USED MG Rover ZS Hatchback (01 - 05)

My car

I owned this car for 3 years from new. I was looking to replace my aging 45 when I test drove it. I was 5 minutes into the test drive when I new I was going to buy this car - the noise coming from the engine and exhaust was awesome!

It felt sluggish for the first few k's miles and then it started getting more economical and revving much more freely.

You get a steady build-up to 4000 rpm and the BAM! The engine comes alive; keep that v6 revving and the smile on your face gets bigger and bigger. As for the handling, the car is rock-solid on the road, like a limpet.

I eventually sold it for an RX-8. It felt like I was dumping the girl-next-door for a page 3 model and then wishing I was back with the g-n-d after the first night!

If you have one - hold on to it, this is a real modern classic sports saloon like the Lotus Cortina of years gone by. If you haven't owned one, get one while they are still relatively cheap. You won't be disappointed.

My car

The only car I have ever owned that makes you smile for no apparent reason! This car messes with you! Your head says it is an old early 90's Honda with hard 90's plastics,scattered switchgear and cramped cabin so must be rubbish! Your heart falls for the V6 noise,The mid range shove and above all the sublime handling! My car was Anthracite(Black)metalic with Chrome mirrors,Red brake calipers and the half leather seats with red inserts and stitching. My one was a 2001 model so had the gloss grey trim on the dash and doors. My car felt well made and rattle free.I got around 16mpg daily and 27mpg on a long run. I regret ever selling her!

To sum up the ZS180, This car is the poor dog that nobody should love but we do! All drivers of 3 series,Seat cupra and the likes have no idea how fantastic a car they may have overlooked.Every owner of a ZS180 will know this must be one of the most adictive cars on the road and any issues regarding dated design are very quickly forgotten. Awesome!

My car

I love my MG I previously owned a MG ZT 190 but my ZS 180 Saloon knocks the pants of it for performance the only downer is the oldish interior although my car in Trophy Yellow has a yellow stripe on the dash and door inserts and yellow inserts on the steering wheel I bought my car when it had 6K miles it now has 60K the purchase of a warranty has paid off recently I had to replace the Inlet Manifold expensive but my Black Horse warranty settled the bill I have replaced a blown exhaust with a Piper Performance Kit and it sounds even more awesome now than the factory fit, I have fited a Viper Cold Air Induction Kit and love the growl it gives and the surge of power now provided by the combination of the exhaust and induction is very noticable. With that extra response I updated the front discs to EBC Grooved and dimpled with Green Stuff pads and my MG now runs on Dunlop P9000's which have reduced road noise and enhanced its ability on the curves. The car provides the driver with confidence, I love it to bits, it still turns eyes, sounds fantastic but not boy racerish and performs well out of its class. A bonus has been membership of the MG Owners Club, cheap parts and fantstic advice, well worth the membership fee Since I have had my MG's my daughter now drives an MG ZR160 and my Bro owns an MG ZR120 One complaint: The Boot hydraulic rams are not man enough for the spoiler, even after several bonks on the bonce from the closing boot I still love her to bits

My car

I've had my ZS180 for 3 years now, just a few months before Rover/MG went pop. So far I've have to spend cash on a replacement throttle body, which was sticking, replacement clutch hydraulics (thanks to Sheddist on the xpower forum), a faulty Michelin tyre and currently the air con isn't working. I've also got a pretty bad water leak in the back, which is ok as long as the car is parked facing up a hill.

Mine has had a little bit of 'surgery' done on it also. As standard it was running at 173bph. I've had an IMG Maxogen induction, Dastek Unichip and Piper back box fitted to the cost of approx £1200. The car's been re-mapped and is now pumping out 191bhp. I must admit, for the cost outlay I was expecting more, but there we go.

'Enjoy' the car and you will get between 17 and 25 mpg, but drive like a Rover driver (grin) and you can get around 33 out of it.

But I leave the best point until last. It always brings a smile to my face.

I really do love this car.