low rpm but will run out of puff about 4500rpm it’s lost the torque then afyer 5000rpm the bhp in that gear might tail off . So people who thrash a car to the redline don’t understand their engine power band. With an EV you don’t have none of that. It’s the same acceleration power at any speed upto it’s top speed . EV carry a lot of weight with the battery The New ZSEV can never be a good handling car . High centre of gravity . There are still some old rover MG ZS around although they most likely not been cared for .
I adore my little 1.4 2005 ZR trophy :) Though the acceleration seems a little sluggish sometimes, she holds the corners like a dream! Okay, so she's my first car... but way more fun than that god awful Corsa my instructor had.
I'm thinking of buying a ZR as my first car, still not sure though about which version I should buy, the 1.4L engine or the 1.8L. Is the quality good overall?
Awesome :) Okay - unfortunately, I can't give you a comparison between the different engine sizes as my 1.4 is the only car I've driven. Being your first car, I'd go for the 1.4L - the insurance will be cheaper, so if you have a prang, you won't be kicking yourself as hard (Be warned - my first premium was £2k. Although they're relatively cheap to get hold of, the ZR is considered a 'sports car' and insurance companies cash in on that...) In my opinion, the quality of them is pretty good (Nothing spectacular, but for a first car, it's not too shabby :) I love the way they look!). Mine has some wear and tear (mainly aesthetic) from a careless previous owner, so just look for something that's been well looked after. Inevitably, you'll get a tonne of people who think they know it all telling you to steer clear of them. From my experience, as long as you treat her with a bit of respect, she'll last as long as any other motor. (Though, they are notorious for their head gaskets blowing - so bring someone knowledgeable with you when viewing anything to check it out thoroughly, ask about it's history etc.) And if anything does go wrong with it - it's always a good idea to befriend a mechanic. I have three in the family, so I only pay for parts when I need them, avoiding any hideous labour costs ;) So yeah, I'd go for the 1.4 :) I hope my rambling will be of some use to you!
Jennifer Hall Hey, thanks for the reply! It's always good to hear from somebody who actually owns the car. I'm willing to go up to a 2.0L engine, because I can get my insurance tariff around the same price as my dad. I also like their looks (A huge improvement over the rover 25 in my opinion!) I've been looking around the web here in Belgium but the 1.8L version is pretty rare. (I've only found one to be exact, and it's even an import from the UK xD) It's a sporty little car which would be good as a first car for me since most sports car I know have way heavier engines. I've heard people complain about the build quality of British cars (Rover,MG,...) but it doesn't seem too bad to me. I'm planning on doing lots of stuff myself anyways (fixing, a bit of tuning xD), so that's one advantage of being into cars! :D Like I said earlier, it's good to hear an owner's opinion, especially someone who is in the same situation (first car)!
Owned 2 mg zs 180's over the years they were awesome unbreakable cars. Glorious sounding and could out handle pretty much any other car. bad points are not great on fuel and the rear calipers needed replacing every 2 years but I only paid £400 for each one. Highly underrated car with no hang ups.
I had a MG ZR 160 for many years. Got the power train projects I think it was called kit of an ITG induction kit and full Janspeed exhaust system including manifold and sports cat. Lets be honest they just aren't very well made cars. Like Tiff said the pedal position is bad. The interior is not put together well enough for the stiffness of the suspension and the trim ends up rattling the door cards get loose etc. Just turn the radio up and forget about it and concentrate on the view out of the windows lol. That being said I don't think they are anywhere near as bad as people think and they are quite fun to drive. The K series understandably got a bad reputation for eating head gaskets but if you fitted the MLS gasket land rover made after it went it was no longer a problem. If you buy one make sure you check under the oil filler gap for signs of a mayo like substance. If its white under there the head gasket has gone and just walk away. The OEM head gasket was literally a piece of metal with blobs of silicone around it and there is no wonder it may as well have been made out of chocolate. The engine is of a sandwich like design and vulnerable to quick changes in temperature. It didn't exactly help how they put the thermostat for the cooling system in the wrong place causing it to flood a warm engine with cool water. As with any car with a K series it is particularly important not to use high revs or accelerate hard before the coolant is up-to temperature. They are not all that bad thou and even a VVC version can now be had for 4 to 900 quid. Find a good one and it isn't all that bad a first warm hatchback.
Lil' Kohai Hopefully you'll fit. The steering wheel was rammed right into my legs and I couldn't fully lift my foot off the clutch pedal. With no where else to rest it it was completely undriveable for me (Not to mention extremely uncomfortable / painful) :( _By the sounds of things I maybe able to fit into the ZS_
Azurren My parents had one, and it's spacious as heck o.o Did you try adjusting the seat at all? My mum is really tall with long legs and she managed to fit in it comfortably.
Lil' Kohai I tried putting the seat as far back as possible, I could still reach the pedals but I wouldn't call it comfortable. Lo and behold I still had to bend the knee upwards a fair way to disengage the clutch ramming my leg into the steering wheel. :( _Adjusting the correct position so I could comfortably reach the pedals caused both legs to be impaled on the steering wheel_ I'm not usually tall either, only around 1.85m and skinny as a post. Heck I thought I must have been doing something wrong at the time but I've heard similar things from other people and this video nailed it! I'm driving an absolute bucket of a car now; 51bhp, 800cc 0-60 in a very respectable 17 seconds (Downhill) but it has enough room to lift both legs out and place them on the seat without hitting the steering wheel and not one but *two* places to rest my left foot. _To the left or in front of the clutch pedal_ Honestly I couldn't go back to being cramped behind the wheel and having to hover my foot above the clutch pedal for hours on end. :l _Although these cars are cheap now and offer a huge performance boost over what I have now_
Azurren Meh I guess it depends on the driver then. I know I can fit in one comfortably due to my parents owning one and of course I've sat behind the wheel myself during that time, so I know it's just right for me. It's either this or a Fiesta and honestly I prefer the MG :')
Lil' Kohai Heck if you fit comfortably then go for it! They are tremendous cars, great fun to drive and get decent fuel economy. _Head gaskets are incredibly weak though_
This was shot at Pembrey by the looks. Not the first rodeo for the ZS at that circuit. It was partially tested and developed there. The touring car also had It's first proper outing there too!
Love the MG's, There is just something about them, My dad had a ZS180, and i can safely say it's 10x better than any other car he has had, even his 5series bm he has now!, sister had a ZR, and I'm looking into a ZR 1.4 (105) for my first car, they just never look old, can't wait to get a mg!
I know this is an old vid but I have an MG ZR 105 and am 6'2" and like yourself, the car is a hoot to drive. Mine has uprated springs, ZR160 shocks and anti roll bars and just begs to be chucked about. Lovely little car which is very cheap to run.
I’m from germany and My dad has 2 ZTTs 190. I own a ZR 115td and I’m looking to buy an ZS180. Volkswagens from this area aren’t comparable to these amazing cars in any way
My wife had a MG ZR a yellow one !! And we loved it for about 1 year and the head gasket blew twice and the car just fell to bits inside due to it made from plastic all around the car and it wasn't a cheap car to buy at the time !!
You can pick all of these models up now in good condition for around £1-2k now. And there was of course a V8 powered ZT later, if the V6 is too under powered for you. Certainly a unique and less obnoxious alternative to an Audi or BMW.
@@davidhealy4534 So? It still had nearly 130lb/ft torque more than the V6, a better sound, and probably more fun handling too thanks to RWD. So what if it only has a single cam?
@@davidhealy4534 Same engine puts out 320hp in the MG SVR AND 385hp in the 5.0 version so it's clearly very tuneable. And as for "who cares" about RWD vs FWD well...most driving enthusiasts, which is who these cars were aimed at. Duh!
I had a trophy blue ZR 160VVC. Heard about all the head gasket problems and mechanics used to laugh at me for buying it. I owned it 2 years before it blew a piston on the way back from York. Only done 77k shameful really. I loved the car and spent alot on it but id never buy another.
Ive had both the zr and the zt - both great cars but the zt held the road alot better than the lighter zr . after watching this video it seems interesting what tiff says about the zs . I will certainly be getting one soon . Diesel though as i do high mileage ! lovely looking motors they all are - alot better than the latest stuff the chinese are punching out. proper British beef these cars are , i so need to get a zs saloon with the big spoiler at the back mk 2 i prefer though 04-06 reg .
Yes but Tiff Needell also worked on Top Gear (started in 1987 co-presenting) and left and joined Fifth Gear when the show was scrapped. This is Top Gear.
I had a few mg's even rovers and had zr and zs and you can't put tiff down he's right about these cars. One thing I will say on Zs's though the hatch is more practical but saloon better handling
I had a zs 180 but got it running at about 200bhp and it was fucking awesome so much fun to drive could beat 1.8t vw and the new 2.0gti turbos. Had to get rid of it tho cost to much to run cos I was lead footed and only on £100 a week wage at the time so got a st tdci instead
had the zt for a while...after having a 75 ...75 was a lovely had the 2.0 v6 but the zt was fantastic had the 2.5 it was converted to lpg and still was fast as fuck for a big car loved the handling very little roll and you felt like it was on rails....stuck planted to the road...fantastic car !!!
The old K Series Engine's had this problem granted. But the engines used in the later Rovers i.e. the 25 and subsequently the ZR didnt have that same problem.....
my Dad was at leyland cars then leyland Bus &Trucks,,, i was at FORD,,, AND love XR2.S HAVE 2 MGF S LOVE THEM IGOT A ZR FOR THE MG CLUB,,,, IN BLACK MY MY ITS A XR2 BUT BETTER A ROCKITT ON 4 WHEELS AND MORE ROOM AND WAY ABOUT IT,,, GET ONE BEFOR THERE NO MORE LIKE THE XR2.3.4 SO FUN TO DRIVE,
I had a 2005 ZR, and he is right, the clutch is all the way over to the left, so there is no room to rest your foot, I have a 2004 ZS now, and trust me on this one, the ZS is the one to get, ZR's are dogs compared
I have one also. Have a Rover 45 too. Still think the Rover 45 is nicer to drive though. Not quite as quick, but 1.8 k series pulls better at lower revs. You have to get the kv6 to over 4000 rpm for the power to kick in.
What I dont understand is the clutch pedal on the ZS is the worst, it sits about 2" above the resting place and causes leg ache on long journeys. Apart from that the Zed cars wear all fairly good.
if the head gasket is so shit why dont you just replace them with aftermarket ones? and im fairly sure you can lower the seats in the ZR by cutting it from the frame and welding/bolting it to the floor.
Unfortunately for some (or enthusiasts), a new(er) MG ZS series have gone SUV. I'm not too sure about the build quality of the older ZS but the Chinese ZS (EV) is solidly well built. I wish there are hatch back, low(er) riding ZS as before but I'm afraid this generation have gone SUVs. However the Chinese MG ZS EV isn't so bad because the battery for this ZS is mounted below the floor which lowers the centre of gravity mated with Michelin Primacy 3. There are petrol models of crossover ZS'es but I've heard that they're gutless where the EV's instant torque can even startle Mitsi Evo Xs as well as Teslas. It would've been nice to have a ZS EV hatch but as I've already said but the world have gone SUVs. I still prefer ICEVs but EVs worked out to be a lot cheaper to run. I'm saving my petrol machine for long drive weekends.
Tiff saying the zs is the best front wheel drive he’s driven at this time is a big claim considering he’s driven the dc2 integra type r. I’ve owned a mk2 zs 180 and they do handle great and the build quality on mine atleast was good. I’ve not driven a dc2 to compare it to.
Isn't the ZS a Honda chassis that shares a lot of DNA with the double wishbone Civics/Integras? Which explains a lot of the handling and similar praise?
@@aw614 It was co-developed by Honda and Rover. Honda opted to replace it where Rover chose to develop it further. By this point there wasn't much Honda in it, however the basic suspension set up does share similarities with the DC2.
Sorry dude, I've been back to the tape to have a look, but being the "GTi" clip show, it goes straight from a Smart car item to where I have uploaded from. :)
I am 5 7" and my mother's ZR 105 is an absolute hoot to drive. Perhaps it isn't any good for tall people I don't know? Mind I own an MGF VVC myself and this shits all over the ZR, ZS and ZT for driving pleasure
And yet, my ZS 180 rips boy racers in their BMWs all the time, even though it _should_ be a slower car - that never gets old. I don't know exactly what the guys in Birmingham did, but the 180's the best car I've ever driven. Sure, the interior's falling apart around me, but who cares about that?
Have a 05 ZR Myself. Not a great car I must say. Came off a BMW 320D, to this, and I must say I was very disappointed. Of course the Beamer has a lot of more, comfort, and class then a MG ZR. A few hours of driving with the "sport" seats in the ZR and you'll have serious back pain. Sitting high up as Tiff said in such a small car isn't nice at all. The steering wheel really does sit very low too, which is a large factor in the back pain. It's quite a nippy little car too be fair. It picks up well, but at motorway speeds, it drinks petrol like there's no tomorrow! No place to rest your foot off the clutch is just god awful design by MG! I find I have to try slip my foot under the pedal to keep from pressing the clutch. I also find the clutch terribly heavy. Could be just mine, but it makes for terrible traffic/city driving. The handling is very good, I will admit! The car sits very low, and grips brilliantly. I've found myself going into sharp corners at high speeds and being confident doing so in the ZR. Can't fault it there. All and all, it's an ok at best. If I was to pick again, I would be going with the ZT. Big and seemingly comfortable!
LOL.... the zs has a slightly lower driving position than the zr ... despite actually being the same body other than a boot instead of a hatch. clutch 3 INCHES higher ... ye would be in your chest. They just can't resist bashing when they can. Shame MG was lost in the end.
Thats not true. The ZR was the front half of a Rover R8 and the floor and rear section of an Austin Maestro. The ZS was a co-developed platform designed in part by Rover and Honda for the 400 and Domani, then re-engineered again by Rover with a little input by BMW to create the 45 and ZS.
I drive an MG ZR 160 2006 model with 49,000miles, just changed head gasket. The car is disappointing and ive been looking forward to changing cars for 2 years since buying. Used to have a 1.25 ford fiesta that was more craic.
PAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, you MUST be a comedian. Are you related to Michael McIntyre by chance ? That comment was soooo funny, it's not like I've heard that one before. Knob jockey !
People have put the v6 in the zr however the zr's handling is not the best lol, the zs was the best due to the perfect balance of handling, braking and performance.
Sure about that lol, the zs is a proper fun car to drive. There is a good fanbase for them and they seem rather reliable, they don't really look like bmws unless you have poor eyesight.
![[LIVE] MCHOICE & MINT AWARDS 2024 at TRUE ICON HALL, ICONSIAM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/wMewUeT5nbY/mqdefault.jpg)
The MG ZS was fantastic. Having owned one, and also a Golf GTI from the same era, I can tell you that there was no comparison for driving pleasure. The English marketing spin always favoured VW though. Such a shame. You can a low mileage ZS for £500 now though - can't go wrong (as long as you've had the head gasket done!).
Not now like a vi ,brm,vvc 2k
I wish MG to make the ZS that you've already know but this generation have gone SUVs. I'm not too sure about the handling comparison between the proper British ZS and the Chinese ZS but on the straight, the ZS EV will monster ICEs with similar HPs. The ZS EV's instant torque can even give Subbie Stis, Mitsi Evo Xs and Teslas a surprise on a green traffic light.
I really loved my ZS180 it was a nice car despite what people think . Fast very good handling , wiped the smile off of smug badge snobs that's for sure .
For that I wish SAIC to build a hatchback version of the new ZS but too bad this generation have gone SUVs. I don't think the SAIC MG ZS EV can handle as good as your ZS180 but on the straight, the EV can easily monster ICEs cars with similar HPs. Even a Subbie WRX cannot overtake our ZS EV, probably because he was in a wrong gear.
If there's a ZS EV hatchback, it would've been a pretty good comparison with a Volkswagen eGolf which I wanted to buy but it's too expensive.
@@t8polestarcyan22
May be at low speeds for a short few seconds Subarus are quite known for turbo lag.
You try to boot it, and it’ll pick up slowly until the turbo spools and then Woosh it’s off.
EV throttle response is instant. There is no torque curve, it’s consistent at any speed
That said the old 2.5 KV6 was surprising good engine and the car was light ,. I was younger then still had the Boy racer syndrome, in its day Like 2003 2004 when it was new it was pretty competitive. Upset a BMW 323ci driver held its own with a 328is , done a Vauxhall Astra turbo coupe . The Early Mk4 golf gti were slow I totally crapped over them . Done a focus ST170
It was a great car, there were no fancy gadgets
But it was pure driver focused.
@@mark-1rc502 I was rolling off from a temporary speed limit of 70 back to 100 km/h and yet the Subbie couldn't overtake. ;)
@@mark-1rc502 I wish I have a go on the ZS 180. I prefer a lower seating position for better road connectivity.
@@t8polestarcyan22
Yes your EV will have instant pick up with a reasonable amount of torque without the fuss of ICE, only performing at certain rpm.
Like for Eg: may be the bigger BHP Subaru has a bigger turbo so May be it won’t really pick up until it gets to about 3000rpm, then upto 6000rpm it has massive power .
A small turbo car will pick up speed quickly from low rpm but will run out of puff about 4500rpm it’s lost the torque then afyer 5000rpm the bhp in that gear might tail off . So people who thrash a car to the redline don’t understand their engine power band.
With an EV you don’t have none of that. It’s the same acceleration power at any speed upto it’s top speed .
EV carry a lot of weight with the battery
The New ZSEV can never be a good handling car . High centre of gravity .
There are still some old rover MG ZS around although they most likely not been cared for .
I had a ZR 120 for 4 years which never had any head gasket issues. I'll be buying a ZS 180 later on this year hopefully.
How did that work out ?
Did you get the ZS?
I bought a ZS 180 a few months ago as my first car. It is absolutely amazing and actually reliable
A V6? How did you get insured on that!
@@FastDriver318 Not paying that much actually
@@hsvcommodore4111 ah, are you in the UK though?
@@FastDriver318 nope
@@hsvcommodore4111 That will be why then! Someone wouldn't get insured on that car at 17 in the UK, no way!
I adore my little 1.4 2005 ZR trophy :) Though the acceleration seems a little sluggish sometimes, she holds the corners like a dream! Okay, so she's my first car... but way more fun than that god awful Corsa my instructor had.
I'm thinking of buying a ZR as my first car, still not sure though about which version I should buy, the 1.4L engine or the 1.8L. Is the quality good overall?
Awesome :) Okay - unfortunately, I can't give you a comparison between the different engine sizes as my 1.4 is the only car I've driven.
Being your first car, I'd go for the 1.4L - the insurance will be cheaper, so if you have a prang, you won't be kicking yourself as hard (Be warned - my first premium was £2k. Although they're relatively cheap to get hold of, the ZR is considered a 'sports car' and insurance companies cash in on that...)
In my opinion, the quality of them is pretty good (Nothing spectacular, but for a first car, it's not too shabby :) I love the way they look!). Mine has some wear and tear (mainly aesthetic) from a careless previous owner, so just look for something that's been well looked after.
Inevitably, you'll get a tonne of people who think they know it all telling you to steer clear of them. From my experience, as long as you treat her with a bit of respect, she'll last as long as any other motor. (Though, they are notorious for their head gaskets blowing - so bring someone knowledgeable with you when viewing anything to check it out thoroughly, ask about it's history etc.) And if anything does go wrong with it - it's always a good idea to befriend a mechanic. I have three in the family, so I only pay for parts when I need them, avoiding any hideous labour costs ;) So yeah, I'd go for the 1.4 :)
I hope my rambling will be of some use to you!
Jennifer Hall Hey, thanks for the reply! It's always good to hear from somebody who actually owns the car. I'm willing to go up to a 2.0L engine, because I can get my insurance tariff around the same price as my dad.
I also like their looks (A huge improvement over the rover 25 in my opinion!) I've been looking around the web here in Belgium but the 1.8L version is pretty rare. (I've only found one to be exact, and it's even an import from the UK xD) It's a sporty little car which would be good as a first car for me since most sports car I know have way heavier engines.
I've heard people complain about the build quality of British cars (Rover,MG,...) but it doesn't seem too bad to me. I'm planning on doing lots of stuff myself anyways (fixing, a bit of tuning xD), so that's one advantage of being into cars! :D
Like I said earlier, it's good to hear an owner's opinion, especially someone who is in the same situation (first car)!
i love my 1.8 zr turbo all built by me, lower it and 245 hp its very nippy
Ya... I can't build cars :|
I got the ZT for a couple of years now,one of the best drives I've had apart from the BMW.Great fun and a real bargain for a V6,just real fun.
ZS 180 - Very, Very nice car
Owned 2 mg zs 180's over the years they were awesome unbreakable cars. Glorious sounding and could out handle pretty much any other car. bad points are not great on fuel and the rear calipers needed replacing every 2 years but I only paid £400 for each one. Highly underrated car with no hang ups.
Jon Wills I'm trying to find one, and they are rare as anything these days! I'm pretty certain the 180 zs is a future classic.
Just bought the zs 180 same as this one absolutely in love
@@rare6499 If you're still interested, got a MG ZS 2.5L V6 with rear spoiler with under 50k mileage for sale. Good condition. £895.
Andre Jones where is it located mate?
@@rare6499 Croydon
I had a MG ZR 160 for many years. Got the power train projects I think it was called kit of an ITG induction kit and full Janspeed exhaust system including manifold and sports cat. Lets be honest they just aren't very well made cars. Like Tiff said the pedal position is bad. The interior is not put together well enough for the stiffness of the suspension and the trim ends up rattling the door cards get loose etc. Just turn the radio up and forget about it and concentrate on the view out of the windows lol.
That being said I don't think they are anywhere near as bad as people think and they are quite fun to drive. The K series understandably got a bad reputation for eating head gaskets but if you fitted the MLS gasket land rover made after it went it was no longer a problem. If you buy one make sure you check under the oil filler gap for signs of a mayo like substance. If its white under there the head gasket has gone and just walk away.
The OEM head gasket was literally a piece of metal with blobs of silicone around it and there is no wonder it may as well have been made out of chocolate. The engine is of a sandwich like design and vulnerable to quick changes in temperature. It didn't exactly help how they put the thermostat for the cooling system in the wrong place causing it to flood a warm engine with cool water.
As with any car with a K series it is particularly important not to use high revs or accelerate hard before the coolant is up-to temperature. They are not all that bad thou and even a VVC version can now be had for 4 to 900 quid. Find a good one and it isn't all that bad a first warm hatchback.
Can't wait until I get my ZR. My second favourite road car of all time, truly incredible in my opinion.
Lil' Kohai Hopefully you'll fit. The steering wheel was rammed right into my legs and I couldn't fully lift my foot off the clutch pedal.
With no where else to rest it it was completely undriveable for me (Not to mention extremely uncomfortable / painful) :(
_By the sounds of things I maybe able to fit into the ZS_
Azurren My parents had one, and it's spacious as heck o.o Did you try adjusting the seat at all? My mum is really tall with long legs and she managed to fit in it comfortably.
Lil' Kohai I tried putting the seat as far back as possible, I could still reach the pedals but I wouldn't call it comfortable.
Lo and behold I still had to bend the knee upwards a fair way to disengage the clutch ramming my leg into the steering wheel. :(
_Adjusting the correct position so I could comfortably reach the pedals caused both legs to be impaled on the steering wheel_
I'm not usually tall either, only around 1.85m and skinny as a post.
Heck I thought I must have been doing something wrong at the time but I've heard similar things from other people and this video nailed it!
I'm driving an absolute bucket of a car now; 51bhp, 800cc 0-60 in a very respectable 17 seconds (Downhill) but it has enough room to lift both legs out and place them on the seat without hitting the steering wheel and not one but *two* places to rest my left foot.
_To the left or in front of the clutch pedal_
Honestly I couldn't go back to being cramped behind the wheel and having to hover my foot above the clutch pedal for hours on end. :l
_Although these cars are cheap now and offer a huge performance boost over what I have now_
Azurren Meh I guess it depends on the driver then. I know I can fit in one comfortably due to my parents owning one and of course I've sat behind the wheel myself during that time, so I know it's just right for me.
It's either this or a Fiesta and honestly I prefer the MG :')
Lil' Kohai Heck if you fit comfortably then go for it!
They are tremendous cars, great fun to drive and get decent fuel economy.
_Head gaskets are incredibly weak though_
This was shot at Pembrey by the looks. Not the first rodeo for the ZS at that circuit. It was partially tested and developed there. The touring car also had It's first proper outing there too!
Love the MG's, There is just something about them, My dad had a ZS180, and i can safely say it's 10x better than any other car he has had, even his 5series bm he has now!, sister had a ZR, and I'm looking into a ZR 1.4 (105) for my first car, they just never look old, can't wait to get a mg!
I know this is an old vid but I have an MG ZR 105 and am 6'2" and like yourself, the car is a hoot to drive. Mine has uprated springs, ZR160 shocks and anti roll bars and just begs to be chucked about. Lovely little car which is very cheap to run.
ZS180, a legend.
I don't understand why the ZR got so much hate? It was a great little car
haha I like that they played baba o'riley -I've just got into that song!
Good old top gear with real professional race drivers review.
I’m from germany and My dad has 2 ZTTs 190. I own a ZR 115td and I’m looking to buy an ZS180. Volkswagens from this area aren’t comparable to these amazing cars in any way
My wife had a MG ZR a yellow one !! And we loved it for about 1 year and the head gasket blew twice and the car just fell to bits inside due to it made from plastic all around the car and it wasn't a cheap car to buy at the time !!
You can pick all of these models up now in good condition for around £1-2k now. And there was of course a V8 powered ZT later, if the V6 is too under powered for you.
Certainly a unique and less obnoxious alternative to an Audi or BMW.
V8 is the naff Ford engine, only one camshaft per cylinder bank. Kv6 a better unit.
@@davidhealy4534 So? It still had nearly 130lb/ft torque more than the V6, a better sound, and probably more fun handling too thanks to RWD. So what if it only has a single cam?
And the kv6 is still a better engine. Who gives a s*** about RWD? 260 is piss poor for 4.6.
@@davidhealy4534 Same engine puts out 320hp in the MG SVR AND 385hp in the 5.0 version so it's clearly very tuneable. And as for "who cares" about RWD vs FWD well...most driving enthusiasts, which is who these cars were aimed at. Duh!
I had a trophy blue ZR 160VVC. Heard about all the head gasket problems and mechanics used to laugh at me for buying it. I owned it 2 years before it blew a piston on the way back from York. Only done 77k shameful really. I loved the car and spent alot on it but id never buy another.
Ive had both the zr and the zt - both great cars but the zt held the road alot better than the lighter zr . after watching this video it seems interesting what tiff says about the zs . I will certainly be getting one soon . Diesel though as i do high mileage ! lovely looking motors they all are - alot better than the latest stuff the chinese are punching out. proper British beef these cars are , i so need to get a zs saloon with the big spoiler at the back mk 2 i prefer though 04-06 reg .
Got a ZR 2.0TD Fucking love it, sticks to the roads the brakes work-stop heavy and hard and overall amazing drive :D
MrReeceyburger123
Are you off the heroin?
Yeah Vlad lad I is
I love my rover 25 gti . Still going strong
Yes but Tiff Needell also worked on Top Gear (started in 1987 co-presenting) and left and joined Fifth Gear when the show was scrapped. This is Top Gear.
I had a few mg's even rovers and had zr and zs and you can't put tiff down he's right about these cars. One thing I will say on Zs's though the hatch is more practical but saloon better handling
I had a zs 180 but got it running at about 200bhp and it was fucking awesome so much fun to drive could beat 1.8t vw and the new 2.0gti turbos. Had to get rid of it tho cost to much to run cos I was lead footed and only on £100 a week wage at the time so got a st tdci instead
+MARTIN STRANGE I wrote that comment ages ago but i have bought an mg zs 180 again awesome car
What did you do to get 200bhp? :-)
had the zt for a while...after having a 75 ...75 was a lovely had the 2.0 v6 but the zt was fantastic had the 2.5 it was converted to lpg and still was fast as fuck for a big car loved the handling very little roll and you felt like it was on rails....stuck planted to the road...fantastic car !!!
Vicky looks so young here. Tiff is exactly the same as he is now.
The old K Series Engine's had this problem granted. But the engines used in the later Rovers i.e. the 25 and subsequently the ZR didnt have that same problem.....
my Dad was at leyland cars then leyland Bus &Trucks,,, i was at FORD,,, AND love XR2.S HAVE 2 MGF S LOVE THEM IGOT A ZR FOR THE MG CLUB,,,, IN BLACK MY MY ITS A XR2 BUT BETTER A ROCKITT ON 4 WHEELS AND MORE ROOM AND WAY ABOUT IT,,, GET ONE BEFOR THERE NO MORE LIKE THE XR2.3.4 SO FUN TO DRIVE,
I had a 2005 ZR, and he is right, the clutch is all the way over to the left, so there is no room to rest your foot, I have a 2004 ZS now, and trust me on this one, the ZS is the one to get, ZR's are dogs compared
So what happens when tiff gets 6-speeds these days? Do they just ignore the last gear? lol
Have got a ZT190. Brilliant car. Great fun, and still looks 'the dogs'...😉. Why would anyone want one of them 'German jobbys'??...🇬🇧🇬🇧
I have one also. Have a Rover 45 too. Still think the Rover 45 is nicer to drive though. Not quite as quick, but 1.8 k series pulls better at lower revs. You have to get the kv6 to over 4000 rpm for the power to kick in.
What I dont understand is the clutch pedal on the ZS is the worst, it sits about 2" above the resting place and causes leg ache on long journeys. Apart from that the Zed cars wear all fairly good.
every rover i had, 5 of the 25 and 214 the head gasket went on
but i had an 05 MG TF and 06 Rover 25 and the head gaskets didnt let up!
if the head gasket is so shit why dont you just replace them with aftermarket ones? and im fairly sure you can lower the seats in the ZR by cutting it from the frame and welding/bolting it to the floor.
Unfortunately for some (or enthusiasts), a new(er) MG ZS series have gone SUV. I'm not too sure about the build quality of the older ZS but the Chinese ZS (EV) is solidly well built. I wish there are hatch back, low(er) riding ZS as before but I'm afraid this generation have gone SUVs. However the Chinese MG ZS EV isn't so bad because the battery for this ZS is mounted below the floor which lowers the centre of gravity mated with Michelin Primacy 3. There are petrol models of crossover ZS'es but I've heard that they're gutless where the EV's instant torque can even startle Mitsi Evo Xs as well as Teslas.
It would've been nice to have a ZS EV hatch but as I've already said but the world have gone SUVs. I still prefer ICEVs but EVs worked out to be a lot cheaper to run. I'm saving my petrol machine for long drive weekends.
The zs looks as if an Evo and a Jaguar had a baby
Tiff saying the zs is the best front wheel drive he’s driven at this time is a big claim considering he’s driven the dc2 integra type r. I’ve owned a mk2 zs 180 and they do handle great and the build quality on mine atleast was good. I’ve not driven a dc2 to compare it to.
Isn't the ZS a Honda chassis that shares a lot of DNA with the double wishbone Civics/Integras? Which explains a lot of the handling and similar praise?
Did really well on the touring car circuit!
@@aw614 It was co-developed by Honda and Rover. Honda opted to replace it where Rover chose to develop it further. By this point there wasn't much Honda in it, however the basic suspension set up does share similarities with the DC2.
All very well.But what's it like going to the shops?.Or in a traffic jam on your way to work?.Much like a Ferrari or a Rolls Royce I suspect!.
when ever Tiff drove a car on 5th gear the footage was always edited massively
I'll Remember this when I next go to the local corner shop, and buy my loaf of bread and pint of milk!.Like normal people do!.
ZR mother❤️
Sorry dude, I've been back to the tape to have a look, but being the "GTi" clip show, it goes straight from a Smart car item to where I have uploaded from. :)
I am 5 7" and my mother's ZR 105 is an absolute hoot to drive. Perhaps it isn't any good for tall people I don't know? Mind I own an MGF VVC myself and this shits all over the ZR, ZS and ZT for driving pleasure
It’s just a British MG version off a Bmw , lotus , and land rover👌😎
And yet, my ZS 180 rips boy racers in their BMWs all the time, even though it _should_ be a slower car - that never gets old. I don't know exactly what the guys in Birmingham did, but the 180's the best car I've ever driven. Sure, the interior's falling apart around me, but who cares about that?
In general specs, wich of this two are better? The ZR or the ZS?
ZS
What became of this series?
It became the "Top Gear" that still exists today, although most of the original presenters ended up on "Fifth Gear"
Have a 05 ZR Myself. Not a great car I must say. Came off a BMW 320D, to this, and I must say I was very disappointed. Of course the Beamer has a lot of more, comfort, and class then a MG ZR. A few hours of driving with the "sport" seats in the ZR and you'll have serious back pain. Sitting high up as Tiff said in such a small car isn't nice at all. The steering wheel really does sit very low too, which is a large factor in the back pain. It's quite a nippy little car too be fair. It picks up well, but at motorway speeds, it drinks petrol like there's no tomorrow! No place to rest your foot off the clutch is just god awful design by MG! I find I have to try slip my foot under the pedal to keep from pressing the clutch. I also find the clutch terribly heavy. Could be just mine, but it makes for terrible traffic/city driving. The handling is very good, I will admit! The car sits very low, and grips brilliantly. I've found myself going into sharp corners at high speeds and being confident doing so in the ZR. Can't fault it there. All and all, it's an ok at best. If I was to pick again, I would be going with the ZT. Big and seemingly comfortable!
LOL.... the zs has a slightly lower driving position than the zr ... despite actually being the same body other than a boot instead of a hatch. clutch 3 INCHES higher ... ye would be in your chest. They just can't resist bashing when they can. Shame MG was lost in the end.
Zr and zs are completely different, not the same body at all.
Thats not true. The ZR was the front half of a Rover R8 and the floor and rear section of an Austin Maestro.
The ZS was a co-developed platform designed in part by Rover and Honda for the 400 and Domani, then re-engineered again by Rover with a little input by BMW to create the 45 and ZS.
Which track was this? Croft?
Pembrey I believe.
No they didnt... shows how much you know about Rover....
I drive an MG ZR 160 2006 model with 49,000miles, just changed head gasket. The car is disappointing and ive been looking forward to changing cars for 2 years since buying.
Used to have a 1.25 ford fiesta that was more craic.
PAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, LOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, you MUST be a comedian. Are you related to Michael McIntyre by chance ? That comment was soooo funny, it's not like I've heard that one before. Knob jockey !
what's the name of the song in 3 minutes??? :)
Baba oreilly by the who
it even says top gear in the first few seconds of the video, I guess he didnt even bother to watch it :S
4:27
Trust the ugliest one to be the best 🤣 i like the exterior look of
the ZR , emadgen the engine of a ZS in a ZR , with seating position of the ZT 😯
People have put the v6 in the zr however the zr's handling is not the best lol, the zs was the best due to the perfect balance of handling, braking and performance.
Its TOP GEAR
Trust me ;)
This video is old and back then the presenters from fifth gear worked for top gear
ahhh old topgear
Hahaha mate all ZR's and 25's headgasket went :L
Not all but s lot!
MGZROwnersClub.co.uk - MG ZR Car Club Forum, check it out!
CE QUI AIME UNEE MG AIME 205 GTI
Head gasket gone yet?
🙄
God top gear was so cringe back then, with tiff and co.
No.
TOP gear.
I hate the way he talks LOL
its a FIFTH GEAR
FWD? shame on U!!!!
They did a rwd mg zt with a bit mustang v8 if you fancy that? 👍
mate this is fith gear lol get your shows right m8
oh dear!
Wtf you chatting about? Jeremy clarkson was the original member of top gear and only him
Rover car looks like bmw,not reliable,degraded worst than jaguar..not an exciting car at all,just overrated by this needle guy..
Sure about that lol, the zs is a proper fun car to drive. There is a good fanbase for them and they seem rather reliable, they don't really look like bmws unless you have poor eyesight.
4:25
4:28
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