I got back from OZ recently after 3 weeks over there (not long enough IMO). I picked up a copy an OZ motoring mag (Wheels) which also had an overall positive review of the MG ZT V8. It was a bit disappointing though that I didn't see any MGR cars other than a couple of MGF's given that I was in Sydney for a fair amount of time. It was good to find a review of the MG though in the first car mag that I picked up over there. I'm envious that you're over in Oz at the moment and can't wait to go back.

 

Well I have been on holiday here in Oz for a couple of weeks now and am loving it. The other day i was reading the local rag and i saw an article on the new ZT V8. Everyone knows how the aussies like their muscle cars and they love it. The article does nothing but praise the new V8. I drove one of their Ford Falcon XR8's the other day and although it is mighty quick the inside is really basic. This is where the ZT leaps ahead with all of its mod cons. Its gonna be a big seller over here me thinks. Mind you if i decide to move out here (which is a BIG possibility) they will have a UK/RSM spec zs turbo to contend with! Should put the wind up them a bit!! Considering its only a little 4 pot! Now where was that website on vehicle importation costs........:2c:

Well, considering that you could nearly get 2 XR8s for the price of a ZT260, of course the Falcon would feel a little "basic" in comparison. :O Aussies like big V8s, but they especially love affordable performance. Because of its weight and price, the XR8 has been overshadowed by the quicker, cheaper and more agile XR6 turbo with a BMW-like twin cam 6 (the sales of that model surprised Ford even, it was so popular there was a 3-month waiting list soon after launch which was unheard of for any Aussie car), and the rival Holden Commodore SS V8 easily outsells the XR8, being even more of a driver's car.

Have you also sampled the FPV (Ford Performance Vehicles) Falcon GT-P? Kind of like the AMG division for Aussie Fords and the GT-P has a tweaked 32v V8 (balanced crankshaft, heavy duty valve spring, high compression pistons, blueprint cylinder head , reprogrammed variable valve timing etc etc) that gives 290kW and a lot more advanced than the ZT's SOHC 4.6L, uprated suspension and Brembo brakes as standard. All for 20k less than the ZT, but of course it's still a Ford and refinement and NVH isn't quite up there with the Euro marques, but it's near as dammit.

I doubt many in the market for the good ol' Aussie V8 would look at the ZT, to them it's more of a patriotic devotion thing plus more importantly, a $$$$$ thing. A fairer comparison would be between cars of the same price eg the 330i, A6 and the lower-rung 5 series and E class. None would have the sort of grunty performance of the ZT, so it's really for those after Euro-refinement and meaty grunt, but the fact that the ZT doesn't come with auto tranny might hurt sales since people shopping in that bracket favour slushboxes. I'd be interested to see how the 75 V8 would do here.

 

All the reviews I've read about the ZT260 have been very positive. I dont think the dollars will necessarily hold back sales, judging by the large and increasing numbers of high end BMWs, Mercs, and Audis you see around. Lack of advertising and awareness will be a much bigger factor in putting a damper on sales.

RoverAlex I dont know why you saw so few MGRs around. There are 75s all over the North Shore. Perhaps you didnt venture north of the coathanger............

 

The Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon are the default cars in Australia. The ZT 260 will appeal to thoses that want to go against the grain but still want a grunty engine.

But as SteveinOZ pointed out.... lack of avertising and awareness may hold back the MG from reaching its full potential.

 

The Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon are the default cars in Australia. The ZT 260 will appeal to thoses that want to go against the grain but still want a grunty engine.

But as SteveinOZ pointed out.... lack of avertising and awareness may hold back the MG from reaching its full potential.

Selling cars in Australia that are produced in the UK must be a costly and logistical nightmare for MG Rover.

I am surprised you get any cars over there from MG Rover. I suppose the one favourable factor is that they are RHD along with Japan which must make it a little easier. But until they have a manufacturing base on that side of the planet or eastern europe/Asia, I wouldnt hold my breath for a sudden surge in MG Rover models making it to Oz.

Shame but true I feel.

 

Selling cars in Australia that are produced in the UK must be a costly and logistical nightmare for MG Rover.

I am surprised you get any cars over there from MG Rover. I suppose the one favourable factor is that they are RHD along with Japan which must make it a little easier. But until they have a manufacturing base on that side of the planet or eastern europe/Asia, I wouldnt hold my breath for a sudden surge in MG Rover models making it to Oz.

Shame but true I feel.

NZ has heaps of Rover 200s and Rover 600s zooming around. The 400s are a little thin on the ground. Rover was also quite a popular import in Japan and Singapore. The 75 got 'import car of the year 1999' in Japan.

The Honda Rovers were never introduced to Australia expect for perhaps the 800 because of the Aussie obsession with gas guzzling V8s. Even the Rover 75 didn't go on sale till 2000 or early 2001.

So apart from Australia, Rovers have sold well enough not to be discounted in its other Asia-Pacific markets.

I am currently keeping an eye on the second hand 2.0 KV6 Rover 75 autos flooding in from Singapore where it is illegal to own a car over 5 years old. They make an excellent second hand bargin ... but really want a manual.

 

But as SteveinOZ pointed out.... lack of avertising and awareness may hold back the MG from reaching its full potential.

Seems a familiar theme from here in the UK too - those new PR appointees have got their work cut out!

 

Seems a familiar theme from here in the UK too - those new PR appointees have got their work cut out!

I think they might actually have an easier time of things in Australia, where they don't constantly have to dodge ill-advised, mainly untrue and often very hostile barrages from the domestic press. That's what's hurting MG Rover in this country, constant sniping from the British press, not their lack of marketing muscle.

 

Yes, I think that you could be right there: at least in Oz, MGR are going to be allowed to start with a clean slate...

I was in Australia for 3 weeks back in August - saw a couple of 75s in Brisbane, but not many MGR products anywhere else. I did spot an MGF though in Sydney!

 

I think MGR sales are quite localised. You'll see quite a few 75s on Sydney's North Shore, quite a few TFs in the Eastern suburbs, quite a few 75s in Canberra. But in other areas they are like the proverbial hen's teeth.

The point about the press is very relevant. MGR press coverage in Oz is mostly quite positive and doesnt set out to denigrate the company like the British press does. In other words, it concentrates on the cars not the company or the directors.

 

In other words, it concentrates on the cars not the company or the directors.

Which is how it should be. How honestly cares what the directors get paid? This is all about product product product...

 

Selling cars in Australia that are produced in the UK must be a costly and logistical nightmare for MG Rover.

I am surprised you get any cars over there from MG Rover. I suppose the one favourable factor is that they are RHD along with Japan which must make it a little easier. But until they have a manufacturing base on that side of the planet or eastern europe/Asia, I wouldnt hold my breath for a sudden surge in MG Rover models making it to Oz.

Shame but true I feel.

A good point..Not only that,but its a nightmare getting parts here and good service for the MG/Rover marque.I would say for MGR to be successfull in Australia and the like,they would have to buck there ideas up.

Matt glad your loving it,shame we get to lose such a valued customer :sad2:

George

 

The Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon are the default cars in Australia. The ZT 260 will appeal to thoses that want to go against the grain but still want a grunty engine.

The ZT260 and the HOlden Commodore V8/Ford Falcon V8 are in different leagues and I doubt there'd be a single crossover in buyers. The MG is no more of a threat to either than the BMW 540 or the Audi A6 V8. You could nearly buy both the Ford and the Holden for the price of the MG, and both outperform it. The last thing MG Australia will want to emphasise in marketing the ZT260 here is performance, given that its powered by the engine that Ford Australia rejected as not being grunty enough. What they will want to emphasise is that it's different and handles very well. It's going to be stealing buyers from BMW, Audi, Mercedes, Volvo and Jaguar - the class in which both MG and Rover compete out here.

 

But until they have a manufacturing base on that side of the planet or eastern europe/Asia, I wouldnt hold my breath for a sudden surge in MG Rover models making it to Oz

That will be the day when I give MGR the one finger salute and buy something else.

It is only BECAUSE they are making cars in the Midlands that I give a flying $#%*! about MGR.

And anyway, they already tried that a few years back, and may even now never recover their good name.

 

I Want To Go To Australia

Sorry for going of the subject but I looked into moving to australia and taking my ZS out there, there are two ways of taking the car, buy ferry (Role on, role off) or in a huge container. The ferry is cheaper I think, by ferry it was about £2000. Which I thought was very good for the distance.
Iam still thinking of going to Australia but cann't get the GF to go, but working on her.

 

Sorry for going of the subject but I looked into moving to australia and taking my ZS out there, there are two ways of taking the car, buy ferry (Role on, role off) or in a huge container. The ferry is cheaper I think, by ferry it was about £2000. Which I thought was very good for the distance.
Iam still thinking of going to Australia but cann't get the GF to go, but working on her.

Expect to pay more to import and then certify the car than it's currently worth at UK second hand values.

I'm not aware of any RoRo options for cars except by bulk transport through a bulk freight arrangement (ie how all the manufacturer imported cars get here - on ships that have a thousand cars on them) and even then you need to consider the port where it "rolls off" and the cost of getting it by train or truck to where you want to live (Australia is a very large country and freight on a car from West coast to East is horrendous). Then there's the import duties and taxes, stamp duties on the various swathes of paperwork needed before it's even allowed onto a road (let alone being driven on one), Transport Dept inspection fees etc etc. At the end of the day you'll have bought the car a second time over!

Also bear in mind that self imports are near impossible to sell here, even when there are other examples on the roads. Yours would be the only one of its type in the country so you'd be keeping it until it was no longer roadworthy.

I'm not trying to put you off coming here, but you are better off buying a ZS180 over here when they start importing them next year and at least you'll have an Australian compliant car and none of the costs and headaches.

 

I looked at the cost of importing a MG-Rover from the UK a while back just for interests sake on the NZ customs website.

The link below is too the Aussie Customs website on vehicle importation, be perpared to read a whole lot of crap.

BTW.... it's expensive, but could be worth it if you really love your car and don't see much wrong with it.

Australian Customs

 

I think MGR sales are quite localised. You'll see quite a few 75s on Sydney's North Shore, quite a few TFs in the Eastern suburbs, quite a few 75s in Canberra. But in other areas they are like the proverbial hen's teeth.

I was surprised to see how popular the 75/ZT was there earlier this year. Of all three cities there were always one or two about; Sydney (Darling Harbour), Melbourne (St. Kilder) and (perhaps most surprisingly) Adelaide (Parklands).

 

they all sound pretty much spot on. MG and Rover sell to well off middle class people who would otherwise buy Jaguar, Audi, VW, Volvo or even BMW. I'm not familiar with Adelaide but Darling Harbour and St Kilda are both very high disposable income areas.

But as far as popular goes you'd better remember that MGR has only sold 3000 vehicles in total in all of Australia since the split from BMW.