Temporary car (Warning: Contains fail)

[Biohazard]

(mind you I don't know if other marques use others to sort their handling etc.)

Quite a few. Just as many don't, but get a 'name' to drop.

 

[mattyprice4004]

I've driven most 'common' cars, I spent quite a long time searching before I picked the ZS.

It was the best handling car I could find at the time for the least money. Interior is crap, sound insulation is crap, but they handle better than anything else I drove at the time, and I did drive 2 different Mondeos. One was a 1999 ST200, and it was a good car but a little thirsty, and also was outhandled by the ZS. The other was a 2001 TDDi and while good, rolled like Dawn French on a water bed.

Before you slate, you should try chucking a ZS round some country roads.

Edit: Everything else Rover apart from the ZS doesn't really have redeeming features, apart from price. The ZS is the first car I've properly enjoyed driving, apart from the 620ti but only because that was comfy and fast, it didn't really handle.

 

[Alibaba99]

It shouldn't have required Rover to get Lotus in to fix their car though (mind you I don't know if other marques use others to sort their handling etc.) in my view. They should have been able to do it themselves.

Lotus Engineering have been making a profit for years sorting the suspension and developing engines for a huge number of other car manufacturers.

 

[DM]

Isuzu Piazza was another winner with Lotus handling, who remembers those things

 

[InvaderGIR]

Lotus Engineering have been making a profit for years sorting the suspension and developing engines for a huge number of other car manufacturers.

So?

My point was that the handling of the Rovers/MGs shouldn't have needed Lotus's input and I can't see them being anywhere near as good as their competition ie e36/e46 BMWs, Mk2/Mk3 Mondeos, etc.

 

[RSClio]

Come and have a go in my 182, I tried a 160 ZR and it was pap compared to my clio.

 

[mattyprice4004]

So?

My point was that the handling of the Rovers/MGs shouldn't have needed Lotus's input and I can't see them being anywhere near as good as their competition ie e36/e46 BMWs, Mk2/Mk3 Mondeos, etc.

IMO the ZS was much better than both Mondeos, I drove all 3 on the same day along with an Astra, and a Mazda 6.

It's all of course my opinion, and the Mondeo was indeed good. Just not as 'sporty' feeling as the ZS.

 

[InvaderGIR]

An Astra...well...the less said about them the better.

By sporty do you mean crashy harsh ride? If so, my BMW has brilliantly sporty suspension.*






*which is in fact in need of replacement.

 

[Biohazard]

Come and have a go in my 182, I tried a 160 ZR and it was pap compared to my clio.

But its got better track and wheelbase

 

[RSClio]

But its got better track and wheelbase

I was expecting something better, it was just 'ok' and when pushed there was quite a bit of bodyroll say around a tight roundabout etc. Good car for the money though but I would have a 306 mind.

 

[Biohazard]

I was expecting something better

What, like a serious comment instead of a light hearted joke?

it was just 'ok' and when pushed there was quite a bit of bodyroll say around a tight roundabout etc. Good car for the money though but I would have a 306 mind.

Clios **** up on three wheels!

 

[RSClio]

Ha that is true!

Yet to get mine to do it though

 

[mattyprice4004]

Ha that is true!

Yet to get mine to do it though

ZRs are awful, totally different suspension to the ZS thank god

I do like the Clio but I have issues fitting into one, I'm 6' 3

 

[RSClio]

Ahh are the ZS's much better? They are quite roomy upfront (Clios) but the back seats are pants ha!!

 

[Fr0dders]

If you treated an ethiopian to a Mcdonalds he would think it was the greatest food in the world, i feel the same applys to this particularly blinkered Rover fanboy.

nice analogy

 

[Biohazard]

ZRs are awful, totally different suspension to the ZS thank god

I do like the Clio but I have issues fitting into one, I'm 6' 3

Yeah, they aren't very accomodating.

I always felt like King kong in mario kart sat in it, seat right back. Looked a bit stupid

 

[agw_01]

To everyone slating the handling of the MG ZS, don't forget that this car uses the identical front double wishbone/passive rear steer setup as the Honda Civic VTi-S which TMK, was not a bad handling car.

 

[Alibaba99]

So?

My point was that the handling of the Rovers/MGs shouldn't have needed Lotus's input and I can't see them being anywhere near as good as their competition ie e36/e46 BMWs, Mk2/Mk3 Mondeos, etc.

An estimated 25% of cars on Europe's roads have something developed by Lotus Engineering either under the bonnet or suspending the wheels. That's an awful lot of incompetent manufactures then, not just MG.

 

[Dogbreath]

It shouldn't have required Rover to get Lotus in to fix their car though (mind you I don't know if other marques use others to sort their handling etc.) in my view. They should have been able to do it themselves.

That's a pretty silly view to be honest; most car manufacturers outsource jobs like this. Perhaps Vauxhall shouldn't have involved Lotus in the VX220 - just think what an awesome car they could have made without the experience of the premier British sports car manufacturer.

 

[mattyprice4004]

Ahh are the ZS's much better? They are quite roomy upfront (Clios) but the back seats are pants ha!!

Pretty big up front, quite small in the back. Nothing like a ZR though, I despised the one I drove. Feels like your sat on the car and not in it!
Just wish they'd spent a little more on shutting the damn thing up, wind noise is terrible.

I'm not fussed what people think, the ZS is a very capable car handling-wise. Being based on the double-wishbone suspension from the VTi as mentioned with some input from Lotus, and having the same chassis as the Integra, it certainly takes the twisties well.

Tiff Needell loved it, saying the ZS was 'the best front wheel drive car I've ever driven'. Can't be that bad then?