Great British Engineering, or a Rose-Tinted Nostalgia? - The MG ZS. LMM Drives Episode 43.

Hello Everyone,
A while ago, good friend of the channel ‪@JayEmmOnCars‬ let Lawrie loose in one of his vehicles - and it's something that they both had experience with back in the day.
The question though, is it as good as Lawrie remembers?
A video shot, featuring, and edited by Lawrie
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[@SteamboatWilley]

10:32 That V6 sound though. 🥰

[@tboneisgaming]

I remember being a delivery driver for Rover demonstration fleet. The ZS180 was one of my favourites for handling and that creamy v6. The ZT 260 was nuts with a mustang 4.6 litre v8

[@richardmarshall4322]

I have 2. A 2002 Hatch and a 2003 Saloon. I have owned one since 2006. Have owned a 2002 Saloon which i regret selling. Also had a ZR and MGF. All my ZS are180s. Great cars. All you say is true. I was smiling watching the film. You Sir 'get it'. Nice one.

[@oliverbrookes27]

I was at lights yesterday with a 75 V6 next to me. Lovely burble as it pulled away.

[@TypedAnimal]

I have a Rover 25 pre facelift, it's my first car, a 1.4 105 horsepower and i love it

[@Flymochairman1]

Yeah, that sound...and that chuckle when you hit the gas! They seemed fascinating cars and I don't know why we didn't see more of them in the TOCA Championships, having come from a quite capable Rallying back-ground(even my Maestro Van had the front Air Dam!). Yes, the interiors didn't prove the best but the sound and the front wheel drive positivity in cornering...and that sound! A good break from the other Mechanical Marvels. Thanks @JayEmmOnCars. Nice one, it sounded like you were having fun Lawrie. Keep safe, chap. Cheers!

[@stevewareing8525]

You brought back some good memories Lawrie. I was a hooligan having owned two of them back in the day, I traded my first one in after a few years just before MG went bust for a new face lifted version which I ran for several years until it was sadly written off by a red light runner 😠. Unfortunately it was uneconomical to repair.

[@sarahhall738]

Sadly my 214si blew its head gasket but given the chance I would have another one. Great to drive even though as a short person it felt like I had a mile of bonnet Infront of me I felt totally safe in her.

[@ianhudson2193]

Hugely under rated car! As is the MG ZTT 1.8 Turbo....

[@hawickrfc]

MG ZS - check out the BTCC days where there was a works team and the slightly random junior team backed by... Atomic Kitten!

[@trainswithnickyt]

I've always wanted one of these, currently I need the 7 seater and it's handy for camping in, but who knows what will happen when I'm ready to downsize again

[@Madonsteamrailways]

The last time I saw an MG44 was at last year’s Enfield Pageant of Motoring. We always have a good selection there!!

[@peddersmeister]

My first and 2nd cars were Rover 25s always wanted an MG ZR/S/T/T-T

[@MorrisHGT]

That is a really cool car! Lawrie you just are like me. Love cars and trains and i think you are listening to rock and metal aswell? I'm a big heavy metal fan haha I love the your video's how you talk about trains such a nice enthousiast 😁

[@thetbird69]

I hate to buy into stereotypes but my friend bought one of these and 45 minutes after getting it the header tank unalived. Then we fixed that and in mg fashion the head gasket went and we got rid. My parents have an F each and their timing belts went within a month of each other shame as my moms one is a Japanese import

[@kineticrail]

Happy memories I had a similar age rover 45. And I remember the British touring car championship of the time the sole I believe mg xpower z-s going up against the probably better equiped vauxhall and Honda teams

[@MichaelTagg1990]

I love the MG Rover range of cars, Always had a soft spot for the rover 25 and got one in 2013 with a view to getting the ZF to go with it, unfortunately the 25 met an unfortunate demise with a BMW and I've never got round to getting a ZF or another 25 lol but one day maybe I'll get time etc

[@SteamboatWilley]

It's not surprising the interior feels dated when you remember what it was based on: the Rover 400 Series/Honda Civic (which by the time this facelift came out, Honda had already replaced, while the MG ZS/Rover 45 were still based on the previous generation model). It's still a good looking car and one I would love to own (although maybe not this exact one, given its condition). Also, I see a dragline in the opening credits. I'm excited to see if that turns up in a future episode.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

For me, fast cars are an anathema!! Traveling at speed isn’t what I think of as fun!! Having a room in the back of my vehicle is much more important!!

[@BurpleRX7]

I nearly got one of them until I was told that if the rear screen is damaged the car is a write off due to unavailability. Crying shame as rover was starting to find there way in later years

[@lmm]

No way! That's madness

[@Dagger2311]

I miss my zs 180. It was a fun car to drive

[@Madonsteamrailways]

They look like the wheel arches!! Could that not be the case?

[@gs425]

My boss had a zt-t in metallic green on a 53 plate..went the length of the country in it. It looked great. And a million miles away from the frumpy 75. The downsides were lack of boot space for an estate. And worse of all...the range. Barely 300 miles on a tank was a pain. We didn't mind the cost, just the constant fuel stops

[@kidcowdy1231]

I don’t find the 75 tourer boot to bad really, it’s a similar size to a 3 series touring.

[@gs425]

@kidcowdy1231 It was bought to replace an omega estate. And was in turn replaced with a mondeo estate. Both cavernous I'm comparison when you have tools and kit to lug around long distances. From what I recall the ztt was somewhat shallow in the back. But a mondy and omega is more 5 series size really. Don't get me wrong the ztt was lovely. It also had that lift up boot glass thing for just chucking things on the top lol

[@kidcowdy1231]

@@gs425 yeah I have a 5 series now and the boot is much bigger, but the flip side of that is that the 5 is a much bigger car, it’s a size class above the 75 really. Same with the omega and mondeo.

[@gs425]

@kidcowdy1231 But I think the ztt just sat right on the road. Better looking than any of the others we've mentioned. The car rover finally got it right. Unlike lawrie I think the 45 was a tad naff. The 75 and ztt were a bit special. Nice to talk to you mate

[@kidcowdy1231]

@@gs425 yeah I had a 45 and thought it was ok, but no where need the level of the 75

[@bentullett6068]

Great spec ZS. It has the Subaru Impreza style wing. Ian from Hubnut had the older Rover 45 version of this car and it was powerful and subtle.

[@sarahhall738]

Reminds me of my Rover 214Si she was a dream to drive. Loved a long run at 50mph.

[@Mr_wally]

Ok but nothing more British that jupes (breaking down on the m1)

[@stuartross282]

Fairly late one Facelift was desperate attempt to hide it age as it was a car platform dating from the mid 90s

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

😀

[@adamcrane1436]

Hello

[@Madonsteamrailways]

That’s an MG 100, isn’t it? Or is it the MG75?

[@LemartesLogistics]

Having worked on them before the zs was simple to work on but some was failing its 1st mot with corrosion. They did look cool though

[@paultozer7525]

How did project nigel get this car?

[@lmm]

I don't know. It wasn't my car.

[@dahotrod1533]

It was sold to jay emm then jay emm gave the car to paul rover man

[@John-yf8qh]

Best, old bean? Best? I’ve thrashed a lot of cars’ back wheels (‘knackers’ basically, but the proper words actually worked better) and I wouldn’t have said these were even reasonable. If you want a really good BRITISH car; I’m told the Toyotas they knock out in Derby, by a very reliable source of Japanese origin, are the best available worldwide. Basically because we are English pigs, have English weather and treat everything we own like dirt, the English-built ones are build stronger underneath. It’s also extremely easy (again from a virtually infallible source) to get a job fitting trim and the like at the Toyota factory in Derby, only to stroll outside and help yourself to a brand new Supra. Hundreds of the gits, all ready to go, at various stages of road trialing. I’m not much of a tea-leaf meself, but for those of the criminal bent, well, there’s an opportunity for ya. As for the MG, I think it was owned by an Indian firm when they were made, so it’s equally British as the Toyotas :) :) but I’ll have to pass this time. The lad at Bad Obsession Motorsport have the shell of this thing’s bigger sister (the one with a big v8/v12 that never really got anywhere) so keep thyne peepers peeled… :)

[@dahotrod1533]

You don't know nothing about these and it shows. you obviously haven't driven one, you have zero idea. The zs180 is a continuation of the honda civic joint project between mg rover and honda. Mg rover was owned by bmw at the time and sold to the phoenix consortium just before the zs was made. The car has the same civic suspension platform as used on the honda integra dc2 and ek9 type r both regarded as the best handling fwd cars made. Mg fell under than was sold to china

[@johnsovcom]

I thought mg are made in China?

[@lmm]

Mg folded in the 2000s. A Chinese company brought the name for the new cars.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

For me, cars should be as quiet and simple as my current Renault Zoe. Come on!! DRIVE ELECTRIC!!

[@dahotrod1533]

Sorry but it's just an appliance and only feels so, the car above is a driver's car. Why drive a bland and dull car with absolutely no benefit other than a false "eco" image.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

@@dahotrod1533 To me, the Zoe is certainly not a boring car to drive. To me, it’s more important to be able to go to the Whitewebbs Museum of Transport in the London Borough of Enfield than to drive a vehicle with a blinking petrol or diesel engine.

[@dahotrod1533]

@@Madonsteamrailways it's just a dull city car. You don't care about cars if you want to force everyone to drive the same car as you. Electric doesn't work for most people.

[@nicolaiitchenko7610]

Just another clone of the WRX like the VW Like the Toyota Like the Mazda Like... All much of a muchness and boring to look at. A TOY sports car. Hot Wheels makes models of these so you get used to pushing them around.

[@burroaks7]

minus the spitfire and mosquito.,.....,..when should I start correcting.....