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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - reliable

Hi everybody, I am about to change my car and I am very interested by the MG-ZR or ZS but I have been told that MG is unraliable. I don't mean to heart anybody's feeling but I just want to know if it's true or not. Basically, what I am looking for is a reliable, solid car which I can keep for a long time.
Thank you very much in advance
Fabrice
fabrice

Do not believe the rumours - MGs are very reliable.

Obviously, ZRs and ZSs have not been around long enough to say what they'll be like as long term ownership propositions, but their forebearers have - the Rover 200 and 400.

We had a 200 (which we only traded in recently for a 75) for a good number of years. Nothing so much as fell off that car. Nothing broke. Never missed a beat. Always started on the first turn of the key. 100% reliable.

A similar tale for my hard driven MGF - owned from new for 6 and a half years without problem - and that's despite a diet of city and motorsport miles!

I have no reason to expect that the MG Z cars will be exactly the same.

Give them a test drive. If you like what you find, buy one. Ignore the ignorant.
Rob Bell

thank you very much Rob. I will definetely give a test drive and I will probably end up buying one. Thanks again for the advise.
Best regards

Fabrice
fabrice vaisset

Before getting my ZS I had a Rover 400. Very few problems with it over several years. My wife now drives a ZR after having owned a Rover 200. No problems there either.

John
JLD

When I decided to buy a ZS, I did it on the basis that you seem to see a hell of a lot of old rovers chewing up the miles round here. Always a good sign. Minor niggles don't worry me - I just want the car to *last*.

I think this perception of unreliability has been mainly caused by that darned head gasket problem in the MGF. Now solved hopefully. Oh, and the motoring press' attitude to Rover doesn't help...
David Bainbridge

The ZS180 is a fantastic car. Its a thrill to drive and when you park it next to the faceless german competition you'll be glad you chose the MG.

As for reliability a few insignificant trim issues sorted out under waranty.

Don't come back without one!

Mike






Mike

Don't take any notice of that J D Power garbage either, try and find a copy of the AAs' breakdown recovery figures - that's the real indicator- and MGR cars are alledgedly a lot more reliable than VWs, Renaults etc etc.
Howard

It wouldn't surprise me to find that the only people who respond to surveys such as the JD Power one are those who feel that they have some sort of axe to grind.

I would fully agree about the AA breakdown stats.

John
JLD

David Bainbridge WROTE: (much snipped)

>> Oh, and the motoring press' attitude to Rover doesn't help... <<

WELL SAID! That's it in a nutshell. A colleague at work was once so annoyed at an example of this anti-brit prejudice that he phoned the editor of the well known magazine involved. A heated exchange followed whereby the guy actually admitted that content was tailored to suit advertising revenues. Those products of manufacturers' that pay the most, not simply advertising but "backhanders" in all shapes and sizes, get the best press. ..... and the unsuspecting car buying punter is thereby influenced .... often to their regret later.

I'm a little superstitious so I'm going to tempt fate here: I bought my first car back in 1959, a product of Cowley. I've bought and owned the products of Abingdon, Longbridge and Cowley ever since and in those 40 odd years, have NEVER been left stranded at the roadside by any of these cars. Unlike some so called superior product I'm assured are more reliable which have left me stranded or seriously failed needing expensive repairs. Every one of my TRUE brit new cars came with AA cover. I have never called the AA out in my life. When I tell others this story, I'm met with either disbelief or accused of being merely lucky ..... However, let me tell you and any other doubters, there's far more to it than that.

So, do keep in mind that when some "Top Gear reject" journalist bad mouths a MG-Rover product for any reason, they are not only talking with FORKED tongue, but maybe on a nice little earner too!

Mike, Crawley, WROTE:

>> The ZS180 is a fantastic car. <<

So very true!

So, Fabrice, even if you've no need to buy a ZS180 and have your sights set on a ZS120 or ZR, DO have a good test drive in a ZS180 and USE that V6 for what its designed for. The car is a hoot to drive .... then decide .... DONT go for that ZS180 test drive if you can resist anything but temptation ... :o))

JMcF
John McFeely

Reliable?

Yes! 13,600 miles no probs


Kelvin
Kelvin

If anyone is worrying about the reliability of British cars, then the following article from sniffpetrol.com should reassure them:

-----------------------------

CACK CAR FANS ANGER AT NEW BOND FILM

Fans of 'classic' British cars have been left fuming by news that the forthcoming James Bond film Die Another Day will feature more spectacular, gadget laden cars. 'Once again the Bond producers have failed to credit the sterling achievements made by the British car industry over 30 years ago,' moaned Cam Failure, President of the UK Morris Drivers Society. 'So we have yet another film in which 007 is equipped with a vehicle that can release oil onto the road or disorientate following cars with clouds of choking blue smoke. But my Morris Oxford has been doing that practically since it left the factory and what credit do its designers get? None.'
There was more pathetic whining over at the MG Enthusiasts' Group, particularly from spokesman Whet Carpets: 'This is just typical, and it's not the first time either. Remember the Bond Esprit that was set to explode if anyone tampered with it? Well my MGC has burst into flames several times since I bought it in 1974 and what recognition has this classic British car received for this forward-looking facility? The only difference between mine and the Bond car is that, rather than the bad guys it was me who got the nasty shock, and on one occasion rather severely burned.'
However, it isn't just Bond who is feeling old car buffs' wrath. 'Everyone is stealing ideas off classic British cars,' grumbled Triumph TR enthusiast Constant Misfyre. 'Only last week I took my nephew to the circus and there, bold as you like, were a bunch of clowns driving a small car on which the doors and wheels kept falling off. My TR4 has been doing that….' etc etc etc
David Bainbridge

Couldn't agree more on the above comments, have had 416, 420, and have a 75 and 214. I have had no let down problems whatsoever, touch wood. Most niggles were dealer induced, and like all 200/400's have had loose electric motor bolts on the drivers window. However, I convinced a friend to buy a 416 which went the route of head gasket failure one week out of his warranty but his dealer went 50/50 on the repair. Any small problems were dealt with by the dealer, and the current 3yr/60k warranty is excellent as it covers most jobs including a few issues on my 99 (BMW built) 75 which had sticking door handles and a faulty air-bag light. Things have got better since the move to Longbridge, I gather.
Judging by the number of 75's and 25's on the road, these must be doing well despite the press.
Btw, JLD, how did you convince your wife to swap 200 for ZR? I am trying hard to get my wife to trade her 200 for a ZR, any advice welcomed.
Martin

Martin
My wife was wanting to swap her 200 for a ZR from the first moment she saw one (about a day after first release) it was just a question of when.

John
JLD

John
I guess that helps that she was keen. My wife is happy with her 200 and has an accountant's brain, so I guess the 200 will be around for a while longer. Oh well, at least I have the ZT.
Thanks
Martin

This thread was discussed between 05/06/2002 and 07/06/2002

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