To Switzerland and back

oswestryalex · 2nd December 2019, 23:36

Well, on the back of getting my MG ZT 190+ back on the road and working, it needed a good shake out, and I had a job to do, rescuing the contents of a people carrier I had had to abandon near Basel. So, I set out on a 4 day round trip, across the Channel and using the non toll motorways to Luxembourg, and then on to southern Germany where I stayed for a couple of nights with an old friend. The MG ZT was brilliant. It never missed a beat, and I got nearly 35 mpg out of it - which, for a 2.5 V6 like this was pretty decent. My old Rover 75 with the 1.8 K series engine gave me around 40 mpg, so I was impressed. I made it to Basel, rescued the contents of the people carrier (which is due to be scrapped soon!) and then returned on the Sunday. That was a one stage return journey that took me around 15 hours in all, and apart from a burst front bulb in one of the dipped beams, all worked fine. And - all that driving, my back feels fine - the seats were really supportive, which is more than I can say for that people carrier when it did work... So, thumbs up for the MG ZT!

planenut · 3rd December 2019, 09:48

Sounds heartening, how many miles?

Comfortably Numb · 3rd December 2019, 18:08

This is exactly what the 75 excels at - long journeys in relaxed comfort. I recently drove 350 miles on a wet, Friday night to my brother's in Kent, with the usual stop-start stuff on the M11 and M25. Having a young puppy with us, we stopped 3 times on the journey, taking a total of 7hours, but still arrived fresh, and pain-free. The following day, we went to the in-laws in Gosport, better weather, and despite the M25, felt like a pleasant trip. 2 days later, and back to Cumbria - just 2 stops, and a lot of congestion in Staffs and Cheshire on the M6, but still arrived home feeling human. Unlike my previous, but newer Audi A4, which would have left me crippled with back and hip pain by Kent.

mileshawk56 · 3rd December 2019, 18:16

I like that, very good and it is nice to see that plus 30mpg by KV6 is not as amazing as sometimes thought. Chris .S.

oswestryalex · 3rd December 2019, 22:26

It is pretty decent really - 35 mpg - when my old Rover 75 was giving me around 40 mpg. Nearly new oil and filter in there, good tyres all at correct pressure. Just the obvious things to keep the engine running smoothly, and being sensible with the right foot on the pedal.
The sense of driving quality was very much to the fore in this long drive - a real pleasure.

oswestryalex · 6th December 2019, 19:16

An addendum - the blown lights - front dipped beam and rear brake light turned out to be bad connections along with missing wheel arch flap/ cover at the front. The xenon light had been shaken loose from its control box, and was working OK, just needed reconnecting, and a makeshift cover put on to stop water getting in. The brake light was also a loose connection, fixed fairly soon. Also the Norwegian fix for non working key fob locking worked a treat and restored my remote locking/ unlocking; worth bearing in mind if ever your keys play up like that.

oswestryalex · 3rd December 2019, 22:22

about 2000 miles in all.

2nd December 2019, 23:36	#1
oswestryalex Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T connoisseur saloon 2003 in blue , MG ZT 190+ 2003 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oswestry Posts: 308 Thanks: 159 Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts	To Switzerland and back Well, on the back of getting my MG ZT 190+ back on the road and working, it needed a good shake out, and I had a job to do, rescuing the contents of a people carrier I had had to abandon near Basel. So, I set out on a 4 day round trip, across the Channel and using the non toll motorways to Luxembourg, and then on to southern Germany where I stayed for a couple of nights with an old friend. The MG ZT was brilliant. It never missed a beat, and I got nearly 35 mpg out of it - which, for a 2.5 V6 like this was pretty decent. My old Rover 75 with the 1.8 K series engine gave me around 40 mpg, so I was impressed. I made it to Basel, rescued the contents of the people carrier (which is due to be scrapped soon!) and then returned on the Sunday. That was a one stage return journey that took me around 15 hours in all, and apart from a burst front bulb in one of the dipped beams, all worked fine. And - all that driving, my back feels fine - the seats were really supportive, which is more than I can say for that people carrier when it did work... So, thumbs up for the MG ZT!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

3rd December 2019, 09:48	#2
planenut Regional Secretary Rover 1.8T Tourer Join Date: May 2007 Location: Heathrow Posts: 6,948 Thanks: 1,551 Thanked 2,036 Times in 1,264 Posts	Sounds heartening, how many miles?

3rd December 2019, 18:08	#3
Comfortably Numb Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Penrith Posts: 1,336 Thanks: 165 Thanked 303 Times in 241 Posts	This is exactly what the 75 excels at - long journeys in relaxed comfort. I recently drove 350 miles on a wet, Friday night to my brother's in Kent, with the usual stop-start stuff on the M11 and M25. Having a young puppy with us, we stopped 3 times on the journey, taking a total of 7hours, but still arrived fresh, and pain-free. The following day, we went to the in-laws in Gosport, better weather, and despite the M25, felt like a pleasant trip. 2 days later, and back to Cumbria - just 2 stops, and a lot of congestion in Staffs and Cheshire on the M6, but still arrived home feeling human. Unlike my previous, but newer Audi A4, which would have left me crippled with back and hip pain by Kent.

3rd December 2019, 18:16	#4
mileshawk56 Posted a thing or two MGZT Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Berkshire Posts: 1,281 Thanks: 1,738 Thanked 299 Times in 216 Posts	I like that, very good and it is nice to see that plus 30mpg by KV6 is not as amazing as sometimes thought. Chris .S.

3rd December 2019, 22:26	#5
oswestryalex Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T connoisseur saloon 2003 in blue , MG ZT 190+ 2003 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oswestry Posts: 308 Thanks: 159 Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts	It is pretty decent really - 35 mpg - when my old Rover 75 was giving me around 40 mpg. Nearly new oil and filter in there, good tyres all at correct pressure. Just the obvious things to keep the engine running smoothly, and being sensible with the right foot on the pedal. The sense of driving quality was very much to the fore in this long drive - a real pleasure.

6th December 2019, 19:16	#6
oswestryalex Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T connoisseur saloon 2003 in blue , MG ZT 190+ 2003 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oswestry Posts: 308 Thanks: 159 Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts	An addendum - the blown lights - front dipped beam and rear brake light turned out to be bad connections along with missing wheel arch flap/ cover at the front. The xenon light had been shaken loose from its control box, and was working OK, just needed reconnecting, and a makeshift cover put on to stop water getting in. The brake light was also a loose connection, fixed fairly soon. Also the Norwegian fix for non working key fob locking worked a treat and restored my remote locking/ unlocking; worth bearing in mind if ever your keys play up like that.

3rd December 2019, 22:22	#7
oswestryalex Loves to post Rover 75 1.8T connoisseur saloon 2003 in blue , MG ZT 190+ 2003 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oswestry Posts: 308 Thanks: 159 Thanked 99 Times in 57 Posts	about 2000 miles in all.