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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Autocar Handling test

I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet.

I know that the ZS180 finished 19th out of 19 but a year or so ago the idea of anything from Longbridge being invited was just wishful thinking.

The best thing is that if you look at the lap times it wasn't the slowest. It actually beat the new Mini, and more importantly it was faster than the new BMW 325i Compact. I wonder if MGR have faxed the result to Munich yet.;o)

It also wasn't far behind the Clio 172 and Clio V6 on lap time.

Mark
Mark A

Is it just me, or is anyone else suprised that the 'F wasn't there? Given that the Elise was there and that the MX5 won the same event a few years back, shouldn't it of at least been included?

Steve.
Steve Childs

Steve,

It's just you. ;-)

Seriously, the MGF hasn't done very well in recent tests against the Elise, MR2 etc, and I assume that they wanted a broad spectrum of car types, why else would some of the cars be there. I can't believe some of what was there, considering some other tests, why was the Tamora there and not the BMW M Coupe. Why was the Clio V6 there as every one says it's dangerous.

They also got the Diablo back despite saying how bad it was last year. They obviously just wanted to drive one again.

Peter Wheelers comments about the M3 were exactly what I though, good engine but really just a fast 3-series and not very interesting really. The New Mini only being one place behind must be a big disappointment for BMW.

I still can't understand how a car which is slower round a circuit by a few seconds can be 12 places higher in the list (ZS v Mini).

Mark
Mark A

Oh well, hopefully MG will do the business with the Mk3 and it'll be in next year's test :)

Steve.
Steve Childs

Impressive that the ZT was even featured Steve. A respectable last place then!

Something obviously a little odd about Rockingham. I've never been there, but it sounds as though front end grip is essential there- and was a little lacking in the ZS. I wonder whether the MG engineers will respond to Autocar's observations? If I were MG, I'd want my car to be superior to the Clio 172...
Rob Bell

Doesn't sound very encouraging.

ZS: What were the problems? Tyres? Construction?

MGF MK3: hope the car will get a stronger engine or better: lose some weight. Five years ago, MK1 VVC was the fastest car in his category (according to a roadster-test in Automobil-Revue).

Christoph



C.Brun

The ZS's showing doesn't really correspond with any other reviews I've read.

And the F? Well, that's just a work of art...
David Bainbridge

I had a browse of the Autocar feature earlier today. Other comments on the ZS180 stated that it did well to even feature in the test - they already rated it better against more likely real-world rivals like the Seat Lean 20VT. Also, other than the Mini and the Clio 172, it was the only car costing less than about £22,000 to feature in the test.

The Mini Cooper delivered for the test had the most uncompromising sports suspension available for that model, and the testers commented that it was unlikely that anyone would choose that setup for road use. Incidentally, the 325 Compact they used had an automatic box, not the manual I would have expected.

From what I remember from previous handling tests in Autocar and other magazines, the 'F was always downgraded since it is basically an understeerer and such cars tend to do badly on racetracks (the testers usually concentrate on how much 'fun' the car is to drive on a track which usually translates into how easily they can control any available oversteer). Also, because the 'F tends to understeer, this scrubs off speed on the bends which in turn leads to slower lap times. This doesn't mean that the 'F is a spoilsport in 'real' situations on the road; indeed, it's safer (and, arguably, more fun) to drive faster on public roads that roadsters of similar size.

Paul
Paul Daykin

the ZS180 can hold its head high, the 180 did a lap time of 1m 29.74s and the 172(clio) 1m 29.54s .when you take into consideration the fact the 180 weighs a good deal more than the 172 it puts its performance in perspective.
having owned a 180 for a week now and covered about 800 miles i can tell you that any future owners are in for a treat.it can seriously embarrass cars that cost twice as much as it does ,the only problem i have is that i'm seeing quite a lot of my local petrol station, the howl the V6 engine makes is addictive and only adds to the driving pleasure of a car that is simply owesome!
kevin neal

As has been said the Autocar test pitched a large number of cars together- so for a ZS180 to be pitched AT ALL with a collection of exotic and specialist machines that include TVRs, Aerial Atom 190s, Lotus Elise, Noble M12, Porsches, Ferraris and a BMW M3 is very respectable.

The ZS180 was also shy of the Scooby Impreza and the Mizzi Evo VII. But then being 100+ bhp down on power and having two less driven wheels I guess that ain't surprising!

I guess the comparison will be more interesting when the Extreme version of the ZS rolls onto the central stage... :o)

IMO the ZS is a terrific car- I want one!
Rob Bell

>>>I can't believe it hasn't been mentioned yet>>>

Yes perhaps!

Having read the mag yesterday morning I was tempted to comment, however I then re-read the feature again and then stood back and looked again.

I then concluded that the whole subject was far too superficial and disjonted and as such really wasn't worth the effort of discussing. Entertaining yes, but pretty meaningless in real terms.

Having driven the entry level ZR and knowing that this had the same brilliant chassis as the 160, less wheels and tyres, it strikes me that if this model was entered you would have seen the same comments as for the Mini. Too little power to get high speeds, but that means that you don't scrub speed off in the twisty bits and can operate with an almost pedal to metal all the way round. Just illustrates the shallow nature of the feature.

Rog
Roger Parker

Just read it. Shallow report - I totally agree! It was just the usual Autocar exercise to give more to its beloved Elise, hoping to buck it up now its in the doldrums after Lotus shot itself in the foot with the VX220, and as a consequence lost most of its best staff. Let's face it, BRITAIN'S best handling car!?! There was only one true British car among them, the MG.
Autocar would praise anything Lotus, even if it built a shopping trolley.
John

This thread was discussed between 30/08/2001 and 02/09/2001

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