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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical Phoenix Rover: it's gone beyond a joke BBS discussion at MG-Cars.info
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MG ZR ZS ZT Technical - Phoenix Rover: it's gone beyond a joke
| I am beginning to think that the sales folk at Phoenix Rover in Muswell Hill suffer from some form of allergy when it comes to selling cars. The simple, abridged version of the saga so far is that I have been trying to arrange a test drive of a diesel ZTT (135CDTi manual) for a year. Yes, twelve months. No exaggeration. These people have been singly incapable of being able to arrange anything - a piss up a bewery? They wouldn't even make it to the bewery. Over the last 3 months, the chance of meeting the same sales staff more than once appears negligible. Then, when they do manage to retain staff for more than a week, they can't seem to find a suitable car. This is the SAME Phoenix that OWN MG Rover for goodness sake!!!! This Saturday was the final straw. I was told that they had a ZT saloon available to drive - which does have manual transmission. I phoned on Friday to confirm. At 5.30pm I was told that that car was no longer available. The service manager had taken it away with him on holiday!?! But they had a ROVER 131CDTi to try out. Okay - test drive arranged for 0900. We arrive, but no salesman. We are told to sit down, as the salesperson has phoned in to say he's stuck in traffic. We read the papers. 10.30: still nothing. The receptionist who told us to sit said "oh, sorry, I didn't know you were waiting". Good grief. She finds out what is going on. Salesman lost his keys this morning. TWO hours after the arranged time, he arrives, and I eventually drive the Rover. I leave. Anyone know who the dealer Principle is for Phoenix is? I shall write a letter. Had I not been so determined to buy an MG Rover product, I'd have left for another marque ages ago. As it is, I shall not be going to Phoenix which is 5minutes around the corner from me - instead, I'll be shopping elsewhere. A dealership in Bath managed to get a ZTT135CDTi within 3 days of my calling in there on the off chance: the contrast in service is immense. I am furious - so I apologise for the rant here... MG's anonymous? |
| Rob Bell |
| Dealers vary terrible but Bristol is a hike. I just dont understand why some dealers are so utterly aweful! I have never had a problem with Trident, in fact if it hadn't been for their infectious enthusiasm I would have probably bought another Alfa !! But the 156V6 is a bit front heavy, the JTS 156 is the pick of their productline and a whole load cheaper than the ZT260!! Diesel though Rob.....urrrr... are you sure? I wouldnt, but I bet you could get a storming deal on one of those though and then take it to the place that "does" the engine... shhh darkside becons |
| Neil |
| I know what you mean Neil - but at least by going to Bath, I can combine it with a trip to my parents ;o) The diesel - there is means to my madness. Allow me to explain: 1. The car is going to be used predominantly in town. Here, the fuel consumption on the V6 models is pretty horrific (I would hate to think what the V8 would be like). The turbo diesel is also likely to be 'nicer' to drive in stop/start traffic as well, thanks to all that tree stump pulling torque from very low revs. 2. The engine is a BMW lump. Not normally a selling point, but since BMW has refused to sell MG Rover the engine with the full-power BMW map, there are cheap & easy horses to be released from one of those OBD2 chip re-programmers :o) 3. Dare I mention it? Diesels are in insurance group 10, versus the V6 in group 15... I have to say that the diesel in the Rover was an awful lot better than my worse fears - but wether that engine stacks up so well in the ZT, and whether the allure of a 190+ proves too strong - well, that remains to be seen. |
| Rob Bell |
| SMG in Bristol had a ZTT+ CDTi as a demonstrator for a few months. It was always going up and down the road by the dealership. Still Bath is marginally closer. Did you try SMC Slough? - their chap was very helpful when my dad bought his 75. Even made up some number plates for free for his private registration. There was an article in the paper last week about BMW dealers in London charging £156 an hour so I'd them. |
| Matthew |
| 1. Got 20mpg last time I checked...well 19.7 actually but it's all commuting miles so likely to be a bit variable 2. Yeah get it chipped could be fun, and who is to know? other than a safe pair of hands for servicing! who dont reset the map to the slower setting! 3. ZT260 Group 19!!!!! V6 nice but the alure of the V8 was a complete killer! It's a case of heart vs mind. Of course a secondhand golf turdo diesel is the head's purchase, so you might as well get what you REALLY want because you will be going...oooh I wish I had got such&such! Oohh Scarlet's got a 190 ooH Neil's got the V8 ....daggerdaggerdagger (noise of diesel) YOU will get very bored very quickly with the diesel and then you will want rid. NO go the whole hog Rob! I did and although it's not v good on the juice so what! it's fabulous, Just use the F occasionally to get some mpg's in. |
| Neil |
| Thanks Matthew - perhaps that's where the Bath dealer managed to obtain the ZTT135 from? No, not tried SMC or any of the other SE dealers yet - the Bath connection just happened to be a chance call... The story is not over yet! |
| Rob Bell |
| >> NO go the whole hog Rob! I did and although it's not v good on the juice so what! it's fabulous, Just use the F occasionally to get some mpg's in.<< I can't afford anything more than the V6 Neil :o( Plus, it is being bought as a Mummy & Daddy wagon, so it doesn't need to be a heart pleasing purchase - although the ZT's handling should ensure that we're kept happy on that score. Basically, it boils down to how Yimmy and I feel about the diesel - and whether there is a better deal in the offing for a V6... the decision is a long way off from being set in stone! ;o) |
| Rob Bell |
| >>>but at least by going to Bath, I can combine it with a trip to my parents<<< But if you come over to Trident than you can combine it with a visit to Neil's ZT260 Which would you really prefer, Rob? |
| Adrian |
| LOL! Politically, it's better to keep the Grandparents to be happy! ;o) |
| Rob Bell |
| >>Politically, it's better to keep the Grandparents to be happy! ;o) A wise move Rob - once again, many congrats to you and Yimmy. |
| Dave Livingstone |
| <<Thanks Matthew - perhaps that's where the Bath dealer managed to obtain the ZTT135 from?>> Well its Trophy Blue and it has SMG Rover in big writing all down the side, so if it is the same car you'll know. However, Hartwell of Bath once told my dad that there was no Rover dealer in Bristol. What was true was that Hartwell closed their dealership of over 40 years and SMG got the franchise shortly after. So it will be of interest to me if Hartwell are now using SMG's demonstrators! |
| Matthew |
| Congrats Rob and Yimmy best of luck, I am glad for you. ;¬) Now don't you go letting the side down! Get what YOU want and not what you think other people should expect you to have. It's the road to perdition!! If the ZT is too big and expensive to come with a decent engine why not try alternatives? a ZR160 isnt far off what Janet had when James was born....yeah a Lancia Delta, it was stonking! Janet and I loved it had it for 3 years did 44,000 miles in it and had some seriously entertaining crosscountry blasts in it across France etc Yeah a ZR160 5 door mind is a good idea Be happy, but seriously watch out for the evil forces of Goo Goo Ga Ga Imminent signs of the Dark Goo Goo Ga Ga otherwise known as the call of the Volvo!!!!Women it has to be said are far more susceptable so be vigilant. -going to NCT meetings -not having drinks and that's you as a bloke -not seeing your mates -selling/disposing of anything stylish cool or beautiful - buying sh1te clothes, prefering puke stained track suits ( lilac couloured) - having a cr@p haircut - forgetting to put on make up - being viciously irritable about anything that gets in the way of Baby ( oh great one!) - talking in some strange ga ga dielect. ooy deary deary has ickle babawabba dont pukey wookies all over dada's best suity wooty? and the ultimate ... - Starting to think that MPV's are sensible transport and not just vans with windows Never Compromise ! Never Give up! Never Surrender! |
| Neil |
| >But if you come over to Trident than you can combine it with a visit to Neil's ZT260 Whenever you want Rob |
| Neil |
| Thanks for the kind words guys :o) Neil, wasn't ... >> Never Give up! Never Surrender! << ... a by-line in "Galaxy Trek", the Star Trek spoof movie? Anyway, back to cars. My plan was actually scuppered by the collapse of TWR, as I was thinking of getting the MG derivative of the new RD60 - but there is neither site nor sound of that car for the near future. ZR160? We had a bubble R214, and it was a nice car - but Yimmy has been spoilt by the climate control in the R75. I've had a quick look at the facelift ZS. Interior massively improved over the old - but still too much hard shiney plastic, but at least there is climate control now. But once in a 75 platform car, you're forever spoilt - so a ZT is the natural replacement. The diesel isn't the car that 'people expect me to have' - quite the contrary - everyone seems to think that diesels are gutless smelly nasty things to be avoided at all costs. But I want to make my own mind up. If I can, I want to compare the 1.8T 160 with the 135CDTi with the 2.5KV6 190. However, the local dealer is so singly inept, it seems unlikely that I'll ever get the chance to try each of these cars!!! Argh! Time to look further afield - but why I should have to expend so much time and effort trying to find a suitable car is quite beyond me. Where is the customer service??? :o( |
| Rob Bell |
| >> ... a by-line in "Galaxy Trek", the Star Trek spoof movie? << I'm in slo-mo this morning. It was Galaxy Quest - and I see that you've mentioned that in your address line. D'oh! (_8(I) LOL |
| Rob Bell |
| Rob I had the self same problem with the self same garage - I gave up and bought a Peugeot 406 HDI Estate, very reliable, comfortable, sure footed even in the snow and ice of last Christmas in eastern Germany and very economical so far over all average is 39.2 MPG. Ted |
| Ted Newman |
| By Grabthar's hammer, you shall be avenged! It's hard isnt it?I suppose what they want you to do is turn up drive the one they have on the forecourt for 1/2 a mile and buy it. Easier for them. >But I want to make my own mind up. absolutley you need to test them ...hey! I need to test them too! call it post-purchase cognitive dissonance (spelling!) |
| Neil |
| Ted 39.2 MPG? AGGGG!!!! Janet's next car is a dieseloid! The turdo diesel R45 we had from Trident was a terrible drive mind you, gutless :¬( |
| Neil |
| Ted, I wonder how many other potential customers have been put off in much the same way? These guys really need to pull their finger out big time. >> By Grabthar's hammer, you shall be avenged! << A quote from Episode 2, season 3, obviously. Just make sure you are not the extra wearing red. ;o) Might I suggest that Janet try a ZT135CDTi if she's determined to go down the diesel route? ;o) |
| Rob Bell |
| >> If I can, I want to compare the 1.8T 160 with the 135CDTi with the 2.5KV6 190 << If you want a go in a 190+ mate let me know :-) SF |
| Scarlet Fever |
| Cheers Andy! :o) |
| Rob Bell |
| Trident's blue 260 got the full treatment from me, short of Tiff style sideways malarky, we did some spirited driving, past the coppers etc you should get in contact with them and give it a go. Of course it is like taking heroin ...you will be hooked. I dont have a red shirt but I have 2 red cars...I will avoid being beamed down to Rigel 5 |
| Neil |
| I think planning a trip to Trident round here in Surrey might be worthwhile, Rob. They are still showing a ZT-T 135 Cdti on their stock-list, along with 190 & 180-Auto versions, and some saloons. As Neil says, they are very good and will do their best to help you decide what you want/need. You could always factor-in a trip to Brooklands at the same time! http://www.tridentgarages.co.uk/stock.pl5?model=MG+ZT&text=&substrings=N&minprice=0&maxprice=999999&view=photos&New=Y&Used=Y&Demo=Y&Ordered=Y&Built=Y&Trade=Y&finish=999999&Ottershaw=Y&Weybridge=Y&Thames+Ditton=Y&Surbiton=Y&Factory=Y |
| Adrian |
| <<I was thinking of getting the MG derivative of the new RD60 - but there is neither site nor sound of that car for the near future.>> You should read this: http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/news0604f.htm |
| Matthew Semple |
| :o) Been discussing this in the MG Car Company board as well Matthew - but that is an excellent article :o) |
| Rob Bell |
| Rob Have you considered the Phoenix garage in Hatfield? They took over the Diamond premises about 3 months ago. I bought my TF from them just after the Silverstone Track Day (just to set a time line). They have the same phone number as Diamond used. |
| JohnP |
| BTW I wish people would use tinyurl. Really annoys me when a url forces scrolling to read a thread. |
| JohnP |
| Looks so untidy too! |
| Ted Newman |
| http://tinyurl.com/37pxc |
| JohnP |
| Sorry people. I was only trying to help! |
| Adrian |
| Adrian Obviously no personal offence intended - I was trying Mozilla Firefox 0.9.1 and wasn't happy with the way it filled the screen. Changed font size until it fitted but then couldn't read it. Then spotted the long url on your message and was happy with Mozilla again. Please do keep trying to help - it is appreciated really. |
| JohnP |
| Not Adrian's fault - thank those clever web designers for the unbelievably long URLs! Thanks Adrian - this weekend looks to be filling very very fast, so not sure whether I'll get the chance to follow it up this weekend, but if the car is still there next Sunday, we may pop down and try it :o) |
| Rob Bell |
| Had no problem with Wright's of Lincoln. Asked for a test in a ZS 180. Happy to let me go out in a the new facelift model. Didn't buy that one but it was so good I bought a 52 reg ZS 180. Lovely car and quite cheap. |
| Jeff Patterson |
This thread was discussed between 28/06/2004 and 06/07/2004
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