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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Top Gear - BMW 3 Series Appreciation edition.

Did anyone catch TG on Monday. I wish I hadn't. It made me feel sick.
The program was dedicated to how wonderful the 3 series are.
They even had a selection of cars that could be considered contenders, such as

Jag X series, Saab, C class Merc etc but also including a MG ZT, they even managed to say a couple of good words about the MG. However they considered that the worthy contenders were the Audi A4 (wonderful german engineering - but apparantly a bit dull) and a Alfa 156 (bit cheap).

End conclusion the only thing beter than a 3 series is another one.

Top Gear is produced in Birmingham, you would think that the production team might think it would be fun to pit the MG ZT up against the 3?

Not a chance they know the MG would beat it
ProMGR

Sorry I forgot to mention what w*nkers the presenters are a Top Gear, but of course dear reader you already know that, don't you.
ProMGR

I watched that,what a load of ******** .Did you notice that they waited until the very end to tell you that it will cost thousands more in options to spec the B*W up to the standard kit on other cars there,and it was only a poxy 4 cylinder,all the others were 6's,apart from the Audi.Thats the problem with new B*W owners,most can only afford a poverty spec car,but they expect M3 credibility,if there is such a thing!.
Kevin Davis

In my books,the competition ,based on equivalent power ratings&size should be :
a)between the 3 series 316 compact and the ZS 120-price diff in Europe appx £3500
b) 3 series 325 saloon & ZS 180 appx £6000
c) 5 series 525 saloon & ZT appx £ 7000
The question is then if its worth paying that much extra for a more modern design & the BMW badge.

andrew

Andrew WROTE:

<< The question is then if its worth paying that much extra for a more modern design & the BMW badge. >>

Latest design well yes, maybe but, modern? There will be those that WILL pay over the odds and in so doing, convince themselves they must have a superior product.

ProMGR and Kevin's comments make me glad I fortuitously missed this programme because of the change of time to a Monday. Made you feel sick eh. I sometimes feel that way when they go into their all too frequent "alien product bootlicking" mode. Really that bad eh - Really glad I missed it!

On a more light-hearted TV note. Caught the last part of the BBC 1 SitCom "Linda" last night. The one centered around a big bosomy woman called Linda played by Lisa Tarbuck. Takes place in a dealership with lots of shiny cars and workshop guys in ROVER overalls. Last night Linda passes up the chance for promotion and in so doing misses out on a company BMW 5 series.

Well done that woman! true class! ..... :)
John McFeely

I hate all BMWs, would much rather have MG!
agem

Yes John, TG was really that bad. I remember (years ago) that I used to enjoy that program. Not anymore.

Well done agem, next time your in the UK I will buy you a nice warm beer.

Regards
Mike Nash
ProMGR

What's all the fuss about M3s anyway? I used to have great fun with them in my T16 converted MG Montego. The look of sheer horror on the drivers face when beaten by a mere Montego was always a delight to behold. Victor Kish in his Top Gear featured T16 Maestro has experienced that kind of fun on many an occasion. IIRC, he even told a M3 driver that his ECU must be at fault when left for dead at the lights. I think he then went off to his local dealer to sort out the 'problem' Classic - LOL
Gary
Gary Boxall

Remind me, what has this thread got to do with Z saloons?

Kelvin
Kelvin

I got a much more positive impression from TG. Every other car except the MG came in for some criticism, even the BMW with its notchy gearchange plus something else. Maybe I have selective hearing but I didn't hear a single criticism of the MG, just several points of praise.
Paul Hunt

Paul Hunt

Paul that is entirely my point of this thread. The fact was they had a whole bunch of cars lined up against a 3 Series BMW. The question being which is the closest to stealing the BMW crown.
So they talk about all the cars (see my original posting), and they say positive thing about the MG Z-T. As you stated they do not critisise it. So what do they do they end up with the Audi and the Alfa as the 2 cars most likely to be close to the 3 series, then proceed to slagg both cars off.
Thus ensuring that the Beemer still remains 'king of the hill'. It was just one large advert to BMW.

Kevin Davis quite rightly pointed out that the cars specifications/price were wrong.

My point being that if the MGZ-T was pitted against the Beemer (with fair and unbiased judges) then I think the result would of been different.

But it wasn't even considered. Why not?

Regards

Mike Nash

ProMGR

Driving quitely about my business today on a dual carriageway when up ahead there is a set of traffic lights and three lanes that rapidly revert to two after the lights.

I pull up in the middle lane behind a mature and very bland Vectra. Outside lane empty until some rep appears in the BMW 323 and goes straight into the outside lane with all the boy racer intentions of being first away from the lights.

The lights chance to yellow and rep starts to roll. Lights turn to green and the bland badgeless Vectra rockets forward and easily takes the repmobile in 50 yeards with, I have to admit, me just behind to rub salt into the rep's wound.

As you would expect the rep was seriously pissed off with lots of flashing lights and waiving fingers.

Further up the road there was a roundabout. The Vectra stopped with me behind him and am sure he was waiting for the rep. Sure enough rep again takes the outside lane and am pleased to report he was again royal stuffed.

I know I should not get so much pleasure out of ruining this reps day but I did. I would also like to know what had been done to the Vectra to make it so damned quick.

Safety fast and stuff the insecure in their Bavarian Sierras

Patrick
Patrick

>their Bavarian Sierras
Fords are bad...
but not that bad.

Hugo

Hugo, Manc WROTE:

Fords are bad...
but not that bad.

OH YES THEY ARE!!

Well it is the pantomime season .... :)

John

John McFeely

Patrick,

I believe some Vectras have a V6 power unit and thus are a bit nippy. A close neighbour has one - almost as nippy off the line as my old Monty Turbo .... :)

You also wrote :

<< I know I should not get so much pleasure out of ruining this reps day but I did. >>

Whyever not? Helps to pass the time!

also .. << Safety fast and stuff the insecure in their Bavarian Sierras >>

Yeah, good eh ... :o))

John
John McFeely

Typical Bavarian Sierra owner:
It does'nt matter what engine is under the bonnet,if its got a B*W badge on it,it must be fast,must'nt it?,because that is what the image purveys.Thats why we B*W drivers go flat out everywhere,because we have a badge that says "i am fast".I have paid a vast amount of money for this basic B*W product,therefore i have the right to be in the outside lane and/or overtake you and you should always give way to me as i may not have enough power,though i obviously have more money/taste/rights than you because i drive a German car which,i am told,is a superior product.If it was'nt superior then it would cost the same as a Ford Mondeo.
All the best reps drive B*W,they look really impressive parked on all the driveways of our new housing estate,"Faggots Ring".
Kevin Davis

Is it true that the typical Bavarian Manky Wagen can easily be uprated by simply replacing the throttle pedal with an on/off switch, or is it just the way that they are driven ?
JLD

Don't worry guys, just think how they will feel when they start to "get it" from ZRs ZSs ZTs......Yes!
JJ

You don't even have to be on the road to upset them.

Last year a neighbour bought a new B*W and they thought that they were IT.

Imagine the upset when not only did I come home in my nice new shiny ZS but 8 days later my wife took delivery of her new ZR !
JLD

I'm no apologist for TG, for me it lost all credibility a long time ago. But the point of the piece wasn't 'which of these cars is best' but 'why is the BMW so popular'. The ZT is obviously good, but is it *better* technically than any of the others? I have no idea, but I would love it to be so. Even if it *is* better MG has a long way to go in the image stakes, which is what most people buy on. As far as BMW goes with their image I wouldn't have one as a gift unless I could sell it and keep the money.
Paul Hunt

Interesting to read the comments of Paul & several others as they are so close to what I feel.
I do like many of the BMW cars as products but NOT their image-in fact I recently enquired about the possibility of buying a 320 TD Compact without any BMW badges on it ! The other day I made a list of
all the people I knew who had bought that make -there was only one person whom I really liked !
andrew

Talking of the image of the MG, I have been genuinely surprised by the sheer weight of positive press awarded to the MG ZT. I know I shouldn't be, but for the UK motoring rags to be so uniformly in favour of this car is a refreshing change!

Two of the country's best respected motoring organs, Autocar and Car have both included the ZT amongst their favourite cars of the year. No apologies, no excuses made. I haven't been keeping count, but the MGZT seems to be a regular on the front cover of my favourite mags with remarkable frequency. And always it is associated with being a 'terrific driver's car'. The ZS too has garnered a considerable amount of favour too- but not as much as it's big brother in recent months.

Which is a long way to come around to the point I want to make. People are being exposed with a remarkably consistant message. MGs are good. No, MGs are great! They are grear to drive. They are fast. Most of all they are fun. This this media support, the image of MG will change for the better, and the brand will get stronger. And the motorsports connections will only enhance this.

I reckon the future is bright- the future is octangonal.
Rob Bell

JLD, I had the joy of having to jump start a B*W 3 series from my old Marina saloon one day in freezing weather....the B*W was only three weeks old!
Yorkie

I just wish i knew why the hell people buy them? B*w Sales are going up and up. What HAS upset me this week was seeing B*ws new Coupe in Autoexpress. Looks like a would be X70 to me! (Bastards!)
JJ

Over here BMWs are a sign of prestige to their owners
(often newly rich people who don't mind paying over the odds to fuel high company profits.)The owners are not usually intellectually oriented,nor seeking a different car as there are now so many of them on the road. They also benefit from a certain force on the motorways as others quickly move over to let them pass.
andrew

This thread was discussed between 11/12/2001 and 15/12/2001

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