USED MG Rover ZR Hatchback (01 - 05)

My car

I have owned a Honda of some type for the last 10 years and bought this car for my son because he fell in love with its looks.

I owned this car for three months when the alarm system activated and the Electronic control unit that controls the alarm failed so that the alarm system could not be de-activated. The car immobilsed itself and had to be towed to a specialist garage by the RAC who could not solve the problem.

The Emergency code did not work and the whole of the ECU and key fobs had to be replaced at the princely sum of £725.

This according to the mechanics is a regular fault with this car and the Emergency code are known not to work.

The AA dealer waranty I bought with the car did not cover the ECU that controls the alarm system. Also if you buy this car check that the boot lock has not ceased up.

Next time I will buy my son a Honda civic that comes with a manufacturer's warranty. This car does not have much to offer beyond looks. It is comparatively expensive to insure.

My car

03 model bought at 2,000 miles and 1 year old. Just sold at 38,000 miles.

Great fun car to drive, especialy on tight twisty B-roads, but the reliabilty was becoming a problem.

Loose trim, rattles, sunroof jamming, central locking packing up and refusing to work, central locking motor breaking (common problem) and the real worry of the head gasket failure led me to get rid of it.

Mechanically it was good with no real troubles, but electrics are the problems. I got the car from a Rover dealer before they went bust, but the dealer didn't want to know after that.

Parts problems, no dealer network. buy something else.

My car

I purchased this car from the local garage, but I think he was glad to get rid of it. I've had it now for just under two years - insurance is cheap, petrol is easy to run on, and it is British (should be proud) should still be building them.

But... in just under two years it has had four new tyres, new brakes, Mot (MoT failure) full service (only its second in its history) with faults (£300) all in, the beginning of rusty spots and a basic cabin - no CD, mp3 etc. But it is now 6 years old in march - if buying one-check engine, body and service history fully.

My car

I OWN A MG ZR+ 1.4 AND CONSIDERING IT IS ONLY A 1.4 IT HAS PLENTY OF ACCELERATION, HOWEVER BUILD QUALITY IS VERY POOR AND YOU HEAR A LOT OF RATTLES FROM THE INTERIOR.IN PARTICULAR I LOVE THE SEATS AS THEY ARE SO COMFORTABLE AND LONG JOURNEYS ARE A BREEZE. ALTHOUGH I AM WEARY REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED TWO ROVERS WITH TRANSMISSION FAILURE.