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Choosing a ZR

2K views 30 replies 14 participants last post by  Beatdown 
#1 ·
when it came to your all important purchase of your lovely car what was it that you were specifically looking for when at the used car dealership or on someones driveway ticking the boxes on that checklist in your head?

i recently test drove my first MG ZR and i can say was dissapointed, i went for the facelift 04 105+ model because i had/have a rover 25.

so a few things i didnt like about it. im hoping it was this car specificaly that wasent up to my standard and not the whole range becaus ei really have my heart set on one.

so yeah,
1) the interior looks good in the pictures but when i got inside it was nothing but cheap plasticy tackyness everywhere.

2)the brake and clutch pedals were very light, perhaps TOO light, all it took was a slight knock from my shoe to engage the brakes, not sure if i like it.

3)the fog light housing looked like it could fall out at any time and i accidently pulled it out when trying to see it if was broken.

4)it said electric sunroof on the information leaflet on the car window, but it didnt even have a sunroof ?????

5) when i think of something else i will put it here.

on a side note, does anyone need rover parts? i have a pretty good condition rover 25 in red. minus the front bumper, raidiator, bonnet, all is in sweet condition.
 
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#6 ·
1) the interior looks good in the pictures but when i got inside it was nothing but cheap plasticy tackyness everywhere.

2)the brake and clutch pedals were very light, perhaps TOO light, all it took was a slight knock from my shoe to engage the brakes, not sure if i like it.

3)the fog light housing looked like it could fall out at any time and i accidently pulled it out when trying to see it if was broken.

4)it said electric sunroof on the information leaflet on the car window, but it didnt even have a sunroof ?????

5) when i think of something else i will put it here.
1) That's just how the facelift cars are, personally it doesn't bother me one bit, I much prefer it to the mk1 interior.

2) They're supposed to be like that, it's what every modern car is like! The mk1 has a very awkward and weird clutch/pedal set-up which was changed for the mk2.

3) That's just what it's like, it won't fall off!

4) That's nothing to do with the car, that's the idiots who made the leaflets fault!
 
#7 ·
2)the brake and clutch pedals were very light, perhaps TOO light, all it took was a slight knock from my shoe to engage the brakes, not sure if i like it.

3)the fog light housing looked like it could fall out at any time and i accidently pulled it out when trying to see it if was broken.
2) The clutch pedal biting point can be easily changed!

3) The fog surrounds are loose as you have to be able to change the bulbs at the side of the road without specialist tools! Removing the bumper could be an inconvenience! They're not going anywhere though mate.
 
#9 ·
some interesting points raised here, thank you for your responses. i was waiting for peoples own opinions.

im test driving another ZR at the weekend.

i dont think i would go for a mk1 zr UNLESS it is yellow. its too similar to the 25, and when i say too similar, what im refering to is it being EXACTLY THE SAME.
plus it took me an afternoon to fall in love with the mk2 bumpers an i dont think ill be going back :)

also, when it comes to 5dr vs 3dr what are your personal opinions, pros an cons.
i ave a few of my own, but id like to here from the community.

thanks :)
 
#11 ·
as a rule follow your own thought mate

personally i prefer 3 doors

if your going for a MG over a Rover then your basically swapping higher insurance premiums for looks (because lets face it getting MG power and handling from a R25 isnt hard or expensive its just a TB/Cable and shocks)

so if your going for looks then the three door it is... personally anyway it suits the sporty lines allot more (mind you if your a family man then god help you with a 3 door lol)


as for your mk1/mk2 again follow your gut

personally i prefer the mk1 front but the mk2 rear lol, think those tear drop fronts look a bit, sad sort of thing (again just my opinion if you like them then its the car for you!)

bare in mind that the mk2s came about after project dive and as a result the build quality may be a bit patchy (if the TF is anything to go by) So SHOP AROUND

people more clued up on the ZR world than me can tell you exactly what to look out for but as said try plenty of different cars before you buy and you'll know quickly which is the one for you :)

oh and try a few mk1s as well just to compare a bit :)
 
#15 ·
to be honest i don't think you should get a ZR as i don't like the idea of them getting written off as they are not made anymore and you are the person who (somehow) drove into a tree in a field on a country road..
and as you have only been driving 2months and you have already crashed into a stationary object your insurance will be unbelievable.
 
#16 ·
okay, not that i have to explain myself to you, cos i feel like you have been a bit rude here, but im going to anyways.

im not some little kid who just turned 17, im 23, and you know what? **** happens.
Im gettin a zr an if you dont like it, just get yourself a new favourite car.
Besides im British (not english or scottish or irish but a mixture of all 3) and love the britishness of the car.

an for the record i just got off the phone from my insurer 20 minutes ago an my insurance from a 52 plate rover 25 impression s on 3rd party fire an theft to a 54 plate mg zr 105+ fully comp is only an extra £55 per month.
 
#20 ·
i beg to differ, i dont think the increase is unreasonable at all as i have only just passed my test, and remember im going from 3rd party fire & theft to fully comp.
the reason i wasnt fully comp in the first place was to save £450, but now a better car is only gonna work out at £660 more i think its a sweeeeeet deal.
 
#22 ·
youre gonna laugh...

but its (a quite reasonable by my standards) £2000(ish) fully comp, whereas on the rover it was £1450(ish) 3rd P,F&T.

what im saying is, i can afford it and afford to do everything else i want to, so im not bothered by this amount.
 
#24 ·
I dunno what it is about rovers/mgs they just seem so proud to be around, not to mention the cheapness of the car these days.

having a rover/MG is showing people im proud to be british. i mean like what other car is so proud that it has the countys flag on it?

insurance will go down one day, its all good :)
 
#26 ·
Ah yes that reasonable increase of £55 a month! Ive got myself and missus on our insurance I'm 22 and she's 21 and ours is 1100 including business insurance for both! Clearly you being a massive one year older with **** all driving under your belt doesn't help your situation, ps I have no ncb and no accidents!

Try price comparison sites you may get a bargain!
 
#27 ·
For insurance try keith michaels.... gave me a quote of £925 on the scoob (compared to £1,450 best price anywhere else) and i only had 1 yr ncb. The mrs cost £838 on her 1.4 zed as a new driver (she is 26 and a girl though....) Both on a manchester bend over postcode.

Also, put your dad maybe (or someone you know with many years experience/ncb/no points) on as a named driver and it will drop your premium by a fairly hefty amount.
 
#29 ·
When you come to renew, trying a couple of specialist brokers is always worth your time. They can find special deals and introductory offers etc that can help a lot.

NONE of the comparison sites came close to keith michaels or a-plan for me. And phone rather than using the website as they're more likely to dig something out for you that way - and they'll take all your details then phone you back usually.
 
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