MG ZT just badge engineering... Discuss.

[Bobthebeard]

Just curious, as having both a Rover 75 and a MG ZT. They, to me feel like different cars.. Well, they are different cars obviously but you know what I mean!

The MG doesn't just feel like the Rover with an MG badge stuck on it. Same engine and same power, but two sides of a coin.The nay sayers keep bleating about badge engineering, but IMHO MG Rover did well in creating two very different cars from the same stock.

[Barry Cade]

I always wanted a top spec 75. I now have one. I like looking at it, I like sitting in it, I really like the noise it makes. I just can't quite love it.I don't need it. I promised my wife I would never sell it. Never fancied an MG for some reason,even though I should prefer it to a 75.

 

#Quandry.

[STUNO]

I have never done more than look at either, so would I be wrong to expect the 75 to be tilted toward the luxury and soft ride market and the MG to be set up for a more sporting and responsive ride?  Interesting discussion !

[AMC Rebel]

They aren't all the same engine same power. A lot depends on age too. The early 75s were more luxurious. Then the project drive stuff robbed them of some of that. The suspension settings on the early MGs were different from the Rover, but the facelift made them common but with the option to specify the original Rover setup.

They are badge engineering but more in the VAG mould.

[Hendry]

I am not a huge fan of the facelift 75s, think the prefacelift looks miles better, and the facelift feels cheaper inside too. The MG on the other hand looks good in both pre and facelift guises and weirdly the facelift MG doesn't share the cheap feeling of the facelift 75, a pals dad bought a brand new 54 plate 2.5 V6 190+ In black and it looked amazing, was more my cup of tea than a 75 because to me it had all the good points of a 75 but more sporty, more youthful, didn't have wood, not too much chrome, or a light coloured interior. I know most of you guys go for that sort of thing but cream/beige velour, wood/walnut cappings and too much chrome just put me off a car.

 

That's not to say I don't like or appreciate 75s because I do, I just feel at 29 they are a bit too "mature" for me. In much the same way as I don't want to be driving round in a 7 seat MPV I don't want to be driving cars of the same ilk as the 75 until I'm a bit older and it's more suited to me.

[gadgetgricey]

Well that's gonna be weird for me in a few weeks (or whenever I manage to pull my finger out)

 

Hate the look of my 75 facelight daily driver, but like the ZT facelift. So what do you do. Purchase a ZT facelift in the same colour with a knackered clutch/DMF and swap all the panels over.

In my head in made perfect sence, but still not started the process yet.

 

At least I'll have the pre heater to fit, which my 75 does not have.

[CortinaDave]

i have had 3 ZTs and love them. had a shot of a 75 and didnt like it. Fake wood, seating position too high, wallowy suspension.

 

they are really quite different. MGR did a great job of reworking the 75 into what is a really good package on a tiny budget.

 

I do envy that the 75s tend to be better specced than ZTs though. although all the goodies were available on both, its mostly rover buyers that seemed to tick the option boxes.

[eddyramrod]

I've owned one of each now having won them here in Roffles with the ZT being the very one BTB is now looking after.  The ZT was something I always wanted to try and I'm glad I did.  Now I know that it's gloomy inside, and has heavy controls, especially clutch and gears.  When I took on the slightly older 75 that my mate Dave now owns, I felt immediately more at home in the light-coloured interior, and the softer suspension suited me very well.  However the clutch and gears were no different, and my skin reacted with something in the car, so it had to go.  I doubt I'll have another ZT, with the possible exception of a Roffle, but I would certainly have another 75, as long as it's a V6 auto.  Of course I'm a fat old grandad now, which might explain my preference.

Are they the same car?  On the whole yes, with the MG tuned for a younger, more "sporting" driver and the Rover aimed unashamedly at the giffer market.  Which was unfortunate as both were seen as a bit "niche" when they could have been huge.  I'd buy a 75 with my own actual money, rather than be given the rival Audi A6.  But that might just be me...

[Six-cylinder]

I had a ZT-T 190 and it was great, now I have a 75 Touring V6 auto Club SE and it nice!

[Barry Cade]

Did you read this, Mr Ramrod?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/james-may-itching-sell-1972-rolls-royce-corniche/

[Honey Badger]

Based on my experiences with both models they are both cramped, twee and a pastiche of better cars from the past. In short both ZT and 75 are both a bit crap and not a patch on R8 and 600 models that preceded them, so no badge engineering at all.

 

The engine is nowt special either, I'd rather drive a Honda,Nissan or Toyota V6 over the KV6, more power, much smoother and just as good a noise.

[Yoss]

I had a ZT-T 190 and it was great, now I have a 75 Touring V6 auto Club SE and it nice!

Love those seats in the ZT-T.

[Yoss]

Based on my experiences with both models they are both cramped, twee and a pastiche of better cars from the past. In short both ZT and 75 are both a bit crap and not a patch on R8 and 600 models that preceded them, so no badge engineering at all.

 

The engine is nowt special either, I'd rather drive a Honda,Nissan or Toyota V6 over the KV6, more power, much smoother and just as good a noise.

Surely the R8 and 600 are just as much badge engineered as the 75/ZT, both being of Honda origin?

[robinmasters]

I think there food very well with the looks. The 75 looks like a gentleman's car (possibly a slightly older gentleman!), and the ZT looks like a herbert's car, but neither looks like the other modified to be what it is.

[eddyramrod]

Did you read this, Mr Ramrod?

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/james-may-itching-sell-1972-rolls-royce-corniche/

No, I hadn't seen that; thank you.  I did hear a mention of his issue somewhere, might have been last time I aired mine, or it might have been since then, not sure.  I don't think it's the same thing, although possibly related; I've had many cars with leather seats and this is the first one to give me such a reaction.  I've met it, or something like it, once before, with a rental in America, but that was the only time.

[cort16]

I'm fancying a ZS 180. I hear these are the best all rounder as an actual performance car even if they do look a bit odd especially with that ironing board on the back.

[Six-cylinder]

I'm fancying a ZS 180. I hear these are the best all rounder as an actual performance car even if they do look a bit odd especially with that ironing board on the back.

A friend had one that I used to borrow it was great fun.

 

This one.

[EssDeeWon]

The ZT has grown on me slightly but not enough to make me wanna buy one, I prefer owning a Rover than a bleedin EmGee, just because.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

I was at Smiths scrapyard in Bloxham yesterday - about 8-9 75's including three facelift models.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

Just a trim level , in my opinion.

Before plundering the Hertage badge cupboard , I'm sure BMW considered a 75 Vitesse or dare I say it , M-Sport.

The different driving characteristics sound pretty much those you'd find between an SE or M-Sport BMW.

I've had a few 5-Series from e28 to e61 and each time chose a non ' Sporty' model. I like the aggressive appearance of the Sports, but they're horrible to live with- see also S-Line Audis.

Rover 90

MG Super Magnette

[doobietoo]

How much of this is about your perception of what the car should be? I have two identical PT Cruisers, same year, colour, trim spec etc the only difference is the engine one petrol one diesel... they are to me chalk and cheese and yet are identical. I wonder if the looks, seats and dash and badges being different in the otherwise identical cars changes how you think about the cars and therefore how you feel they go and handle...

[paulplom]

John Simpson from Practical Classics is selling his tourer on fb. Bright red with 63k 120hp version and a few trophies for winning concours. £2.5k.