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Old 10th February 2020, 18:58   #1
minty2
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Default MGZS is kind of interesting

Out of curiosity, I took a test drive today in a 1.0L automatic MGZS. Surprisingly good considering what it costs relative to the competition; but as far as the interior, road noise and overall handling were concerned, not a patch on my R75 Connie SE auto. Where it did really surprise me was the nippy engine married to an excellent and responsive autobox, much more responsive than the old Jatco on my 2.5L tourer. Where I have to coax the Jatco to change down appropriately when needed, the little ZS power train effortlessly responds to the throttle, dropping down as the turbo cuts in to whisk you effortlessly onward through the traffic. Reminded me of a SEAT Leon 1.4L auto I test drove recently, albeit less power of course. While the power train on the ZS is tiny, the little 3 cylinder engine still develops 109PS and is surprisingly sprightly with it. For a crossover, it handles pretty well out on the road, although again, my R75 tourer is more fluid and less prone to rolling around bends or oversteering. Still, I was very impressed with the MGZS and particularly, its excellent responsiveness, at least in the urban jungle. Makes me wonder what Rover could have done with the R/MG75 given a more modern and much slicker auto gearbox! Leaves me wondering where all that raw power developed by the 2.5L KV6 actually goes!
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Old 10th February 2020, 19:07   #2
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I'd be surprised if that "nippy little 3 cylinder" engine will make it past 100k.

The combination of a relatively large heavy body, coupled to a tiny turbocharged engine won't end well.

There is a reason the yanks say "there is no substitute for cubic inches"

Recently when the wife was test driving a Mini 5 door hatch, the salesman was raving on about the 1.5 litre 3 pot turbo, I sharp told him I wasn't interested, in fact not even if I were paid.

Brian
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Old 10th February 2020, 19:45   #3
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Originally Posted by marinabrian View Post
Recently when the wife was test driving a Mini 5 door hatch, the salesman was raving on about the 1.5 litre 3 pot turbo, I sharp told him I wasn't interested, in fact not even if I were paid.

Brian
My parents have a Countryman with that same engine. It's pretty pokey but sounds broken. Yet to find a modern downsized 3-pot that's a pleasant thing to use.
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Old 10th February 2020, 19:58   #4
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Turbos! Quart into a pint pot!
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Old 11th February 2020, 05:29   #5
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Had one in at work last week and as the 4 wheel alignment bed was playing up I had to drive it 5 mile and back to our other nearest branch.
Noisy, cheap, tinny and body roll on corners. Built to a price so buy something else 2 year old with a warranty for the same money and get much better quality.
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Old 11th February 2020, 08:43   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ziggy72 View Post
Had one in at work last week and as the 4 wheel alignment bed was playing up I had to drive it 5 mile and back to our other nearest branch.
Noisy, cheap, tinny and body roll on corners. Built to a price so buy something else 2 year old with a warranty for the same money and get much better quality.
Noisy (road noise) and cheap (plasticky) certainly. But for a brand new crossover, you could forgive the slightly wobbly handling for the excellent drivetrain; up there with the best of them IMO. And it’s well constructed, solid and very well kitted out. Yes, it’s a bit tacky overall and I’ve heard a reviewer somewhere describe it as an Aldi shop in a Sainsbury bag. That just about sums the car up. It’s a bit of a bargain for a new or nearly new car.
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Old 11th February 2020, 11:44   #7
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Originally Posted by marinabrian View Post
I'd be surprised if that "nippy little 3 cylinder" engine will make it past 100k.

Hope that’s not true of the Toyota equivalent (normally aspirated of course), as my girlfriend has a wee Aygo, and I have to say I love it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by marinabrian View Post
There is a reason the yanks say "there is no substitute for cubic inches"

From my amateur Hell’s Angel days – a very long time ago – it was “Ya cain’t beat cubes”


In that context, I find the offbeat feel of the little 3-pot lump pleasantly nostalgic, reminding me of my old Trident, back in 1974


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Old 11th February 2020, 13:57   #8
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Default Mg zs

I have drove these and the MG3, I must admit the MG3 is better built the new shape and great to handle around bends, the MGZS yes tinny bargin on wheels but after depreciation and "no one wants after being brand new" much bigger money loss, the MG3 after 7 months old absolute bargain and bigger in the back seats than my jagaur xj saloon, no joke, the kids moan about it. They prefer the MG3 in the rear , if you have never sat in the MG3 rear seats they are huge because of the roof line is so high up easy get a 6ft 4in gezzer in the back with spare room, id give the MGZS a miss, if i could go for the MG3

Having said that, will those cars do 320000 miles like my Rover 75CDT Tourer which is better now than when brand new and no belts , lovely with no DPF & has drive chain, what cars have drive chains now? none, why they want you to come back and pay a grand for belt changes.

my only moan on the R75 is those darn headlamp replacements, why would you have headlamp replacements driving you to go on the cold floor, like i had too last week yuk!!

but over all and after 18 years ive owned this Rover, still beats anything i have had before and since and that includes the Jaguar xj. period!!
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Old 11th February 2020, 15:41   #9
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Not too long back someone in one of those tried to keep with me on the twisty bits when I had my 190, dropped her a gear and never saw them again, no idea what happened to them.
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Old 11th February 2020, 18:33   #10
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I loved ours and hated it at the same time, Mrs sworks just hated it.
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