MG ZS, any good?

pastymuncher · 19 Jan 2011 at 19:11

Right be gentle as this is my first thread in Motors.

I have found a nice 2005 MG ZS+ 1.6 for sale for £2150 ono. It has full service history, 39k on the clock and is immaculate. MOT'd and taxed for a year as well. Locally there's not much else for around £2k apart from older Fiat Punto 1.2's and 03 plate Fiesta 1.25/1.4L and they will have about as much get up and go as a old biddy with a zimmer frame. I need a car soon as my MK1 Focus is on it's last legs and this seems to be a good buy. I would appreciate your opinions of the MG please.

Third Opinion · 19 Jan 2011 at 19:26

Errm. No imho.

The ZS is basically a classic car in today's design. If you must arm yourself with a load of head gaskets and don't have a crash. Body panels are disappearing quicker than hot cakes.

You will be buying a car that was developed in 1990 and sold with an over tuned K-series engine that is notorious for head failures.

Ask yourself why is a 2005 sporty car priced less than an 03 ladies shopper.

As with most things if it seems to good to be true, it usually is.

realscot · 19 Jan 2011 at 19:32

The 1.6 K series seemed to have less issues with its head gasket. Mechanically (engine and gearbox not included) those MG's are probably better than most of the french cars of the same age, I rarely see much problems outside the engine bay on them, and mechanical parts are still very widely available and cheap too. If you don't abuse it you probably won't have any issues, needs to be under 2 grand to be a good deal though.

pastymuncher · 19 Jan 2011 at 20:49

Well i don't intend crashing it anyway. Been claim free for 11 years now, 15 if you count the 4 years i served in Germany. Insurance is cheap too, just £59 more than my current Focus making it £228 a year fully comp. Were'nt the head gasket issues around 75k miles? If so it's got a fair way to go before worrying about that. Was aiming for £1800-1900 as well.

act smiley · 19 Jan 2011 at 20:52

They're not world-beatingly good, but suprisingly decent. The engines aren't going to die as often as people say, but do need a close eye kept on them and some tlc, given that the headgaskets usually go as a symptom and not a cause.

Having said that, it doesn't seem like an amazing deal - it seems at least £500 overpriced. Surely as your Focus isn't dead yet you could travel a bit further for a better deal?

edit; Headgasket issues aren't always at a particular mileage as there's often a contributing factor like a knackered water pump or sticky thermostat; they go comparatively easily if there's a fault in the cooling system somewhere.

Janesy B · 19 Jan 2011 at 20:55

If it was a 2002 car it'd be worth £1500 but bear in mind the age. 2k for a 2005 car is good going.

Dogbreath · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:12

Third Opinion said:
You will be buying a car that was developed in 1990 and sold with an over tuned K-series engine that is notorious for head failures.

And you will also be reading a load of half truths from people that really don't have much of a clue.

"over tuned"?? A 1.6 litre engine producing 110bhp is "over tuned" in what way exactly?

Wicksta · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:20

Dogbreath said:
And you will also be reading a load of half truths from people that really don't have much of a clue.

"over tuned"?? A 1.6 litre engine producing 110bhp is "over tuned" in what way exactly?

With this thread, the "BMW and Merc autoboxes will last 200k, they are the best in the world with Japanese autoboxes" and "LOL Nissan are much better than Renault" I'm beginning to wonder if Third Opinion is deliberately trolling today.

mattyprice4004 · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:22

Third Opinion said:
Errm. No imho.

The ZS is basically a classic car in today's design. If you must arm yourself with a load of head gaskets and don't have a crash. Body panels are disappearing quicker than hot cakes.

You will be buying a car that was developed in 1990 and sold with an over tuned K-series engine that is notorious for head failures.

Ask yourself why is a 2005 sporty car priced less than an 03 ladies shopper.

As with most things if it seems to good to be true, it usually is.

Haha, you're funny.

Classic car? Not entirely. Would you consider the Integra or Civic a classic car? They're outdated, but hardly a classic.

And I'd like you to find me some body parts you can't get - unless you get the one with the silly ZS180 body kit, you'll find all parts are available, Mr Fountain Of Knowledge.

Developed in 1990? That's funny, as the shell was from 1996, and the suspension heavily revised in 2000. Can I borrow your time machine? It sounds fun!

And over tuned? You might want to write to Honda, they had 180bhp out of a 1.6 or 1.8 (Can't remember which) well before 2005, I'm sure they'll benefit from your obvious excellent knowledge and expertise in the Motoring world, maybe you should apply for CEO!
If you know anything about cars, you'd know they aren't actually that prone to failure and with a bit of TLC it is entirely preventable.

I have a 2003 ZS, and it's much better than the pap you see on the roads. It's not particularly quiet, but a damn good hoot on the back roads and cheap to own and run.

There are places for people like you, sadly it's not Motors mate.

mattyprice4004 · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:26

Wicksta said:
With this thread, the "BMW and Merc autoboxes will last 200k, they are the best in the world with Japanese autoboxes" and "LOL Nissan are much better than Renault" I'm beginning to wonder if Third Opinion is deliberately trolling today.

He's not trolling, just clearly knows nothing about cars.

Janesy B · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:26

Funny how this Third Opinion chap said he stopped posting because of stupid arguments. Irony?

Brian8bit · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:27

I was looking at Rover 75s and a number of guys on owners forums have imported parts from China (SAIC Roewe) which are exact fits. Wings, bonnets and grills, front and rear lights. Unfortunately Roewe don't appear to be making the ZS so that option for parts is out.

Wicksta · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:28

mattyprice4004 said:
He's not trolling, just clearly knows nothing about cars.

Agreed, but as Janesy said he 'didn't come to motors because of the stupid arguments' and has waded in with a load of obviously clueless or (hopefully) made up posts today, almost as if he's looking for people to shoot him down.

I'm calling shenanigans.

Third Opinion · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:29

Dogbreath said:
And you will also be reading a load of half truths from people that really don't have much of a clue.

"over tuned"?? A 1.6 litre engine producing 110bhp is "over tuned" in what way exactly?

Ok it is state of the art car that is not basically a Rover 45 with a bodykit produced in 1990. In fact MG company was so good that BMW didn't sell it for a Tenner after ploughing millions into a sinking ship. The K series engine was and still is state of the art despite being introduced in 1998. It did not suffer frequent head gasket failure's although it is well documented..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K_engine

1.6 engines of the eighties like the FORD CVH only achieved 105bhp in tuned form without head gasket failures.. The later Zetec introduced in the 90's could develop anything from 100BHP to 130bhp.

Are you happier with that?

Third Opinion · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:34

Wicksta said:
With this thread, the "BMW and Merc autoboxes will last 200k, they are the best in the world with Japanese autoboxes" and "LOL Nissan are much better than Renault" I'm beginning to wonder if Third Opinion is deliberately trolling today.

WTF is your problem. Of course BMW, Mercs and Jap boxes all well known to fail regularly. Where is your evidence???

Nissan better than Renault. Reliability charts Nissan 7th out of 32. Renault 30 out of 32. Why is it considered trolling stating facts?

Here is a well known recommended warranty company what the hell do they know? http://www.reliabilityindex.com/top-100

Guess they are all wrong.

http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/what-car-reliability-survey/the-top-100-cars/217350

Janesy B · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:42

Third Opinion said:
Ok it is state of the art car that is not basically a Rover 45 with a bodykit produced in 1990. In fact MG company was so good that BMW didn't sell it for a Tenner after ploughing millions into a sinking ship. The K series engine was and still is state of the art despite being introduced in 1998. It did not suffer frequent head gasket failure's although it is well documented..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rover_K_engine

1.6 engines of the eighties like the FORD CVH only achieved 105bhp in tuned form without head gasket failures.. The later Zetec introduced in the 90's could develop anything from 100BHP to 130bhp.

Are you happier with that?

Why are you comparing a 16v DOHC engine with an 8v SOHC engine from 1980. Surely a better comparison would be Ford's Zeta (Zetec-E) engine which was built to compete with the K series? i suspect you don't have a clue what you are talking about. Anyway when you bolted on a turbo to the CVH, outputs of 200+ bhp are possible so lol@you.

Wicksta · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:43

Third Opinion said:
WTF is your problem. Of course BMW, Mercs and Jap boxes all well known to fail regularly. Where is your evidence???

Nissan better than Renault. Reliability charts Nissan 7th out of 32. Renault 30 out of 32. Why is it considered trolling stating facts?

Assuming you aren't trolling, I would suggest you have a look on Google for a bit. I'm off to bed now but I've owned a few automatic BMWs, my first in 1995 and I've come across various problems and in later years researched them thanks to the internet. As I said in the other thread my 325i is on it's second box (a ZF box, I'm still unsure if you realise BMW don't make the gearboxes in this car).

Anyway, some educational reading for you - someone has even dedicated a website to 'the most reliable gearboxes along with the japanese ones, will last 200k':
http://www.noreverse.org/

Plenty more on google, e46fanatics etc.

I don't have a problem either, no need to get aggressive. Getting aggressive just makes me believe more you are deliberately trolling in motors after your "I NEVER COME HERE BECAUSE EVERYONE ARGUES" then you suddenly post a whole day's worth of guff.

bLuEuK · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:55

pastymuncher said:
Right be gentle as this is my first thread in Motors.

I have found a nice 2005 MG ZS+ 1.6 for sale for £2150 ono. It has full service history, 39k on the clock and is immaculate. MOT'd and taxed for a year as well. Locally there's not much else for around £2k apart from older Fiat Punto 1.2's and 03 plate Fiesta 1.25/1.4L and they will have about as much get up and go as a old biddy with a zimmer frame. I need a car soon as my MK1 Focus is on it's last legs and this seems to be a good buy. I would appreciate your opinions of the MG please.

I'm not sure how similar suspension is between the 1.6 ZS and the 180 but if it is at all similar I would urge you to test drive it and see if you can live with the ride as that may be enough to put you off, it certainly isn't for everyone. You may be surprised just how much fun it is to chuck around, mine still makes me smile every time I drive it.

Interior may also put you off as it certainly shows its age, however I doubt the rivals at this price bracket are going to show it up much if at all. On a plus side the seats are great

.

I would take the HGF comments with a pinch of salt as they are no where near as common as people seem to think, if the car has been looked after then its unlikely to suddenly implode. It may already have the uprated head gasket on it in which case then its no more likely to fail than any other car. Id imagine it will soon be due for a cambelt change as its pretty much 6 years old now so look to see if its already been done, if not then think about getting some prices from trusted garages and factor that in to the buying price when haggling.

For what its worth I had a '95 1.4 400 before buying my 180. I ran it for two years and never had a problem with the gasket, it did like a rotor arm or two though

I'm not 100% sure on prices for these but the 180s are goign for under 2000 for 03-04 last time I was looking, so id certainly see if you can knock it down a bit.

Shad · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:55

You're very, very unlikely to see a HGF on an EU3 K-Series (which is what will be in an '05 Rover), especially on the 1600. Back to steel dowels and a number of other revisions by then. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but the failure rate is more like that of other manufacturers.

Citation

The "HGF record" is getting a bit boring these days. Someone change it, please.

Third Opinion · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:57

Well I have owned a Nissan Primera 2.0 LX auto on a 96 plate, had it from 30k. Gave it to my sister at 170k. Car was scrapped in 2007 with 246k on the original box but was written off due to a rear end shunt.

My ex wife still has a 1998 Mercedes C200 auto. Has now covered 210k. Original box.

My father has a Ford Mondeo Zetec 2.2 diesel auto. Now covered 146k and is a 52 plate and I believe the box is used by Nissan but you better check.

All my claims other than above about my own cars I have given evidence. Yet I branded as a troll as I have said things people do not like despite being backed up with evidence.

I really don't get some of you people. You let certain members get away with speaking their mind but jump on others like me even though I make sure I back up my claims with evidence. Best thing is you live in your dream world that MG is a brilliant make and I shut up.