Views on MG ZS 180
 

I am looking at changing my car but only have a budget of 5k I had a quick search and came across the above, I have done a little bit of research and they look great value, a 04 plate low milage with all the bells and whistles can be got for around 5k. As with any MG there are a few issues :-) has a weak clutch and can suffer problems with the vis unit but there a few prefentative steps you can take.

Getting parts is not a problem and there are a few specialists out there.

I know they havent got the greatest image and they rattle a bit ( bear in mind I am used to a saxo tho ! :-)

Just wondered if any one has run one and have any views ?

Cheers Jez

MG : MG ZS 180 Saloon

i like those and they go well :) same engine as the ZT 190 and thats pulls well once moving.

id have one

Just seem great value ( and I know its a rover :-) but a 3 year old V6 for 5k cant be bad. Can it ! :-(

No it cant. Always been a fan of these & there isnt much that goes wrong mechanically, though you do get a few trim squeeks.

Good Luck :thumb:

Cheers mate, the saxo is the king of "trim squeeks" lol. Just slightly concerned as its a V6 and with Mr Brown making his speach tom ! Don't want to be paying £400 tax a year !!

Chassis on them is great (will happily match most UK scoobs on mid-corner speed, but obviously not for traction), engine very decent, reasonable kit, not a top-class super modern interior but perfectly adequate (anyway most of us here cope with Subaru interiors fine!). All in all a very pleasant drive and at that price I'd take one. I'm speculating here, but I think the £400/year tax is likely to be on the top band which only applies to very recent cars, you're likely to be more like half that on a 3 year old 2.5 V6.

Sister-in-law drives one daily, only downside is that she's getting about 24mpg in normal use (albeit mainly shortish journeys) and only 30ish on a run.

Ouch, ah well means I will be collecting more points on my points card LOL... Only doing about 10000 miles PA, most of them about 10 mile journeys so I guess I will be closer to 24 MPG.

Quite simply i wish i never sold my ZS, never went wrong had a great induction roar, peachy smooth motor and handled really really well, i took mine on a few track days and i was very impressed so was the guy in the TVR who both span mid corner trying to keep up and commented that it was the only front wheel drive car he had ever seen with smoke comming off the rear wheels. - Not sure if that is good or not!

Anyway yeah my impreza sti with its 4wd drive and 305bhp is quicker and probably more fun but the old MG came pretty darn close! In fact ive toyed with getting anothe one!

Get one, you wont regret it!

I used to have a MGZR before my Impreza and I've driven the ZS 180 a few times, for the money they are fantastic cars.

If you want more info on the ZS 180, check out BRITISH CAR ENTHUSIASTS - Website Theres a fair few members on there that have them.

Bought a new '51' plate and got 4k private sale and bought the '06' EU import WRX, now got an '07' WRX.
It rattled, wheel bearings went, warped disc after 25K.. Got rid, tinny not substance to it. Other than that ok. Mate just sold it last month and got £2,800.

I had a ZS 180 before I got the Scooby. I was a great motor for a front wheel drive car, It had the full X Power treatment which is worth doing if you are getting one, zorst , induction, srings etc.(de cat is a must):thumb:

It handled great but it is a bit front heavy with that KV6 in it, a mate of mine had a ZS120 which is the 1.8 K serries (Like the Elise) that was better in the handling stakes I thought after driving it. The only down side is the Insurance and the fuel consumption, dont expect it to be a lot beter than a scooby cos it aint!

They are amazing handling and they go too;)
the only things really are that they do drink and tax might be kinda high especially with the governments ideas!.
apart from that they are absolutly brilliant!

Just back from a test drive, was in the x-pack grey, didnt go for it the end as it had a little bit of knocking between 2500/3500 revs which could mean a prob with the VIS unit, defo had a lot of get up and go for the ££

Jez

Good car, great engine but the interior is from the 1980's and they look very dated.

My experience of Rover ownership is if you can put up with minor quality niggles they are very good cars for the money. In fact the car you are talking about is an absolute bargain!

I had a ZS and the only drawback was the image & perception that other people have of MGRs. It was a little on the thirsty side too, worse than your average hot hatch but not as bad as an Impreza. I also found mine really hard to sell and had to slash the price, so haggle hard ;o) I'd definitely recommend one, especially if on a budget.

Looks like I have a 52 plate sorted, I have been haggling hard, walked away as I needed to have a think about it and sent them a offer thru the net so hopefully get it sorted tom.... What year was your zs and how much did you get ?

Mine was a 51 plate that I bought for £8k at 2.5 years old and sold at 3.5 years for £5.5k with about 32k miles on it. It was around the time MGR went bust though, which didn't exactly help residuals! I just had absolutely no interest for weeks looking for a better price. Dropped it to £5.5k and it went a couple of days later. You win some, you lose some lol...

Well I have bought one, pick it up on 2-4-07 ( I am a cheap skate, not loosing 27 days worth of tax :-)....