GTP Cool Wall: 2003-2005 MG ZT-T 260

[Clark]

Any chance of some punctuation @Celicaas ?

 

[Conza]

It is really doesnt need eight lights on the front and no turn signals but as a wagon it is not really bad

Gee good point! I think those lower fogs (or are they the turn signals?) should be removed to make that grill larger, and hopefully accept more air.

Somehow to me, I think the non-wagon is slightly cooler, still meh. The wagon is more useable for sure, but it'd be heavier too, and what little performance this may have will probably benefit from the sedan body over the wagon (this isn't exactly an Audi Avant).

 

[TheCracker]

Gee good point! I think those lower fogs (or are they the turn signals?) should be removed to make that grill larger, and hopefully accept more air.

The ones bellow the headlights are indicators/turn signals. The lowest ones are fogs.

 

[Slash]

Im wondering why is this car engine not reliable isnt,it the same engine as the crown vic and the mustang






And the car is meh good engine performance but bad interior and it is really doesnt need eight lights on the front and no turn signals but as a wagon it is not really bad

Spark plug blowout problems, thread stripping, head gasket failure etc.

 

[Tyger]

Disagree. As Rover/MG's flagship performance model, a direct comparison is valid.

They should have probably used the 4.4 BMW V8 that other British manufacturers had adopted (including Land/Range Rover, ironically) at that time. Would have been fitting as the 75/ZT was developed under BMW's ownership and included their rear suspension.

We'll have to agree to differ then on your first assertion, I don't think it was ever pitched against the M5 and RS4 as they are very high performance wagons, whilst the ZT was just a bit sportified and I would guess a fair bit less expensive too. The MG range of models was a lot smaller than BMW and Audi, and it doesn't follow that they were obliged to in any way match those "flagship" models. Really the M5 and Audi were exceptional, there were few wagons putting out that kind of power and performance, and far more in common with the ZT, or with less power (a sporty Passat from the same period is perhaps comparable)

However, that said, I agree that the engine falls short in that it should either have been a more efficient/powerful big V8, or something smaller, perhaps turbocharged.

 

[mustafur]

Besides the 75/ZT was more A4, 3 Series rival then the 5 series and A6.

 

[Tornado]

Really, the only option they should have considered should have been the SVT Cobra or Mach One engine. To put all that effort into converting the car to RWD and then put the boat anchor in the front seems kinda pointless.

 

[TheCracker]

Really, the only option they should have considered should have been the SVT Cobra or Mach One engine. To put all that effort into converting the car to RWD and then put the boat anchor in the front seems kinda pointless.

Like i said earlier, why not go with ex-parent company BMW's rent-a-V8? (it already used BMW diesel engines) - it's not even like the 4.6 modular was used in anything else sold in Europe at the time. Parts would be a pain in the arse to get hold of.

Besides the 75/ZT was more A4, 3 Series rival then the 5 series and A6.

In what regard? It was the same size as a 5-Series or an A6. ie substantially bigger than an A4 or a 3-Series.

 

[mustafur]

In what regard? It was the same size as a 5-Series or an A6. ie substantially bigger than an A4 or a 3-Series.

Not really, it was inbetween size wise, and is pretty close to bang on what the Current A4 and 3 series are now.

The A6 and 5 series were quite a bit bigger.

And comparing this car to those substantially more expensive germans is illogical.

 

[Tornado]

3 centimeters longer and 2 centimeters wider is "quite a bit bigger", but 30 centimeters longer and 5 centimeters wider isn't?

 

[TheCracker]

Not really, it was inbetween size wise, and is pretty close to bang on what the Current A4 and 3 series are now.

The A6 and 5 series were quite a bit bigger.

The ZT-T's contemporary A6 and 5-series were within an inch in length of each other. The A4 and 3-series of that era were 10-12 inches shorter than the ZT-T.

And comparing this car to those substantially more expensive germans is illogical.

Why. Are the 1/2-series and A3 not Golf/Focus/Astra rivals despite the price differences?

 

[mustafur]

The ZT-T's contemporary A6 and 5-series were within an inch in length of each other. The A4 and 3-series of that era were 10-12 inches shorter than the ZT-T.



Why. Are the 1/2-series and A3 not Golf/Focus/Astra rivals despite the price differences?

Not exactly, the comparison would lie in what 5 series or A6 is the same price as the MG.

 

[Badasp5.0]

It's one of the worst V8s they built. The 255 was pretty bad though. The 2V gets up and goes when it works but that's not very often in my experience.

I had a roommate that drove a 02 GT from '02 to '05 and a 96 Thunderbird with a NPI 4.6 from '05 to '13 with no major problems beyond maintenance which I cannot say the same for my 95 Cobra's 302 (3 Distrubutors/PIPs replaced and bet more to come). Take a look at big city taxi cabs most have 200+k miles on them with 4.6s.

 

[Slash]

I had a roommate that drove a 02 GT from '02 to '05 and a 96 Thunderbird with a NPI 4.6 from '05 to '13 with no major problems beyond maintenance which I cannot say the same for my 95 Cobra's 302 (3 Distrubutors/PIPs replaced and bet more to come). Take a look at big city taxi cabs most have 200+k miles on them with 4.6s.

I know guys that are running on 750,000+ with the old 351s so it's really not a fair comparison. Maintenance is key to anything surviving. I'm not saying you didn't take care of the 302 but in every experience I have had the pushrod engines were fair easier not to mention cheaper to maintain. 4.6L's tend to have more issues in my experience. Same with the 5.4s. They aren't very popular in the Ford world other than the die hard 2V guys.

 

[homeforsummer]

Like i said earlier, why not go with ex-parent company BMW's rent-a-V8? (it already used BMW diesel engines) - it's not even like the 4.6 modular was used in anything else sold in Europe at the time. Parts would be a pain in the arse to get hold of.

I suspect it was actually easier to make the Ford lump work than it would have been to make the BMW V8 work. The BMW diesel Rover used was already reasonably different from that actually put in a 3-series (since it was never really designed to pair with a front-wheel drive, transverse layout) and by the time you get to the re-engineered body of the V8 ZTs I'd be surprised if there's much scope left for anything BMW-related.

That, and by the time they produced the V8 the Rover/BMW relationship had long since ended. Buying V8s in crates from the U.S. was probably more viable than asking BMW if you could still use its parts please please thankyou.

I also think I'd take my chances with the Ford engine over the BMW one as far as reliability and parts goes. From what I've gathered when I was considering an E39 5er a few years back the V8 doesn't have a stellar reputation.

 

[Slash]

I suspect it was actually easier to make the Ford lump work than it would have been to make the BMW V8 work. The BMW diesel Rover used was already reasonably different from that actually put in a 3-series (since it was never really designed to pair with a front-wheel drive, transverse layout) and by the time you get to the re-engineered body of the V8 ZTs I'd be surprised if there's much scope left for anything BMW-related.

That, and by the time they produced the V8 the Rover/BMW relationship had long since ended. Buying V8s in crates from the U.S. was probably more viable than asking BMW if you could still use its parts please please thankyou.

I also think I'd take my chances with the Ford engine over the BMW one as far as reliability and parts goes. From what I've gathered when I was considering an E39 5er a few years back the V8 doesn't have a stellar reputation.

As much as I dislike the 4.6L's reliability/issues, it must say it probably is far better in that aspect then the mentioned BMW. That, and the Ford drivetrains are incredibly basic and simple to install.

 

[Dennisch]

From what I've gathered when I was considering an E39 5er a few years back the V8 doesn't have a stellar reputation.

Coolant seeping into the sump, on the front of the block, piston rings that either lock up or disintegrate, and the wiring on top of the block is absolute cack. And as always with BMW. Headgaskets if they are only slightly abused with a engine that isn't on working temperature.

Range Rover owners know this too btw.

 

[Epic B]

Meh. Cool on paper, but sounds too underpowered. Maybe if they used the 4 valve 4.6, or even the 5.4 it would be cooler.

 

[INEEDNAWZZZ]

I'll give it a meh. I like them hugely, and I too am impressed that they actually managed to build it, but I much prefer the Rover badged variant. Less gaudy body appendages mean it looks a lot more menacing as a result.

 

[homeforsummer]

I'll give it a meh. I like them hugely, and I too am impressed that they actually managed to build it, but I much prefer the Rover badged variant. Less gaudy body appendages mean it looks a lot more menacing as a result.

I kinda prefer the Rover version too. More tasteful. Pity it's auto-only. I'm not a manual fascist but a slightly brutish British saloon with a V8 feels like it needs a manual.

 

[Clark]

It should be cool as it's like the modern version of a Rover P5 V8 which in my opinion is one of the coolest cars ever made.

Except this isn't cool, it just looks a bit naff and like it's trying too hard. And the Rover version had the really nasty looking massive chrome grille.

 

[Badasp5.0]

Really, the only option they should have considered should have been the SVT Cobra or Mach One engine. To put all that effort into converting the car to RWD and then put the boat anchor in the front seems kinda pointless.

It is a good question since the MG XPower SV had the 4.6 DOHC (99/01 Cobra specs)

 

[Slash]

Meh. Cool on paper, but sounds too underpowered. Maybe if they used the 4 valve 4.6, or even the 5.4 it would be cooler.

You're forgetting that it makes gobs of torque as well.

 

[homeforsummer]

And the Rover version had the really nasty looking massive chrome grille.

I don't think it was that bad. Certainly not given a few years. At the time it was a bit too much like contemporary Audis but now it looks fairly classy.

My only bugbear with the Rover version is that the interior was a bit naff. And I don't mean the design, since I quite like the 75's innards, but in its final years Rover went a bit OTT with the fake wood (mine is in the top pic - when Rover still used real walnut - the V8 is the bottom one).

Went from being just about right to being a little overdone. The ZT's cabin is more subdued, but that's not necessarily a great thing as it's just like any other modern car's grey interior.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

From what I've gathered when I was considering an E39 5er a few years back the V8 doesn't have a stellar reputation.

Sorry to go a little off topic here. But are you talking about the S62 4.9 V8 in the M5/Z8?

 

[homeforsummer]

Sorry to go a little off topic here. But are you talking about the S62 4.9 V8 in the M5/Z8?

Nope, the smaller-capacity one they stuck in the 540i. I assume it was a 4.0 but you never know with BMW's naming system.

 

[SVT Cobra GT]

Nope, the smaller-capacity one they stuck in the 540i. I assume it was a 4.0 but you never know with BMW's naming system.

Oh. Had me slightly worried there. My dad's just bought an E39 M5.

 

[Liquid]

Just a brief post script; I was looking up some stuff about this car and someone at MG modified/bored one to have a 6.0L naturally aspirated engine with 765hp. Codenamed X-15 it broke the speed record at Bonneville in 2003 for non-production estates and, obviously, estates of any kind at 225.6mph. And it still functioned as an estate. I wonder if that record still stands?

MG article from 2003

 

[AlvaroF]

Fast wagons are cool by definition. Although it has a body kit it isn't as tacky as the one on the Stagea and with that it keeps its cool status

 

[Cano]

Just a brief post script; I was looking up some stuff about this car and someone at MG modified/bored one to have a 6.0L naturally aspirated engine with 765hp. Codenamed X-15 it broke the speed record at Bonneville in 2003 for non-production estates and, obviously, estates of any kind at 225.6mph. And it still functioned as an estate. I wonder if that record still stands?

:0 that is really damned awesome.