MG ZT/ZT-T Pre and post facelift.

Soldato
Joined
19 Jun 2004
Posts
19,437
Location
On the Amiga500
Hi,

Im interested to know is there much mechanical difference in the two MG ZT models or is it simply aesthetics and gadgetry? I understand BMW owned them when they were built right? Just wonder if there is anything substantially lacking in the newer shape over the older.

I was looking at this one here . I went down to have a look at it and the dealer had the engine in pieces replacing the belts and I think he said the injectors, I cant remember too well now. Previously owned by a company so it's been serviced. It has numerous scuffs and scratches though so clearly a work horse.

Test drove a saloon ZT 2002 earlier, that was nice but the gas pedal seemed unusually stiff :confused: . I thought that 2004 ZTT Ive linked was a good price. What do you reckon?
 
Pre Face lift is better built. Post facelift is project drive.

However, you don't want a pre 01 car as these are Cowley based and were made during peoples coffee breaks. Longbridge cars are much better (of which most ZTs are). Whilst BMW owned them, indeed, removing most of the trim from the doors will highlight the amount of BMW branded parts (clips, seals, trims, etc), only the diesel carried a BMW engine. Facelift models were sunbject to Project Drive (a cost cutting exercise) and it can and does show.

Aircon fans are the same as the rad fans, pre facelift, these sucked and kept breaking. On facelift versions, the fans were revised.

For petrols, it's vitally important all the belts have been done as scheduled.

Don't be fooled by "leather trim". Onlt the V8s and 75s had 'real' leather. Otherwise, it's pleather unless spec'd/ If it's full leather (as in, no alcantara) then it's real leather too.

The one you've linked to looks very nice and well cared for although no interior pics. I'd say price is bang on, perhaps try for £3200 > £3500
 
Last edited:
Exactly, read the rest of my post :p

The majority of ZTs are Longbridge cars, so, unless he was looking for a 75 (which, I know he's not), it doesn't apply :)
 
I did read the rest of the post where it became abundantly clear you didnt realise they only started producing the ZT in 2001. There are no pre 01 ZT's and he's not buying a 75..
 
Slow day?

Next time, try adding to the post rather than nitpicking. It's actually quite good fun. I'm fully aware of the production runs of the ZT. But thanks anyway.

The paragraph was purely in relation to the marque in general not the ZT specifically (clear for all to see when I used the world 'car' as opposed to 'ZT') :)
 
I did add to the post by pointing out that all the cars he will be looking at are 2001 onwards.

Feel free to tell us about 2003 530i SE's next time somebody asks about buying an M Sport, as its the same thing ;)
 
i like to provide info to an audience of people who may have similar questions. If i had captain planet on msn, i would have tailored my responses to suit. However, this is a public forum, viewed by the public ;).

Its nice to be diverse :)
 
[TW]Fox;15907719 said:
I did read the rest of the post where it became abundantly clear you didnt realise they only started producing the ZT in 2001. There are no pre 01 ZT's and he's not buying a 75..

had a bad day fox ?

glad to see its not only me your hitting about the head with a pedantic stick. Give it a rest.
 
Ah so the 2004 generally aren't as well built then? The black one looks better in the pics than IRL, it was suprisingly scruffy for a car of its age but granted it was in bits being serviced and it was a work horse for a company so it was hardly loved, albeit regularly serviced. I walked away from the dealer a little dubious though, it seemed a bit slap dash that place and the dealer didn't know they did a V8 with RWD. He was very jack-the-lad like talking the talk yet he didn't seem to know what he was on about :D

I think I need to drive a few more to figure it's what I want. The pre facelift models can be had for around £2.5k, for that you can get a lot of car. I've never been interested in MGs but these just appeal to me for some reason. At most of these dealers there is a tidy Mondeo Ghia X TDCi though, and they beckon me to be sensible and boring :o
 
I think the pre-facelift ZT is a great looking car. The facelift is pretty terrible, its a bit more 'modern' but it smacks of desperation if you know what I mean. The pre-facelift just looks more.. right.
 
Friend at work has a 190 03 model with a honda v6 as far as I can remember him telling me. Had an issue with the thermostat changed and not had a blip since. Apparently it's a common problem with the cooling in it. This is all just hearsay though so would be worth searching for confirmation. Must admit it's a nice car though. If I could afford it I'd have one now instead of looking for a bloody focus!
 
This is the one I test drove today. It was solid and sounded good through 3-4k. Only down side to this one was the drivers seat was torn.
 
Friend at work has a 190 03 model with a honda v6 as far as I can remember him telling me.

The number of people that try to convince themselves that their Rover has a Honda engine is amazing (especially the old 2.0 T series which many will not believe is a Rover engine). The 75/ZT was never fitted with any Honda engine from the factory, they were either Rover petrol engines or BMW diesels (or a Ford V8 for a small number of cars).
 
Back
Top Bottom