8th Dec 2004, 10:14

I don't think you could accuse the ZR of being a 'fake sports car' it's clearly not a sports car at all it's a warm to hot hatchback (depending on the engine). As for comparisons to 206s it sounds like the comments are made by people who wouldn't be seen dead going into a Rover showroom so will not have driven one. Drive one before prejudging. As for quoting Jeremy Clarkson, the well known 'unbiased' motoring journalist, as a reason for disliking a car is plain ridiculous. I have driven both and owned both MG/Rover cars and Peugeots - the ZR is undeniably an old design, but is leagues ahead of a Rover 25 in terms of handling (and the 25 is by no means a bad handling car). The ZRs problems related to its rivals are mainly packaging and practicality - not really a problem in the hot hatch market. The Peugeot 206 is a good looking, decent car, but far from the all conquering hero people seem to think it is with a catalogue of electrical problems and a low rent interior.

2nd Jan 2005, 11:12

This car is not the fastest 1.4 available, an example being the new Punto Sporting 1.4, its faster, has VVT and six speed low ratio sports gearbox. My friend has got MG ZR105 and he is always left eating my dust!

9th Jan 2005, 14:34

I am the original author of the review and have just read the various comments posted. To address the last one about the Punto being faster, fair enough. I didn't exactly go and look at the specs of EVERY 1.4 on the market, but from the ones I seen (for about 7 different cars) the 0-60 on the ZR was better. It does have a somewhat limited top speed though. Obviously I have had the car longer now (3.5 months) and still no problems. Everything works perfectly and it starts every time with no issues.

True, this car is based on a very old design, but I have to ask, "so what?". At the end of the day it still looks gorgeous and handles like a dream. Obviously many agree it looks stunning as it was the best selling hatchback in 2004. Everyone who has seen my car loved it.

For the record, I loved my 206 (having driven it for 6 years before buying my ZR). All I am saying is that the handling and performance on my ZR (same engine size) is much better. The 206 rolls far too much, is too high off the road and the power steering was far too floaty. Still a great car though.

Anyway, thanks for the comments, at least the constructive ones.

17th Feb 2005, 12:37

Oh please. If you're going to dislike the ZR (and indeed any car) purely on the word of Clarkson, then well... be shallow. The car may be ageing, but then, so is he. As the saying goes... you never know what will happen until you try the ZR, you might end up liking it - it wasnt the top sellign hot hatch of 2004 for nothing.

28th Feb 2005, 17:45

I have owned a Rover 25 for the past 3 years and have just upgraded to a ZR 105. Although the body and chassis may be 20 years old, I reckon its got the best handling in its class. Build quality always comes up with rovers, but my previous car had no rattles or such after 3 yrs. I am well pleased with my MG, so what if its not that fast it looks the dogs, and with 1/2 leather & suede seats,17" alloys, 6 cd system & air con who can complain for £10000.

9th Apr 2005, 11:15

I don't really rate these MG's as they are Sheep in wolfs clothing! They have bad build quality as they are still afterall a ROVER! As I put this out and you guys didn't know this at the time, but now Rover are practically no-more meaning it will be very hard to sell on the car, etc, etc! I'm only writing this as my mate was going to buy 1 but after the problems at Rover and practically every 18-22 year old owning 1 it has put him off totally! Plus J. Clarkson is probably correct in the long run! I'm 25 and drive a Civic Type-R so I know that performance, realibility do help a lot! 2 Years abuse of a car and only normal servicing and brake pads is the only thing I've had to fix! Now that's what I call GREAT!!!

2nd May 2005, 01:51

I have had my ZR120 for nearly three years now and have had no more build quality problems than my Dads VW Golf mk4, it may not be the fastest hatch on the road, but for its age it can turn more heads than most hot hatches out there, and while it is not as fast as a civic type r it is a few thousand cheaper to buy and a lot cheaper to insure. I have had no mechanical problems at all, unlike my friends Peugeot which lives in the garage and my collegues Passat which is quite partial to an overnight stay at the dealers. The point is no matter what car you purchase someone is going to be unlucky enough to buy a lemon!

3rd May 2005, 09:03

I am a fairly poor student, 21 and have had my 1.6 litre Rover 200 for nearly a year. I do love it, I hate boy racers, but I have to admit I would absolutely love to own the MG ZR 160. It is sadly one of my greatest ambitions. I am devastated by the current state at MG Rover because I have been saying for years that in my opinion, they are the best looking and most desirable 'reasonable' cars on the road. If I can help it I will never drive anything, but MG Rover cars. Every model they have brought out since 1995 has been absolutely beautiful. Rover have been fighting a battle for so long with the media and 'clarksons' spreading rubbish about them, foreign car manufacturers supported by their governments who bombard us with propaganda like advertising and most of us seem to have fallen for it. Somebody mentionned not wanting to bee seen dead in a Rover dealers, well I hope there are still some left when I start earning, because I won't be seen dead in a flippin Peugeot dealers. Long live the ZR and the ZS and all of them. Fantastic British cars.

21st May 2005, 16:27

I have owned my mg 105 now 16 months now and I must say what a fantastic car. The 1.4 engine is strong and fly's when you get it over 4k revs. The handling and the way the seats hod you in place when you go around the sharp bends on them country roads is just amazing, not many cars can beat it around them bends. I no that MG ROVER have had trouble and gone into administration, but that does not mean that the mg is not a good car they rock and always will, I plan to own mine for years to come.