2002 MG ZS 120 + from UK and Ireland - Comments

Head Gasket Replaced.

Silencer Box Replaced.

Rocker Cover Gasket Replaced.

Rocker Cover Gasket Replaced (again)

SRS Warning Light illuminated.

Front Right Susp. Fualt.

Cat Replaced.

Cat Replaced (again)

Cat Replaced (again.. no joke)

Cat Replaced (Honest...)

Front Manifold Replaced.

Driver's Window Stuck.

Having previoulsy owned a fair few "hot" hatches and farily quick cars I was very keen to take on the Great British Pedigree for the masses..

Last car was an Almera Gti and I have to say it was great, although very front heavy.. so I decided a saloon was in order.

I'll say from the start that I really do enjoy the engine note, and the handling is (to me) very very good. The performance is distinctley average for a 1.8, although it does overtake with little fuss and does still make me chuckle when floored.

However, I can't help, but feel let down by this car. My dear ol' Dad had a few Rovers in his time - the last one a 620ti which went like the "proverbial" - (although he also got through a few head gaskets on 2 prevois 820 Vitesse models) so I did have high expectiations when buying this car. And, to being with, it didn't dissapoint.

3 months after buying it - used, with only 8000 miles on the clock things started to get a little, shall we say, crap.

Head Gasket went - at 12000 miles... interesting... you may say " oh yeah, well, if you red line the sod all the time etc etc etc "... I didn't... no more than you may do.

It was fixed under warranty... and then, well a whole stream of propblems then left me with a "lemon".

I have had, in 3 years and less than 40000 miles of motoring 4 catalytic converters... not cheap £ 180 - £300 per go. Bloke said " well- if you thrape it then that happens"... erm, OK.. but firstly I don't thrape it any more than it was designed for, and secondly I have to be VERY careful of using fuel.

In the first instance seeing the UnionJack coupled next to the Chequred Flag was enough for me, the ride and handling, the engine note...it all was great.

Now, I am left with a car that is costing me a lot of money to keep running not in only in fuel, but in keeping the sod on the road.

Sorry to say this, but despite how much my old man's car was great - which it really was - the "new" breed just doesn't have it.

I'm off to get myself another Japanese Car or... the Cupra R.

At least they should keep going longer.

Know what you mean mate... mine is a great car when it works...

Has done long journeys without a hitch, just seems to struggle with the dash to and from work. Sucks really when you think about it.

Pity mate - could have been so much better.

How did you sort the problem with the srs light on. I had a tip to disconnect the battery terminas then touch them together. let me tell you it didn't work all that happened was that I had to reset the stereo afterwards???

SRS light will be a loose connection in the SRS circuit under the drivers seat, the often either works it way loose or breaks, either/or it's an easy fix.

3 cats? Some thing's not quite right there...

Head gasket failure is common fault of K-Series engines, especially those made in 2002 because Rover played around with the cylinder casting process of an already weak design, be thankful you had it sorted under warranty.

To be honest mate, a lot of this sounds like a problem with the dealer rather than the car. MG Rover dealers, by and large were incompetent monkeys and in a lot of cases brought about their own demise.

However, MG were far from having the monopoly on this, I try my best to avoid dealers of any kind as I don't enjoy being treated like a mug and having to pay for the privilege.

You have just kept the Almera GTI as it's a better car in every way!!

Hi

I also have an MG ZS. I have had this car for about 3 years. It has only done about 49,000 miles and it's an 02 plate. It is currently at the garage; they think the head gasket has gone. I was not sure whether to pay to have it mended or not, they aren't sure either how much damage it has made yet, but they have quoted me at least 550 pounds up to 1,000. What do you think? Should I pay 1,000; I'm not quite sure?