2003 MG ZR TD + review from UK and Ireland

Water leak, turned out to be a split hose.

The drivers seat trim has come unclipped and will need fixing when I get time to take car in.

Front indicator steams up.

I use the car as a driving school car to replace the BMW Mini I had before.

I was not going to have the MG as I thought the 1.4 engine was a bit underpowered. Then found out they did a diesel. What can I say.

My car has one previous owner which helped with the colour selection as nearly all the colours this car comes in look good. My car is pearl Black and looks amazing. I think the older model looks better than the newer one.

The handling is superb much better than the Mini. It may be hard to believe, but it would leave the Mini around some twisty bends and the Mini had traction control.

The interior is a bit dated, but certainly not nasty. The equipment levels are very good with electric mirrors, windows and sunroof. The drivers seat could do with being a bit lower as there is not much leg room between seat and steering wheel when your sat close to the wheel.

As I have the diesel, performance is not blistering, but it does not hang about. First gear is really for moving off, second helps you to third and third really sends you down the road. The car will happily sit at 70mph and return about 60mpg. It could do with a 6th gear in my opinion to bring the revs down and off the turbo, even more mpg then.

The turbo is smooth and does make a difference, there is good torque and the car will move along in 5th gear at 30mph on 1000rpm.

The best thing though is I can get 50mpg all the time when learners are driving and most driving is around town and stopping and starting. I on the other hand reach nearly 60mpg.

Overall though the car looks great, corners even better and carries the MG badge better than some of Rovers earlier attempts.

I would quite happily have another, the only problem is which colour...