MG ZT-T 190+ / octavia vrs questions

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 14:32

i've been looking at these cars, drove both yestaday
both are a good price, but the ZT is well cheap! (i know this usually means something!)
i liked both the vrs was fastest, but i did like the zt a lot too, the zt felt very well made and sure on the road, not that the vrs didn't but it seemed more noticable on the ZT.
now the zt has 102k and is a '51 - a lot of miles but i've had a good look round and it's good - the wheels need refurbing the f/r bumbers could do with painting a few small bits of paint work wanted(not needed), but thats what i do for a living so is nothing to me, just something to haggle with!

i suppose i'm leaning towards the zt as it's a estate and i'm p/xing my a4 avant - the room does come in handy from time to time, but not essential - the vrs too has a big boot plus it being a hatch

the engine in both sounded good, i was expecting the zt to sound like it had a bag of nails in it on start up but didn't.

whats to look for on both cars?
tuning the ZT ???

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 15:03

cheers
both are '51s

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 15:12

is the 2.5 ZT engine the same as the 2.5 BMW engine?

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 15:21

The plenum chamber drains get blocked

erm, whats that, and where is it!

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 15:50

Oracle said:
No, it means ZT - Touring

Only Turbo in this range was the 1800 lump.

The Ventilation Plenum Chamber holes are located to the left and right of the secondary bulkhead. On later models, one was blocked off anyway. They are prone to collecting leaves, which block the holes. Then in heavy rainfall, jet wash or car wash, because the water cannot drain, it floods the ECU running into a £1k repair bill!

cheers!

Dead Dog · 5 Mar 2006 at 20:06

i've drove both the cars i'm thinking of buying, as it stands now the ZT is just in front, this purely down to the price of the damn thing!
we've had both cars in at work before and i've always liked both, the vrs has a lot of boot space. but obv. the zt-t wins in that department!
both are 51 plates the octavia has 88k, the ztt 102k, so theres not a huge amount there, this was just a post to ask the question of things to look for, and as no alarm bells have rung and the laptop has exploded it looks like both are good for it, i know the vrs will live long VAG 'n all, but 102 on a rover/mg i wasn't sure about, and as i've said both are in fair/good nick - i'm not expecting a minta at that age & miles.
thanks for all the replies.