MG ZR160 What are they like?

[minimatt1967]

I'm currently looking into small sporty, but relatively practical hatchbacks. I came across the ZR160 and they appear to be good value for money. I was just wondering what they're like to own. I know about the Head gasket failure of K series, do these suffer in the same way? I had heard later ones improved? The main thing I am interested in is the chassis, how does it stack up to say the Clio 172 through the bends?

Any help would be much appreciated,

Thanks

Matt

[Blue160]

Mine was an absolute money pit. Fantastic when it was working, but something expensive went wrong on average every two months. The car itself was great, but the build quality was shocking beyond belief.

[hearselover]

Mine has been brilliant, had it 5 years and still love it. I changed the head gasket for MLS one as a precaution and other than that its cost me nothing appart fom oil and filters. Plenty of videos on youtube of the 160 and one of it showing a Civic Type R how to go on. Great value for money, fun to drive and grat on twisty roads. Build quality is what you would expect from MGR but then again youre not paying stupid amounts of money so to me it doesnt matter.

[Blue160]

There you go, two completely opposing experiences, both equally valid. Hope that helps

[Nic jones]

I can only speak for the ZR120, but I assume it has the same chassis/suspension as the 160?

It sticks like st to a blanket on the twisties if you keep off the brakes, the back end leaps around a little under really hard braking (nowhere near as bad as my old 106 though!) and on bumpy roads it is a firm ride but you always feel in control and I could probably drive it much harder than I do.

The back end can be made to unstick if you either LFB (which incidentally the pedals are very well spaced for along with heel/toeing, I used to get my size 12 feet tied in knots trying to do it in the pug!) or make good use of the phenomenon of lift off oversteer, it seems quite progressive and not snappy and is very controllable.

Revs wise, in true K series fashion it needs to be revved to keep it in the power band and is really pokey and even as standard sounds good, not sure how different the VVC 160 is though. You can upset some much quicker cars in it, particularly those who just see it as a "Rover 25 in a frilly dress"!

The build quality is fairly shoddy, but I don't think Renault's are much better, mine creaks and rattles but all the electrics work!

Oddly when I was looking at cars I had a good look at a 172 as well, but insurance would have been an issue for the missus as she had only just passed her test so we went for the more sensible option, wish I'd given it a test drive just to see the difference though!

Taking it to the 'ring in the summer, so we'll see how it gets on around there!
I hope that helps.

[hearselover]

120 and 160 basicaly the same but apart from cosmetics and of course the vvc engine the only main difference is the brakes and they are much better on the 160.

[Nic jones]

Does the extra 20mm on the front discs really make that much difference? Mine is the 120+ which has 262mm vented fronts and solid rears.

[hearselover]

My MGF VVC 143 has the same discs as yours and compared to my ZR 160 they are terrible, its also the calipers that are different on the 160's which makes a huge difference.

Edited by hearselover on Thursday 11th March 10:35

Edited by hearselover on Thursday 11th March 12:17

[Blue160]

Nic jones said:

Does the extra 20mm on the front discs really make that much difference? Mine is the 120+ which has 262mm vented fronts and solid rears.

One difference it makes is that you can't get the spare wheel on the front. If you have a front puncture you have to take a wheel off the back, replace it with the spare, then swap the back wheel with the flat one.

If the locking wheelnut tool shears half way through this procedure when you urgently have to be somewhere else much swearing will ensue.

[oO0 Huffy 0Oo]

May i suggest looking at the bigger brother to the zr160, the ZS180, you can pick up the mk1 fairly cheeply these days, and in fairness the V6 lump is much sturdier than its k series partner, on the pluss side you'll get incredible handling qualities and a bigger boot, better brakes suspension etc etc, as far as build quality goes, depends on how cheep the beer was at the time it was built, but its a rover so you can fix it with gaffer tape and a large hammer! also look at the diesel as its far becoming the motor of choice both for the ZR and ZS, easy to mod and 50+mpg.....

[grahamw48]

'also look at the diesel as its far becoming the motor of choice both for the ZR and ZS, easy to mod and 50+mpg..... '



Yes, very tuneable, for the loss of about 5mpg and about £400 you're into 150bhp and 200+ torques.

Mine has 192lbs standard anyway, so hills don't really exist.