USED MG Rover ZT Tourer (01 - 05)

My car

I've had this car from new and it has been excellent to own and drive. Its is cheap to run for such a big car with the exception of tyres of course.

The build quality is good and the interior still looks fresh even after 4 years. the only problem Ive had is the radio controls on the steering wheel have stopped working and I had to replace the alternator.

I no longer use the old main dealer and have found a great garage who have no problems getting parts, as this has been an issue for some owners.

I would buy another if i could find a newer version wi th all the toys. A++

My car

If the Rover 75 estate is an ‘old mans’ car then the MG ZT-T is for old men who dress in leathers and sport a variety of tattoos - it is a load-lugger with attitude. The pedestrian look of the 75 has been transformed by the aggressive front styling. The interior has been improved by replacing the old fashioned dials and wood effect panels with modern equivalents. The part leather sports seats are comfortable and are a perfect match for the sporty image.

The MG ZT-T is a very versatile car. It is a smooth, comfortable cruiser which can eat up the mileage without too much wear and tear to the driver. It is also a sure footed sports car which has the road holding that will satisfy the most demanding driver. It can even take the old washing machine down to the tip. The outstanding handling is the cars best feature, but this comes at a price and that is £300 per tyre. When I changed all 4 on my car, the Kwikfit manager almost hugged me – my purchase had hit that days sales target in one go.

My other gripes are the lack of room for the rear passengers considering the overall dimensions and the boot is actually smaller than that of the saloon - if you wish to use the cargo cover that is. Of course the reliability is typical for a British car; so far I have had the fuel pump fail, the rear window leaking and now the central locking does not open the driver’s door (it will lock it though). Then, if I wanted reliability I would have bought a Toyota.

My car

The MG ZT 135hp diesel is a much better car than my previous 2 Passats and 2 Peugeots. Great road holding but still comfortable on long runs, I've driven from Sussex to Perthshire in a day and felt fine, unlike my last Passat that had me wriggling in my seat after the first hour.

A few niggles, rear lights keep failing due to corrosion in the light units, and this should not happen in 2 year old car. Warning lights for the airbags sometimes come on due to faulty switches. I had rattling front dash vents, however once replaced were fine. Wheel tracking was out on the rear wheels from new; you need a dealer that know his stuff to fix it and the trained staff are now getting thin on the ground. The engine is smooth and reliable, 38.5mpg on average over the past 2 years.

If the Chinese start making them I would buy another one, until then I guess it is back to the character less soul less unreliable German Estates!