MG ZS 180 Review - England's cheap JDM alternative? - BEARDS n CARS

[@neblolthecarnerd]

In terms of it being good handling and having good potential I believe this is why mg owners clubs are some of the most widespread club racing series in terms of single manufacturer. I guess it’s because of these cheap cars with good potential and the classic cars that everyone loves.

[@MGRracing]

Basically a Honda MB6 civic with a rover engine. Same lovely double wishbone front suspension and multi link rear as all Hondas of that era had on which the car is based.

[@1966jamesM]

I owned a ZS180 from new for three years nearly 20 years ago. Since then I've had Audi's, Mercs, a Jaguar and even an RX-8. All really good cars. But the ZS is the one I keep thinking back to as what a great car it was. I used it daily and covered nearly 80,000 miles with no issues whatsoever. My conclusion talking to other owners was that most issues were down to lack of usage (yes!) and/or poor maintenance. This car was simply brilliant - docile around town, but spin it up to 4000 revs on a twisty and the engine came alive with super handling to match! Fun days.

[@marknelson5929]

Hello James, saw your comment and felt I had to reply. I too have owned many cars and found by chance a 2004 MG 180 ZS the other week with 54,000 miles from new with full and important service history. She looks new due to careful previous owners - and is a blast to drive.

[@jkevin474]

I've owned my mg zs 180 for 17 years now and it's been a pleasure, but she's had the common faults, drivers seat bolster wear, saggy roof lining, rattly inlet manifold, rear brake calipers, clutch master and slave which I've upgraded, and the cam belts can be pricey to change aswell but every car has it faults

[@Icecoolsa80a2]

Wish I can get mine too look as good as that one day

[@thunderousity]

I had one of the face lifted 2.5 V6 hatchback versions. I thought they looked amazing especially with the side grills which mimicked the MG SV. Fitted with the induction kit these sound amazing too. A bit of a sleeper if you got it in a less brash colour like the gun metal grey.

[@johnbrown3951]

I had a ZS 180 2.5l V6 mark 2 in X-Power Grey (saloon) with the large wing and fitted an induction kit and it sounded so good in fact even better than my JCW Mini hatch with its trick exhaust.

[@mobilerSalzstreuer]

People do forget what you actually get for your money. It's a 5. Gen civic platform which means double wishbone in the front and independent rear suspension. Basically the dream base when talking about fwd cars. Due to it being built on that platform the zs180 is actually related to the dc2 which many don't know. And while the engine is purely rover in terms of suspension you can use many chassis parts for cars like the dc2 and eg6 (the mg has longer shocks meaning it will be way to low when using civic suspension) so there actually is tuning support in an indirect way for this car.

[@HSGAutomotive]

For sure, and a nice v-tec donor swap must be something certain owners have done, to great effect. Britain's Accord Type R.

[@mobilerSalzstreuer]

@@HSGAutomotive I have only found one rover 400 which has been B18 swapped so at least on the internet there aren't that many but technically speaking the honda civic mb6 which is basically the closest relative to the zs is equipped with an B18 and an lsd so it actually should be possible to but the drivetrain into the mg but there might be brackets and different mounting points for the engine since in the honda and mg there are differently placed

[@dahotrod1533]

A zs has recently been k20 swapped, looked easier than previously thought it would be

[@dahotrod1533]

The suspension is very similar to the dc2 with there only being very minor differences. The dc2 is often regarded as the best handling fwd car ever made but are now over £18k if you want to get one.

[@mobilerSalzstreuer]

@@dahotrod1533 that I gotta check out

[@AccordTorneo]

That looks sick i want one bad now.

[@bigarmydave]

I had the original 180 (Sonic blue and all!) and this model in silver. I removed the Whale tail and re-badged her to XPower. I'd pull into service stations and people would actually stop and ask what it was! Sadly both had the dreaded butterfly valve issues though....

[@stickerzazaofficial1154]

my favourite sedan ever

[@snafutube]

i had a ZS 180 from 2004 - 2012 - what a great fun car it was, Never had any reliability problems, drove all over the UK & Europe in it .... I did get the cam belt done (expensive) at about 60k miles instead of the recommended 90k as had heard some horror stories about it going well before. Amazing handling and cornering, stuck to the road like glue.

[@tetchuma]

If they had sold both the Rover and MG variant here in the States, it would have sold like CRAZY! It may have been too “British” in its interior, but Americans would have seen it as an affordable Jaguar. Such a shame that the British auto industry fell because of poor management and poor reliability. My dad would always point out, all over Dallas, all the places his ‘73 MGB broke down. Going to Six Flags? - Lost the driveshaft on the exit ramp. Driving through Carrollton, TX? - Fire started under the dashboard. Driving down 35E at speed? - Lost the last working roof latch, and the whole frame for the got ripped off, and had to be Jerry-rigged by being spot welded with additional scrap metal. Leaving White Rock Lake? - Briefcase made a hole in the rusted floorboard. Driving down [nameless] street. - Differential locked up, and I spun into that curb… you can still see the large chip in it! The new Rovers and MG’s could have turned their reputation around. So sad.

[@HSGAutomotive]

It really is, and much like TVR there is a lot of clear US influence in there.

[@dahotrod1533]

I don't think most Americans would have actually touched them with a barge pole tbh.

[@6643bear]

Hi , I owned mine for years , I replaced my rattling air intake manifold sometime back but this one started , but I have another one. Yes I had brake calipers seized , and wear on bolster on driver seat( have spare set of seats ) and done the cam belts and of course exhaust systems etc. It’s a delight to drive positive and good weighted steering even tiff needell mentioned it when he did a review. One point I like to mention that Zs was detuned compared with Mg zt 190. You can get your ecu remapped , I like to find out what the 0-60 and top speed would of been. Spares are available but getting more difficult, there is a handful of stockist online but do obtain spares online or eBay. Look out also the issue with the diver side window doesn’t go down, relay need changing in the alarm control box behind the centre console ( this only for facelift models )Great video. Regards mark

[@neblolthecarnerd]

Rovers were the boy racer car before the corsa and fiesta took over.

[@cee5212]

Most important thing to look at for these cars is if the sheddist hydraulics kit has been done (OEM will fail eventually). And knowing the cambelts are an engine out job, so probably £800-1000 to factor in if they're due.

[@richardmarshall4322]

I own two Mk 1 180s. A,2002 Hatchback i have owned since it was 3 years old and a 2004 saloon. Both been off the road stored for a few years. Intend to put one back on next year. Always thought they were special. The sort of car you look forward to driving especialy if now a hobby car like mine are. Prices are increasing so if you have good example i would say hold on to it.

[@riceracing3184]

I’ve owned this car for over 10 years. I’ve put 80,000 on the clock and the only issues I’ve had are as mentioned sticky callipers (fixed) perished gear linkage (fixed) and terrible clutch hydraulics mountings! (Upgraded from plastic to metal) it’s fair to say the car has been a lot of fun and is still going strong! Oh and a failed drivers window motor ( not fixed living with it 😄) super charger is a mod I’ve looked into and looks more than viable! Paid £6000 for it with 12k on the clock! Bargain!!!

[@HSGAutomotive]

Nice one, I could see the V6 with FF pairing being a weapon with the right upgrades. Say 250-300 bhp or so, perhaps with a sequential shifter. A road going BTCC car of sorts

[@dahotrod1533]

I have looked in to the supercharger kit for the zs180 and it is really rare, really expensive and the engine can't really handle it. The best option for the zs is a k20 or rover t16 swap. I have a rover t16 I'm building for 450hp lol

[@SpitfireFortyFour]

The main reason I feel their prices gave dropped is purely because Rover/MG don't exist anymore. The exact same thing had happened with Saab, as soon as the manafacturer went under prices tanked. People seem to think this means its impossible to get parts and keeping them on the road will be a nightmare. Its not the case but it definitely plays into it. Let them do their thing imo, that way I can enjoy all the Saabs/Rovers/MGs for pennies! I have particular fondess for the early 45s and the 75, in terms of value I don't think you can really do better if you just want ride and refinment. With your talk of Turbo/Superchargers Rover did actually have Supercharged versions of the V6 for the ZS&ZT pretty much ready to go. The ZT220 did make it to Australia but Rover disappeared before it could get it probably underway. Same for the ZT400 with the Supercharged V8, they did get a couple of those made just before they went under but never in any numbers. They also had a V6 version of the TF ready to go before they crumbled. I haven't had a ZS180 myself but I've driven one and loved it. I honestly don't think it needs the extra power (unless you were just building for track usage) the way it handled is what made it fun. And my god does that V6 sound good. A ZS is definitely on the list of cars I want to own before they're all gone/prices skyrocket.

[@rcmax3851]

Exhaust manifolds (big job engine out) exhaust and intake about 210/220ish if u put the zt190 cams in 230ish or 275 piper cams about 250 suspension on them is mint from factory with the bmw z axle and the whole front end is different to a civic or a rover the car is a corner king and straights intake and exhaust u will do 157mph some ppl say they have a limiter at 139 but nobody really know if they do or not

[@HSGAutomotive]

Interesting. Funnily enough I have been thinking over buying the lovely BTCC replica ZS on eBay for £3600 currently, but with it being stripped down and less functional it wouldn't be ideal enough for me as a daily. That's the 1.6 105 model anyway

[@ROKKET71]

Can someone straighten that steering wheel, please? It's really niggling me 😆 Great to see a new vid on these though. 👍

[@HSGAutomotive]

Haha

[@WolfBoiGaming]

i have a mk2 mg zs saloon and its my first car also my dream car.

[@sherdawg]

Hey man, I recently got my licence and I saw this car on sell in my area. Is this a good starter car and is it reliable?

[@HSGAutomotive]

They aren't known for being reliable, but it is a decent enough performance car for a dirt cheap price. Far less than something like a Subaru or Civic with a similar asthetic

[@sherdawg]

@@HSGAutomotive okay thank you

[@HSGAutomotive]

I'd actually recommend looking into the Skoda Octavia and Fabia vRS as well. They are fantastic cars for similar dirt cheap prices, with punchy turbo diesel engines. I did a video about my recommendations of cool first cars here on the channel: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raSpp2WPaduMZ9U

[@tomcole020]

The V6s are very reliable 👍🏻 you’d have no chance of insuring one though as a first car

[@gilbertvaughan218]

my dad has zs 180 and loves it he also has mg zt 260

[@MarcusTDM]

There should be more content of MG ZS on KZbin. There really isn’t much, mostly walk arounds when people are selling them.

[@Triplez43]

Yet another car I want to have in the us this thing would probably take the tail of the dragon like a champ😭😭😭

[@louielouie95]

What Does MG Stand For?

[@marknelson5929]

MG stands for 'Morris Garages' The first MG's back in the 1920s were modified Morris cars with different bodywork, chassis and sometimes engines. The owner of the garage wanted to create a more sporting car based on the Morris, his name was Cecil Kimber.

[@6643bear]

Hi, I am guessing that you have facelift model , it’s the relay (centre) one in the alarm control unit in the centre console need changing , any constellation I haven’t done mine either . Regards mark

[@t8polestarcyan22]

The only British I can find are... the Rover engine in it along with minor body and interior styling adjustment. I wish I can experience the ZS 180 in person.

[@6643bear]

Hi totally agree with the side vents on the zs I think it’s better than zt . As you know that zs he’s a bit faster than zt, I wondered if zs wasn’t detuned by 10bhp I wonder for too speed and 0-60 would of been . Regards mark

[@steffansheppard9270]

im now the proud owner of this car 😍😍

[@HSGAutomotive]

Eyy nice one

[@steffansheppard9270]

the stickers and the steering wheel has gone and the sun strip the side stickers on the doors are still there

[@bmwe39m5]

What suspension is the car running? Looks quite low.

[@4DeFord]

Had to sell mine a few yrs ago and I miss it a lot 😒

[@louielouie95]

Rover Became MG And Then Died Out Before MG Returned Again

[@dahotrod1533]

Not really, both started off as separate companies. They were bought by British leyland and when British leyland was split up they were merged together as MG-Rover group. After a few ownership changes they finally went bust and went into liquidation the MG brand was bought by saic (china), saic now stick mg badges on their saics and use the brands heritage to increase car sales. The rover brand however was bought by another car company and will never see the light of day.

[@EpicTyphlosionTV]

This serves as another reminder that Europe has some tuner cars as well

[@HSGAutomotive]

Sure is

[@Icecoolsa80a2]

Get one of these too 200bhp and it's a different machine. Mine also has 140k miles lol.

[@HSGAutomotive]

I can imagine 👌

[@richardmarshall4322]

How do you get one to 200 bhp?

[@6643bear]

Hi great comments but you try and by a decent mgrs 180 now over £4000 now . Regards mark

[@MGRracing]

If you need parts DMGRS is your friend.

[@1968leg]

I had one for years and I did love it. But so expensive to run. All the mentioned issues will happen. Add to that Cambelt, clutch hydraulics and dreadful fuel economy. If you're considering one of these I would personally go down the Golf mk5 gti or civic FN2 route. The 180 is a great car when all is well but the poor reputation is sadly, deserved.

[@tomdunne2219]

FINE CHARIOT, BUT WHERE ARE THE HORSES?

[@HSGAutomotive]

Pretty much

[@dahotrod1533]

Decat and intake can get it to 200hp. The thing is you need to let the v6 sing a bit. Hold the revs up to 5,500rpm and it can be real fun

[@zpower6231]

That steering wheel😢

[@WolfBoiGaming]

the steering is mis-aligned it triggers me.

[@HSGAutomotive]

Haha yeah I could see that being the case for a few people

[@ironbru1986]

My Mum had Rovers while I was growing up, she had 3 altogether, one Metro from 95, one Metro from 98 and a 200/25 from 2001 if I remember correctly. All of them brand new due to being mobility cars for my sister. All of them were extremely unreliable, especially when it came to the electrics. All of the electrics completely died on all 3 of them with the engine completely blowing on one of them, the 2nd Metro if I remember correctly. To say I wouldn't recommend them is quite the understatement.