1st Jan 2006, 13:21
Just a quick message for the person with the head gasket concern on the zs 180 kv6 engine. I have owned zs 180's for 4 years now ever since they came out and have never experienced anything of that nature. I drive my cars extremely hard with high mileage so I wouldn't be concerned at all.
15th Jan 2006, 17:58
Simple fact, a ZS 180 will Saxos etc all day. It eats BMW 325i when it wants.
Head gasket - never had an issue. Have done 45k in mine, only had to buy tyres and have it serviced.
23rd Jan 2006, 14:13
No, you're wrong, a Saxo VTR is 0-60 in more like 9 seconds, not 7.8. Oh and the Imprezas, one was a Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000, which only does 0-60 in 6.7 seconds, and only has 208 pound foot of torque and is heavier than my 180, so it isn't actually that much faster, and it was pulling away a bit.
You can't always believe what people tell you - some cars aren't as fast as they are supposed to be. I also matched a Renault Megane Sport 225, which also should beat my 180, but it couldn't, and he was definitely racing.
13th Feb 2006, 14:00
Hi all, id just like to ask the person who seems to know that the head gaskets are a weak spot how he knows this? I don't know of any problems with them. I have heard of a few of the 1.8k series having this problem, but not the kv6, it is a completely different engine mate.
Also on the citroen argument, oh forget it whats the point, they don't listen, go back to school, do maths again, and come back here and carry the argument on (you can't).
14th Feb 2006, 20:05
Bigger engine produces more torque. clio is a lot less. st170 only has 141 lb/ft. mg has 177lb/ft.
18th Feb 2006, 07:42
The same thing happend to my Zs180, not at 10000 miles though. Mine went at 17300 miles. I have been told by my local garage that it's a common problem with the Zs180.
23rd Feb 2006, 17:45
MG ZS 180 RULES!!
That's the opinion I have anyway, my dad bought a mk 2 ZS 180 just before Christmas which I have the pleasure of driving and it's a beast. As for comparing it to other cars, it holds its head up remarkably high. I myself have had a whole host of fast cars since I passed my test four years ago, which to date include a Mini Cooper (Rover model, the best!) a 205 GTi 1.6 and a 205 GTi 1.9, a Rover 216 and 218 vvc coupe, a Honda Concerto (1.6 twin cam, good car, as fast as my mates 306 GTi 6! we raced them on a local airfield), a Rover P6 V8, and a Nissan 300 ZX twin turbo. To prove how good the MG is, I honestly barely notice the difference between the two, and the MG is far better handling. So for the ZS 180 to be slow when I had a 300 bhp Nissan and put them very close together, I doubt very much.
As for the ZS basically being a 45 in disguise, I don't see that as a problem, we have a 1.6 Rover 45 at home as well and that's remarkably quick, even my friend with the GTi 6 was surprised how quick it was, as was the lad who tried to pass me in a 106 GTi and got shown up. Remember all this from a 1.6 rover 45 with 109 bhp, so whats a ZS with a 177 bhp going to do?
27th Feb 2006, 07:02
Yes they are good cars, but watch the tail in the wet. as I found out. suspension designed to perish under extreme force or crash to avoid injury to passengers. very safe cars.
Insurance rather high. group 17. I have a 02 astra turbo which has more power, faster all round and lighter and is only group 15. weird.
10th Mar 2006, 08:20
You will never see sub 14sec in the 1/4 mile. Zs180 only puts out 144bhp per ton, same as the old slow focus st170. Nowhere near the clio sport 170+ bhp per ton. 7.3 sec to 60mph was mg claims, but in fact the car does it in more like 7.8sec.
11th Mar 2006, 06:25
Agreed that the zs180 is no real performance car, its no quicker than the ST 170 focus. But it DOES NOT cost the earth for a overall cracking car.
11th Mar 2006, 20:25
Nice looking cars these MG ZS's don't know what they feel like to drive, but they seem like quality stuff for the money. ZR's too. But rover should have designed newer cars instead of facelifting older models.
7th Apr 2006, 09:09
I have just bought a 2001 ZS 180 with 61k on the clock and I'm a bit concerned about the head gasket problems, I have owned fast cars before, my fave being a MG Montego Turbo or my old 620ti, the ZS is meant to have the same kind of performance, I haven't driven it yet, its in the bodyshop. I have bought some black lexus lights, K & N Gen 2 Induction kit and an ECU from a ZT190, exhaust is next ;)
Mine is in trophy blue, saloon with standard wheels, looks pretty mean from the factory.
If someone could get back to me about the head gasket problems.. To the person with the Saxo, I decided to buy my ZS after reading reviews in EVO and Autocar, it was only second to the Clio round the track, beating lots of other fast hot hatchbacks, that says it all!!!
12th May 2006, 18:40
Guys, concerning the ZS180 head gasket worries, the V6 engine does not suffer from the same design flaw that affects the 4 cylinder K-Series engines. The ZS180 is capable of 200-250,000 miles without head gasket problems.
The ZS180 engine should not be used with the ZT190 ECU either; both cars feature different gearboxes, and as such, the ECUs are set up differently. It's not as simple as switching ECU units.
If you're in any doubt at all, have a look at http://www.mg-rover.org and there's usually an expert who'll be able to help or reassure.
24th May 2006, 17:00
Hi all.
Much has been said about which car does what best. The only worthwhile back to back testing I'm aware of was done by Autocar on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. All the cars were driven by the same driver. The Clio and Type R (both 166 bhp per ton) lapped in 60 seconds. The ZS (144 bhp per ton) took 61 seconds. So 14% less power to weight adds up to just 1.5% slower. QED the ZS must have been making up time in the corners. It was FASTER than the Megane 225. Tiff Needell describes the ZS as the "best handling front wheel drive car I've ever driven" and yes he has driven the Clio.
18th Dec 2005, 16:41
My brother in law has had one for 2 years and all he has paid for is petrol, oil, plugs and filters.
He is convinced £ for £ its the dogs whatsits!