The Perfect £2000 Daily Driver? MG ZT-T 190 Estate Review

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@edwardobernardino4347]

Jay what do you think of the Chinese MG hatchbacks and SUV. They seem to be very popular in Australia... Blasphemy or keeping the MG name alive ?

[@JayEmmOnCars]

@@edwardobernardino4347 I reserve judgement until I have tried one - though I hate that they reused the ZS name for a crossover, that's just daft

[@edwardobernardino4347]

@@JayEmmOnCars 2 year wait on a hybrid Rav4... Alot of people are getting the Chinese alternative. 22 months to go for me

[@stevestaff7425]

Another excellent no bull review of a very underated and often misunderstood car Well done sir 👍

[@paulmoor595]

As a group of lads, we rented one of these for a weekend and took it over to Le Mans as a 'support car' What a great car...it kept up with everything we had on the open roads of France!. Nothing is ever as fast as a renter !!

[@darrylwebb3625]

Even back in the day I admired what MG tried to do with the Rover range. The ZT-T was the coolest underdog of all of them.

[@hugopacheco3575]

I'm a fan, Jay. Great videos. But let me tell you the envy I have with those car prices... Here in Portugal I paid in January of 2022, 7500€ euros for a nicely specced (red paint with camel leather seats) 2009 Alfa Romeo Mito 1.6 jtdm with 96000 km. And let me tell you, this was a great price, especially because I bought it from a used car dealership and not a private person. Cars here in Portugal are so expensive. At least we have good weather most of the year! 😂

[@rvr4617]

Same here in the Netherlands, with exception of the nice weather 😭. I'm always a bit shocked by the prices Jay and other British youtubers mention. I think UK cars are so cheap because they are pretty much useless for export to other European countries due to right hand drive. While in the rest of Europe cars are imported and exported alot, creating a much larger market.

[@cameronwood1994]

@@rvr4617 Also, the British are new-car obsessed, not helped by cheap finance deals, and our registration plate system. A lot of our used cars less than 5-8 years old are actually exported to East Africa, where car prices are very high, and of course are right-hand drive markets. Sadly, a lot of them are stolen for export to such countries.

[@davekennedy6315]

@@rvr4617 but we get all those lovely JDM cars that are also righthand drive so we're very lucky. It's also for historical reasons that we've always been this way, it is so we have our right sword hand free if needed to defend ourselves. After all you just never know another intentions as you ride your horse past another? Plus right is just........right!

[@stephenhunt6673]

Try buying a second hand car in Australia. On top of the price, we also have to pay 5% stamp duty and transfer fee to the state government.

[@hugopacheco3575]

Here, besides the price of the vehicle, you pay only 60€ for the transfer fee.

[@zeddist7472]

I do like the ZTT design, I think it looks exquisite for an estate and it has aged like fine wine. Combine the estate version with a V8 and you got yourself something quite special. Picking up on the eternal discussion on mk1 vs mk2, I do prefer the mk1 lights and front lower bumper together with the mk2 badge area. I figure that’s easy to do yourself once you got one

[@PrivateWalker]

I loved the size of it but never saw many

[@nolanstaveley-haynes2129]

Great video I've had 2 of these and they didn't disappoint, both in silver, one being the 2.5 V6 160 bhp, the other a 1.8 turbo + which actually had better spec than the V6. Never let me down and fun to drive.

[@LeMagnum440]

Run a 190 saloon daily, love it

[@joshwaterfield2483]

I had a ztt diesel. Its the only car that I owned twice and he was like a faithful old dog. Love these and would gladly have one again if my circumstances fit.

[@johang7498]

I quite like the way MG was re-established back in 2001 with ZR-ZS-ZT-TF - it showed that there were still people with talent and vision within Rover-MG. And so nice to hear that it led to cars that even today can offer driver satisfaction. Therefore it's such a shame that the company lacked the funds to develop their range further and come up with new models. Had there been that, with that early 21st century-spirit, surely MG-Rover would have become a carmaker the UK could have gotten (more) proud of once more. Instead they had to make do with a facelift too many and a rebadged Indian supermini. By the time those came about, you knew the writing was on the wall.

[@dcarbs2979]

I've got the Rover 75 version of this. Bought for...£2000, during lockdown because it was at the only dealership I could walk to and had no other vehicles. Some key differences in the trim to the MG version are the cream (rather than white or black) dash dials, and the wood panelling. Together they give the classic old-English feel which I rather like.

[@giff1669]

I agree - have you had any problems with it? I’m Looking at a 2.5 petrol and wonder what the potential issues are with these cars. Cheers

[@dcarbs2979]

@@giff1669 Steering rack went which couldn't be found new in RHD so needed a 2nd hand one. Gearbox mounts and tailgate arms too but are quite cheap jobs. The supplier of the new LHD rack said it fitted based on chassis number, but didn't say what side it was for! That caused some hassle and expense, but suppose that's not the car's fault! Other than that, it's things that would effect any car this age like lights/bulbs, suspension bushes/gaitors. I've not needed them, but apparently the light lenses are hard to get.

[@giff1669]

@@dcarbs2979 Thank you for that detail. I just kinda like them- maybe nostalgia. The estate looks a decent load lugger. Good luck with yours and all the very best

[@rare6499]

Great cars. My 2002 ZT 190+ was one of the best cars I ever owned. It wasn’t fast, it drank a lot, but it steered brilliantly and I just absolutely loved it.

[@giggertee96]

I had the Rover 75 estate with the 2 litre V6 and cream cloth interior as my first car.. it was lovely and I very much regret getting rid of it.. albeit it was falling apart.. but it did have two drivers doors for extra security... one was the door, the other was the door card

[@andrewcreedy925]

Best thing about a zt is owning one, loads of character and just a nice interesting car to own. Surprisd James says not aged that well!😗 I have had several v6's over 20 years only one breakdown. I'm not an mg fan particularly, it's the car itself I like. Really important to get a really nice one tho to fully appreciate.

[@paulbarlow9981]

I bought a diesel ZT-T once I landed in Portugal in 2020 for 4,500 Euros (they hold their price better over there, don't suffer from any brand stigma, and the climate has certainly been much kinder to them.) I love it and I'm slowly working on making it pristine, with a few tasteful and subtle mods. Lovely review of a lovely car. And like many, I prefer the Mk1 (Peter Stevens) design. Not sure if he also did the facelift but I actually think given modern trends for big grilles, those facelift grilles look even more dated.

[@rarevhsuploads4995]

Peter Stevens did the facelift designs for the Mk2 ZT & 75 range. Richard Woolley did the Mk1 75 & Ian Callum designed the Tourer estates as MG Rover sub contracted it out to his company. He then did the Jaguar X-Type estate & became head stylist for Jaguar.

[@paulbarlow9981]

@@rarevhsuploads4995 Thanks for the info.

[@hsvcommodore4111]

I currently have a Lemans Green MG ZS 180! Bought it about 18 months ago as my first car! There are only about 15 zs180 left in my country, so really rare here!

[@paulelverstone8677]

Always enjoyed these cars. My brother had a 75 V6 Connoisseur and an X350 XJV6 at the same time and the Jag was better... but there wasn't 'that' much in it. They both felt like occasions to ride in. The 75 felt big and heavy - it felt like a quality piece. Reminded me of his old P5. I'd have a T model in a heartbeat...

[@K2edg]

The MG ZT Estate 4.6 V8 was a great car......... I had one some years ago now and if you can get your head round the MPG it was very good cruiser.

[@skelejp9982]

I never understood why they didn't choose the 4 litres AJ27 engine , from Jaguar, since it was also owned by Ford.

[@asw16177]

I had the ZS180 back in the late noughties and it was an awesome car, now I'm in my 40s and enjoy golf and have a family the ZTT 190 would be ideal.... except for: Cost of cambelt changes, VIS Motors, rust, tax, petrol..... apart from those small points, I'd love one. But it would have to be blue.

[@S-Ltd1000]

I had one of the facelift 120 diesel ZTs. I remember the day I picked it up from Cornwall and driving back to Devon expecting it to be slow and heavy but it turned out to be pretty nimble for such a big car and it felt a lot quicker than the stated output. I later found out it had been super chipped to about 160hp which was a real result as it gave it a fair turn of speed with loads of low down grunt. I'd have another if I could find a good one.

[@DMSJagXK]

I owned a brand new MG ZT 190 2.5 litre V6. Had to replace the engine 3 times in 4 years, 2 under warranty. Each time the engine lost its oil. When it wasn’t in the garage it was wonderful to drive.

[@robertmaitland09]

That bit of aluminium around the exhaust pipes, priceless!

[@nickbaker2529]

Another great & balanced review of some Rover tin. Rewind a dozen years or so and I'd just picked up a job with a consulting engineering firm that necessitated a 70-mile a day round trip to the office. Having quickly discounted 'budget' options (Kia Rio), I came down to a shortlist of 3 suitable cars that some "car park cache" (in theory there was a rule about what you could or could not park in the car park, but the E36 I had at the time was deemed classy / not-bangery enough to bend the rules... until it shat it's timing chain). List was X-type Jag, MG ZT and E46 BMW... based on the distance being covered / economy, that meant the ZT & Jag petrols were out of the running... and the diesel versions thereof were a bit limp in terms of performance, so I opted for an E46 330D M-sport. But the ZT 190 was the one I really wanted just because of the noise it made and despite having ~20bhp less and about half the torque it was more enjpyable to get a shift on in. So a case of what might have been I suppose. I still have the E46 though, and good to contrast with an acquaintance of mine who's had a ZT-T 190 from new... both still providing dependable and entertaining motoring into old age...

[@cheltenhamman]

I had the saloon back in the day, in exactly the same colour. Enjoyed the car immensely. Nice, accurate vid

[@FleetAdmiral215]

Am amazed there's never been a TV drama made about Rover / Phoenix consortium story highlighting the dodgy dealings etc.. Great Video as always James

[@samsaunders9033]

Wow I can't believe this I bought one last night 🤣

[@GentilsGarage]

Great review once again. I had a 2002 MG ZT 190+ and loved it. However, it developed an engine problem that was very expensive to fix and that was the end of it. They sound and drive great. Front brake callipers come from the E46 330i. Only issue with the estate, As I was told by the Rover 75 Enthusiasts club, is the rear windscreen glass that is rare and can be hard to find a spare. Otherwise, all good.

[@YellowbirdYT]

I have a soft spot for 90's/Early 2000's Rover. Back when I was a kid, they were somewhat common in my country as imports were open for a few years and people bought them. As years went by, they became harder to maintain and started to disappear from our roads. I'm not sure if we ever got the MGs, at least I never seen one in the flesh. This is a beautiful example, specially with that shade of green!

[@julesviolin]

Ah we restored that couple months back for Peter !! Very nice car now. Needed a huge list doing but well worth it in the end

[@eze8970]

Thanks for info, is this the one that needed a new engine, had been advertised for a while like that?

[@peterbarney9946]

Thanks again for all your hard work on my car Jules…you transformed it. I think the secret with these lovely cars is to find someone who knows how to look after them

[@peterbarney9946]

@@eze8970 I bought this in the spring off eBay, it didn’t need a new engine but a fair bit of work including an MOT, engine mount, inlet manifold, thermostat and lower coolant rail.

[@eze8970]

@@peterbarney9946 Ok, thanks for your reply. A green one like yours had been hanging around for a while with a busted engine, which I think later got exchanged/sorted. You car looks good, enjoy it, it has a presence many modern cars can't match.

[@garethllewellyn918]

Had the 135 bmw diesel ZTT for 5 years and loved it. Fabulous for taking young family to France and racing for ferry while still getting well over 40mpg. Wiring wasn’t great and both fuel pumps had to be replaced.

[@angrymuffinsb]

I remember my dad was loaned an X type from his work as a child, that had to go in for repairs so they loaned him a 75. It was far superior. He asked to keep it!

[@pablos3563]

British Audi S4 Avant. Still love this body shape. Greetings from Moscow ✌️

[@garethhanna9173]

Amazing what Rover achieved with the 50p they found down the back of the sofa, only real drawback with these (if you can find a good one) is the cost of belt replacement.

[@2.fresh767]

I bought one a few years back, 1.8t 160+ and I was quite surprised with how good of a car it was for a little under a grand. You could do a lot worse for the money.

[@James-cs2wi]

Years ago I used to service a lot of these GM cars they was good cars and they drove good

[@calumwilson182]

This is gorgeous, nice to see you've got another Z car after reviewing my ZS. I may well sell my ZS due to a change of circumstances (yes the very one you drove!) so let me know if you fancy it

[@poovaneswaranvsupramaniam35]

Nice review....yeah have a single rover 75 estate still running on malaysian roads....

[@baheh1801]

I remember watching historic club racing at the old snetterton years ago and the V8 version rumbling around being used as a pace car. It really did sound the part

[@Callumjcripps]

My dad had a 2001 blue ZT-T 190, it wasn’t the most reliable thing but when I came out of school it was always the coolest looking thing in the car park. Sounded good too.. was always trying to get my dad to buy a V8, but I doubt he would have appreciated the fuel bill, and trying to find one in the first place!

[@chrishart8548]

It probably was the coolest looking car around then. Better than a vectra B or a mk3 mondeo. Or a 5 series at the time (E39) or a boxy A4

[@Michael-4]

Thanks for this. I've been banging on about these for years and all I get is comments about a cobbled together Gammon wagon.

[@superchargedxjr]

Had a 51 reg. ZT190 Trophy Blue followed by an 04 reg. ZT190 X Power Grey. Both manuals.Both purchased with few miles registered from SMC Motor Group. When the Phoenix Group went bellyup they had excess stock to shift. From memory 51 reg. was £13,500 and the 04 reg. £17,500. The 04 car was very well equipped with Satellite Nav/TV, sunroof, leather, etc. Didn't have heated seats though! An ex. Phoenix director's car. Comfortable and quiet. Had problem with plastic intake on both cars. Both had issues with the clutch. Frankly, pretty slow for 2.5 litres. Handling was good and cars composed. Always worried about cost on cambelt change as main dealer charging around £1,000 at the time. Had trouble selling the 04 car as nobody wanted the vehicle. Reluctantly sold to a dealer in 2010 for £2,200!! The car was immaculate with around 45k miles, but the clutch was dodgy.

[@matthewpotter8491]

Always liked the look of this car, and that green is absolutely superb! Looks so good!

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

This green colour is amazing. I'd buy most cars if they came in that fantastic shade of green. Nice video. Keep up the good work.

[@GryphLane]

I'm actually looking to purchase an interesting estate car for around £2k - so this is very well timed for me!

[@cee5212]

Just remember to look out for inlet manifold rattle, clutch upgrade kit, and thermostat leaks. (As well as cambelts, these are expensive + very labour intensive) KV6 is a lovely little engine...when it's functioning properly 😅

[@GryphLane]

@@cee5212 Thanks! My next trick is to find any for sale. Auto Trader and the like seem a bit thin on the ground...

[@dolomite_73]

​@@GryphLane Try the 75 + ZT owners club, there's a for sale section on there

[@peterbarney9946]

@CEE this is my car which I bought earlier in the year, it did indeed need a replacement inlet manifold and thermostat along with a lower coolant rail.

[@WolfmanWoody]

I had one same as you are driving (colour too), but without the luxury extras; heated seats and so on. What made me get rid was the repair costs like the inlet manifold you mention. Plus new discs, cam belt, tyres and general service. Altogether, about £2000 and it was still only worth about the same if that. So it was goodbye. Lovely driver though and once had it well over 6000 revs acclerating from a slip road in 2nd on the M40, no problems.

[@alexjaybrady]

Do like these MGs, they piulled off something surprisingly impressive with the basic Rover range. Thats so funny I recently bought a green Lexus IS300 SportCross, a very similar car in a similar colour for a very similar price, and was thinking of seeing if you fancied a go. Its great fun. Not the best at anything but seemingly good at pretty much everything.

[@WestfieldFreshAir]

Had a ZT new in 2002. Within 50m of the test drive I knew I had to get it. Fantastic handling. Not all ZT engines had poke, mine was a 115bhp diesel. Accelerating wasn't great but you really didn't have to slow down for corners. It would even oversteer without provocation. Would have another in a flash if they weren't so old now.

[@leoroverman4541]

I've had a ZT 120 for the last 10 years, picked it up for just over a grand. The K is a lovely lump, though the head gasket has been replaced. BMW apparently was responsible for the nonsensical decision to put the slave cylinder for the clutch inside the casing of the Gearbox ( the only real down side) It's now covered 140K. Rust, Nada. It's a brilliant car.

[@T16MGJ]

The location of the Clutch Slave Cylinder INSIDE the bell housing is the one thing I really hate about these cars. I own a number currently. Including a V8 260. As a half-decent DIYer with the tools, over the past ten years of 1.8T ZT-T ownership, I have TWICE had to replace that pesky CSC ( Concentric Slave Cylinder ) which is a gearbox off task... not nice. Otherwise these are fine old cars and nice to drive from every aspect. Have upgraded the 1.8Ts with the larger front calipers and discs fitted to the ZT 190s. BMW in fact stamped on the caliper assembly. No stamps on any of the other BMW style calipers fitted to the whole range. New ZT190 ( BMW 57/25 spec ) Calipers, Pads and Discs are available for less than £200 for the lot. Fitted to the ZT 160 1.8Ts provides the braking characteristics I prefer. Perfect now and some of the best braking I've tried on any car. Splendid upgrade. The same front brake calipers are fitted to the MG ZT260 V8s. Trailing the Discs on the V8s not leading them as with all the other ZT range. Apparently that means they are fitted upside down left to righty. How about that. .. :-)) Oh yes, following the then UK Government calling in the receivers at Longbridge in April 2005 rather than provide rescue funds to the then Private Company, the MG-Rover Intellectual Property Rights were sold off dirt cheap to the Chinese Company SAIC. Not long after the Chinese owned MG company produced the MG6 saloon with the excellent Chinese version of the Rover 1.8T K=Series. The MG6 a modern updated version of the MG ZT 1.8T in all but name. MG6 a fine car ( owned two ) despite what many would have you believe when they first appeared here in the UK. The Chinese company fitted the Clutch Slave Cylinder on the MG6 OUTSIDE the Bell Housing like most other MG ZEDs and Rovers. Not INSIDE it like the BMW set-up. Bonus. Find a nice ZT or ZT-T and you will not be disappointed. They are out there on offer sometimes, now rarely if you search carefully but most owners like me like to hold onto them.

[@leoroverman4541]

@@T16MGJ Hi there, thanks for the comment. I was just wondering if the MG6 component of the clutch would be interchangeable with that on the original or would that mean changing the gearbox?

[@T16MGJ]

@@leoroverman4541 Thanks for the question. I fitted a low mileage MG6 engine to one of my MG ZT-T 1.8Ts. The MG6 uses a conventional Flywheel whereas the MG ZT family use a Dual Mass Flywheel. Fortunately, the ZT/75s DMF is straight direct fit onto the MG6 engine. Unfortunately, the MG6 uses a completely different Gearbox and a Hydraulic clutch system which is not a straight fit . As far as I know, the excellent Rover PG1 Gearbox is a straight fit onto the MG6 Engine. My wife's MG ZS 120 with the 1.8 K-Series also has a PG1 Gearbox. All PG1s as far as I know have EXTERNAL Clutch Slave Cylinders which are a doddle to service or renew. Unlike those pesky CSCs inside the BMW design. Eight years ago I bought a nice ZT 1.8T which had slipped its timing belt. I also bought a lowish mileage Rover 620ti with the 200ps Rover T-Series Turbo charged engine and PG1 TorSen Differential Gearbox. The plan was to slot the T-Series into the ZT along with the uprated 620ti PG1 Gearbox. It has been done but it is not the straight fit like slotting 200ps T-Series power into an MG ZS, MG ZR or even and MG Montego or Maestro. Have driven examples of these transplants and within a few hundred yards, you immediately understand why folks do that. In the case of the T-Series turbo MG ZR, pocket rocket and then some. The T-Series MG Montego I drove what twenty years ago ( Tomcat Cup Engine Transplant ) was manic. It was then a "celebrity" car featured in a several pages spread in one of the better Car Magazines back then. Got images of these cars. That was my plan eight years ago but health issues and now past my eightieth, my DIY days humping heavy car components about are now behind me. I bought my first MG nearly sixty years ago. Had one of more about the place ever since. Too many mostly as some folks remind me from time to time. There' so known cure ... Good eh ..😀

[@PaulBriden]

We had 3, an MG-ZT 190 SE+ Manual, Rover 75 1.8T Auto and a Rover 75 Estate auto with the same engine, all at the same time. The one you are driving has two options that were rare, the sunroof but most of all the folding mirrors these were not common on the ZT. The MG-ZT of the era you are driving had two suspension options hard and not so hard. The extra hard suspension I thought was too hard. The problem with the saloons is the rubber trim around the glass leaks water into the boot. The sunroof sun shade always comes off its runners. The rear lights on the saloons the water seals leak and split leaking water into the boot. We had the highest spec MG-ZT in the country, a face lift model that had every option, it was a Rover Directors car, in the end it was bought by a man in Germany who drove it to Hamburg where I believe it still lives. It had a TV. The leaking rear window trim let water into the boot and by the time I found out the ingress had destroyed all of the infotainment system. At £3000.00 to fix, in the end I pulled out the head and fitted an alpine system. In this video slide show you will see I am not Billy Bullshit, what the TV looks like, and the same car on German plates. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pmjXc3SFntaqjqs The 1.8T cars were both very good, however the 190 was more fuel efficient. Both the 1.8T cars we had to replace the fuel pump in the fuel tank. A common fault. The most annoying thing is the complicated bonnet catch, it has 4/5 catches, they go wrong and you have to remove the front bumper to fix them. The gold Rover 1.8T had the head gasket go, our local Rover dealer Crawley Down Garage had gone bust, and sadly no local dealer wanted to take it on. Another dealer would, but not warrant the work. In the end I broke it for spares. Now there are so many specialists that will do this job, one guy will come to your house. However, at the time the retro expertise was pretty much non existent. You are correct they are great cars to drive, I agree the door cards are poor. If I could have got my Rover 75 fixed I would still have it today. Thanks for the review.

[@Kerring]

I went the other way around, from a ZT-T 190 to a ZS 180. I find the ZS better in every way. Better looking, cheaper to run, roomier engine bay, more character, hugely quicker, much more entertaining to drive and still has all the boot needed (no problem fitting a full size e-bike without folding the seats). ZT-T is arguably more refined with more cargo space if that's what you're lusting for.

[@AliZartash-Lloyd]

I had one of these from new. 2003-2006, did 105,000 miles before I sold it. I absolutely loved it, and it was our car of choice to go out in, even though my wife had a MG-TF and I had a convertible Maserati for fun 😮 What this car cried out for was a turbo, or like the Maserati, bi-turbo🤷‍♂️. The chassis could certainly handle it, and it could do with a lot more power. Just put you right on one point though. There is no truth in the car being designed to be rear wheel drive. BMW insisted on the tunnel to improve the body's rigidity, which you can feel the benefit. That's straight from people who were on the design team. I have no idea where this story came from, and how it got traction (pardon the pun).

[@vinylwasp9429]

Thanks James, blast from the past. Had a Mk I and a Mk II, both 190 ZT-T's. The Mk II was an ex Rover press car so very nice spec. The thing I remember is the brakes, 330mm and super powerfull (comparatively), they really pulled the car up before pitching into a corner. So sad they were killed off and sold for the badge.

[@jefferysmith3930]

Lovely car. The seemingly bargain prices of UK used cars is just astounding compared to what even ropey old hacks go for in the US

[@jamessheehy4895]

Love the chrome massive GB badge

[@maljef2026]

Lovely car and still is. I had one of these but it never felt quicker than my ex police rover 827 vitesse manual back in the day. Even though the 827 was less horsepower it always felt more beefy when i floored it.

[@jeffplant6205]

I agree. Loved my ztt 190 had it for 5 years. I had a 827 Stirling a few years before and even though it was an auto it was definitely quicker than my manual Mg. The Mg was a lot better built and solid car at a guess probably weighed more than the 827. If I had to choose between the two cars it would definitely be the Zt

[@stuartlevine7073]

Great cars, I've had lots of 75s and ztts love them all

[@Simon-ui6db]

Just scrapped my 75 cdti auto. Didn't want to, but previous owner had hidden a load of corrosion with waxoil and repair costs outweighed getting a different car. Shame as I love how the 75/ZT drive. Thats a lovely ZT-T.

[@TheM5Dog]

I had a 2003 MG ZT CDTi back in 2012. It had the 115ps engine (well, the 115ps and 135ps are the same engine, just a different map). The M47R was a decent engine and wasn't afflicted with the same issues as the one found in the BMWs. You could buy an MG map called the Xpower 135 for the 115ps cars which then gave them 135ps. The MAF sensors would suffer issues and I seem to recall the Pierberg MAF being expensive or hard to get. There was a tuning box that would compensate for the MAF, while also tuning the car around 160ps. You could then also remap the ECU for a little extra power. An oddity is that the boot light on the ZT (not sure about the ZT-T) was stamped with an Austin logo. Sadly Project Drive came about as MG Rover needed to save money, so the bullet mirrors were gone, as were nut cappings on seats etc. In the end, mine suffered with an issue to do the with the brakes. It appeared to be a servo fault which would cause the pedal to be hard with reduced braking force at random times, while others it was fine. Apparently replacing the servo wasn't a fix, so I ended up selling it cheap and putting my 3.2 Vectra back on the road. I'm still fond of the ZT, but it could do with a 6 speed box. I'd probably take the 160 1.8T now, despite knowing that the headgasket is going to fail every Wednesday.

[@T16MGJ]

What a refreshing change to see a generally positive review of these fine old cars. Clearly this reviewer did not study at the Clarkson wannabee academy of automotive opinion excellence. Had he done so he would have failed miserably to qualify. Longbridge "insider" once told me why they didn't put the 1.8T K-Series in the smaller MG ZS. Apparently it would have undermined the top spec KV6 engine MG ZS. . I waited and waited for the 1.8T ZS but, it never appeared. So a NASP MG ZS 120 as a family runabout it had to be. The KV6 was more car than the family needed as a runabout. The Zs still a delight to drive. As serial K-Series owner, bought the first new one in 1993, and the last one, a ZS120 in 2003. Both cars still in the family fleet and giving good service. Ten years ago, bought the first of six MG ZT/ZT-T 1.8T "project" cars. Previous owner had been quoted silly high four figures to get the non-runner .. running. I got it running for eight quid. The FOC .. no not that, the Fabled Orange Clip. A bit of a pain to fit in the nearly full fuel tank. The previous owner had just filled up when the engine stopped. FFS .. no not that, Fuel Filter Syndrome. They tend to become partially separated ~ Cap from main Body of Filter assembly so insufficient fuel pressure to the Injectors. Engine started and ran with a 50 ml squirt of RON 95 into the Inlet manifold until that small amount of fuel was used up. That was the clue. Fitted the FOC after realigning the Cap-Body. The clip stops future separation. Immediate cure and start. Soon after the car became my daily driver and I joined the various MG ZT/75 online clubs. Imagine my surprise to see many of the opinion, whose opinions I came to respect of those with much greater experience of these nice old MGs than I, believed of all the engines available, the Turbocharged 1.8 K-Series was the best engine option. Yes better than the KV6s, BMW Diesel and even the Mustang V8 cars. One of my ZTs has that galloping equine on the Throttle body. Yes, amazed to read that about the 1.8T K-Series the best option. Ten years on, I now fully appreciate that viewpoint. A 1.8T MG ZT-T has been my reliable daily driver load carrying workhorse for the past seven years. High thirty MPG on a sensible long Motorway run, down to high teens MPG if driving NOT for economy. That boost can be effective and that means more fuel used.

[@scalecrawlnl]

Still a cool car, looking good especially in T form. Get one James, smart Winter hauler! Thank you.

[@danentwisle8885]

I loved mine. It was a Monogram version with flip paint and every option. It came with some sort of XPower SS exhaust which as you say was very boomy. Water ingress through the sunroof saw the interior flood as well as the plenum under the bonnet. I bought this car as a cheap load lugger while renovating an old house. 170k on the clock, it was a tired old thing. I often wondered what it must have been like when new. It must have been pretty special. After a year I sold it on and got another MGF. I sometimes wish I still had it and regret that maybe £1000 would have made it the great car it deserved to be.

[@matthewrowe9903]

As a life time biker who worked for Clarks during the Rover debacle I absolutely hated the Rover MG range years later I was given a 75 for free now I love them still have a ZT 120

[@clivigerwindturbines5878]

Hi Jay, just watched this perfectly put together video….I noticed you mentioned that you have never seen the 2.5 160 version and that they are rare. Well I’m happy to say I own a 2.5 V6 160 ZT-T in XPower Grey.

[@albie0011]

great review..I drive a 2003 mg ztt 190 , it's gun metal grey and agree it's a great car to drive, and nowdays so rare..I see a few 75 estates but mg very rare, which is sad to see

[@tukaruss8680]

Great review of a good tourer

[@petermilburn1214]

A company I worked for hired one of these for me in the early 2000s it was great to drive.

[@TonyBelas]

Great review and very clearly put, not a stutter or an um...er , or cough! you should train our politicians! I’ve had a ZTT and now have a ZT 190 which I’ve had for 11 years, and you are absolutely spot on with your advice. Its hard now to find a clean one, as they are really getting on a bit and the ones I’m watching are in the £3,500 bracket, but if you are looking for a project car then sure £1500 will get you something that is recoverable.

[@T16MGJ]

Good examples like mine are well looked after keepers and rarely available on the used car market. Too old for most used car dealerships because now due to age, no longer nice little earners.

[@Canadian_Gamer]

Great styling cues on this one right down to the rims and paint color. We obviously didn't get these in North America.

[@JulianPhilipNicolls]

My diesel ZT-T is great, my daily driver and with a remap goes better than the V6 and returns 40 mpg.

[@markboersma8694]

I onwed a saloon zt until 2 years ago. Still remember it fondly, the way it drove was amazing and I liked the unique styling. But unfortunately it broke down. A lot. Every 2 to 3000km it would make itself unusable. And since it was my daily driver... but some day I will get one again as a second car, they are brilliant machines!

[@superchargedxjr]

Meant to add. Both ZT190s drank the fuel. 20/21 mpg urban and 28/30 mpg overall. Followed with 4 litre XJ308s @ 16/18 mpg urban/23/25 mpg overall

[@mattpointon8093]

I learnt to drive in a Rover 75 and would love to find a decent MG ZT

[@mr_pastry]

Great video as usual, James. I’ve got a 2001 MGF 1.8 in Tatiti Blue that you can have a go in, if you ever find yourself near Wolverhampton/East Shropshire.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Daily driving a e46 328i I can agree 190bhp is enough to have fun with or safely overtake

[@Jack32X]

Loved my 190 when I had it. What an engine!

[@quintengale7750]

Well done sir...I always enjoy your posts very much as they are Well balanced and honest...with just the right blend of entertainment

[@T16MGJ]

Nice one JayEmm. The location of the Clutch Slave Cylinder INSIDE the bell housing is the one thing I really hate about these cars. I own a number currently. Including a V8 260. As a half-decent DIYer with the tools, over the past ten years of 1.8T ZT-T ownership, I have TWICE had to replace that pesky CSC ( Concentric Slave Cylinder ) which is a gearbox off task... not nice. Otherwise these are fine old cars are nice to own and drive from every aspect. Have upgraded the ZT 160 ZT 1.8Ts with the larger front calipers and discs fitted to the top spec ZT 190s. BMW in fact stamped on the 190 caliper assembly. No stamps on any of the other BMW style calipers fitted to the whole 75/ZT range. New ZT190 ( BMW 57/25 spec ) Calipers, Pads and Discs are available for less than £200 for the lot. Fitted to the ZT 160 1.8Ts provides the ideal braking characteristics I prefer. Along with Mintex or Brembo ZT190 Pads. Perfect now and some of the best braking I've tried on any car ever. Splendid upgrade. The same front brake calipers are fitted to the MG ZT260 V8s. Trailing the Discs on the V8s not leading them as with all the other ZT range. Apparently that means they are fitted upside down left to right. How about that. .. :-)) Oh yes, following the then UK Government calling in the receivers at Longbridge in April 2005 rather than provide rescue funds to the then Private Company, the MG-Rover Intellectual Property Rights were sold off dirt cheap to the Chinese Company SAIC. Not long after the Chinese owned MG company produced the MG6 saloon with the excellent Chinese version of the Rover 1.8T K=Series. The MG6 a modern updated version of the MG ZT 1.8T in all but name. MG6 a fine ordinary production car ( owned two ) despite what many would have you believe when they first appeared here in the UK. The Chinese company fitted the Clutch Slave Cylinder on the MG6 OUTSIDE the Bell Housing like most other MG ZEDs and Rovers. Not INSIDE it like the BMW 75/ZT set-up. Bonus. Find a nice ZT or ZT-T and you will not be disappointed. They are out there on offer sometimes, now rarely but, if you search carefully. Most owners like me like to hold onto them.

[@ChristianHiroseRomeoGraham]

There's something about European estates and wagons that attract me. It's a different feeling compared to the Japanese and American ones.

[@paultaylor9652]

A big 👍 up from me, I seem to remember an expensive problem with the fuel pump/tank on the estate though.

[@SameAsTheMail]

had the oil burner, 135 I think - was one of the best car I've ever had. trying to work out if I can sneak a 260 into the garage .....

[@williamegler8771]

What a beautiful vehicle! Had it been available in the United States I would purchased one even though I swore off buying British after owning a Jaguar and Range Rover which single-handedly funded my mechanics vacation home.

[@lolroflpmsl]

I had a diesel 75 (120 PS) for many years. The body and everything else fell apart around the engine - to the extent where its final MOT failure would've cost me over a grand to fix, especially given parts were hard to get towards the end. Miss the ride quality and refinement.

[@batchreviews]

Great video. I’ve got a 2001 ZT 160 (V6) if you ever wanted to borrow it

[@mrreindeer1844]

Gotta love an ellipse.

[@bengardner4498]

My Rover 75 club se V6 was purchased from the same SMC dealer

[@arcustoms4528]

I've just inherited one from my late father, his final car, and much as it's a lovely car, perfect daily driver? Na very practical yes however £415 a year in Road tax not to mention it's getting at best 30mpg at best which costs £70 to fill up? If you want one best getting either a 1.8T or 2.0 cdti and getting it mapped still love it not to mention the Kv6 leaks oil is expensive to maintain and the inlet is known for getting the death rattle just beware of the problems however they drive fantastic and is definitely a future classic 😊

[@jamiemalcolmson5108]

Had the Mg Zs 2.5 v6 180 saloon what a car felt as if it had way more power than 180bhp

[@TheLuisg92]

Since I laid my eyes on a 75 for the same time, I have had the suspicion this car was meant to have another front end but for some reason, it looks like at the very last minute someone thought it would be a good idea to fit a giant front bumper and then cutting 4 oval holes for the headlights. This car should have had bigger headlights and wrap around turn signals like the latter Chinese versions.

[@chrishart8548]

We're the jaguar x-type and rover 75 rivals. They had similar old fashioned styling and a range of 4 pot and v6 engines and a few diesels.

[@rarevhsuploads4995]

Yes they were in the same market segment. The X-Type is slightly smaller than a 75 but has a similar themed interior & is also available in saloon & estate models with the estate wagon using the same designer Ian Callum on both cars & he gave it the same split tailgate idea as the Tourer/ZT-T. Of course Callum went onto to be chief designer at Jaguar & moved the range away from its X & S-Type retro era into the contemporary sleek designs. The Rover 75 & MG ZT also got more modern facelifts by Peter Stevens in 2004.

[@andysinclair1161]

I owned a 2.5V6 160 for a few years & put a lot of miles on it. Great car to drive but fair to say it had it's issues.....

[@tekis0]

I love the grill! Always interesting cars on this channel.

[@mrdainase]

Jay, the R40 platform was FWD from day 1. This 'it was a rear wheel drive motor' rubbish comes from the myth the floorpan is from the BMW E34 or E36, depending on whoever is spouting off. It's rubbish. Rust across the board is nothing like the issue you would find on a Mercedes, BMW or Honda (or ZS) of the same era. Rear of the sills is the only common weakspot, and easily sorted. Basically, if it's rusty then it's been badly abused. Saloons and Tourer can be a bit leaky, neither is better or worse than the other. Cambelt changes are awkward, but there are some excellent specialists who do it for easily under £600. And if you want to get a decent one for £2k, get your skates on 'cos they're starting to go up now. Best thing to do is register with the owner's club and look through their classifieds or just ask for advice there. They don't even charge to join!

[@hydorah]

Yeah we know. The ZT-T and the 75 were good cars. Just those two goons off Top Gear had a vendetta against Rover and they were at the peak of their powers at the time = Game over

[@allosaurusfragilis7782]

When I drove my inlaws one, whenever it was, I was very impressed with the ride. It wasn't too stiff, something that I can't stand, these days. I fhink that started in the late eighties, the superstiff suspension. I didn't mind then, cos I was young. Can't be doing with it now. Of course, modern cars are so heavy, I can see why they do it. The other thing is ultra low profile tyres or big wheels. It doesn't work where I live. Maybe on german roads. I'm starting to rant again....

[@melvinburwell8202]

Nice shooting brake/ wagon. Good looking car. I really like it. Never seen this automobile. Looks like a Bimmer.😎😎 🏁🏁♥♥

[@HowardMessias]

That light switch is a modified 3 Series.

[@ajwest3081]

Good review ! Waiting for the 335d film though !

[@danbmx69]

real good honest video, if you like the 190 ZT i highly recommend you test drive a remapped to 200BHP ZT 1.8 k series Turbo, they make more power and torque (200 BHP and 200lbf.ft)then the V6 are alot lighter up front so turn in much better, better on fuel, cheaper running costs and are a dam hoot to drive with 200BHP,they can also be pushed up to 275BHP fairly easy, take a look at my channel i have pushed my 1.8Turbo ZT to over 300BHP+, more videos of it coming soon

[@danbmx69]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpTRopp4eMhparM

[@AlanReynoldsBucklandJunction]

I was so pi**ed of as these were very up to date cars and have passed the test of time. This is where BMW got it's looks and design. Bloody Hell +++++

[@StuBar2]

As usual a great video with loads of interesting anorak facts! Loved my 400, but not the appetite for head gaskets!