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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - MG ZS-180 Exclusive Review

Just in case you miss it on the News page:
http://www.mgcars.org.uk/news/news633.html

Dot

Cheers dot, I have to admit, it looks very nice indeedy. If I am in the market for a new car next year, I'm not looking forward to having to choose between the Z cars and MGF. Should be interesting to see what next year's F is like.

Steve.
Steve Childs

Drove a selection of the Z models in the Welsh countryside and blasting around the Pembrey circuit the other day. For our reactions, look out for a future issue of MG World [ too late for the imminent issue :( ].

My initial views? The ZR is likely to sell like hot cakes, and in Trophy Yellow it drew attention like moths to a flame. The sub £10k basic MG ZR is a revelation at the price. The ZS was a very smooth powerful car let down still by a rather dated interior. The ZT 190 was my favourite, and it looks fabulous, either in 'lairy' Trophy Yellow or in 'classy' silver or metallic graphite. On the track, the VVC engined ZR was the most fun and most manageable, the ZS 180 2.5 V6 the fastest (but both I and another struggled to keep it on the track at the tighter turns - which says perhaps more about my ability than that of the car) and the ZT 190 2.5 V6 surprisingly agile for a bigger car.
David Knowles

"I and another struggled to keep it on the track at the tighter turns - which says perhaps more about my ability than that of the car"

I seen experienced racing drivers struggling to keep on the black stuff at Pembrey!!


Kelvin.
Kelvin

While out on the circuit both Rob Oldaker and Kevin Howe came out and had a blast or two of their own - and came back with big grins on their faces; it was at Pembrey that the MGR Board had assessed the cars for management ride-n-drives, and they had decreed to their PR people that the 'gentlemen of the press' (and ladies) should have the same opportunity. They gave us all MG X-Power green (aka 'Chernobyl Green') crash hats to wear which I think was more to make the journalists stand out in a crowd than for mere safety. I went off in the ZS and saw the tyre wall rushing towards me as my life rewound in a flash. My passenger also lost some blood from his cheeks! But we made it, whereas another soul was a little less lucky and set the air-bags off with his little escapade...
David Knowles

David,

You did stop the coversation at that moment you know!! In contrast to you I actually 'fell off' at the hairpin with a too high an entry with the car washing out in understeer onto the grass. Traction was actually still very good with little wheelspin!! Perosnally I went expecting the ZR to be my favorite, but came away with the ZS180 being mine. I found that I could run flat through the three bends following the hairpin and the one by the circuit exit. This car had just that little extra that could be exploited and the control in 4 wheel drifts was super. The ZR160 was very close though. I felt that the ZT was just that little bit underpowered for the body, although balance was superb.

Rog
Roger Parker

>> But we made it, whereas another soul was a little less lucky and set the air-bags off with his little escapade... <<

Oops, that's the last time he gets to drive a press car!! lol - Not badly damaged I assume (car or driver)

Steve.
Steve Childs

This motor journalist business sounds like frightfully hard work... poor lambs... ;o) LOL

I think I've turned MG X Power 'Chernobyl' green with envy! ;o)

I want a ZS180 please. So if anyone happens to know what this weekend's national lottery numbers are, I'd appreciate it if they could let me know?

Cheers

Rob
Rob Bell

I saw a very strange thing on the way into work, sadly I didn't have my digi camera poised. It was a ZS, red, complete with skirts & Touring Car style spoiler & a very nice rumble from the exhaust as I went past. I doubt its the Extreme ZS, but the Ultimate ZS perhaps? It was spotted in Great Barr, for those in the area. If I see it again I'll tail it and get some shots of it!! If I wasn't late for work I would have turned around and chased after it! ;)

Steve.
Steve Childs

Bugger, just realised. MG-R have gone to the end of the alphabet, does this mean the Zs will be the last?
:-P
Gareth

"MG-R have gone to the end of the alphabet, does this mean the Zs will be the last"

Was the previous Z the last? Of course not, they went back and started again.
Paul Hunt

Does that mean that we can expect a new MGA in a few years?
Paul Noble

"Oops, that's the last time he gets to drive a press car!! lol - Not badly damaged I assume (car or driver)"

Most damage was to the driver's ego. I'm told that the 'off' happened rather noisily while the second batch of would-be Schumacher's were being briefed on the importance of being safe out on the circuit...

Also had a report today from someone who was at Pembrey on Tuesday when it was - er - a wee bit damp ... glad I had the dry day!

David Knowles

Steve WROTE:

<< If I wasn't late for work I would have turned around and chased after it! ;)>>

Oh Yeah, but, if it was an Ultimate ZS, would you've been able to catch it! :)
John McFeely

>>>>>>>Oops, that's the last time he gets to drive a press car!! lol - Not badly damaged I assume (car or driver)

Not if the stories about French and Spanish Journalists are anything to go by!!

Rog
Roger Parker

Just dont mention the moose test..
Growler

>> Most damage was to the driver's ego. I'm told that the 'off' happened rather noisily while the second batch of would-be Schumacher's were being briefed on the importance of being safe out on the circuit... <<

Oooh, the irony :)

>> Oh Yeah, but, if it was an Ultimate ZS, would you've been able to catch it! :) <<

True, but it was in rush hour traffic, so it wouldn't have got far =)

Steve.

Steve Childs

>>>>>>>Oops, that's the last time he gets to drive a press car!! lol - Not badly damaged I assume (car or driver)

>>>Not if the stories about French and Spanish Journalists are anything to go by!!

Why do you think they invite the German and Italian motoring journalists last of all?? Heh heh! On the MGF 2000 MY launch, an overseas journalist wiped out the side of one of the cars, while at the same event, which was a joint Land Rover/ MG one, the Italians won the timed Freelander off-road driving trial through blithely casting off their fears and inhibitions together with any modicum of sanity thay had, and appeared to place their fates in Divine hands...
David Knowles

MG-R does have insurance, don't they? Or does it not include being crashed by Italian journalists on a press day?

That reminds me of the famous US television commercial, in which they dropped an MGB by parachute from an airplane. Fortunately, they brought along two cars, because the 'chute on the first one failed to open. The story is that they were able to collect on their insurance, because the car was 'in transit' (at least for 3,000 feet). The insurance company promptly excluded parachute drops from the policy coverage.
Paul Noble

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This thread was discussed between 04/07/2001 and 04/06/2002

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