MG ZT

WOW is the only word I can think of to describe my new MG ZT. I have the 2.5v 6 160bhp 2002 model and what a car it is.

Even with the fact that MG and Rover have gone POP I would still recommend anyone to buy this car - if fact now is the best time to buy this car with the deals that are available.

Background
=========

I have been a Hyundai girl through and through for the past 10 years. I have owned 4 different ones myself, my partner has one, my son has one and my father had one. I never thought anything would pull me away from them.

However, I was looking around for something slightly bigger than my Hyundai Coupe as I need to comfortably fit people in the back of my car and obviously couldn't in the coupe and I spotted an MG ZT driving past me on the motorway - it caught my eye straight away. I had been looking around at BMW's and Audi's but to get one in my price range (£9k max) I had to go quite old and this was not really what I wanted to do.

My friend then came to me as she was selling her MG ZT (the one I now own) as she was about to get a company car and offered me the ZT at a very reasonable price. I was umming and aahing until I drove it then I was sold on it. I knew I just had to have it.

First Impression
============

My first impression of the car was that it was one of the most comfortable rides I have had (I have driven many cars including many high spec company cars). The power under the foot was second none, the driving position was brilliant and the room in the car was great. The boot space is fantastic, I could fit all my PA equipment and still have room to spare.

The Car
======

Model: MG ZT 160

Engine: 2.5 V6

Kit: Sports Suspension, ½ leather seats, 18 Inch Alloy Wheels, Body Kit, Climate Control, Electric Mirrors/Windows, CD Changer in the glove box, Remote central locking system with immobiliser.

Insurance: Group 15.

Exterior
======

The car is commented on regularly, never have I driven a car that has attracted so much attention as I have pulled up or driven by. The car I have is the most beautiful shade of silver, in some light even has a slight hint of blue.

Everything on the car is colour coded even down to the side mirrors. The spoiler on the back is so subtle it blends well with rest of the car and the front metal grills set the front of the car off to perfection. The windows are tinted which adds to the overall appearance of the car - some people have said it bares a resemblance to the S type Jag!!!

Interior
=====

Everything is inside that you could want and on hand for your convenience. The ½ leather bucket seats absolutely wrap around you and provide the ultimate comfort. Someone was sat in the back of the car yesterday (which I have never done) and said this very same thing even about the back seats. There is more than enough leg room and head room both front and rear, even for the tallest of passengers.

There is non of the "grandpa" walnut trim inside like on the Rover 75. The dash is stylish and modern looking, again everything matching to the colour scheme of the car. The information on the dashboard includes just about everything you could want to know including the temperature outside. It is possible to adjust the brightness of the dials on the dash which proves very useful.

The climate control system is fantastic - you can have separate temperatures in opposite sides of the cars (within 5 degrees). It heats up and cools down like the speed of light and on a day like today when its 26 degrees outside you would never want to be without air con again.

The stereo in my car is great, though I am not sure if this was the one that came as standard with the car - it's a Kenwood with a 6 disk multi changer conveniently located in the glove box.

Driving the car
==========

Like I said earlier in the review the car is an absolute pleasure to drive - even in these hot temperatures I really look forward to getting into the car each time I need to go somewhere.

The pick up speed from traffic lights etc is great and one of the best things is that having so much power under foot you feel pretty confident that you can get out of most situations. I did find the clutch / biting point very difficult to deal with initially as the biting point is extremely high and quite strange to get used to. You really have to accelerate quite well, don't be gentle on the accelerator

Petrol consumption is quite good for a car of this size and an engine of this size, I would say that I average around 28 miles to the gallon around town without air con off but this drops to around 25 with the air con on. On a long trip to London I got around 30.5 miles to the gallon - pretty good for a car of this size.

Conclusion
========

Like I headed the review I think you get a lot of car here for not much money. You must be mindful though of the cost to replace things like tyres - you are looking around the £150 mark even for budget tyres as they are low profile 18" tyres. The petrol consumption is good but if you are not used to driving a car with an engine of this size then you are in for a shock. The car is fantastic to drive and fantastic to look at - there are such deals available now on this car both new and used that you would be a fool to miss it.

I read a review somewhere else that said "this car is the poor mans Bentley" - well if that's the case then I am glad to be a poor man!!!!