2005 MG ZS 180 2.5 kv6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Way way underrated

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

The build quality and reliability of these cars are exceptional for MG. If you read reviews for all MG ZS, 45 and 400, you'll find not one of them has a bad comment on that at all, only cars before 2000.

Yeah, the looks maybe dated, but people don't compain about RST, XR3i, XR4i, Capri's, 205's (list goes on) do they?

If this car had a different badge, people would go mad for it. Don't follow the heard, go for originality.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd November, 2005

24th Nov 2005, 12:14

TRUE.

"Build quality is exceptional for MG", but POOR in the real world!

1st Dec 2005, 04:19

Better build quality than seats, fiats, and all french cars, a lot more relaible too.

15th Jan 2006, 06:55

Head Gasket problems.

10th Sep 2007, 07:01

In terms of quality there are a couple of considerations.

Most other cars in this sector (Focus ST, Clio182, Honda Type R) are very rough round the edges - I'm talking about ride, torque steer, noise (tyre roar not a good engine note) etc. This can get very tedious after a while - especially if the car doubles up for other duties like getting to work and shopping. By contrast, the ZS is a pearl - just the right balance of performance and grace.

In terms of quality you have to put this in perspective - you're not paying 30K for a BMW although the quality standards for this MG CAME from BMW when the owned the company. A Clio 182 is CHEAP by comparison - thin rattly plastic, compressed fibre board that falls off if you look at it too long, gaps in panels so again I would have to say that the ZS match's the performance of these rivals, but with a MUCH better package overall.

Besides which Tiff Needel rated it as the best front wheel drive car he had ever driven and he should know.

The Dude.

2005 MG ZS 180 2.5 KV6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Brilliant

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

I am the proud owner of a new 180, and would like to say that this car is brilliant for the price.

After previously owning a Rover 214, I found that this car is so much quicker, even though my old car was dyno'd at 146bhp with mods. Being only about 30bhp more, this car runs rings around it; the handling is superb, and makes you feel confident driving fast.

Being only 21, the insurance isn't that bad at 1500 fully comp.

The build quality of this car is exceptional. Compared to the Rover, it's so much more solid and more up-to-date.

The engine sounds beautiful when you put your foot down, and will definitely show up any car in its price range.

The gearbox feels very solid, and changes are swift and quick.

This car was shown on Fifth Gear, where Tiff Needell said "it's the best FWD in its class by far"; it looked excellent on the track. They also modded it, and it was keeping up with an F3000 round the track. All this for under 17k.

The space inside is huge, and you have plenty of room to move around up front.

Silver seems to be the more elegant colour, that doesn't look boy racer-ish, although there is a pearl white that looks cool.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th November, 2005

29th Nov 2005, 20:46

You won't be dissapointed.

16th Dec 2005, 03:02

Word of warning

Watch out for the head gasket, can be troublesome on the zs180.

18th Dec 2005, 12:40

0-60mph in 8.2sec in my brothers zs180. similar to my st170. They r quick cars, but r in the warm league, rather than hot.

27th Dec 2005, 13:24

Head gasket blown on mine after only 12000 miles of driving!!!

28th Dec 2005, 21:07

Don't know how you got 20 sec 0-100 as I've timed 14.8 standard with gps.

28th Dec 2005, 21:12

The only way you will blow these headgaskets is if you take it all the way to end of redline in each gear, the same as any car.

9th Jan 2006, 15:01

ZS180 is nose heavy anyway (can't handle) around a circuit that is. Focus st170 would leave it standing! & That's a fact.

In reply to 9th Jan 2006, 15:01

10th Jan 2006, 19:26

175-190BHP is above the average for a naturally aspirated 2.5 V6. I've known people get 260BHP when they fit the new Sprintex supercharger onto a KV6; that's Volvo T5 territory.

I ask you this; if the ST-170 is so good, why have Ford just had to use the VOLVO V6 turbocharged engine in their new ST? The answer; FORD CAN'T MAKE THEIR OWN ENGINES! They had to team up with Yamaha to make the new Duratec engines, and even then they cannot attain the same power figures as a ten year old K-Series engine. Even Peugeot-Citroen had to give them a hand for their TDCi engines, which are made in Dagenham by the way.

The only decent engines Ford has under its belt is the Volvo V6 and the Jaguar V8-Supercharged.

The K-Series may have a weak head gasket, but at least they gave making their own engines a go.