Thinking of buying an MG ZT or 75

[Rogue]

Buy an oil burner

[rjnicko93]

Originally Posted by Mean & Green

If you seldom lift your bonnet than it’s not just a K-series that isn’t for you, but a car of this age also isn’t for you.

If you’re not used to old cars, you may be shocked by the need to be prepared to get your hands dirty once in awhile and keep an eye on simple checks under the bonnet regularly regardless of the engine choice.

The youngest of these cars came off the production line just over 15 years ago. The life each individual car has lived is much more relevant to it’s condition and current reliability than the spec list.

My grandad is pretty handy he does all his own servicing and maintenance on his vehicles and has done for decades, currently has a 2003 Jaguar XJ. My dad was pretty much the same as well, he now builds and restores classic trials and motocross bikes, but they've both done their fair share of work on cars over the years.

I do all the basic checks on my car, but I would not go crazy with it being brand new and still under warranty. I simply went the brand-new route for convenience, at the time a brand new vehicle fit my lifestyle. I don’t have any plans to get rid of my Polo GTI, but I just wanted something extra and a bit different I could take to a few cars shows.

I have always preferred classic cars myself, some of my favourites include the Audi UR Quattro, Triumph Stag, Jensen Interceptor, Rover SD1 Vanden Plas, Jaguar E-Type etc. Unfortunately, I've never bought one as the work I do means I could be called up at a moment’s notice to go on a shift, so I need something that is going to be 110% reliable to get me around as I work very wierd shift patterns in horse and greyhound racing.

A 75 seems like a good option to get me started though. They aren’t ridiculously old yet like an SD1, the parts and spares seem to be in decent supply and I’m pretty handy when it comes to repairing other things. I mostly do Bakelite telephones, old radios, VCR's and also service all my old 1970s HiFi equipment and keep it going such as, my Elcaset and eight track deck, so I'm not totally useless lol.

A 75 might be a good option for me to spread my wings and branch out more, plus the price of a 75 is very inexpensive right now, I wouldn't need to invest so much in them like you would with a 35+ year old classic car. The insurance also seems reasonable, for a V6 model I was quoted £310, much less than my Polo GTI's £675.

I might look more into a 1.8 K series then if there isn't anything too much worry about. For me I would only be interested in a 1, 2 or 3 owner example with a full service history anyway.

If I don't get a Rover 75 or ZT, think I'd go for a Mini Cooper Sport from around 1999/2000 as my other option.

[Spike]

The only thing I'd say is avoid the 2.0l V6, as it's underpowered and thirsty. It was replaced with the 1.8 turbo by MGR themselves so that tells you what you need to know.

Spend as much as you can and buy from someone who's a fan or spent money on it. There are a few old nails out there and, while you can replace sills and pretty much anything, rot is often a sign of neglect that will pop up elsewhere. As others have said, pretty much anything else can be fixed and plenty of help here and elsewhere.

[rjnicko93]

Originally Posted by Spike

The only thing I'd say is avoid the 2.0l V6, as it's underpowered and thirsty. It was replaced with the 1.8 turbo by MGR themselves so that tells you what you need to know.#.

Thanks very much, yeah I did hear that on a few reviews actually.

[Mean & Green]

Originally Posted by rjnicko93

My grandad is pretty handy he does all his own servicing and maintenance on his vehicles and has done for decades, currently has a 2003 Jaguar XJ. My dad was pretty much the same as well, he now builds and restores classic trials and motocross bikes, but they've both done their fair share of work on cars over the years.

I do all the basic checks on my car, but I would not go crazy with it being brand new and still under warranty. I simply went the brand-new route for convenience, at the time a brand new vehicle fit my lifestyle. I don’t have any plans to get rid of my Polo GTI, but I just wanted something extra and a bit different I could take to a few cars shows.

I have always preferred classic cars myself, some of my favourites include the Audi UR Quattro, Triumph Stag, Jensen Interceptor, Rover SD1 Vanden Plas, Jaguar E-Type etc. Unfortunately, I've never bought one as the work I do means I could be called up at a moment’s notice to go on a shift, so I need something that is going to be 110% reliable to get me around as I work very wierd shift patterns in horse and greyhound racing.

A 75 seems like a good option to get me started though. They aren’t ridiculously old yet like an SD1, the parts and spares seem to be in decent supply and I’m pretty handy when it comes to repairing other things. I mostly do Bakelite telephones, old radios, VCR's and also service all my old 1970s HiFi equipment and keep it going such as, my Elcaset and eight track deck, so I'm not totally useless lol.

A 75 might be a good option for me to spread my wings and branch out more, plus the price of a 75 is very inexpensive right now, I wouldn't need to invest so much in them like you would with a 35+ year old classic car. The insurance also seems reasonable, for a V6 model I was quoted £310, much less than my Polo GTI's £675.

I might look more into a 1.8 K series then if there isn't anything too much worry about. For me I would only be interested in a 1, 2 or 3 owner example with a full service history anyway.

If I don't get a Rover 75 or ZT, think I'd go for a Mini Cooper Sport from around 1999/2000 as my other option.

I’m intrigued by the 70s HiFi. What have you got if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m a bit of an audiophile and have kept some equipment for over 20 years myself.

The K series honestly is way too maligned. It’s not a bad engine and certainly not the overheating nightmare it’s portrayed as. As long as everything is in proper order they are a great unit.

The 75/ZT is a good first choice as a taster to older cars, as like you say they aren’t actually that old yet. There is all of the info you could ever need right here on the usual issues. Since it’s not needed as a daily you have nothing too major to worry about really.

[Pueblo_Boy]

I have to put in a good word here for the CDTi. Once upgraded by the "160" software change, they really do pull well, and are pretty reliable. At least, mine is!
Connoisseur spec is nice, but Contemporary SE with sports trim will give you better seats and leather all round, as well as plenty of bells and whistles. Like mine!

[BoroRover]

Originally Posted by Pueblo_Boy

I have to put in a good word here for the CDTi. Once upgraded by the "160" software change, they really do pull well, and are pretty reliable. At least, mine is!
Connoisseur spec is nice, but Contemporary SE with sports trim will give you better seats and leather all round, as well as plenty of bells and whistles. Like mine!

Totally agree on the CDTI on a 160 remap. Sluggish it ain't , not by a long chalk. I'm a big fan of the diesel M47

[rjnicko93]

Originally Posted by Mean & Green

I’m intrigued by the 70s HiFi. What have you got if you don’t mind me asking?

I’m a bit of an audiophile and have kept some equipment for over 20 years myself.
.

This is my little setup



Love all the weird and more unusual formats Sony's large cassette tape format known as Elcaset, Eight track, reel-to-reel and Minidisc.

Then also have more conventional stuff like compact cassette, a turntable and Compact Disc.

Mostly, I do all the repair and servicing myself. Although, my reel-to-reel is in need of a tune up and head block change, this will require a full head calibration and adjustment. Once the new head is installed it'll also need specialist calibration tapes and other equipment I don't have to get it set back up again unfortunately. These test tapes are generally hard to find and extremely expensive to buy. So for this work it will be going to a repair tech who has all the equipment. I did find a new old stock Teac head block from the US though, which I bought around a year ago in anticipation of the head switch.

[rjnicko93]

Originally Posted by Pueblo_Boy

I have to put in a good word here for the CDTi. Once upgraded by the "160" software change, they really do pull well, and are pretty reliable. At least, mine is!
Connoisseur spec is nice, but Contemporary SE with sports trim will give you better seats and leather all round, as well as plenty of bells and whistles. Like mine!

A few have mentioned diesels as well, might be a good option one car like my GTI with poor MPG and a diesel more relaxed cruiser with good MPG.

[Pueblo_Boy]

Memories!

What turntable do you have? Not much vinyl in the photo...probably a garage full elsewhere!

Now, if they were still doing NICAM tv, I could send you an old, but like new, Arcam nicam receiver... I'm just too sentimental to ditch it, so it hides in a cupboard somewhere! And a Marantz slim-line cassette deck...those were the days when progress was ditching your Garrard SP25MkIII for a Pioneer PL12D...and upgrading to a Shure M75 ED2...