I really like the blue....

I think it looks good and it is fact that blue is easier to read a night...

Hence the fact that volkswagen swear by it now....

Orange is boring... and can be over powering...

The white on my ZT is ok but can be a bit In yer Face at night ( thank god for the dimmer switch ) but it would not stop me buying one...

Personal tastes though...

G

 

I have to make a serious admission here - I love VW :devil2:

....... but only for the blue illumination they use on the dials. Always wished the MGs had blue as that would have made my day when I bought the TF.

 

I have completely changed all the interior illumination of the dials, clock, switches, radio, odometer to either blue or purple. Looks far better and easier to read.

 

I was seriously about to order a new ZT-T to replace my 75 and enjoyed the test drive.
BUT who on earth decided to change some of the dash display to blue? The rest of the dash illumination is still orange - a nice relaxing easy to read glow at night.

The blue is hideous and totally mismatched to all the other dash and radio display.

It is bl**dy awful. Whose idea was it?? He should be fired. The mark 1 white illumination was so so but this is not even easy to read either.

I simply cannot live with it - scratch one new ZT-T order I'm afraid. And no the factory won't change it under monogram either.


The new matt grey dash is a step back as well - you have to pay an extra £100 for the black oak for anything smart to look at.
I am really really disappointed.

The factory won't, but the dealer might...

 

I don't get it...... you were considering to replace your Rover 75 (touring?) with a Mk II MG ZT-T, yet in your avatar you have a maroon Mk I MG ZT.

So can I take it that you have both a ZT and a 75.... because that would be really cool .

As for the dials.... can't common because I haven't seen them but surely they can't be that bad, I mean how much night driving do you do…? I had a chuckle to myself when you demanded the guy who changed the dial illumination should be fired .

Impressive dR0Og!

 

I don't get it...... you were considering to replace your Rover 75 (touring?) with a Mk II MG ZT-T, yet in your avatar you have a maroon Mk I MG ZT.

So can I take it that you have both a ZT and a 75.... because that would be really cool .

As for the dials.... can't common because I haven't seen them but surely they can't be that bad, I mean how much night driving do you do…? I had a chuckle to myself when you demanded the guy who changed the dial illumination should be fired .

Impressive dR0Og!

Yes its a fair cop - I do have both - the tourer for going around the country to dog shows and the ZT for fun.

When the ZT-T was launched the suspension was too firm for my tastes but now its softer it suits just fine.

It seems that I'm in the minority not liking the new blue dials - maybe its my eyesight but I find the new dials very difficult to read at a glance.

It just seems so odd when the rest of the cabin is swathed in nice relaxing orange you have this garish blue right in front of you. The dealer says it cannot be changed and the factory are not able to make up an orange dash instead.

So at the end of my 2 year finance agreement on the Tourer I am paying the final (large) payment to take ownership. I'll miss the greater urgency of the ZT-T and better cornering but remain happy with the more serence driving experience of the 75 and that lovely orange glow at night.

By the way the "maroon" ZT is actually Copperleaf (again not most peoples choice of colour) so I think I must just have different tastes to most ZT buyers. There is a larger picture of it in the "gallery".

 

I've not driven the new ZT at night, so haven't seen the new backlighting but it doesn't sound great, I loved the white of the mk1.

But I totally agree with you about the new dash finish, it's not nice. This is the same across the range now. I've been looking at the ZS, the grey is cheap but the black oak is not to my taste either. What I want is the smooth finish of the black oak, but in plain grey. Like the old car in fact!


Edit: At least with the ZT the dash shape hasn't changed so you could replace the panels with the older classier style (a lot of hassle I know). Shame this can't be done on the ZS as the centre console is restyled if you got the climate.

 

Of all the MGs I have driven, I do rather like the ZS (my wife runs a ZS180) - the red numerals against the black background are really sharp and clear - really easy to read at a glance which is how it should be. The appearance is as if the numerals themselves are illuminated.

What do other ZS owners think?

 

Of all the MGs I have driven, I do rather like the ZS (my wife runs a ZS180) - the red numerals against the black background are really sharp and clear - really easy to read at a glance which is how it should be. The appearance is as if the numerals themselves are illuminated.

What do other ZS owners think?

Isn't the ZS the same as the ZR? If it is, then the illumination is orange, on a very dark grey, almost slate colour. This is the silver of the dials letting some of the light through. Not sure if they intended this effect but it looks well cool :bgrin:

 

Just a quick point.... did the Mk II ZT have a dial illumination dimmer, if so perhaps it was turned up to the max when you drove the car?
Maybe if it were turned down to the lowest setting it would be not quite so bad...?

 

Of all the MGs I have driven, I do rather like the ZS (my wife runs a ZS180) - the red numerals against the black background are really sharp and clear - really easy to read at a glance which is how it should be. The appearance is as if the numerals themselves are illuminated.

What do other ZS owners think?

Yes indeed - one of the many things I love about the ZS is the instrument illumination - back-lit orange numerals on dark background. I do a lot of bight driving and find the orange glow nice and relaxing. I haven't seen the blue dials of the ZT so can't comment.

 

I've got the dreaded blue dials in my ZT. At first I thought they were great, but 10,000 miles in with more and more time being spent driving in the dark they are really hard on the eyes. If you dim them down, they are hard to read - black writing on blue dials is not the cleverest idea.

The VW blue dials are much nicer, because they are just the readings being illuminated on a black background. I have to say, in the ZT case, orange would be better, white is acceptable but the blue is really just a gimmick that does clash with the classy orange heater and Iovox CD displays. the dials are just too big - as the little clock does look rather smart in blue but thats because it is small!

 

I'd agree, the blue dials suck - I've got no idea why they made the change. If it ain't broken...

 

I've got the dreaded blue dials in my ZT. At first I thought they were great, but 10,000 miles in with more and more time being spent driving in the dark they are really hard on the eyes. If you dim them down, they are hard to read - black writing on blue dials is not the cleverest idea.

The VW blue dials are much nicer, because they are just the readings being illuminated on a black background. I have to say, in the ZT case, orange would be better, white is acceptable but the blue is really just a gimmick that does clash with the classy orange heater and Iovox CD displays. the dials are just too big - as the little clock does look rather smart in blue but thats because it is small!

Looks like MG-Rover test drivers only drove the car in the day light! You'd think they would pick up a problem like that.

 

Just a thought, but surely it would be possible to fit a Mk1 ZT instrument pack?

 

It's probably just as simple as changing the bulbs.

 

Hi Laser,

I share you taste .... in part.

I have a Copperleaf ZT, I had the dash changed to wood under Monogram as I did not like the grey.

I would, however, like the blue lights as long as they match the other controls ....the Kenwood stereo is blue, but what about the aircon controls etc?


AL

 

Hi Al

Yes I remember you ordering with the wood dash - I take it you are pleased with it?

Unfortunately, although the main dials and the clock are now blue (and very difficult to read quickly - I would say its almost dangerous at speed) everything else is standard 75/ZT orange.

All that has been done is to change the colour of those dials from the 75. The mark 1 ZT looked a little odd with white dials, but they are at least clear to read. As you will know all the rest of the illumination (aircon etc..)on the ZT Mk 1 is orange.

For what it costs MG to make the dash, I think it just lacks appeal. If I as a long term MG Rover customer won't buy it, I wonder what other sales have been lost? The new colour of dash is also a step back - the old grey looks positively smart against the new matt silver one.

 

Of all the MGs I have driven, I do rather like the ZS (my wife runs a ZS180) - the red numerals against the black background are really sharp and clear - really easy to read at a glance which is how it should be. The appearance is as if the numerals themselves are illuminated.

What do other ZS owners think?

I actually want to change mine to blue