My personal preference would be for the manual but it is a personal choice. Dry clutch systems have proved a problem for some manufacturers but who knows how the MG one will turn out. Biggest issue I guess with purchasing the GS is what the residual values are going to be like after 3 years say. The petrol driven MG6 was the lowest of any car at 21% after 3 years - pretty awful by any standards. You pay your money and take a chance I guess.

 

If you are really concern about the resale value then you shouldn't be getting a new MG or GS in this instance.

I have the DCT and it is far from smooth. The DW's Vauxhall Mokka auto drives better with much smoother change. I have had manual all my life and quite frankly I'm bored of gear changing with our current/future traffic conditions. Life is so much easier with an auto.

As for the China 2L using wet clutch. I think the dry clutch is only rated to have a maximum of 250Nm torque which is about the max of the 1.5L.

 

If you are really concern about the resale value then you shouldn't be getting a new MG or GS in this instance.

I understand all vehicles depreciate, some more than others, but given the overal package ie warranty, finance etc I believe it’s worth a punt. My question was more aimed at manual verses DCT and reliability of dry clutch auto’s in regard to depreciasion. I also understand no one has a crystal ball so it’s all speculative.

I’m surprised you say your DCT “is far from smooth”, during my test drive I thought it performed very well but that’s coming from someone that drives a manual.

I’m not looking for a definative buy/not buy I’m looking for opions.

I’d be interested in your thoughts on the “side steps”, to my mind they’re more fashion than function and make getting in and out more difficult than it needs to be. I did ask about the possibilty of having them removed.

 

My preference would always be for an Auto. If you would prefer one as well I'd go for one. The car will have a warranty so any reliability issues would be covered by that. In spite of all the problems with the 7-speed DSG in VW Group cars there doesn't seem to be any effect on resale values probably because there will always be people who will seek out the automatic version of the car that they want. So even if the MG TCT box proves troublesome I don't think it will make resale values any better or any worse.

 

I would want to know what this 5 year warranty covers and what is classed as normal wear and tear before making the choice.

Oh and by the way, I have side steps on my 4X4 and wouldn't be without them.

 

Oh and by the way, I have side steps on my 4X4 and wouldn't be without them.

Had them on my first Defender, they just got in the way when going off road. Didn't get them on the new one, for now at least I manage to haul myself up though I have split a few pairs of pants doing so (less the car's fault and more my diet I suspect):laugh:

 

Hi MGBOB
I have had a GS for nearly two years with the twin clutch gearbox. I have also driven the manual across the Welsh Top Gear Roads. I prefer the auto. The GS ha s pretty small turbo engine and its pulling along a fair weight of tin. The extra ratio with the auto helps find the best gear.
The sport selection is great in auto or manual. There is no turbo lag on the Auto as you keep your foot flat on the floor when "going for it". You will also be surprised at the road holding, it feels like the tyres are made of chewing gum, you can chuck it at a corner and let the stabilisation control sort it all out.
When you feel like a slow pootle home, engage "W" on the gearbox, turn on the cruise control and turn the best in range stereo on. Now your driving a quiet smooth saloon - brilliant.
Ian Murray

 

Ian
I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying your GS and like you I’ve had my manual version for just over 2 years.

There are days when my journey home, which can take an hour to drive the first mile, I think an auto would have been better but I’m not sure dry clutch auto’s like this sort of traffic.

With 33K on the clock I can honestly say I have no regrets about buying a GS. This isn’t to say it’s a perfect car but then which car is. I’ve had a couple of issues, the parking sensors stopped working and I needed a steering shaft replaced due to an annoying clunk but these have been sorted under warranty with no quibble. The steering shaft clunk has returned but as it didn’t happen during the service it’s not been replaced yet but I think it will need doing soon.

The engine continues to work well as long as you understand it’s a turbo, if the turbo spins down you can get caught out by a lack of torque but once it spins up the 167PS can certainly get the car moving.

One thing that did surprise me was the cost of the second service, over £500 and I’ll need to save up for wiper blades when they’re due at nearly £80 for the 3, yes I’m sure I can get cheaper non OEM ones but they’re odd sizes and fittings.

I generally keep my cars for a good number of years and believe in good maintenance to help long term durability, with this in mind I’m not convinced 15K miles between services is sufficient and I may do a mid service oil and filter change.

As mentioned by Ian, the tyres do a good job and they look as if they should last to 50K or possibly longer if I swap front to back. They’re also excellent on our third world roads, I’ve gone down a couple of potholes that would have destroyed the wheel and tyre on a lesser car, without any issue.

On a longer term note, there seems to be a lot of cars from all manufactures that have issues with direct injection engines, the problem relates to deposits on the back of the inlet valves. One solution is to have them blasted with a non abrasive media such as walnut shells.

In summary, a good value for money car I’d recommend.

Bob

 

Hi Bob
I am pleased to hear from another satisfied GS owner. I can't understand why there are not more on the road.
I recently retired, my wife and I decided to try owning just one car. I had a 3ltr Z4 she had a Cooper S. The GS suits us both, not quite as quick but I suppose I have to grow up sometime!
One thing you may be able to help me with is the out side temperature. I found it once but can't track it down again and with icy roads coming it will be handy.
Ian Murray