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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Could we see a ZSTurbo or even a ZR turbo

WEll just think very strong mid range, why have a not very guttsy ZR 160, when you could have a very nice ZR 150 T?
Just remember new seats, set LOWER!
Mega
Mega

If you favour the mid range grunt of a forced induction engine why did you purchase a car with a screaming normally aspirated motor?
JH Gillson

Scouse-Mike,

TURBOs now eh!! You just blowing yet another hot air thread? (hey a pun). Just maybe we'll make an MG Turbo man out of you yet .... they ARE a lot of fun ..... and you dont need ear plugs when driving them unlike some cars I could mention ... Oh R ..... a Focus clone with an H on it!! Soichiro is still turning in his grave I reckon .... look what they've done to his company and products since his demise.

More seriously, if, or should that be when, MG-R put a turbo on one of the larger Zeds .... count me in ... VERY interested!!

JMcF.
John McFeely

Soichiro used to own an Austin 1100...

Anyway, is it me or is anyone disappointed that MGR sought to turbocharge the K series? Especially after all the noise they made about supercharging the F a few years back.

It's just the IDEA of turbo lag that puts me off.
JH Gillson

JH,

When was the last time you drove a turbo charged petrol car? Most modern injected-turbo setups have greatly reduced turbo lag. They are much more progressive. If you can, try one of the Rover T16 turbos and you'll see how things have moved on. Remember, the T16 is getting long in the tooth now since "Big Money Worries" killed it off a few years back. Even so, it will demonstrate how things have moved on. Very recent turbo-charged cars are even better.

Having said all that, if like me, you lived with an early turbo car daily for some time you'll learn EXACTLY how to drive your car to suit it's characteristics and quirks, often to advanatage. Then it's possible to get about and use FULL performance by driving around any turbo lag.

I just wish the old T16 turbo was still available for the MG-Zeds ...... but then, I've yet to try a turbo K or better still KV6 .... few have I guess ... :O)

JMcF
John McFeely

Are JH and John, still trying that old chestnut. The Type"R" has more mid range overtaking grunt than a ZS v6! Don't belive me? Read the Autoexpress group test. The "R" has good mid range, and top end. Getting it going is not a problem.

The reson i say that MGR should look at using the Turbo motor is that a lot of people find the ZR gutless!

A ZR 160T could be very good for MGR, beat the ST170, ST150, fight the Corsa Turbo 160.

Just some ideas.
Mega
Mike MEGA

>a lot of people find the ZR gutless!

care to give names and addresses?

Kelvin
Kelvin

When my Dad test drove a ZR160 he found it gutless as it needed revving, no torque low-down. Quick if you razz it, but not always possible..

Gareth
Gareth Kidman

who's side R U on Gareth!! :-)
Kelvin

Just being honest that's all. My Dad wasn't impressed with its low down pull but otherwise found it to be a good drive. Maybe he is spoilt with a 2.0 litre 8 valve and all that pulling power...

Gareth
Gareth Kidman

Yes depends what u compare it with!!
There are bucket loads of ZRs on the road,
so loads of satisfied owners.

Kelvin
Kelvin

Scouse-Mike,

When you gonna realise - these things are all relative. Someone used to driving and 5 litre V8 would find your R Focus clone a GUTLESS all revs and nothing buzzbox ..... period!

AUTOEXPRESS eh? yeah, AND I've told you before - if it appears in print YOU MUST BELIEVE EVERY WORD - YOU really must..... and good lad, you do ..... :o))

I've been driving longer than you've been around and have tried most things. I can assure you that many, many drivers would never consider purchasing your poor looking attempt at a Focus clone. I suppose in your books that makes them poor judges ... well wrong!! Why, simply because they'd find it a very tiresome car to drive .... in time, just maybe you'll come to appreciate why.

When you highlight things like:

>>>> A ZR 160T could be very good for MGR, beat the ST170, ST150, fight the Corsa Turbo 160. <<<<

There in a nutshell you demonstrate what in YOUR opinion constitutes a good car ... your use of the word "BEAT" ....

I can assure you there are many other more important criteria involved when people consider car purchase, irrespective of the funds they have available. High on that list of criteria is not a high revving "BEATALL" buzz box focus clone!

This is true of motorcycles too. Consider the popularity now of large capacity two cylinder engines favoured by Ducati and others. Surely a smoother multi-cylindered high revving perfomance machine is the way to go so why buy a slower revving two cylindered Ducati anyway.... all those riders with them on our roads today must surely have got it wrong. NOT!

Have a nice one ... :O))
John McFeely

"The Type"R" has more mid range overtaking grunt than a ZS v6"

John Manson

The Type"R" has more mid range overtaking grunt than a ZS v6"

Honda Type R 196 NM @ 5900 RPM.
MG ZS 180 240 NM @ 4000 RPM
John Manson

John
Read to story, check out the numbers
Mega
Mega

The figures seem to be in the MG's favour....

Gareth
Gareth Kidman

Honda Civic Type R eh, still get PISSED by a good ol maestro though dont cha!!!!

Dont honda make lawnmower engines, i wondered why those civics were so SLOW!
P J Grant

I only talked to Roger Parker about this yesterday. Just take a look at the torque figures for the 1.8 Turbo used for the ZT and then compare it with the torque from a vvc! The turbo uses a comparatively high c/r thus maintaining low speed flexibility. I believe a ZR with this engine would be spectacular..... and you could always tweak the boost a bit!
uncle bob

Correct me if I am wrong Mega,

But in the Autocar (or maybe Car, i dont remember) group hot hatch test, The Civic type R (in the wet tho.) got thrashed my several Cars, inculding The ZS 180, Clio Sport, Mini cooper S. (There may have been a few more but my memory fails me.) The first comment in the MGs write up went something like,
"... just before you dash into the Honda garage and order what you think to be the fastest sub £16 grand hot hatch have a look at the MG's lap time. Makes you think doesn't it?..."

I reakon this was prob quite a good test, as it was wet they got a good test of the cars chassis, rather than just grip.

Any comment?
Dimski

Dimski

It was Autocar.

Would you like any more quotes?
John Manson

I've driven the Honda & the ZS (in fact it was THAT VERY ZS that appeared in Autocar). The Honda is more modern in terms of style and finish, but the ZS is SO much more fun to drive. FWIW.
Ann MG Writer who will remain anonymous

Everyones forgetting that the CTR looks like it was was styled by a 17 year old Nova driver using the Halfords "ripspeed" range of "performance" accesories. Given 2 years it will date horribly and end up looking ridiculous.

Oh yeah, and driving one automatically turns you into a stupid tw*t.

mcdude

<<end up looking ridiculous>>

It doesn't already? Could it look more rediculous?

Looks like the styling que was taken from a cooker lying on its back.
Chris

>Kelvin, Cambs, UK
>>a lot of people find the ZR gutless!

>care to give names and addresses?

Kelvin,
My wife found the 160 we drove earlier this week gut less. She felt the same about the ZR120 too. Mind you the car was brand new with only 5 miles on the clock so she was reluctant to rev it over 4k. The ZR120 we had for a full day and we did take it to the red line - but it still wasn't quick enough.
She liked the ZS180 but found it too big for her needs(not as quick as her T16 Maestro of course). So her ideal car would be a ZR turbo with 200bhp. We are keeping our fingers crossed that MG announce one at the motorshow.......in which case she will be putting her name down for one immediately.

Martin
martin woods

As I explained to Scouse-Mike earlier ... these things are relative. When you consider the cars Martin's wife has been used to driving, her reaction following the drive in a new Zed is not surprising. I'd bet it would be much the same even if the test car had 10k on the clock. These things are relative.
John McFeely

I actually took a drop in BHP when I purchased the 180, after owning a 600ti.
Power delivery is of course differnt, but the chassis quality and overall handling means that when 'driving' thru roundabouts, or along country roads, the ZS is light years ahead of my ti!

kelv
Kelvin

I notice elsewhere on the BBS, that despite being gutless, Mrs Woods appaers to have decided to buy a ZR after all.. Enjoy!! :-)

Kelvin
Kelvin

This thread was discussed between 16/08/2002 and 29/08/2002

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