Test drove a ZT180 today but confused

doopydug · 12th February 2014, 20:16

Currently, I drive a 160+ 1.8T but really fancied a V6 with all the toys - cruise control etc, after hearing V6 owners on here rave about them.

Went to see a ZT180 AUTO today and all looked good but driving it was a real disappointment. On paper, it should have similar performance to my 1.8T MANUAL but it felt lacklustre during acceleration, cumbersome (less nimble) on the road and much noisier while cruising. There was a distinctive, intrusive noise at speed. It wasn't as composed over bumps either, seeming to "skip" a bit more

Is this normal - has anyone else driven both - maybe there is something wrong with it. Same sort of mileage as my one too - 51 / 54k?

cmdrew · 12th February 2014, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by doopydug

Currently, I drive a 160+ 1.8T but really fancied a V6 with all the toys - cruise control etc, after hearing V6 owners on here rave about them.

Went to see a ZT180 AUTO today and all looked good but driving it was a real disappointment. On paper, it should have similar performance to my 1.8T MANUAL but it felt lacklustre during acceleration, cumbersome (less nimble) on the road and much noisier while cruising. There was a distinctive, intrusive noise at speed. It wasn't as composed over bumps either, seeming to "skip" a bit more

Is this normal - has anyone else driven both - maybe there is something wrong with it. Same sort of mileage as my one too - 51 / 54k?

My sister has the ZT180 and my father the 1.8T and in my opinion his drives far better than the auto. I test drove the auto and it just didn't seem to want to go. Apparently it performs better the faster it goes but I wasn't impressed.

trikey · 12th February 2014, 20:55

Vis motors gone I reckon, that can makethem feel sluggish

doopydug · 12th February 2014, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmdrew

My sister has the ZT180 and my father the 1.8T and in my opinion his drives far better than the auto. I test drove the auto and it just didn't seem to want to go. Apparently it performs better the faster it goes but I wasn't impressed.

Yeah - that's exactly the feeling I got too - even in sport mode

doopydug · 12th February 2014, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by trikey

Vis motors gone I reckon, that can makethem feel sluggish

The engine sounded really quiet and smooth with the bonnet up - don't VIS motors make a tappetty noise when needing done?

MrDoodles · 12th February 2014, 20:57

Sounds like the car you drove had dead VIS motors, which absolutely crucifies the performance on a V6!

Plus you have to bear in mind that the V6 doesn't really start going until over 3,000 rpm and 4,000 in particular and with an auto box, you might not have been getting close to those sorts of revs!

A car with forced induction will always have more "bottom end" than a naturally aspirated one though!

MrDoodles · 12th February 2014, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by doopydug

The engine sounded really quiet and smooth with the bonnet up - don't VIS motors make a tappetty noise when needing done?

No, that's the Inlet manifold!

trikey · 12th February 2014, 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by doopydug

The engine sounded really quiet and smooth with the bonnet up - don't VIS motors make a tappetty noise when needing done?

No, a dead manifold makes a tappety noise, you cant hear a dead vis motor!

FrazzleTC · 12th February 2014, 20:59

I owned a ZT180, and really enjoyed it. If you want to make the most of the performance, and drive it flat out, you need to put it in sport mode, as it can be a little ponderous in standard mode, depending on your driving style. Sounds like the example you tried had duff VIS motors, and was maybe in need of a service. The boominess you describe is common on V6s autos with rubbish exhaust systems. My 75 2.5 had a cheap nasty system, and could be quite boomy, but my ZT180 had a nice woofle around town, and when you accelerated, but settled down to a very refined background noise at speed. I really rate the ZT180 as a variant, but it sounds like you tried a fairly poor example. I wouldn't say that they feel cumbersome either, but I've not driven a four cylinder example as hard as a V6, so can't comment regarding how nimble it feels relative to your 160. I found the 180 very enjoyable when driven quite hard, and remarkably civilised the rest of the time. Had I not rated it, I wouldn't have sold it to my parents.
Have you a link to the example in question?

MrDoodles · 12th February 2014, 20:59

Try and have a drive of a healthy 190, you'll notice the difference then!

12th February 2014, 20:16	#1
doopydug Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Fife Posts: 1,595 Thanks: 88 Thanked 269 Times in 235 Posts	Test drove a ZT180 today but confused Currently, I drive a 160+ 1.8T but really fancied a V6 with all the toys - cruise control etc, after hearing V6 owners on here rave about them. Went to see a ZT180 AUTO today and all looked good but driving it was a real disappointment. On paper, it should have similar performance to my 1.8T MANUAL but it felt lacklustre during acceleration, cumbersome (less nimble) on the road and much noisier while cruising. There was a distinctive, intrusive noise at speed. It wasn't as composed over bumps either, seeming to "skip" a bit more Is this normal - has anyone else driven both - maybe there is something wrong with it. Same sort of mileage as my one too - 51 / 54k?

12th February 2014, 20:55	#3
trikey Premium Trader Rover 75 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 33,816 Thanks: 8,837 Thanked 14,831 Times in 8,030 Posts	Vis motors gone I reckon, that can makethem feel sluggish __________________ Lest we forget..

12th February 2014, 20:59	#9
FrazzleTC This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands Posts: 7,924 Thanks: 533 Thanked 1,178 Times in 920 Posts	I owned a ZT180, and really enjoyed it. If you want to make the most of the performance, and drive it flat out, you need to put it in sport mode, as it can be a little ponderous in standard mode, depending on your driving style. Sounds like the example you tried had duff VIS motors, and was maybe in need of a service. The boominess you describe is common on V6s autos with rubbish exhaust systems. My 75 2.5 had a cheap nasty system, and could be quite boomy, but my ZT180 had a nice woofle around town, and when you accelerated, but settled down to a very refined background noise at speed. I really rate the ZT180 as a variant, but it sounds like you tried a fairly poor example. I wouldn't say that they feel cumbersome either, but I've not driven a four cylinder example as hard as a V6, so can't comment regarding how nimble it feels relative to your 160. I found the 180 very enjoyable when driven quite hard, and remarkably civilised the rest of the time. Had I not rated it, I wouldn't have sold it to my parents. Have you a link to the example in question? __________________ 1967 Rover 2000 Automatic 1969 Rover 3500 Series One 1979 Scimitar GTE 2013 Mercedes SLK250 CDI

12th February 2014, 20:57	#6
MrDoodles Banned MG ZT+ V6 190 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Spalding Posts: 13,245 Thanks: 369 Thanked 1,196 Times in 818 Posts	Sounds like the car you drove had dead VIS motors, which absolutely crucifies the performance on a V6! Plus you have to bear in mind that the V6 doesn't really start going until over 3,000 rpm and 4,000 in particular and with an auto box, you might not have been getting close to those sorts of revs! A car with forced induction will always have more "bottom end" than a naturally aspirated one though!