the MG ZS/Rover 45.. educate me in the ways of their shiteness.

[DaveDorson]

Hi

 

Sorry to do this.. but I'm looking at another car this weekend all being well.

 

I had a lot of fun with the ZR I bought a while ago and I've done really well in the past with a 400 diesel that I understasnd is what the 45 was based on.  My lasting memory of that car is the ability to corner far quicker than it should have done, and feeling pretty unburstable.. but rusting like a tit on the rear arches..

 

But, as I've never really been a modern Rover/MG fan boy, (I'm a VW guy, sue me...) I've never really taken the time to look at these.

 

So, the MGZS when in a skirt, and Rover 45 when being a Rover.. what's to know about them?

 

I understand that the Kettle Series engine is a bit of a bugbear with a lot of folks, but they don't scare me, you've just gotta be a bit careful with em... ideally I'd want an L Series dizzler because that's a lovely old powerplant and this one is likely to get used as a shuttle between Corby and Stamford via some of the finest backroads that the country has to offer.

 

Realistically, in my budget I'll be looking at 120bhp engine petrol ones rather than anything spectacular performance wise..  Or a dizzler, obviously..

 

The "hooligan" in me is fairly drawn to the MG's, I'm still very much young at heart and probably not your typical AS-er, hence the slammed new beetle and collections of other VAGCrap. however, something with arm chairs and supple suspension might sway me if it's a particularly lovely one.

 

 

[dollywobbler]

I was very impressed with the suspension in the 414 'bubble' that I owned many years ago. Zingy performance and 45mpg was pretty good too. Not sure there's much reason to choose a larger K-Series to be honest. I never did get on with the pedal layout though. Rather than all level, the clutch seemed higher than the brake, which was higher than the throttle. The clutch in particular really did my head in. Also, the main beam was utterly shit. 

 

I think Mr Bollox has the right idea. Seek a 45 V6 auto. Lovely.

[Cleon-Fonte]

The L-series is probably the engine to go for if you want to avoid kettle antics (although a KV6 shouldn't present such problems either). Compared with the near-identical 400 there are more things to go wrong, for instance MAF sensors can present issues and the oil cooler feed pipes will probably be rusty if they've not already been replaced. That and the cambelt interval being nearly half as long. But other than that they're generally solid and are among the only direct injection diesels capable of running on veg.

 

So far as I'm aware the only differences between the 400 and 45 (beside the obvious asthetic ones) are suspension setups (the 45 was firmed up slightly) and front seats, which on the latter are borrowed from the 75.

 

Pre-project drive cars are probably best unless you like pleather and cheap plastiwalnut.

[MarvinsMom]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZR-WHITE-TURBO-T16-TOMCAT-220-820-/112096973887?hash=item1a1980143f:g:qJoAAOSwIgNXsiVG

 

alternativly you could try this for an mg hoon machine.

 

a rover R3 bubble with a T16 turbo engine.

 

now that will go like stink (in a straight line) and with none of the kettle worries or hassles.

 

it is though, i guess, well out of budget 

[rantingYoof]

Rover 45s tended to do irritating things like drop windows off of runners and into the door and the door handles on the outside used to simply break off.

Buy one with an L-series and keep on top of the niggly bits and pieces and it will likely outlast all of mankind. Go for a saloon with the longer worded spec descriptions (Coinesseur?) as you get more goodies.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Get a 45v6 and you will be getting on for 75% as cool as I am.

[DaveDorson]

Get a 45v6 and you will be getting on for 75% as cool as I am.

I achieved that with your old 200 Quattro.

 

 

Damn I miss that thing

[UmBongo]

Make sure you buy one with the kick ass MG decals plastered all over it.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Hey it was a great car the old 200 tq wasn't it. Hope its still alive.

[DaveDorson]

Hey it was a great car the old 200 tq wasn't it. Hope its still alive.

Twas.

 

I gave it to a friend on the proviso he'd restore it.. who sold it on, as an unfinished project.. We are not friends anymore.. No idea where it is now. (Him selling it on may have added to us not being friends)

[New POD]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MG-ZR-WHITE-TURBO-T16-TOMCAT-220-820-/112096973887?hash=item1a1980143f:g:qJoAAOSwIgNXsiVG

 

alternativly you could try this for an mg hoon machine.

 

a rover R3 bubble with a T16 turbo engine.

 

now that will go like stink (in a straight line) and with none of the kettle worries or hassles.

 

it is though, i guess, well out of budget 

 

 

I quote : Please note car is still registered as a 1.4 on logbook it is up to new keeper to change this car as it has sat for the last year and as now have a van

 

Little things like this boil my piss.

[Cavcraft]

A real shiter would actively seek out a Rover 420 petrol.

[Skut]

Had an oxygen blue hatch for a few months. The L-series diesel was likeable thing, economical.   Dashboard was deeply naff and not likeable.  75 gear knob was partial compensation.

 

I'd avoid the serpent alloys or swap for something else if it has them as the ride was shocking.   Bumps would cause the headlamps to visibly shake at night.   I'd hazard a guess and say the low profile tyres needed to keep gearing right were the culprit.  

[Rod/b]

414 'bubble' .

WASH YOUR MOUTH OUT