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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - SHOCK MG Beats Skoda

MG beats Skoda on "DRIVEN" tonight! and the Skoda test car was the same one Autocar tested and found had been doctored to produce more power!

The MG was STILL quicker!
NICE ONE MGR
MEGA

theres a summary of the driven 100 at http://www.4car.co.uk/
the MG180 beats the ringer :o)
kevin neal

You must have been watching the wrong programme because on Channel 4 the MG drew with a Skoda, says it all!!
Nick

Posted 17 October 2001 at 08:41:21 UK time
Nick, London
You must have been watching the wrong programme because on Channel 4 the MG drew with a Skoda, says it all!!

MG beats skoda on the track where it counts not in the car park! says it all!!
dave

VAG must really be paying all these Media testers some kind of retainer because ,not only do they put TWO of their models in a 3 car group test,but they don't offer their VW Brand model-presumably
because it would be severely handicapped on price.The results are ridiculous since people wanting the image etc of an MG would never look at a Skoda - just as a BMW aspirant would not consider an Astra Coupé with similar looks & even similar power for a much lower price.

.I think as readers & viewers you people should kick up a stink (in which you may be supported by the other manufacturers whose models were ignored in the selection for the Road Test ).
andrew

I watched 'Drivel' last night and I have to say that I thought the tests were (by their standards) fair.

The MG Z (what ever it was) came out of the test extremely well and why they should have had two VAG vehicles - who knows?

BTW the remarks about Skoda are unfair, yes the brand suffered under the communist regime BUT Skoda is a proud and very old marque, and in fact I understand it celebrates its 100th birthday about now, and like MGR they are doing their upmost to rid themselves of a deservedly poor recent reputation.

BTW can anyone tell me how MGR arrived at this confusing and riduclous naming of their Rover updates?

Ted
Ted Newman

> The results are ridiculous since people wanting the
> image etc of an MG would never look at a Skoda

You are making the assumption that people who buy the Z-cars are doing so for the MG image. I most certainly didn't. In fact, I drove the 20VT a couple of times and would have seriously considered the Skoda RS a) had the dealer been able to get one in the showroom without selling it, so that I could have a drive and b) had I liked the engine more when I drove the Seat. I would say that the Skoda is probably the most obvious competitor to the ZS at the moment. Swapping the Seat out for a Civic Type R would have made for a more interesting test though.

S.
Steve H

Her 'casting vote' added to two for the Skoda on desirability somehow brought it up to be equal with five for the Seat. On the same basis the MG should have had a score of 11. Without that frig the MG would have won outright.
Paul Hunt

Put yourselves in the programme presenters position. What would you do? Lets just for the sake of discussion say that one of these three cars was superior to the others by a WIDE margin. Or, that another was much inferior to the others. Have you ever known ANY "consumer" programme tell it like it really is, or was. No chance. Their scoring system was VERY subjective and the final result for these three cars was VERY close. Ever wonder why? Were these cars really so closely matched? What's manipulation mean Dad?

I wonder how many non-enthusiasts motorists ( the majority ) watching the programme realised that any of these three cars actually had a SIX cylinder engine. Was this feature highlighted or given sufficient emphasis? I do remember some mention of turbo four cylinders. Few clues for Joe ( and Josephine) Punter there. Many would see six cylinders as a strong plus point. It would also explain why the "cost per mile" ( again very subjective) for the MG appeared slightly inferior. An added expense maybe, but balanced against six cylinders surely a more attractive proposition for many potential buyers.

However, the clues were REALLY there if you watched and listened closely. Jason Plato's obvious enthusiasm for the MG was demonstrated time and again. I got the impression he was bursting to say more but showed much restraint. If the track footage of the three cars on their "timed" laps can be believed as genuine and not a chain of edited disjointed snippets, then it showed that at least one of the cars was NOT lapped to full advantage. I wonder if only 2 seconds would cover all three cars with Jason Plato solo and really trying in all three? Not for nothing is this Guy now British Touring Car Champion.

The attractive but vociferous brunette "punter" who thought the MG had UGLY seats ( seats for crissakes!) was a hoot! Like to meet her and find out if she did not like the colour of the engine oil too! .... :o))

However, such people actually do buy cars .... great stuff!

John McFeely
John McFeely

This thread was discussed between 16/10/2001 and 17/10/2001

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