ZT Driveline knocking

[simonej]

I'm currently on the lookout for an MG ZT 2.5 190 (amongst other things) and test drove one today.

On the whole I really liked the car and would have bought it if it wasn't for one thing. What it seemed to do was sort of jolt, knock or thud a little when shifting gears (manual) - the only thing I can compare it to in my experience was a split gearbox mount on my old Camaro. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't loud and not particularly violent but it was noticeable.

My question therefore is whether this is normal or whether something is perhaps broken. I did wonder if it was perhaps just me being unfamiliar with the clutch and being a bit clumsy with it but basically I only managed maybe one or two clean shifts in a 15 minute drive without it jolting.

Any thoughts appreciated.

[MGJohn]

That should not happen. Need to ID the cause of that before proceding. from what you describe, engine/gearbox mounts must ne prime suspects.

If you can ID the cause and find out how much to rectify, do not let that put you off if the car is otherwise in good shape ~ you appear to like it ~ rather use that 'fault' as a bargaining tool to get the car at a better real "bargain" price.

[simonej]

Thanks John. I've decided to walk away from that one, plenty more out there and don't really fancy taking the chance of it being something more serious.

Another question as well, did they revise the seats when they facelifted them? The lumbar support felt better on the 2004 car than it did on this earlier one.

[Kermit power]

If you can afford the fuel consumption of a 190, I'd take a look at a 260. Altogether less stressed components all round!

[timbo48]

Haven't driven an early one but seats in later models, facelift if you like, are extremelly comfortable as well as having good side and lumbar support. Thought the Recaro types in our old car were comfortable but these beat them hands down.

[simonej]

Kermit power said:

If you can afford the fuel consumption of a 190, I'd take a look at a 260. Altogether less stressed components all round!

I'd really like a 260 but I'd then be pushing into a different price range where there's other cars I'd prefer. In fact I'm 50:50 split on the ZT or a Monaro.

Anyway, the third ZT I looked at over the weekend was rubbish - so the search continues!

[simonej]

Kermit power said:

If you can afford the fuel consumption of a 190, I'd take a look at a 260. Altogether less stressed components all round!

Actually, what kind of mpg will a 260 do on the motorway?

[Alicatt1]

About 28 - 29mpg at motorway speeds. In mixed driving, a bit of motorway some A roads and a bit of "spirited" driving I got 26mpg over a 1000mile journey to the continent.

It can go as low as 7mpg at a push on country roads when you are stirring the gearbox, and with the supercharger fitted you can see the fuel gauge go down when you are well into 3 figures

[GTMSpyder]

It sounds like the lower rear engine steady had gone on the first one you tried. It eventually gets cooked and the rubber cracks. Its a dead easy and cheap fix and a great way to negotiate a good discount if the seller doesn't know much about the car.......

ZT 190s are vastly underrated cars. I've had mine for 120k miles and I still love it.

[MGJohn]

GTMSpyder said:

It sounds like the lower rear engine steady had gone on the first one you tried. It eventually gets cooked and the rubber cracks. Its a dead easy and cheap fix and a great way to negotiate a good discount if the seller doesn't know much about the car.......

ZT 190s are vastly underrated cars. I've had mine for 120k miles and I still love it.

Good advice and correct on all aspects... underrated and then some.

My only regret with the MGZTs, they never put Rover's Turbocharged T16 engine in it. Had they done so I'd have been first in line for one. T16 turbocharged ideal for the larger Zeds with 200ps, more economical, easier to maintain and service than the V6 and V8s too. Noise nice but not as nice as the V6 being only downside ~ I can and do live with that as I settled for a new ZS and Rover 620ti (T16 turbo) both of which I still have..

I'm seriously thinking of a ZT V8 but waiting to see how (unfairly) VED they will be treated and hoping for a change of proposed VED ratings. For a "weekend car" that could be prohibitive.

EDIT to add:~

I have 'matched strides' with a V8 in my 620ti ~ nothing in it!
..

[Kermit power]

MGJohn said:

EDIT to add:~

I have 'matched strides' with a V8 in my 620ti ~ nothing in it!
..

Wait until you get to the corners!

Having driven both, if you could keep up with a 260 in a 620, then the 260 driver wasn't much cop. That's the real beauty of the 260. For such a big car, its handling on the twisties is amazing.

[Kermit power]

simonej said:

Kermit power said:

If you can afford the fuel consumption of a 190, I'd take a look at a 260. Altogether less stressed components all round!

I'd really like a 260 but I'd then be pushing into a different price range where there's other cars I'd prefer. In fact I'm 50:50 split on the ZT or a Monaro.

Anyway, the third ZT I looked at over the weekend was rubbish - so the search continues!

Interesting to see that they're now pretty much exactly the same price. My 260 has depreciated by probably £3k or so in the 4 years I've had it. I looked at Monaros when I looked at the 260, and they were a good £10k more expensive at the time!

[MGJohn]

Kermit power said:

MGJohn said:

EDIT to add:~

I have 'matched strides' with a V8 in my 620ti ~ nothing in it!
..

Wait until you get to the corners!

Having driven both, if you could keep up with a 260 in a 620, then the 260 driver wasn't much cop. That's the real beauty of the 260. For such a big car, its handling on the twisties is amazing.

Yes agreed ~ for ordinary production cars, all the MG "Zeds" handle surprisingly well. The MG ZS being the best in my humble opinion. Remarkably good and still delighted with mine after seven years of ownership. As its main driver, the MG ZS is the only car my wife enthuses about driving in all the time I've known her.. To her cars are for A to B transition ... and carrying the kitchen sink...
..

[Kermit power]

MGJohn said:

Kermit power said:

MGJohn said:

EDIT to add:~

I have 'matched strides' with a V8 in my 620ti ~ nothing in it!
..

Wait until you get to the corners!

Having driven both, if you could keep up with a 260 in a 620, then the 260 driver wasn't much cop. That's the real beauty of the 260. For such a big car, its handling on the twisties is amazing.

Yes agreed ~ for ordinary production cars, all the MG "Zeds" handle surprisingly well. The MG ZS being the best in my humble opinion. Remarkably good and still delighted with mine after seven years of ownership. As its main driver, the MG ZS is the only car my wife enthuses about driving in all the time I've known her.. To her cars are for A to B transition ... and carrying the kitchen sink...
..

I've not driven a non-V8 ZT (or a ZS for that matter).

I'd particularly like to try a ZT-190, just to see how different they really are. Whilst they might look the same cosmetically, pretty much everything under the skin is completely different, so I'd assume they are very different?

[MGJohn]

Kermit power said:

MGJohn said:

Kermit power said:

MGJohn said:

EDIT to add:~

I have 'matched strides' with a V8 in my 620ti ~ nothing in it!
..

Wait until you get to the corners!

Having driven both, if you could keep up with a 260 in a 620, then the 260 driver wasn't much cop. That's the real beauty of the 260. For such a big car, its handling on the twisties is amazing.

Yes agreed ~ for ordinary production cars, all the MG "Zeds" handle surprisingly well. The MG ZS being the best in my humble opinion. Remarkably good and still delighted with mine after seven years of ownership. As its main driver, the MG ZS is the only car my wife enthuses about driving in all the time I've known her.. To her cars are for A to B transition ... and carrying the kitchen sink...
..

I've not driven a non-V8 ZT (or a ZS for that matter).

I'd particularly like to try a ZT-190, just to see how different they really are. Whilst they might look the same cosmetically, pretty much everything under the skin is completely different, so I'd assume they are very different?

Visually near identical but, they are very different ~ Understressed V8 Rear wheel drive v. Vibrant revvy transverse V6 front driver.. Both nice means of getting about ... still prefer the old turbos though...
.

[GTMSpyder]

If you want to see how good a standard (120,000 mile) ZT 190 is on track have a look at my videos on Youtube - just search DAVC001A and you'll find them all there. The car uses standard OEM brake pads and standard tyres (crappy Khumos for the most part)

...Yep, a very under-rated car.

I've just bought a stripped-out supercharged ZS track-day car, so it will be interesting to see how it compares when I get it on track.

Edited by GTMSpyder on Saturday 30th January 09:08

[simonej]

Thanks for the input chaps, a ZT is still top of my list. Couple more questions;

How are they on motorways? Quiet and reasonably refined? (Will spend most of its time there).

Did many have cruise control selected as an option?

[Kermit power]

simonej said:

Thanks for the input chaps, a ZT is still top of my list. Couple more questions;

How are they on motorways? Quiet and reasonably refined? (Will spend most of its time there).

Did many have cruise control selected as an option?

You'll only find cruise control on Mk2 cars. If you prefer the aesthetics of the Mk2, then you're OK.

I was quite surprised to see cruise control with a manual gearbox. I'd always assumed they needed an automatic. Still, with 315 lb/ft on the V8, it doesn't need much in the way of gear changes if you're happy to get there gradually. Mine has been driven from 0 to 155mph at least once without changing gear by an MGR development engineer at Milbrook!

[MGJohn]

Kermit power said:

simonej said:

Thanks for the input chaps, a ZT is still top of my list. Couple more questions;

How are they on motorways? Quiet and reasonably refined? (Will spend most of its time there).

Did many have cruise control selected as an option?

You'll only find cruise control on Mk2 cars. If you prefer the aesthetics of the Mk2, then you're OK.

I was quite surprised to see cruise control with a manual gearbox. I'd always assumed they needed an automatic. Still, with 315 lb/ft on the V8, it doesn't need much in the way of gear changes if you're happy to get there gradually. Mine has been driven from 0 to 155mph at least once without changing gear by an MGR development engineer at Milbrook!

That's the beauty of a big understessed flexible engine... a fine quality and one I would always value more highly for the long distance daily driver. Lots of revs and frequent gearchanges are fine for short blasts, but, tiresome on longer journeys.